COLLINGWOOD 1.2.8 6.5.41 8.10.58 9.13.67
GOALS - Collingwood: Cloke 2, Sidebottom 2, Varcoe, Treloar, Sinclair, Fasolo, Moore
BEST - Collingwood: Pendlebury, Treloar, Sidebottom, Adams, Langdon
INJURIES - Collingwood: Goldsack (illness) replaced in selected side by White, Reid (knee), Sinclair (concussion), Cloke (elbow)
REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil
Official crowd: 47,558 at the MCG
1. Pressure lifts again on Buckley
Even Nathan Buckley's harshest critics can't deny there have been issues with some of Collingwood's best players. Steele Sidebottom missed two weeks through suspension, Dane Swan is unlikely to play again this year after injuring his right foot and skipper Scott Pendlebury has been battling with sore ribs. The skipper is tough enough to nevertheless have an impact, but he often only moves into the midfield after the opposition team has taken advantage at stoppages. Collingwood isn't good enough to rest its captain so the likes of Jack Crisp and Levi Greenwood need to improve to lessen the pressure on Pendlebury. 2. This Melbourne team knows how to move the ball Last week the Demons lost despite kicking 131 points against North Melbourne, and they continued to show that ability to score against the Pies. Melbourne's ball movement was brilliant, especially in the first quarter when it kicked six goals. Moving up the field so quickly also meant Melbourne's forwards were afforded plenty of space to operate in. Encouragingly for Demons fans, Bernie Vince was missing through suspension and his kicking skills will only make Paul Roos' men more dangerous. 3. Gawn's early form merits All Australian thinking Opposition teams are going to have to figure out how to shark Max Gawn's hit-outs, because he is a dominating other ruckmen. Coming off his impressive game against North big man Todd Goldstein, Gawn consistently put the ball down his teammates' throats at the MCG. He was at his best in the first quarter and his influence meant the Demons won clearances 12-5 in the opening term. Ranked top ten in the competition for contested marks per game, Gawn's imposing body-work deep in defence assists Melbourne in moving the ball out of its backline. |
4. Watts' slow burn looks worth the wait Jack Watts has certainly grown up since his debut against Collingwood in 2009 on Queen's Birthday Monday. That day he was met with ferocious pressure from a Magpies unit keen to set the No.1 draft pick on his heels. On Sunday though, Watts was in fine form. He finished with four goals, all scored in the first half, including a set shot while pressed up against the boundary in the second term. The much-maligned 25-year-old has struggled to consistently make an impact but after a strong start to 2016, he is perhaps finally starting to reach his potential. 5. Howe hoping for more Jeremy Howe played five seasons at Melbourne before being traded to Collingwood. It was a pretty quiet day for him though, with none of the soaring marks that the footy world has become so accustomed to. He finished with 14 disposals and didn't kick a goal. In the first quarter, Howe marked against Lynden Dunn in the forward 50 and tried to be unselfish with a handball to Adam Treloar, but the midfielder was under pressure and Melbourne saved what probably should have been a goal. Neville Jetta added to Howe's pain by ensuring the high-leaper will have a sore body on Monday after a driving tackle on the wing. Even Nathan Buckley's harshest critics can't deny there have been issues with some of Collingwood's best players. Steele Sidebottom missed two weeks through suspension, Dane Swan is unlikely to play again this year after injuring his right foot and skipper Scott Pendlebury has been battling with sore ribs. |
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Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley is at a loss to explain his side's continual drop-offs and has signalled that hard calls would now be made on underachieving players. The Magpies slipped to 1-3 after a 35-point loss to Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday and now face the prospect of losing key pillars Travis Cloke (elbow) and Ben Reid (left knee) to injury for their traditional ANZAC Day clash against Essendon. Small defender Ben Sinclair (concussion) will also be assessed in the lead up to next Monday's marquee match. "We'll be bringing in players who want to play for four quarters," Buckley said after the loss to the Demons. "We've got enough evidence now to make calls on guys, and there's no doubt we can't be making any compromises on the effort in the contest. "There's some boys who are continuing to put their prospects at risk." Buckley said his team couldn't afford to switch off for patches in the game, saying the responsibility rested with him to find out why it keeps occurring. Melbourne, 17th in the League in scoring last year, kicked 11 goals to Collingwood's six in the first half as it took the game away from a lacklustre Magpies unit. "Right now, if we stop playing for 40 minutes against any opposition, we will give them hope and belief and a chance," Buckley said. "We have got to take that out of our make up if we want to give ourselves the best chance of performing against any opposition. "We didn't work and the players put their hand up (and acknowledged that). "In the end, you've got to get to the reason why? Why do we stop working? Why do we give the opposition a real crack at it? And that's my job." Reid received medical treatment at quarter time but fought out the game, with