There’s a focus on three of the top teams in this week’s Notebook entry.
First we start with a potential tweak in Brisbane’s method, before moving to the on-ball tactical intricacies of Gold Coast v Collingwood and how the former exploited the latter…
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Brisbane’s test of a tweak v Carlton
Although a top tier team meeting a lower opponent often has no drama around the result, the game is often instructive for what the better side is trying to achieve in the future. The better side can dictate terms and almost use it as a training ground.
While it might take some time to confirm whether Brisbane’s first half against Carlton was one of those instances, their difference in approach against the Blues was noticeable.
Brisbane, by design, haven’t traditionally played in high turnover or high pressure factor/tackle games. Their game style makes it tough for opponents to turn it into a contest once the Lions win possession.
It made the first half last Thursday so noticeable, because by design the Lions turned it into a higher turnover, higher pressure game than their norm.
Coming into the game, Brisbane averaged a tick over 54 tackles per match, with their opponents just under 53. Both the Lions and Blues were approaching those respective numbers by half time on Thursday:
| Tackles | Brisbane | Opponent |
| Round 1-17 (average) | 54.2 | 52.8 |
| Round 18, first half | 44 | 36 |
If we expand it out from tackles to the general pressure factor, we see the same pattern emerging. There was a conscious effort from Brisbane to ramp up their work without the ball in pursuit of making the game a more chaotic, turnover clash:
| Pressure Factor | Brisbane | Opponent |
| Round 1-17 | 179 | 171 |
| Round 1-18, first half | 194 | 179 |
It paid off with a more open game, Brisbane switching their ball use up to use handball more than usual and reaping the benefits with plenty of scoring from turnover.
The Lions normally average about 51 points per game from turnover. They had 47 to half time against Carlton.
The million-dollar question is whether this noticeable shift was opponent specific – we know Carlton’s allergy to playing a game based on turnovers and swift ball movement instead of contest after contest – or it’s a sign Brisbane want to incorporate more of it into their game from here out.
Next up for Brisbane are the Bulldogs; a team who struggle to create and score off turnovers against top level opponents. Perhaps what we saw the Lions work on against the Blues was actually a prelude to their plan on Friday night at the Gabba?
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For those who have missed it, the last five Notebook entries on The Shinboner, plus…
The 2025 Team Structures Page
Essendon’s changes, Adelaide in the air: Round 17’s Notebook
Brisbane, Essendon, Geelong, GWS health checks: Round 16’s Notebook
Adelaide, Hawthorn, Melbourne, West Coast health checks: Round 15’s Notebook
Collingwood, Gold Coast, Richmond, Sydney health checks: Round 14’s Notebook
St Kilda and Fremantle’s health checks: Round 13’s Notebook
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Collingwood’s midfield exploited
If we head back to the Round 7 Notebook, there was a section dedicated to Collingwood’s midfield and the reasons it had started the season so well.
Since then, it’s mainly carried on with the same mindset in player roles, albeit with the normal chopping and changing from availability. The only notable change before the last fortnight had been alternating Jack Crisp and Steele Sidebottom on the wing depending on the week:
Given Collingwood’s midfield is set up to run nearly everything through Nick Daicos, it needs surrounding balance to function at its best.
Against Gold Coast, with Tom Mitchell in the side and Scott Pendlebury the starting sub, it threw the balance out just enough to provide an exploit for Gold Coast.
While Pendlebury can (obviously) do a bit of everything, Mitchell is still working his way back from a long-term absence, and regardless, doesn’t have the same tool kit to his game.
So without the balance providing cover for Daicos as he went into offensive mode*, the Suns found a way to turn the offensive mode from a Collingwood strength into a Collingwood weakness.
(*note: not meant as a criticism, rather a simple comment on how Collingwood sets up)
A part of Damien Hardwick’s teams over the journey has been attempting, from time to time, to play through the matchup of the opposition’s number one midfielder. In theory, if said midfielder is tasked with a large offensive load, basic logic dictates they won’t be in a position to defend well.
Of course it’s easier said than done and risky to complete. Get it wrong and the opponent’s number one midfielder is completely off the chain with eye-popping numbers. But get it right and the game flips on its head.
Through the night, but particularly early, it was a key part of Gold Coast’s strategy: play through Nick Daicos’ opponent where possible. The couple most noticeable examples were early in the second quarter, either with his direct matchup having the freedom to ball hunt, or the head-to-head set up trying to force Daicos to defend:
It was fascinating watching Gold Coast try to execute and Collingwood reacting in real time. Through the first quarter and a half, with the Suns’ plan working in dictating the game, it was noticeable how toothless the Pies’ midfield looked at stages. Without an effective Daicos, Pendlebury available to help read and react, and Mitchell largely ineffective, there was little available for the visitors to go back with at the home team.
After Daicos spent time off the ground in the second quarter, his next stint (as a one-off) was spent with closer to a wing’s responsibilities, allowing him to sit off the back of contests and pull off disposals like this:
And then after the injury-enforced substitute meant Pendlebury was available for the second half, the change in game flow was immediately apparent. The veteran’s introduction, combined with the on-ball switch of Josh Daicos later in the third quarter, meant Collingwood were able to play more on their terms.
Josh was able to play aggressively on-ball, Nick’s positioning nominally shifted between half back (later Q3) and half forward (Q4), but in reality free roamed, while Pendlebury was the secondary option and glue to hold everything together.
While Noah Anderson’s late goal, which ended up as the last of the match, brought more attention to Nick Daicos – in a rare final quarter moment as a genuine on-baller – in reality it was a set play Collingwood realised but failed to stop.
Josh Daicos attempts to cut Anderson off while Nick stays forward of the ball, but the angle Josh takes doesn’t get him there in time and the rest is history:
It’s why Josh as an on-baller looms more as a situational approach – even once Dan Houston returns from injury – rather than a permanent move any time soon. Not because of his performance, given his final quarter was one of the greatest individual terms in recent memory…
…but because Collingwood’s midfield structure is set up for a primary aggressor with surrounding support. Having two aggressors at the same time requires a substantial change to roles and responsibilities all over the field so late in the season. In the above example, Nick took priority, so Josh was forced into a different role from his blistering term to that point. Against a superb midfield the momentary lapse, ever so slight, proved costly.
What isn’t in doubt is as the year has progressed, sides are finding little ways to explore potential Collingwood weaknesses. Sometimes all it takes is one opponent to find a tiny crack before the next team widens it.
Fremantle, with their midfield riches, might be equipped to widen it this Sunday at the MCG.
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For those who have missed it, the last five North Melbourne match analysis pieces on The Shinboner, plus…
The 2025 Team Structures Page
North Melbourne’s Round 18 analysis v Melbourne
North Melbourne’s Round 17 analysis v Western Bulldogs
North Melbourne’s Round 16 analysis v Hawthorn
North Melbourne’s Round 15 analysis v Carlton
North Melbourne’s Round 14 analysis v Fremantle
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