COLLINGWOOD 0.4.3.27 0.7.5.47 0.11.9.75 0.12.13.85
NORTH MELBOURNE 0.2.1.13 0.6.5.41 1.8.7.64 1.10.8.77
SUPERGOALS - Collingwood: 0
GOALS - Collingwood: Gault 3, Varcoe 2, Fasolo 2, Adams 2, Pendlebury, Goodyear, Blair
BEST - Collingwood: Adams, Greenwood, Varcoe, Fasolo, Pendlebury, Gault
INJURIES - Collingwood: Langdon (finger)
REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil
OFFICIAL CROWD: Approx. 6000 at Robertson Oval, Wagga Wagga
| THE MEDIA | |
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IT WAS billed as the day North Melbourne regained Daniel Wells, but it could be remembered as the moment another star was born after Taylor Adams propelled Collingwood to a hard-fought eight-point NAB Challenge win on Saturday. In oppressive conditions at Robertson Oval in Wagga Wagga, the Pies outlasted the Roos in an entertaining and see-sawing contest, 0.12.13 (85) to 1.10.8 (77). On the day his mentor Paul Couch passed away suddenly, Adams drove Collingwood's second win of the pre-season, showing his true class booting two goals and racking up 26 disposals. Adams drilled a spearing shot on the run to nail the game's opening goal and never took his foot off the pedal, despite the mercury soaring to 38 degrees. The 22-year-old's poise in traffic and exquisite skills made those around him look better, and the speedster seems ready to take the next step in his career. Teammate Levi Greenwood, facing his old side for the first time, was another of Collingwood's best with 25 disposals in a typically hard-working effort. After slamming on 21 goals against the Cats last week, the Magpies' transition from defence to attack was slick again. Pleasingly for Nathan Buckley, the Pies again had numerous avenues to goal – among them Travis Varcoe, skipper Scott Pendlebury, rookie Corey Gault (three goals) and a rejuvenated Alex Fasolo. However, Travis Cloke's goalkicking woes continued with the spearhead missing two very gettable set shots in the second term and finishing goalless. WHAT WE LEARNED Collingwood: The Pies' powerhouse 21-goal display against Geelong wasn't a one-off. Nathan Buckley has built an array of weapons into his forward setup, with Alex Fasolo, Taylor Adams, Darcy Moore, Corey Gault, Travis Varcoe, Jarryd Blair, Mason Cox and resting skipper Scott Pendlebury offering strong support for birthday boy Travis Cloke. Throw Jamie Elliott (back), Jeremy Howe (finger) and Dane Swan (rested) into the mix and there aren't many more versatile or dangerous line-ups. NEW FACES Collingwood: James Aish racked up plenty of disposals in another encouraging outing in black and white. Tom Phillips copped a knee to the back in a marking contest early, but in a positive sign he buttered up at the next stoppage and played well. Brayden Sier spent the opening half on the bench and the No.32 pick did some nice things. NEXT UP The Pies take on the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on March 12. Collingwood's new-look multi-faceted forward line has again given hope to Magpie supporters that finals could be on the cards this season, after they emerged with an eight-point win over North Melbourne on Saturday. In sweltering 38-degree conditions in Wagga Wagga, which forced the heat-rule policy to be embraced, the Magpies followed up their win over Geelong last weekend with another impressive performance. However, the Pies propensity to kick the ball to the "hot spot" about 40 metres from goal will have rivals now plotting the best way to negate this. While Travis Cloke and young key forward Darcy Moore were held goalless, Corey Gault provided three and their midfielders and half-forwards were all dangerous. Both teams tired towards the end of a match in which each unveiled key figures for the first time this season. The Magpies had Scott Pendlebury, Moore and Cloke rejoin the side, while the Roos gave valuable game time to Daniel Wells, Todd Goldstein and Nick Dal Santo. Wells, having endured injury issues in the past two seasons, has trained consistently over summer and showed the benefits from the moment he had the first clearance of the match. Having dropped weight over summer, he would finish with 17 disposals and the hope he could be the dynamic match-winner the Roos need if they are to advance a step further this year. Travis Varcoe, the former Cat, has improved since crossing to the Westpac Centre and had two goals before half-time. He would be best on ground, with his his run and creativity strong throughout the day. He was instrumental in the Magpies' generally excellent transition from half-back into attack. "It's nice to practice what we have been doing over the pre-season and to do it against good opposition is a credit to the boys," Varcoe said. Alex Fasolo was another to shine for the Pies – and appears set for his best season yet. Having returned to the forward line, Fasolo has shown great form, greater discipline and a willingness to run hard, prompting former Geelong star Cameron Mooney on Fox Footy to declare "this guy could be anything". Former Lion James Aish was impressive on the wing, Levi Greenwood, lining up against his former team for the first time, and Taylor Adams were busy while Matthew Goodyear showed promising signs inside attacking 50. Kangaroos skipper Andrew Swallow was typically solid, as were Jack Ziebell and Sam Gibson through the midfield and Aaron Black put his case forward. The Pies began in a free-flowing manner, and slipped out to a 20-point lead late in the first term. Adams opened the account after the Pies capitalised on a turnover, and Pendlebury added the second when, rested up forward, he edged the ball forward in a marking contest, scooped it up and balanced himself to kick accurately. Pendlebury is slick no matter what position he is in, and can expect to spend more time forward this year. Goldstein provided the Roos' opening goal with a clever snap but the Pies had too much run, and Varcoe and Fasolo were instrumental in this. The Roos responded well in the second term, and also benefited from Cloke missing successive set shots at goal from about 35m. The Pies would hope his yips have not returned. "He (Taylor Adams) just goes flat out all the time, which is why he's so well respected by his teammates." Nathan Buckley |
