ESSENDON 1.1.7 2.2.14 7.4.46 11.7.73
GOALS - Collingwood: Sidebottom 4, Fasolo 4, Blair 3, Howe 2, Moore 2, Greenwood 2, Cox, Oxley, Smith, De Goey, Adams
ANZAC DAY MEDAL VOTING: Steele Sidebottom 9, Scott Pendlebury 6, Taylor Adams 1, Jordan de Goey 1, Adam Treloar 1
BEST - Collingwood: Sidebottom, Pendlebury, Treloar, Fasolo, Reid, Adams
INJURIES - Collingwood: Varcoe (hamstring)
REPORTS - Collingwood: Levi Greenwood for striking Brendon Goddard in the third quarter.
Official crowd: 85,082 at the MCG
1. Mason Cox joins an illustrious club
Two minutes into the game, the American-born forward kicked a goal with his first kick in AFL football, to not only join the first-goal, first-kick club, but create a new sub-category: first American-born player to kick a goal with his first kick. Cox played up front instead of omitted key forward Travis Cloke and Cox's moment set the Magpies up for a record first-quarter score against Essendon at the MCG. They had 8.4 (52) by the first break and the contest was over. It wasn't Cox's only moment. He also palmed the ball expertly to captain Scott Pendlebury at a centre bounce in the opening quarter and created a goal with a quick handball in the third quarter. It's hard to imagine the first time Magpie recruiters laid eyes on Cox was exactly two years ago at a training centre in Los Angeles. 2. Steele Sidebottom wins Anzac Day Medal Sorely missed after being suspended in the first round, the gun midfielder hit back against the Bombers with a brilliant opening half. He had 20 disposals and four goals at the long break which ensured the Magpies would win well. Known for his ability to perform on the big stage, Sidebottom hit the contest well, was at the fall of the ball all day and finished with 33 disposals, took seven marks and laid four tackles. He signed a five-year deal earlier in the year and looks set to be a key figure during this era. 3. Scott Pendlebury is back, in the midfield Collingwood finally decided to return its best playmaker to the heart of the action and he didn't disappoint. In the first half he had 23 disposals as the Magpies won the ball at the source and recorded eight of the first 10 inside 50s of the game. Pendlebury has always been a genius at stoppages so was wasted behind the ball, particularly when the midfield and forward pressure was down. He released teammates into space, showing his class by hand with 14 first-half handballs (although he made the odd mistake). He even set up a Jeremy Howe goal late in the second-quarter with an intercept deep in defence that led to a chain of handballs as the Magpies moved the ball into attack. Pendlebury is a midfielder and the flirtation with him as a defender should be put on ice, particularly with the sort of link-up play he can create with Sidebottom, Adam Treloar and Taylor Adams. |
4. A memorable occasion nonetheless When the Court of Arbitration for Sport handed out season-long suspensions to 34 past and present Essendon players, the ramifications for the Anzac Day clash was one of the first thoughts that went through most people's minds. However, the Bombers' win in the second round and form against Geelong in round four was enough to give everyone hope they could rally on the big day. Unfortunately they found Collingwood in an unsympathetic mood and appeared both overawed and out of answers very early in the game. No one blames Essendon (and full credit to the 85,082 people who turned up for the occasion) but the 76-point margin at half-time was an unfortunate reminder of what the Bombers are up against in 2016. To their credit, the Bombers fought out the second half and matched the Magpies. On the positive side, Michael Hartley was impressive in defence, Orazio Fantasia was lively inside forward 50 and the pre-match ceremony was as moving as ever. 5. Party pies The Magpies decided during the week to generate some excitement amongst the group with a simple method. Every time a goal was scored, the young Magpies mobbed the goal kicker as though it was the winning goal. The biggest two celebrations were reserved for first-gamers, Mason Cox, and the impressive Josh Smith, who also kicked a goal in his first game with a third-quarter snap. Essendon's Sam Grimley tried to do the same with an impressive solo celebration after he kicked the third goal of his career, bringing the Bombers back to within 69 points. In the end Collingwood had 11 goal kickers and every time another was kicked, the Magpies turned into party pies. Known for his ability to perform on the big stage, Sidebottom hit the contest well, was at the fall of the ball all day and finished with 33 disposals, took seven marks and laid four tackles. He signed a five-year deal earlier in the year and looks set to be a key figure during this era. |
