Monday, August 29, 2016
2016: LADDER ROUND 23
 |
Pos Position C Change from last round P Played W Won L Lost D Drawn F Points for
A Points against % Percentage Form Past five results Next Next opponent Pts Points |
Round 23: Hawthorn 112 Collingwood 111
HAWTHORN 2.4.16 7.7.49 13.8.86 17.10.112
COLLINGWOOD 4.2.26 9.6.60 11.8.74 17.9.111
GOALS - Collingwood: Crocker 3, De Goey 2, White 2, Greenwood 2, Blair 2, Treloar 2, Cloke 2, Goldsack, Grundy
BEST - Collingwood: Pendlebury, Sidebottom, Treloar, Grundy, Crocker, Phillips, Howe
INJURIES - Collingwood: Aish (hamstring)
REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil
OFFICIAL CROWD - 52,968 at the MCG
| 1. Hawthorn secures top-four spot After 23 rounds, the top four is finally set. By beating Collingwood by a single point, Hawthorn will launch its bid for a fourth-straight flag from third spot on the ladder and with the all-important double chance. Their first assignment will be a mouthwatering qualifying final against Geelong with the winner earning a week off and a home preliminary final. Adelaide's loss to West Coast has proven to be costly, with the Crows forced into a do-or-die elimination final against North Melbourne. It also means Greater Western Sydney's finals debut will be against their big brother in the Sydney Swans in the other qualifying final. West Coast and the Bulldogs will be the remaining elimination final. 2. A match for the ages The Pies were brave, but fell just short. The Hawks were classy when it counted and calm and collected in the final minutes. The usual suspects stood up – Cyril Rioli was a constant threat throughout the match, Shaun Burgoyne struck an imposing figure across the ground, and Luke Hodge directed his troops like the seasoned general he is. The Hawks were three goals up at the 17-minute mark of the fourth quarter, and looked assured of a top-four spot, but the Pies were determined to go out with a bang. Goals to Ben Crocker, Travis Cloke, Jarryd Blair and Adam Treloar (a ripping snap shot from a stoppage) gave Collingwood a six-point lead, before Jack Fitzpatrick, earlier denied a free kick for an unrealistic attempt at a mark, kicked a goal from just inside the centre square to level the scores. A hurried snap from Paul Puopolo with a minute left proved to be the winner. Collingwood fans should go home happy after this match, as the future of the club stepped up to take on the reigning premiers. |
3. Hawthorn's ruck dilemma There were questions coming into this match over the make-up of Hawthorn's ruck division, after Jonathon Ceglar tore his ACL against West Coast the week before. The news that Ben McEvoy was a late withdrawal with the unusual combination of back soreness and the birth of his first child meant the Hawks played the untested combination of Jack Fitzpatrick and Marc Pittonet. It was Fitzpatrick's first game for the Hawks after crossing from Melbourne in the off-season, and he started strongly, taking several marks in the forward 50 and kicking two goals. Pittonet was playing just his third match, and matched Brodie Grundy well in hit-outs, but struggled to compete with him in the air and around the ground. 4. One more time with feeling? If this is the last we've seen of Travis Cloke in Collingwood colours, it was a classic Cloke game. There was a bit of everything – excellent marking, poor set-shot kicking from directly in front, hard running and tackling, and a goal from 30 metres to get the Pies within six points at the end of the last quarter. He also had a shot from the boundary line that he set up to the square, where Blair marked and goaled to draw Collingwood level. Cloke has now played 246 games for the Magpies, and on the strength of this match, has not lost the appetite for the contest. 5. Young Pies leading the way Collingwood fans should go home happy after this match, as the future of the club stepped up to take on the reigning premiers. Jordan De Goey continued his impressive form up forward, kicking two goals in the first quarter, including a very nice set shot from outside 50. Ben Crocker showed good courage throughout, and also finished with three goals. Tom Phillips looked assured and ran hard, and while Brayden Maynard had a few hairy moments, his effort could not be questioned. It would be an understatement to say Adam Treloar (36 disposals) responded well after a statless first quarter, and Jack Crisp, Rupert Wills and Jonathon Marsh were also lively. |
| THE MEDIA | |
