BRISBANE 0.0.0 3.0.18 7.2.44 10.5.65
GOALS - Collingwood: Cox 4, White 3, Crocker 3, Treloar 3, Adams, Blair, De Goey, Fasolo, Grundy, Moore, Varcoe
BEST - Collingwood: Treloar, Pendlebury, Sidebottom, Blair, de Goey, Oxley
INJURIES - Collingwood: Cox (hand)
REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil
OFFICIAL CROWD - 24,552 at the Gabba
| 1. Hot Pies It took Collingwood nine minutes to find a major, but by then the writing was on the wall. The Pies entered the game having won just one opening quarter for the season – against Essendon on ANZAC Day – but burst out of the blocks against the Lions, though. By the time they'd kick their first, the Pies had a good grip on the contest, and had already amassed nine inside 50s to one, for one goal, five behinds. Pleasingly for Nathan Buckley, it was his midfield stars who led the way, with Scott Pendlebury (13 possessions), Adam Treloar (11) and Steele Sidebottom (nine) setting the scene. 2. What now for Leppa? He entered the season as the coach most under pressure – in the eyes of the media, at least. Despite the disaster that was this match against the Pies, it should be noted the Lions have shown improvement. They ran with ladder-leaders North Melbourne for much of their round two contest and were unlucky not to take home the points against the Swans just a fortnight ago. Last week's capitulation to Port Adelaide into the abomination against the Pies undoes much of what could have been claimed as improvement for the season. Justin Leppitsch put the acid squarely on his midfield in the wake of the Port loss and outside the always-spirited Mitch Robinson and Dayne Zorko's willingness to put his body on the line, there was barely a ripple of response from their teammates, especially when the heat was on before half-time. 3. The big American played his best game At half-time, Mason Cox led the Brisbane Lions 3.1 (19) to 3.0 (18). He finished with four goals and a sore hand, thanks to Darcy Moore landing on it in the third quarter. It was Cox's most commanding performance for the year and will give Magpies fans something to ponder when they inevitably ask whether the experiment will work long-term. Strong in the air, Cox had opponent Daniel Merrett searching the entire catalogue of his 188 games to find answers – answers which evaded him for most of the night. Cox was helped by a forward line which appeared to function as well as it has for quite some time, probably stretching back into 2015. |
4. Travis Varcoe may have a big say in Collingwood's fortunes Minutes before the bounce, Buckley told the host broadcaster of his pleasure at having Travis Varcoe's run back into the team. Running out for just the third time this season, and the first time since round five, Varcoe was part of a large contingent of Pies prepared to run the footy from defence and kick through the Lions' midfield, and his kicking and decision-making (while rarely under much duress, it must be said) were good throughout. Varcoe's instinct up forward hasn't left him, either, as he showed with a clever goal in the third quarter. 5. Bring on the Cats Let's not forget the Pies entered the match under arguably more pressure than the Lions, especially when it came to the coach, who was the victim of another drive-by by his former boss, Mick Malthouse. Former skipper Nick Maxwell added to the storm on Friday night, when he told Melbourne radio SEN he felt the Pies were absolutely shot of all confidence. So a trip out of town to collect four points and load up on confidence thanks to a large group of key players finding some of their best footy for the season might be just the thing to stiffen Collingwood nerves before a meeting with the rampaging Cats at the MCG next Saturday afternoon. The Magpies midfield, so potent and in control against the Lions, face a much tougher fight against Geelong's deep resources, but they do so with a month of good form behind their skipper and recruit Adam Treloar entrenched as one of the form players of season 2016. The Magpies midfield, so potent and in control against the Lions, face a much tougher fight against Geelong's deep resources, but they do so with a month of good form behind their skipper and recruit Adam Treloar entrenched as one of the form players of season 2016. |
| THE MEDIA | |
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There was definite improvement, but Nathan Buckley says Collingwood still has a long way to go despite thumping the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night. The Magpies' coach said he was "encouraged" by the 68-point win but already had one eyed on next week's opponent Geelong when assessing their performance. Buckley said the first half – that generated a 65-point lead – was built on good ball movement and an accountable team, but he was disappointed after the main break. "While we were really encouraged by the fact we stood up when the whips were cracking, we've clearly got a long way to go and we're yet to play a four-quarter game this year," he said. "I suppose the game was done, but we just made some poor decision at times. We'll learn from that. "The leaders in the playing group were dissatisfied with