| THE MEDIA | |
|
A win is a win. That was the message from Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley after a 69-point victory over Essendon on ANZAC Day. Although given the Bombers' plight it wasn't a time for cartwheels, but the coach was entitled to rest a little easier going in at half-time with a 76-point lead. "We have still got a lot of work to do," Buckley said. "With the position we're in right now, we'll take the win. We'll take the steps forward knowing there are plenty to go." A record first-quarter score against Essendon at the MCG built on the positive signs that had emerged a week earlier in the loss to Melbourne and put the result beyond doubt. Collingwood's second win of the season had some highlights. Steele Sidebottom won the ANZAC Day Medal after kicking four first-half goals despite feeling "crook in the guts" and vomiting before the game. American Mason Cox kicked the first goal of the game on debut and young rookie Josh Smith impressed on the big stage in his first game, kicking a goal and picking up 23 disposals. Buckley said finding the right time to play Cox was the challenge, as it was with any player, but he was pleased with what he gave the team and his competitiveness in the ruck. He said the Magpies would take some confidence from showing it could play the way it wanted to play and he was happy for his team to win their second game of the season and stay in touch with the top eight. "Any win is going to be crucial and right now for where we sit it was an important performance," Buckley said. "We clearly have a lot of improvement against any opposition going forward because we can't afford to take a half-step back." THE SIEGE engulfing Collingwood has lifted after the Magpies got their spluttering season back on track with a 69-point thumping of Essendon in an Anzac Day fizzer at the MCG. On a magnificent day for football, the Pies rose to the occasion after weeks of intense scrutiny and made a mockery of expectations that the depleted Dons might seize the opportunity to cause a boilover. Nathan Buckley's men split the match wide open with their best first term against Essendon, an 8.4 (52) blitz, on the way to a 22.10 (143) to 11.7 (73) triumph. Essendon narrowly avoided suffering the biggest Anzac Day loss – still the Bombers' 73-point defeat in 2008 – by winning the second half by seven points, but it offered little solace. Steele Sidebottom took home the Anzac Day Medal after bagging four majors and running rampant against the listless Bombers, whose worst fears were realised on the biggest stage without the 12 experienced players serving doping bans. Banished Pies spearhead Travis Cloke was a forgotten figure as a giant American ignited Collingwood, with cult figure Mason Cox marking a dream debut by slotting the game's opening goal with an ice-cold 25m set shot. The 211cm Dallas native was swamped by his teammates, and from there the Pies swarmed all over the overawed Bombers – 14 of whom were making their first appearance in the April 25 showpiece. Essendon was ranked second in the AFL for uncontested possessions leading into the match, but John Worsfold's charges simply couldn't get their hands on the ball in the face of white-hot Pies pressure. Knowing their season was slipping away at 1-3, the Pies chased, tackled and harassed the inexperienced Dons into turnover after turnover, never allowing the Bombers to settle into the contest, as Buckley's men breathed life into their campaign. Sidebottom kicked three of his majors in the opening term to end any fears of an upset, while skipper Scott Pendlebury (35 disposals) was in everything, showcasing the poise and class that Essendon sorely lacked. The Bombers (1-4) remarkably matched the Pies for inside 50 entries (27-all) at half-time, but the quality of the supply going was worlds apart as Collingwood kicked 14 goals to two. "We were able to defend well enough but we were actually scoring pretty heavily from our inside (50s), so it's a pretty simple game when you get those elements right," Buckley said. Dons spearhead Joe Daniher, often outnumbered, had a dirty day with one kick to the main break and one goal for the match. At the other end, Cox crashed packs, was nimble on the deck and finished with 10 touches, 11 hit-outs and 1.1. Adam Treloar (32 possessions) continued his great start in black and white, with strong support from Taylor Adams (36) and first-gamer Josh Smith (23). Orazio Fantasia (25 touches, two goals) was his side's best player, while ex-Geelong star James Kelly (29 disposals) made