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COLLINGWOOD cannot slip any lower than it has over the past three seasons and the club is confident it can springboard back up the ladder quickly, coach Nathan Buckley has declared. The Magpies missed the finals for the third straight season, finishing in 12th position, but the their second half of the season – where they won five of the final 10 games – provides a platform to launch next year's finals assault from. Collingwood's ability to play its brand of football in a narrow one-point loss to Hawthorn to close out of the season at the MCG on Sunday, underlines Buckley's optimism for the future. However, Buckley did concede recently that he would probably lose his job if the team failed to make finals in 2017. "The reality is that we've missed finals in '14, '15, '16 and we've bottomed out but we're on our way back up," Buckley said. "We're not going back any further and we've been able to regenerate and get some really high-end talent and stock picks in different places as well. "We've got some really good opportunities going forward if we make the most of what we've got." Adding to Buckley's buoyant outlook is the fact the Magpies will get Matt Scharenberg, Jamie Elliott, Alex Fasolo, Taylor Adams and Jackson Ramsay back into the side after they all missed significant chunks of the year through injury. Buckley revealed he would travel to the United States over the off-season to observe and gain knowledge from the practices of some of the best college football (gridiron) teams. "I've organised to get across to the States. We need to continually find points of difference in the way we do things," Buckley said. "Not all of them will be obvious but they come out in your win-loss and we'll go to the ends of the earth to make sure we're providing the best possible program for our players. "Part of that is looking at best practice around the world." There is bound to be plenty of change to the club's list management and coaching team, with reports Graeme 'Gubby' Allan is set be the club's new head of football replacing Neil Balme. That leaves the future of Balme, who may take on a director of coaching role, up in the air as rival clubs circle his services. It has also been mooted former Adelaide coach and AFL Academy mentor Brenton Sanderson will join forces with close friend Buckley and sign on as an assistant coach. Magpies assistants Ben Hart and Steve Grace are no certainties to retain their positions at the club. "I can't confirm it (the Allan appointment) but we believe we're doing a fair bit right and that will come to fruition in time," Buckley said. "There's strengths in our program now that aren't immediately evident externally, but we know they are important to us, so we won't be throwing the baby out with the bathwater. "But we need to keep looking for areas of improvement. Even if you had 100 per cent personnel, in coaches, players and administrators, role over into the next season there would still be change. "That's what those decisions are going to be based on." Hawthorn will launch its assault on a fourth-straight premiership with the all-important double chance after overcoming a gallant Collingwood by one point in a thrilling contest at the MCG on Sunday. The Hawks' nail-biting win locks up third spot on the ladder and sets up a mouthwatering qualifying final against Geelong. Playing his first game for the Hawks, and his first game of the season, back-up ruckman Jack Fitzpatrick turned match-winner with a sensational running goal from inside the centre square to tie up the game at 111-apiece with just two minutes remaining. Paul Puopolo then mustered up all his energy to force through the match-defining behind with just 33 seconds left in the contest, as the Hawks hung on to the 17.10 (112) to 17.9 (111) victory that secures their place in the top four. Hawthorn was made to dig desperately deep for its victory, with Collingwood leading at quarter-time and half-time as a frustrated Alastair Clarkson made his displeasure known in the coach's box. But the Hawks lifted immeasurably in the second half, with their third-term charge led by small forwards Cyril Rioli and Luke Breust, who combined to boot six goals between them. Although he had just 11 disposals, Rioli kicked three goals and set up three more to have a major influence on the contest. With Jack Gunston (one goal) well held by Jeremy Howe, who was outstanding in defence, Breust bobbed up to boot three majors of his own as the Hawks' small forwards helped to turn the game. The Magpies were stoic and fought desperately to override Hawthorn's advantage in a stunning final term, booting four straight goals to incredibly take the lead before Fitzpatrick intervened. Sam Mitchell was typically industrious through the midfield with a team-high 31 disposals, while