Robert Walls - another positive Pies article

[WhyPhilWhy?]

Gotta like the man - more good things to say, including the prediction of a premiership (the last line grates a bit, but is factually correct).

Not long ago the Pies had the blues, now it's the Blues

By Robert Walls
April 04 2003

It was just over three years ago that Mick Malthouse coached Collingwood for the first time. The Magpies were the reigning wooden spooners and, for the new regime, it was their first step towards respectability in a football world that looked down on them.

At the same time, Carlton was travelling well. The Blues had six months earlier played and lost to the Kangaroos in the 1999 grand final. Matthew Allan had won the club best-and-fairest award and Lance Whitnall had topped the goalkicking with an impressive 55 goals from centre half-forward. And it was also the time that Anthony Koutoufides had finally arrived as a genuine superstar of the competition.

Tonight the two teams will meet in front of a big MCG crowd and haven't their fortunes changed? Nowadays, many people believe the Magpies to be the best football club in Victoria and Carlton the worst.

And after taking their first wooden spoon last year, the Blues, after a dismal showing against Sydney in the opening round, are firm favourites to take the spoon again.

Magpie supporters take pride in their spirited developing side. Carlton supporters shake their heads and worry whether their ageing side has yet to hit rock bottom. So what went right for one and wrong for the other?

Direction/image

With Eddie McGuire at the helm, Collingwood had a young dynamic frontman who pushed and promoted his Magpies at every opportunity. Eddie cast his net across the country and the world to attract people and dollars to his club. With his energy and power, few said no. Collingwood's profile jumped enormously in a few short years.

But not so at Carlton. President John Elliott and the bulk of his board were old, tired and complacent. They sat on their hands, abused the system and felt the name "Carlton" would sell the club. It didn't, and interest and membership fell.

Coaching

McGuire got one of the game's best to take control. Malthouse was desperate to return to Victoria and excited by the challenge of lifting a once-proud club up off the mat. The senior coach brought in his own full-time assistants, enthusing the playing group by this new direction.

At Optus Oval, things were getting stale. Season 2000 was David Parkin's 10th year. It was the start of a two-year period in which his health suffered. David, realising he was struggling, gave much of the responsibility to Wayne Brittain. For a period, there were two bosses, when there should only have been one. When Brittain finally took over he was hamstrung by having no ruck coach and too many part-time coaches.

Recruiting

Over the past few years, Collingwood concentrated more on young talent than Carlton did. The Blues continually traded draft choices to prop up their list. Too many short-term players coming off other AFL lists were sought by the Blues. And amazingly they have done it again by getting Mick Martyn, who turns 35 late this season.

On-field leadership

It's interesting to take note of the age of each side's senior 10 players.

Carlton: Martyn, 34; McKay, 32; Ratten, 31; Hickmott, 31; Koutoufides, 30; Manton, 29; McKernan, 29; Allan, 28; Camporeale, 27; Beaumont, 27.

Collingwood: Buckley, 30; Richardson, 30; Freeborn, 30; Wakelin, 28; Burns, 28; Clement, 26; Molloy, 26; Woewodin, 26; Rocca, 25; Licuria, 25.

Collingwood's leadership group is younger, better, healthier and hungrier. We've seen the best of most, if not all, of the Blues. Collingwood's best is yet to come.

Injuries in 2002

Not much went right for Carlton in its season from hell. When you look at each team's "games lost", to their most valuable players, it's easy to see the Magpies were blessed while the Blues were cursed.

Games lost 2002 - top five players

Carlton: Koutoufides, 19; Whitnall, 8; Ratten, 10; Allan, 18; Camporeale, 2.

Collingwood: Buckley, 4; Rocca, 1; Licuria, 1; Tarrant, 5; Burns, 0.

Future

Collingwood should play finals football over the next four years. With an ounce of luck, a premiership could be theirs in the years 2005, 2006. Carlton will not be so fortunate. It will do it hard for quite a few years. But you can only hope youth will be given every chance over ageing injury-prone veterans.

Magpie supporters will enter the MCG tonight brimming with confidence. But Carlton fans can take solace from one fact: the Blues still lead the Pies head-to-head 117 to 104.

[Kristin5]

What's with the prediction of a premiership in 2005 or 2006??? What about this year or, at worse, next year?

[dimo]

An execellent article by robert walls, just shows going is setting the standard for other clubs to follow..

[chalky]

Certainly an interesting article by the one who coined the modern phrase "can't win without a dominant ruckman" The injury stat was intriguing. Carlton with "the year from hell" and the insinuation that Collingwood were perhaps a little lucky with their run. He neglected to pursue this point.
Carlton invested all their resources on the top end (plus extra on the side)
and left nothing for the future development of their club. It was this quick fix mentality that will see them wallow at the bottom for many years. Collingwood, on the other hand can cover most situations causeed by suspension/injury because we have invested in the development of the entire team eg Walker is obviously being groomed/fast tracked. cheers