the most of his one and only Anzac Day appearance and defender Michael Hartley battled against the odds. After his first involvement on Anzac Day, Bombers coach John Worsfold said his side didn't step up to the occasion when the heat was on. "That first half was really disappointing from a lot of viewpoints. We were pretty disappointed with ourselves at half-time," Worsfold said post-match. "I thought they did (have a crack in the second half). Not to the level that we outscored them by a lot, but we played a lot better footy in the second half – more like the style of footy we're trying to play consistently." The Pies' victory continued their recent dominance of Anzac Day. They've now won nine of the last 11 contests, and 13 of the 22 blockbuster matches overall. While a much bigger challenge awaits against West Coast, Buckley's men will at least fly west with some renewed belief and a chance to push back towards a finals berth that looked so attainable during the pre-season. However, Collingwood might have to take on the Eagles without Travis Varcoe (hamstring), while Levi Greenwood could be in Match Review Panel trouble after he was reported for striking Brendon Goddard. Medical room Collingwood: The big blow was Travis Varcoe, who didn't feature after half-time and looks doubtful for the Eagles next week after "disrupting" his troublesome hamstring. Taylor Adams (knee) and Josh Smith needed early treatment but played out the match. Next up The Pies fly west for a daunting task against a West Coast side on the rebound from another disappointing effort away from Domain Stadium. Next Five West Coast, Carlton, Brisbane, Geelong, Footscray. "Any win is going to be crucial and right now for where we sit it was an important performance. We clearly have a lot of improvement against any opposition going forward because we can't afford to take a half-step back." |
COLLINGWOOD'S Mason Cox is set to retain his place as the forward line spearhead against West Coast. The bold move to select Cox for his AFL debut ahead of Travis Cloke paid dividends, with coach Nathan Buckley describing the 211cm big man as "a beacon" in the victory against Essendon. The victory helps relieve pressure on the club after an underwhelming start to the season. Buckley said he considered whether he was throwing the first-gamer "to the wolves" on Anzac Day, but was thrilled with his impact and effort. "He was excellent, he gave us everything we selected him for," Buckley said. "The contest in the air, (he was) a bit of a beacon going inside-50m or down the line when we needed to go long down the line and his follow-up at ground level was pretty industrious as well. "He created a few opportunities for the front and centre boys and competed really hard in the ruck." An eight-goal first-term blitz set up the win, helping lift Buckley's men to 11th place on the ladder. "We were plus-21 for contested ball in the first half and that's largely where it was (won) for us, which gave us field position," Buckley said. "We were able to defend well enough but we were actually scoring pretty heavily when we were inside-50m, so it is a pretty simple game when you get those elements right." He said the Pies had improved incrementally each game this season, but admitted they remained "a long way" off a complete performance. "We put it (the win) in our back pocket and clearly we have got a lot of improvement (to go) if we are going to be competitive against any opposition going forward because we can't afford to take half a step back," Buckley said. Buckley said he encouraged Cox to enjoy the occasion on Monday when they spoke minutes before the first bounce. "Like most Americans, they don't mind the big stage, so he was looking forward to it and it was good for him to have his family across," he said. Travis Varcoe is in doubt for the trip west after aggravating a hamstring in the second term. He did not reappear second half, with Buckley conceding "the likelihood is that he has probably disrupted it (hamstring) again". Cloke was dropped for the first time in 11 years last week and was starved for opportunities in the VFL side's loss on Sunday. But Buckley said the window remained ajar for Cox, Cloke and Darcy Moore to all play in the same side if they were all in form. Later, Buckley said the forward line functioned well without Cloke but the struggling star would return to his best. "We thought that our big fellas got to really good positions to draw the ball to them," Buckley told Fox Footy's AFL360 on Monday night. "I think Trav can still be a really damaging player in this competition. I think he's going to be very important for us as our year