Shaun Burgoyne (19 touches and seven tackles) again stood up when it mattered with a clutch goal in the final term. Statless in the first quarter, Adam Treloar finished with a rush to rack up a game-high 36 disposals for the Magpies. Steele Sidebottom (33 touches) ran himself into the ground and Scott Pendlebury's poise in traffic almost was enough to lift his side over the line. In what might be his final game for the Magpies, spearhead Travis Cloke finished with two goals and hauled in eight marks as he tried hard all day. But as they so often do, the Hawks found a way to win and it was the unlikeliest of heroes – a delisted free agent picked up from Melbourne in the off-season – who made it happen. "The reality is that we've missed finals in '14, '15, '16 and we've bottomed out but we're on our way back up." |
NATHAN Buckley has drawn the curtain on Collingwood's season by declaring the only way is up. The Pies' campaign ended on the wrong end of one of the game's of the season in a thrilling one-point loss to Hawthorn - settling them in 12th spot with a 9-13 record. "When it comes to Collingwood the expectations always exceed the capabilities. There's never a time when it's the other way around; we're aware of that and we understand that and sometimes it blows back when you don't perform," Buckley said. "The reality is we've missed finals in '14, '15 '16, but we've bottomed out and we're on our way back up. I don't know where we'll finish, 12th or 13th, and we've bottomed out here. We're not going back any further. "We've been able to re-generate and get some really high-end talent and stock pick in different places and we've got some really good opportunities going forward if we make the most of what we've got." The Pies answered every challenge against the finals-bound Hawks and even fought back from 18 points down late in the game to snatch the lead with two minutes left. "The only thing we didn't do today was sing the song at the end," Buckley said. "The effort was really strong, the resilience to fight back late in that last quarter to get a goal up and then the overriding disappointment not to close it out ... they're the little things that make all the difference. "We didn't get to sing the song, but if we bring effort like that we'll be doing that plenty in the next four or five years with a very similar group. "We played against a side with 18 premiership players so that shows what we're capable of when we bring that type of effort, which we've seen for a large part of the last half of the year. We're growing and developing and improving." Buckley wouldn't comment on when list changes would be announced or on reports Graeme Allan was poised to take over as head of football. Buckley will travel overseas in the off-season for a fact-finding mission focusing on US college teams. This was a microcosm of Hawthorn's season. Rarely convincing, inconsistent, not without challenges and done with a support cast of kids and journeymen. But as has been the case so often recently, they made Harry Houdini look like an amateur. Only just though. Trailing Collingwood at the MCG by a goal at the 27-minute mark of the final term on Sunday, the Hawks looked destined for an elimination final date with the Western Bulldogs. But playing his first game for the club, lumbering former Melbourne fringe-dweller Jack Fitzpatrick took advantage of an unguarded goalsquare to spectacularly level the scores from 70m. Paul Puopolo snuck through a behind, and after probably the most entertaining game of the season, Hawthorn had secured the double chance and a qualifying final date with arch-rivals Geelong, winning by the barest of margins. It was their sixth single-digit win of the year. The Hawks did themselves no favours early. Adam Treloar - perhaps the Pies' best player this year - somehow went without a disposal in the first quarter. Yet such was the breadth of contributors in black and white, Collingwood still led at the first break, and were still 16 points to the good of the Hawks at the 11-minute mark of the second term. Treloar had 14 possessions in the second term, as he and Scott Pendlebury led a multi-pronged Magpies midfield which could yet make Nathan Buckley look like a genius. Youngsters Jordan de Goey and Ben Crocker both showed their class - sinking two first half majors apiece. In contrast inexperienced Hawks James Sicily and Marc Pittonet - brought in late for Ben McEvoy - had been quiet. While Hawks Cyril Rioli, Luke Breust, Paul Puopolo and a steely-eyed Luke Hodge worked to bridge the gap, the Pies repeatedly had all the answers, and led by 11 points at half-time. Poor kicking in