After a nail-biting conclusion to Collingwood v Adelaide resulted in a draw, it was a case of where to from here for the Magpies who surrounded a 50-point lead.
In this week’s edition of At The Bar, Essendon tragic Michael ‘Speedy’ Stratton and The Area News’ sports journalist Liam Warren sit down to discuss the fallout from the drawn match.
Liam: So Speedy what did you make of Collingwood seemingly bottling it against after having a fifty point lead against Adelaide.
Speedy: Well anybody that holds a lead like that should win the game. Collingwood, as we know, has been struggling this year they have problems on and off the field but they played very well, Eddie would have been happy. Nathan Buckley who has been in the firing line for a while now but I don't think it is his fault.
Liam: I guess if you are looking at it from the Crows point of view it was good to see them fight back from over 50 points down early in the third quarter.
Speedy: They are the top team in the competition and they will be hard to beat there is no doubt but I think in the last half of the game especially in the final quarter when Adelaide kicked a few goals the Magpies back line particularly some of the younger blokes they seemed to panic a little bit and I think it comes down to experience but I am sure they will take a lot out of that game.
Liam: Do you think they will stick with Buckley
Speedy: I hope they do because it is not his fault there is no way of knowing. He sent them out with a plan and it worked for three parts of the game and it was just inexperience that cost them the game.
Liam: They had the better of the scoring chances I think they kick something like 13 behinds so if they had of been more accurate.
Speedy: If you analysis everything about the game the last kick of the game gets the draw for Adelaide. There is a pack of players someone kicks into the Adelaide forward line and a whole heap of them fly for the ball and the Adelaide bloke pulls it down and kicks it to tie the game.
Liam: This season is probably past them how do you feel about their chances next year.
Speedy: I'm sure they will be a lot better next year if they can keep them all together plus Buckley. AS you and I have said many, many times, it is easy to blame the coach.
Liam: Knee jerk reactions don't get you anywhere. Now looking forward who do you think can take the title
Speedy: I still think Adelaide can take it out they have been the form side for most of the season.
Liam: On the topic of grand finals who do you think will take out the NRL.
Speedy: It is hard to go past the Melbourne Storm.