progresses. "This is short-term but he needs to find that thirst for the contest again." There had been a sense of dread about the sort of contest which might be served up to a huge live and lounge-room audience on Anzac Day almost from the moment Essendon lost half their best team in mid-January. That, however, had changed significantly by the time the occasion itself dawned. It had been Collingwood's apparent deep trough as much as some spirited showings from the Bombers which had awakened renewed hope for a game to match the moment. Naïve optimism, as it turned out. And a balloon of hope punctured very early indeed. Unless, obviously, you are of the black-and-white persuasion. Because it took fully five minutes to realise that this was a very different Collingwood to the side which had laboured through the first month of the season for one lucky win. The intensity palpably absent from their starts, even in that game, was there in spades, no Essendon player given a moment's peace when they had the ball. Which, admittedly, wasn't all that often, because the Pies dominated in every area. Mason Cox wrote the fairytale for the day, a mark and goal with his first touch at senior level, within two minutes of the start. Steele Sidebottom, sorely missed for the fortnight he was suspended, was everywhere. By the time of his first goal, five minutes in, thing were already ominous indeed. By the time of Sidebottom's third before quarter-time, Collingwood led by 34 points. And when the first change did arrive, the game was effectively over. The Magpies had rattled on 8.4 to just 1.1 to lead by 45 points. That was a far bigger gap than existed between most of the other statistics, and was testament to how well Collingwood used the football. This was the version of the Pies all that pre-season hype had been about. Led by a skipper in Scott Pendlebury who finally had some teammates jump on board with him, Collingwood tackled and contested, then ran and spread with equal enthusiasm, a balance sorely out of kilter over the first four rounds now put right. Besides Sidebottom running amok, the Pies had Jordan de Goey setting up scoring opportunities, Taylor Adams and Jack Crisp back in the sort of touch they had in 2015, and Adam Treloar exerting a greater influence the longer it went. Essendon were like a rabbit in the spotlights, hesitant, fumbly, completely overwhelmed, and after four rounds of at least decent effort, leaving their opponents in acres of space cheerfully accepted. David Zaharakis ran tirelessly, as he has all season, Michael Hartley took a strong defensive mark which was the first act in the Bombers' first goal to Kyle Langford, and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, even he restrained by his recent standards, managed to nail Adams in a tackle. But that essentially was it for the entire first half. The Bombers' first bit of fluent play came nearly 10 minutes into the second quarter, when Conor McKenna hit Mitch Brown on the chest, the first time all game they'd managed to transfer the ball from end to end for a score. But that was anything but a game-changer. More a mere hiccup in an on-going picnic for the Pies. Jarryd Blair, also busy, converted a free kick. Jeremy Howe, showing his first positive signs in black-and-white, slotted the next with Blair again heavily involved. Darcy Moore and Alex Fasolo roamed the forward line menacingly, the latter's goal just on half-time the first of four he'd kick for the day, besides setting up almost as many. Which spoke volumes as well. Fasolo hasn't always been seen as the most selfless player going around, but his attitude was reflective of a Collingwood more determined to work for each other than at any time since the pre-season served up a healthy slice of apparent fool's gold. A 76-point margin at half-time made a 100-point-plus belting seem almost inevitable. So some small credits to Essendon for actually squaring the third term and booting five goals where they had managed two for an entire half. Hartley showed again why he'll have a decent AFL shelf life, good in the contest, sensible with his exits from the defensive arc. James Kelly ended up with the most disposals for his team. Orazio Fantasia continues to get better for the Bombers, and after a slowish start, Darcy Parish had his moments, too. But it needs to be remembered that for three quarters of this game, there was no contest as such. When the heat really was on, it was Collingwood, and their key men, who were on fire, and Essendon the scorched earth which remained afterwards. Not great for the occasion, of course, but pretty timely for a club under siege. |
No comments :
Post a Comment