defence once again proved a disappointment for the Pies. Both Nathan Brown and Marley Williams turned the ball over from their back 50, and watched as it sailed straight back for Hawthorn goals. For the umpeenth time Hawthorn's old guard stood up when needed. Sam Mitchell used his superhuman vision to find Rioli in space, setting up the Norm Smith medallist's third. Shaun Burgoyne and Jordan Lewis added their name to the goalkickers list, and by the last change Hawthorn were 12 points ahead and surging. Collingwood resisted strongly in the face of continued Hawthorn pressure. Despite being down to 21 men after a hamstring injury to James Aish - the Magpies managed to start the final term stronger than the Hawks. Levi Greenwood dribbled through an early goal, before Jesse White defied a heavily bandaged right knee to goal and level the scores. But Sicily drifted across a pack to claim a breathtaking mark, regaining the lead for his side. The Pies went forward again, but a desperate Brendan Whitecross dive prevented a leveller. Hawthorn charged away on counter-attack. Billy Hartung was waiting, taking off through the middle of the ground before bringing the Hawks fans to their feet with a clinical finish. Burgoyne added another and finally it looked like enough. But in a year full of momentum shifts there were twists still to come. Crocker took advantage of an ugly Travis Cloke thump to mark and goal, before Cloke himself closed the margin to six. The veteran forward then marked the ball 55m out on the boundary line, sending it to the goalsquare where the umpire missed a blatant unrealistic marking attempt from Greenwood. Amid the confusion Jarryd Blair marked, goaling to once more bring the Pies level. At the 26-minute mark, Treloar capped off a dazzling final three quarters to snap straight and put Collingwood ahead. The Hawks' attempt at history looked to have been delivered a fatal blow. But once again, they managed to prove they're a team like no other. |
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Round 23: The Team
| Round 23 COLLINGWOOD v HAWTHORN Time, Place, TV: Sunday August 28, 3:20pm MCG 7mate / Fox Sports 3:00pm Weather: Min 9 Max 17 Chance of rain 40%: <1mm Wind: WNW 14kph Betting: Collingwood $4.45 Hawthorn $1.21 |
OUT: Darcy Moore (hamstring)
B: Brayden Maynard, Nathan Brown, Marley Williams
HB: Josh Smith, Jeremy Howe, Tom Phillips
C: Steele Sidebottom, Adam Treloar, James Aish
HF: Rupert Wills, Travis Cloke, Travis Varcoe
F: Jordan De Goey, Jesse White, Ben Crocker
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Scott Pendlebury, Jack Crisp
Int (from): Brent Macaffer, Tyson Goldsack, Jarryd Blair, Jarrod Witts, Jonathon Marsh, Levi Greenwood, Adam Oxley
Cloke joins fellow 2010 premiers Tyson Goldsack and Brent Macaffer in the side, as well as ruckman Jarrod Witts. The selection of the 245-game power forward shouldn't come as a shock. Nathan Buckley confirmed as early as Monday that Cloke would be recalled into the team to replace the injured Darcy Moore. "Clokey's form in the last couple of weeks since going back has been really strong at VFL level," Nathan Buckley told Fox Footy's AFL 360. "He's next best suited to the role that Darcy's been playing, so he'll come in and have an opportunity to fulfill his role and perform in a game that we're really keen to win." The selection of Macaffer teases what could be a fitting farewell to AFL football. After 77 AFL games, he this week called time on a career which included a premiership, two knee reconstructions and most recently elevation into the leadership group. The forward-turned-midfielder has played just four games in 2016. However he is been in impressive VFL form and has been a regular emergency to the senior team in recent weeks. Goldsack was selected to play against the Gold Coast Suns last weekend, but withdrew after falling to a leg injury early on Saturday. Witts has been dominant at VFL level in recent weeks. The 209cm ruckman has had a remarkable 121 hit-outs in his past two games and may be selected if the coaches decide to look tall against Hawthorn. After losing Jonathon Ceglar to a knee injury against West Coast last week, the Hawks may be stretched if the Pies opt to play both Witts and regular big-man Brodie Grundy. Collingwood has not beaten Hawthorn since the 2011 Preliminary Final. The chance to end the losing streak has taken 23 weeks this season, but finally appears at the MCG on Sunday afternoon. |
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Preview Round 23: Collingwood v Hawthorn
SportsMatt
It's finally here, the end of the road for the Collingwood football club in season 2016.