how we finished. "We come up against Geelong next week and we've got to bring that first-half intensity for four quarters if we want to be competitive. "We think we're capable of it, but we're still yet to execute it." Collingwood's third win of the season will momentarily take the intense spotlight off them, after a strong all-around team performance. Led by midfielders Adam Treloar and Scott Pendlebury, the Magpies ran roughshod over the Lions, setting up ample scoring opportunities with 70 inside 50s. Buckley said the biggest turnaround from the scratchy form of the first seven weeks was more of a complete team effort. "We had less passengers," he said. "We showed the footy we were capable of playing, but we haven't been able to execute often enough. "For us it's the next step in our recovery I suppose, from a really poor start to the season, to hopefully getting back to some stronger footy." Buckley said there was no structural damage to Mason Cox's hand after the giant forward had it accidentally trod on by teammate Darcy Moore. COLLINGWOOD has released the pressure valve for at least a week, thumping a pathetic Brisbane Lions by 78 points at the Gabba on Saturday night. In one of the worst showings in recent Lions history, the Magpies kicked the game's first eight goals and were never troubled, winning 20.23 (143) to 10.5 (65). Collingwood kicked 8.13 before the Lions registered their first point – a goal to Dayne Zorko at the 14-minute mark of the second quarter – and missed a host of gettable set shots throughout the night. In a week when he copped a clip from former Pies mentor Mick Malthouse, Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said the win was promising, but his team still had a lot to improve on. "We played a really good half and we just got through the second half," Buckley said. "We showed the footy we were capable of playing, but we haven't been able to execute often enough. "For us, it's the next step on our recovery I suppose, from a really poor start to the season to hopefully getting back to some stronger footy." It was just the opposite for Buckley's "shocked" counterpart Justin Leppitsch, who was at a loss to explain his team's performance. In the same week Lions deputy chairman Leigh Matthews questioned whether there was demand for two teams in Queensland, his club was booed off at half-time by most of the home crowd of 24,552. It might be a while before many of them return. "I would have thought even Collingwood would have been shocked with that level of effort and intensity and just listlessness," Leppitsch said. "It just looked like we couldn't move. It was bizarre. "I've got to take responsibility for that and get better as a coach." In a woefully lopsided opening half, Collingwood had 28 scoring shots to three and should have led by more than 65 points on the way to setting up its third win of the season. The Magpies were led beautifully by captain Scott Pendlebury's 34 disposals, including a match-high 17 contested, while Adam Treloar (36 touches and three goals) was a driving midfield force with his run-and-carry. Giant American forward Mason Cox continued his improvement, kicking four goals in his fourth career game, while Jesse White (three) and second-gamer Ben Crocker (three) were also lively in the forward 50. The Lions battled away in the second half, but were abysmal when the game was up for grabs. The corridor from Collingwood's half-back line into its forward 50 resembled a red carpet, such was the ease with which they moved the ball. Chains of handballs and waves of runners flooded forward for much of the match, as Steele Sidebottom (31 disposals), Jarryd Blair (25) and Jordan de Goey (23) all joined in on the carve up. The Magpies weren't always clean, but they were committed and had a clear game-plan the hosts simply refused to match. They dominated disposals (388-311), contested possessions (152-115), clearances (48-24) and inside 50s (70-38). Zorko with four goals, Stefan Martin, Mitch Robinson and Dayne Beams – before he was taken off at three-quarter time with a knee niggle - were the Lions that could hold their head high. Medical Room Giant forward Mason Cox was taken off late in the third quarter after having his hand accidentally trodden on by teammate Darcy Moore. He returned in the final term and coach Nathan Buckley said it was "a bit swollen and sore" but had no structural damage. Next up Collingwood will try to make it back-to-back wins and revive their finals hopes when they host Geelong at the MCG on Saturday afternoon. Next Five Geelong, Footscray, Port Adelaide, Melbourne, Fremantle |
COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley was "satisfied'' but not content with the 78-point demolition of Brisbane at the Gabba. The Magpies blew the Lions off the park in the first half when the visitors had 28 scoring shots to three to establish a commanding 65-point lead at the main break and set-up their third win of a turbulent 2016 campaign. A pathetic Brisbane was scoreless in the first term while Collingwood piled on 33 unanswered points to relieve the pressure on the senior coach who has been under the pump for the past week. Buckley was happy with the first half but disappointed his side took the foot off the pedal late. "We were relatively satisfied with the first half. It's the type of footy we're capable of playing. Coming up away from home, it's important to stamp your mark on the game and that was where we played our best footy,'' he said. "We moved it well in the manner we'd like to more often than not. "Generally it's a product of the opposition defence and your offence, but we were in better shape more often and were able to turn it over in the front half, which helps. "We had less passengers. More blokes were prepared to play their role and I think the contest was a lot better. "We played a really good half and we just got through the second half. We showed the footy we were capable of playing, but we haven't been able to execute often enough. "For us it's the next step on our recovery I suppose, from a really poor start from the season to hopefully getting back to some stronger footy.'' Adam Treloar was best-on-ground with 36 disposals, five clearances, eight inside 50s, three goals and two scoring assists. Captain Scott Pendlebury had 34 touches, nine clearances, 10 inside 50s and five scoring assists. US giant Mason Cox kicked four goals but suffered a hand injury after being accidentally stomped on by teammate Darcy Cox but should be fine to take on Geelong next weekend. "I thought our midfield were really strong and well supported by our backs who got up high and locked the ball in. to get 40 insides for the first half was really strong,'' Buckley said. "Clearly if we'd have kicked straighter we could have put a bigger gap in it, but to be able to keep sending the ball back inside 50 was a strong part of the game. "It's (Cox's hand) a bit swollen and sore, but I think he'll be right. "As far as I know he was cleared of any structural damage. "He does some things that are a little different. He zigs when everyone thinks he's going to zag. His teammates are starting to understand that and know how we can use his strengths to our advantage. He had a solid game and contributed well.'' Take a moment to let this statistic sink in. At half-time at the Gabba, Collingwood had made 28 scoring shots to the Lions' three. Seventeen of them had been behinds, which saved the Lions from total humiliation, but needless to say the game was safely in the Magpies' keeping. The inside-50 count alone was 41-15. But as deplorable as Collingwood's skills were, the Lions were even worse. Of 82 kicks, 15 were ineffective and another 15 were clangers. They didn't notch their first score until 14 minutes into the second quarter, when Dayne Zorko marked and goaled, and he followed it immediately with a second. He finished with four. After kicking 4.9 in the first quarter, though – including four that hit the post – the Magpies had managed to locate their kicking boots, sort of, routing the Lions with another 7.8 for the second quarter. Some of the misses were comical – Greenwood from 20 metres out from a set shot, De Goey on the run from 15. On the other hand, they had Mason Cox, the giant Texan who frankly looked like he'd been playing the game longer than many of his teammates and opponents alike. He kicked four goals. And Adam Treloar, who runs his guts out every time he plays. And two constants in Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom. The Magpies moved the ball quickly and directly, frequently sweeping the ball from defence to attack in the blink of an eye, only to let themselves down with misdirected handballs or poor finishing. In that regard, they looked a lot like the Lions, when they actually turn up to play: quick but not especially skilled labourers. But they didn't turn up. Lions coach Justin Leppitsch is under far less pressure than Collingwood counterpart Nathan Buckley, but this was surely one of the worst performances his team has dished up in his time at the helm. Buckley's position is not much more secure this week, given the standard of opposition his team faced. The Lions managed to staunch the bleeding for a time in the third quarter, with four early goals, only to then give the same number back in return in embarrassingly easy fashion. True to form, the Magpies added another five behinds for good measure, four from very gettable set shots. But after edging the Gold Coast Suns in round four, the Lions have lost to the Western Bulldogs by 53 points, Port Adelaide by 77, and now Collingwood by 78 – and that margin absolutely flattered them. In between, they did well to run Sydney to the wire, which only shows that the gap between this side's best and worst remains vast. Of the entire team, only Zorko, Stefan Martin and perhaps Dayne Beams could look Leppitsch in the eye after the game. It said much for the state of Queensland football that the loud boos for Beams early on came from the Collingwood fans, who seemed close to outnumbering an otherwise near-silent home crowd at the Gabba. "While we were really encouraged by the fact we stood up when the whips were cracking, we've clearly got a long way to go and we're yet to play a four-quarter game this year." Nathan Buckley |
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