strapping on his knee, and was spotted with a large ice pack on his knee in the changerooms after the match. Cloke injured his elbow in the final term and was noticeably restricted in marking contests. "'Reidy' fought through pretty well. He wouldn't have been put out there if he wasn't right to go, but we'll assess that through the week," Buckley said. "And Cloke jagged his elbow and basically couldn't put his arm above his head late." "If you're a marking player and you can't put two hands above your head, I reckon you're going to struggle, so we'll see how he goes." Despite notching tasting victory just once this year, Buckley was adamant his side would stick together and work itself out of its current predicament. "We're in it together," he said. "There's no gaps in us. We're all in it together and we're all succeeding or failing together, and right now we're not finding our best." Nathan Buckley says Collingwood will make judgments on underperforming players after the Magpies slumped further into the mire by losing to Melbourne on Sunday at the MCG. The 35-point defeat leaves the Pies at 1-3, and heaps further pressure on Buckley, whose contract was last month extended until the end of next season. "We've got enough evidence now to make some calls on guys," Buckley said post-match. "And there's no doubt that we need to be not making any compromises on the effort and the contest. "There's some boys that are continuing to put their prospects at risk. "We'll be bringing in players that want to play for four quarters. But we've got some experience in here that needs to play for four quarters." He maintained, however, that the Pies were united. "Coaches and players are in it together. The club's in it together. Contrary to opinion, there's no cracks." Already without Dane Swan, Jackson Ramsay and Jamie Elliott for long periods, the Pies are likely to lose out-of-form forward Travis Cloke for the Anzac Day clash against depleted Essendon. Buckley said Cloke "jagged his elbow" and "couldn't put his arm above his head late." Ben Sinclair was also concussed against the Dees, while Ben Reid will be assessed in relation to a knee issue which caused him trouble. The Demons led by 42 points after Angus Brayshaw goaled at the 10-minute mark of the second term. While the Pies showed some resistance, closing to within 21 points in the third stanza, a lack of polish cost them dearly, as Melbourne steadied. Buckley bemoaned a 40-minute first half drop-off in intensity. "We're disappointed, massively. We stopped playing for 40 minutes. And if you do that against any opposition, you're going to end up down on the scoreboard, and the intangible equation of hope and energy and belief. "We've done that two weeks running now. And probably longer than that. "Why do we stop working? Why do we give a crack to the opposition? And that's my job [to figure out the reasons]. "Until we do it, it's only words. I can give you more words, but until we do it, it's not good enough." Collingwood have now lost 12 of their last 15 matches dating back to the middle of last season. Following their date with the Bombers, the Pies face West Coast (Domain Stadium), Carlton (MCG) and the Brisbane Lions (Gabba). Melbourne coach Paul Roos was pleased with the way his side had backed up after their showing last week against North Melbourne in Hobart. "It's been two really good weeks. Probably the best two we've had back to back. "We're probably starting to see the type of footy we want to play regularly." Roos also said that it was encouraging for the Demons to win with a side still lacking in experience. "It's really important for the Melbourne supporters to see what's happening." Jack Watts equalled his career high with four goals, all kicked before half-time, a showing praised by Roos. "He's much-maligned. Even we get caught up in it as well. We were always confident he's got talent." Melbourne take on struggling Richmond next Sunday night at the MCG. The Demons beat the Tigers in the corresponding fixture last season, and will benefit from the return of Bernie Vince who missed the win over the Pies due to suspension. Roos said small forward Jeff Garlett (ankle) was also hopeful of returning to face Richmond. "He told me he's going to play next week, so that'd be handy." "We'll be bringing in players who want to play for four quarters. We've got enough evidence now to make calls on guys, and there's no doubt we can't be making any compromises on the effort in the contest. There's some boys who are continuing to put their prospects at risk." |
COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley says he is prepared to go younger at the selection table if it helps weed out the inconsistencies that have dogged its season. The Magpies' finals hopes were dealt another blow when "a poor 40 minutes" before halftime cost them in Melbourne's upset 35-point win at the MCG. Buckley dismissed mounting pressure on his position and said there was plenty of time to turn around their season. Spearhead Travis Cloke hurt his elbow in the last quarter and was unable to raise his arm above his shoulder, putting him in serious doubt for next Monday's Anzac Day blockbuster against Essendon. But Buckley said he would also consider other personnel changes, even if it meant making the side younger, if it helped eradicate Collingwood's fade-outs. "We have got enough evidence now to make some calls on guys and there is no doubt we need to be not making any compromises on the effort in the contest," Buckley said. "There are some boys who are continuing