It has of course come a lot earlier than what the aim was at the start of the year.
The Magpies have underachieved yet again, and will finish the season with either 9 or 10 wins, well short of a finals place.
Of course there are excuses, there always are, but season 2016 has been yet another failure for the biggest club in the land.
They can however end it on somewhat of a high note, with recent form showing just what this team is capable of on its day.
This Sunday the Pies will run into the modern day Goliath of the AFL world, Hawthorn.
The Hawks are pushing for something that hasn't been achieved since 1930, four premierships in succession.
But only one team has won the premiership from outside the top 4 (Adelaide in 1998) so for the Hawks to make history they first have to win this game and secure a top 4 finish.
That alone should be motivation for both teams and maybe we will get a classic to end the home and away season.
This strangely enough will also be the one and only meeting between the two this season.
With four quarters left in the year there's not much to achieve for the Pies in so little time. What they can do is put an exclamation point on the end of a rather forgettable season. There haven't been many memorable moments in 2016 for the Pies in fact the only ones are painful. Dane Swan, Brent Macaffer and Alan Toovey announced their retirements earlier this week and all 3 are unlikely to play on Sunday (Swan definitely won't of course). Then there's the injury list which once again seems to be getting longer after every week. There are 12 players unavailable for selection this weekend and that's nothing new either. Injuries have played a huge part in ruining this year for the Pies but there are other reasons as well. The Pies ball use, especially out of the backline is of a low quality nature and leads to a lot of turnovers. The delivery insider forward 50 isn't much better and that makes it hard when you have a make shift forward line for most of the year.
There have been positives though, and a lot of those are playing this week. Grundy, De Goey, Phillips, Crocker, Marsh, Aish, Maynard, Crisp, Smith and Wills have all taken steps forward and all should be in the side against the Hawks. Mason Cox though may well be the story of season 2016 for Collingwood. The American came into the season as a novelty act really, but made a stunning debut in the big win on ANZAC day and has made a big influence since. If Cox is selected for this game he will have played 12 senior games which is a remarkable return. Of course there's also the experienced players at the club who have kept this side competitive for most of the season. Adam Treloar and Scott Pendlebury will fight it out for the Copeland Trophy in a few weeks, with Treloar almost into favoritism now after some excellent recent form. Ben Reid and Nathan Brown down back have had solid and largely uninterrupted seasons for the first time in years too.
For this game the Pies will be forced into at least one change with Darcy Moore once again injuring his hamstring. Travis Cloke has already been confirmed as his replacement after a solid performance in the VFL on Saturday. Tyson Goldsack, Jack Frost, Matthew Goodyear, Mason Cox, Brent Macaffer and Jarrod Witts will all consider themselves some chance of being named to play the Hawks also. The last two games have been impressive from the Pies and if they bring that effort and intensity they may be able to end the season with a history changing win.
The Hawthorn football club has been able to maintain a position at the top end of the AFL table for the better of the last decade, which is extraordinary really. Now they sit on the precipice of becoming immortal in the AFL world, of equaling the great Collingwood team of the late 1920's in winning four premierships in a row. Many have tried since the team nicknamed "the machine" completed the foursome in 1930, but all have failed. The Hawks though looked likely to complete what the Lions of 2004 couldn't, until the last few weeks that was. Losses to Melbourne and the West Coast Eagles have left the Hawks teetering on the edge of the top 4, in need of a win this weekend to enter the finals with that vital double chance.