NORTH Melbourne midfielder Daniel Wells made a strong return in his first game back in almost a year, but it was Collingwood's Taylor Adams who stole the show in his club's eight-point NAB Challenge win in Wagga Wagga on Saturday. While Wells was rapt to be back playing again in his first game since Round 2 last season, Adams turned in a best afield performance, inspired by the loss of one of his close mentors, Geelong Brownlow Medallist Paul Couch, who died on Saturday. Adams tweeted his deepest sympathy to the Couch family before Saturday's clash at Robertson Oval, then followed it up with a game-high 26 touches as the most influential player on the ground. The new member of the Magpie leadership group was brilliant from start to finish, and looks as if he is ready to take his game to the next level in his third season in black and white. In sweltering conditions, with the mercury reaching 38 degrees, the Magpies led from start to finish, but had to withstand a number of Kangaroos' comebacks that threatened to steal the game. Wells had not played against a rival side in 328 days after an Achilles injury wrecked his 2015, but he was able to get the first effective possession of the game, and continued throughout the match with 17 touches. Importantly, he got through the match unscathed and looks to be moving as well as ever, which could be a huge win for the Kangaroos as they head into the season desperate to push beyond a preliminary final. Adams gave Collingwood a perfect start, kicking the first goal of the game within two minutes. The Magpies' midfield was full of eager young players, and that allowed Scott Pendlebury to spend some time forward, which produced immediate rewards as he slotted through the Pies' second goal. North Melbourne got on the board with a nice goal from Todd Goldstein, courtesy of some nice work from Aaron Mullett, and a super snap from the ruckman. Alex Fasolo was lively in attack, following on from his good work against the Cats last week, and other Magpies to shine in the opening stanza were Adams, Travis Varcoe, Levi Greenwood and Jarryd Blair.' Darcy Moore showed the nous that excites Collingwood fans when he offered up a slick handball to Varcoe to set up the Pies' fourth goal of the game to open up a 20-point break. Robin Nahas stemmed the damage with a late goal to cut the difference back to 14 points at the first change. North Melbourne had the better of Collingwood in the second term and it started from the outset when Mullett took a strong mark in attack and nailed a goal from directly in front. But the good start was immediately followed by a howler from Lachie Hansen whose kick went askew, and it ended up in a second goal to Varcoe, after a slick handball from Mason Cox. Then Drew Petrie and Andrew Swallow helped to drag the Kangaroos back into the contest. Swallow had 12 touches for the term and Petrie kicked three goals in that same stanza. Petrie's third goal put the Roos in front by six points. But the lead didn't last long. Matthew Goodyear kicked his first goal in black and white, and then Corey Gault showed how good he can be overhead with a fine mark and goal after a strong pass from Travis Cloke. From Cloke's point of view, that at least made up for two set-shot misses that had the Wagga crowd groaning. The difference was only a goal at halftime, as both sides trudged from the field after seeking shade from the scorching sun. Corey Gault kicked the first two goals of the second half to further enhance his case for an upgrade to the primary list. The first came from Pendlebury, who beat two opponents, and gave off to the young Magpies' forward, and the second was from a courageous mark and goal. But the Kangaroos kept coming, with a second goal to Nahas and a further to Sam Gibson. Then 15 minutes into the third term the Roos were able to kick the only super goal of the game when Lindsay Thomas nailed a tackle and gave off the ball to Mullett, who slammed the ball from outside 50m to narrow the gap. Blair immediately responded with a goal a minute later, and the difference at the final change was 11 points. With both sides struggling to close out the game in the heat, the Magpies scored the opening goal of the final term thanks to Adams, who was having a day out as he pushed the difference to 17 points. Lindsay Thomas cut that back further with a goal less than a minute later, before there was a deadlock until late in the final term when a Ben Brown goal brought them to within nine points. But the Magpies had enough to hold on, to win their second NAB Challenge match, following on from last week's victory over Geelong. Collingwood have overcome a dogged North Melbourne and heatwave conditions to record an eight-point NAB Challenge win in southern New South Wales. Once again there was encouraging form displayed by 23-year-old forwards Alex Fasolo and Corey Gault as the Pies eked out a 12.13 (85) to 1.10.8 (77) win on Saturday in oppressive conditions at Wagga Wagga's Robertson Oval. Fasolo and Gault, who contributed eight goals between them in last week's win over Geelong, combined for five majors and 14 marks. Gault, who has played just four senior games, followed up his three-goal haul from last week with three more majors either side of halftime. Fasolo followed up his five-goal haul against the Cats with two against the Kangaroos. It gave Pies coach Nathan Buckley further food for thought over his forward options and support for established spearhead Travis Cloke, who went goalless on Saturday. Taylor Adams and Levi Greenwood tallied 26 and 25 possessions respectively and Travis Varcoe was another strong Collingwood performer. Adams supplemented his ball getting with two goals and had had a very strong pre-season, according to Buckley. "He's a leader of the team and I don't think he knows the difference between a NAB Cup game and a home-and-away game," Buckley said. "He just goes flat out all the time, which is why he's so well respected by his teammates." For the Kangaroos, veteran key forward Drew Petrie bagged three goals, all in the second quarter, and Nick Dal Santo accumulated 20 touches. Collingwood led at every change and two Gault goals early in the third term put the Pies' lead out to 19, but the Kangaroos crept to within six after Aaron Mullett kicked the only Super goal of the game. The Pies stayed ahead in the final term to inflict North's first defeat of the pre-season. |
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