to put their prospects at risk, but we are in it together. Coaches and players are in it together. "Some of our players which we can bring in, who could make us even younger again are actually showing some signs and we will bring in players that want to play for four quarters. "But we have got some experience in here that needs to play for four quarters as well." Senior midfielder Levi Greenwood, defender Tom Langdon and ex-Lions Jack Crisp and James Aish may come under increased scrutiny, while rookie Josh Smith and Mason Cox are likely to be considered. Buckley said it was his job to get to the heart of the Pies' lapses. "It doesn't matter what your name is, if you don't run, if you don't get from this contest to that contest and outnumber, everything breaks down," he said. "We didn't work and the players (post-match) put their hand up. "In the end, you've got to get to the reason why? Why do we stop working? Why do we give the opposition a real crack at it and that's my job. "Until we do it, it's only words. I can give you more words but in the end it's not good enough." Buckley said Cloke was in doubt for the Bombers' clash while Ben Reid (knee) and Ben Sinclair (concussion) will also be assessed. "If you are a marking player and you can't put two hands above your head I reckon you are going to struggle (to play next week), so we will see how he goes," he said. "Reidy fought through pretty well. He wouldn't have been put out there if he wasn't right to go, but we will assess that through the week." Buckley said the defensive intensity was better after working on it this week, with the Pies out-tackling Melbourne 96-84. But Buckley said the 40-minute period either side of the first quarter change hurt his side as Melbourne kicked nine goals to one. "We are disappointed, massively," he said. "We stopped playing for 40 minutes and if you do that against any opposition it's going to end up costing you on the scoreboard. "And the intangible equation of hope and energy and belief, we have given that to the opposition two weeks running now and probably longer than that. We gave it to Richmond as well. "If you don't get that from the start (of the game) you have really got an uphill battle and that's what we saw today. "We started the game OK but (from) that 10 minute mark in the first quarter. That first ball that comes out long and we have a couple of really poor aerial contests and they get out the back." THE HEAT on Collingwood is set to reach boiling point this week after Nathan Buckley's side was comprehensively beaten by a more willing Melbourne by 35 points at the MCG on Sunday. Already in the mire after an unconvincing 1-2 start to the season, the Magpies slipped into a deeper hole as the Demons thoroughly outplayed the once-fancied finals contender in the 16.6 (102) to 9.13 (67) victory. Melbourne's win was built on guts and determination as it repeatedly kept Collingwood at bay as it tried desperately to muster a second-half comeback. In just his second game, elevated rookie Josh Wagner stood firm time and again in the back half (24 disposals and six marks), while Giants recruit Tom Bugg played his best game for his new club (29 touches and nine tackles). Dean Kent's pressure around the footy was outstanding, while Jack Viney (31 disposals) and Nathan Jones (30) typically gave their all. Melbourne took it to Collingwood from the get-go, delivering its first six-goal quarter since round 13, 2014, seizing control of the game and forcing the under the pump Magpies into numerous turnovers. Infamously thrown to the wolves as a teenager in his debut game against Collingwood on Queen's Birthday back in 2009, Jack Watts produced one of the most important performances of his career. The mobile forward booted an equal-career high four goals in the first half alone, including three in the second term. Ruckman Max Gawn also continued his splendid form, with 37 hit-outs and a goal, while the big man also laid five tackles. Despite Melbourne's first half dominance, the Magpies hit back as they capitalised on Melbourne's overuse of the football, to kick four of the last six goals of the first half to cut the margin to 27 points at the major break. Although they were outplayed, the Magpies laid 57 forward half tackles (and a total of 96 for the match), a far cry from the 11 they mustered against St Kilda. Adam Treloar's class and gut running (31 touches and a goal) was pivotal in bringing his side back into the contest, while Ben Reid and Travis Varcoe, returning from a hamstring injury, repelled superbly from defence. Steele Sidebottom (26 disposals and two goals), who was sorely missed for the past two games through suspension, and skipper Scott Pendlebury (who was shifted into the midfield after starting at half back) were also pivotal in the Magpies' second-half run on. Despite Collingwood's best efforts, the momentum in the match shifted back into the Demons' favour halfway through the third term, when Pies defender Tom Langdon turned the ball over while attempting to kick across goal. He gifted Demon Dean Kent a gimme goal in the goal square as the margin increased to 27 points Similarly, Jordan De Goey's shanked kick into the middle of the ground, just a few minutes later, ended in an easy goal for Jack Viney and the Demons' lead ballooned out to 39 points. The Magpies narrowed the margin to 30 points at three-quarter time, but the hard-working Demons held firm in a desperate final-term effort to win their second game of the season. |
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