A Qualitative Comparative Collingwood Analysis | Thebigtip

The science behind solving the problems that are caused by making casual inferences on the basis of only a small number of cases was developed by Professor Charles Ragin. In our case below we have 2 cases, the Premiership teams in 2000 and 2011.

The similarities between the Bombers all conquering 2000 Premiership team and the Collingwood side, circa 2011 looking at back-to-back flags is not only interesting, but accurate.

The Bombers 1999 campaign ended in tragic (or glorious) circumstances depending on your vantage point and whilst over 12 years ago, the painful memories are still vivid. Specifically, it appeared Kouta took over 20 marks in the last quarter (it was more likely closer to 5) and ‘that tackle’, Fraser Brown on Dean Wallis, who was not known for his football mind, when Deano briefly thought he was fleet of foot. He wasn’t.

Whilst the Collingwood Football Club achieved ultimate success, something the club had not experienced for 30 years, they seem as focused and motivated as ever at almost the mid point of the 2011 season. Perhaps this has something to do with the out-going coach, who, with some irony may be leaving the Lexus Centre having won the last two premierships.

The Essendon motivation for the 2000 season was that of a burning desire for vengeance, like a clichéd movie, where the lead character’s daughter and wife are kidnapped or harmed and the father or significant other are hell-bent on taking out revenge against the perpetrators (insert Man on Fire and Law Abiding Citizen just two of approximately 20 movies with the same plot!).

The parallels with the one-loss Bomber side of 2000 are perhaps not obvious to the untrained eye. By mere coincidence the 2000 and 2011 Grand Finals was not, and will not be in the last Saturday in September. 2000 was the year of the Sydney Olympics, the season was moved forward a month and the Grand Final was played on the first Saturday in September. This year, the biggest day on the Australian sporting calendar will be on the first Saturday in October. Neither of which have the ring to it that the ‘last Saturday in September has’.

I have watched Collingwood very closely against the Crows and the Eagles. The same observation can be made in the Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide games; that being, when Collingwood decide to put the foot on the accelerator, the opposition are powerless to stop them.  It was the exact same trait that the Essendon side of 2000 had.

Both teams could pick and choose when they would ‘win the game’ and seemingly kick goals at-will, rendering their opponents helpless. Similar to Chong Li in 1988 classic, Bloodsport when Frank Dux, after having some nasty powder thrown in his eyes by the nasty Korean demolished him to be crowned, Kumite champion.


Key Forwards and Goal Sneaks

Key forward posts, Matthew Lloyd and Scott Lucas, the Woods, Chris Dawes and Travis Cloke. The third tall, the likable Italian Stallion Stephen Alessio, with Leigh Brown playing the same role for the Pies,just without the Stallion tag. Both doing the ruck work in the forward line and being thrown on the ball occasionally.

Creative, enigmatic forwards capable of turning a game on its head at any moment, by kicking a goal that seems impossible or pulling down a screamer despite their vertical challenges; Alan Didak, Jarryd Blair and Andrew Kraquor. The Bombers see the Woods cards and raise them; Darren Bewick, Blake Caracella and Gary Moorcroft.


Midfield Group

What sets apart Collingwood from a number of other sides is the depth they have in their midfield allowing for a number of players to be rotated through this part of the ground. A perfect balance between hard nosed grunt, class and goal kicking midfielders, the ever-expanding group of Swan, Pendlebury, Thomas, Ball, Sidebottom, Beams and Wellingham is similar in nature to that of Misiti, Mercuri, Heffernan, Jason Johnson and Blumfield. The Bombers brilliance came from the mercurial Michael Long, whose vision, evasiveness and football nous did not often show up by analysing raw statistics, his ability to create space when there seemingly was none led to his creativity by hand and foot and brought others into the game.


The Back Six (or 8)

The key to any premiership side is a settled back six, a back six who pride themselves on winning a one on one contest, who still throw their mouth guard when their direct opponent kicks a goal on them despite being 9 goals up with minutes remaining, who individually and collectively can intimidate opposition forwards but at the same time create forays up the ground.  The Bombers of 2000 were littered with ‘hard men’ Solomon, Wallis, Barnard, Hardwick and Mark Johnson is about as an intimidating a backline that has graced the hallowed turf, althought the 1994 Eagles, ir the 2001-03 Lions may rival it). Well led by Sean Wellman and Dustin Fletcher, with Adam Ramanauskas proving the class of a pin-point left foot, this defence were the unheralded heroes of the 2000 season.

The 2010 Premiers, whilst not as physically intimidating, also have the traits of a ‘mongrel’ defence, perfectly illustrated against the Eagles where the cameras caught Heath Shaw, skipper Nick Maxwell and Harry O in heated debate. One can comfortably assume they were not debating who they would have rather have had as their Dad, Mr Seaver or Mr Keaton, (two of the great TV Dad’s of all time mind you, a list for another time perhaps?)


The Ace

Whilst there is some debate about who is Collingwood’s best player, Swan or Pendlebury, with Daisy Thomas throwing his hat in the ring in recent times, no such debate could be had in 2000.  Quite simply this was James Hird. Sir James (hang on, I cant simply Knight someone can I?) showed his class, leadership and brilliance on the first Saturday in September (see, that doesn’t sound right) with his 29 possession, two goal game…it was a game that encapsulated his career.

Despite this, the Bombers, whist dominant for 3 years only unfurled one Premiership flag, gifting the 1999 Premiership to North Melbourne (the only Premiership I have not watched since 1984!) and being beaten by a better side in 2001 (the Brisbane Lions who went on to three-peat) when the Bombers took a number of players clouded by injury into the game.

This Collingwood group already have pocketed one and are well on their way to collecting back-to-back trophies. The Bookmakers agree.