The Hawthorn midfield has been so consistently strong over the years that's it's somewhat of a shock to see it falling away in 2016. Mitchell, Hodge and Lewis may be getting older but still carry the burden of a central grouping that is beaten for contested possessions and clearances most weeks. Whether that's a deliberate attempt from coach Alastair Clarkson to nurse his aging team to September or whether they are actually gradually reducing in ability, time will tell. Last week against the Eagles they had 12 fewer clearances and 45 less contested possessions, which is a massive disparity in modern day footy. The Hawks have managed to still win games despite those figures but of late it has cost them in games they have lost. The face off against a Pies midfield that just destroyed the Gold Coast Suns last week. Pendlebury, Treloar, Sidebottom, Crisp and the best young ruckman in the game, Brodie Grundy, will test this struggling Hawks midfield.
The Hawks forward line is still their greatest asset. Even with the absence of Jarryd Roughead this season they are still as efficient as just about any team when they do get a forward 50 entry. With Gunston, Breust, Rioli and Puopolo the main stays of this attack it is still something to be feared. The surprise addition of 2016 has been James Sicily who will go into this game having kicked 28 goals for the year, more than any Collingwood player. With that 5 pronged approach and with a resting ruckman also added to it the Pies may struggle to contain the Hawks if they get it inside 50 enough. The Magpies do have a competent defense although the absence of several key players to injury means they aren't running at full effectiveness down back.
The Hawthorn backline may well be their biggest concern going into the finals. Against the Eagles last week it simply folded under constant pressure and allowed the home team to dominant. With James Frawley and Josh Gibson now the only recognisable key defenders, this is an area of the ground teams look to exploit. The Hawks have relied on a team defense throughout their successful period but with Ryan Schoenmakers getting through a few VFL games he may be recalled to help their defensive depth. The Hawks backline is also struggling to rebound the ball out of defensive 50 as they rank 16th in that statistical category. They face off against a decimated Collingwood forward line this weekend which should help them get some confidence going into the finals.
This is a massive game for the Hawthorn football club. With losses in 2 of their last 3 games a defeat here places them in an elimination final in week one of the finals. A win though secures them a top 4 spot for the sixth season in a row, and that vital double chance in the finals. They know this won't be easy though and the Hawks will have to play better than they have in recent weeks. They have lost Jon Ceglar to a knee injury and with very few other options Jack Fitzpatrick may be called upon as his replacement. Ryan Schoenmakers got through another VFL game and looks fit enough to return also. You would expect a fired up Hawthorn team on Sunday, but this 2016 version of the Hawks hasn't been that reliable.
TIP
A few weeks ago this would have been a walkover. The Magpies were struggling and looked like meandering towards the end of yet another wasted season. But the past few weeks have seen a spark of life from the Pies and they will take this game up to the once might Hawks. The importance of the game won't be lost on the Hawthorn players and they usually respond so well after a loss. Talking of losses and the absence of Jon Ceglar may make a huge difference in this game. Brodie Grundy is the best young ruckman in the AFL and is dominating for the Pies on a weekly basis now. If Grundy can get on top and give first ball use to the Pies midfielders they can come away with a win in their final game of 2016.
MAGPIES BY 4 POINTS.
| Round 23 COLLINGWOOD v HAWTHORN Time, Place, TV: Sunday August 28, 3:20pm MCG 7mate / Fox Sports 3:00pm Weather: Min 8 Max 18 Chance of rain 40%: <1mm Wind: NNW 24kph Betting: Collingwood $4.95 Hawthorn $1.18 |
It has of course come a lot earlier than what the aim was at the start of the year.
The Magpies have underachieved yet again, and will finish the season with either 9 or 10 wins, well short of a finals place.
Of course there are excuses, there always are, but season 2016 has been yet another failure for the biggest club in the land.
They can however end it on somewhat of a high note, with recent form showing just what this team is capable of on its day.
This Sunday the Pies will run into the modern day Goliath of the AFL world, Hawthorn.
The Hawks are pushing for something that hasn't been achieved since 1930, four premierships in succession.
But only one team has won the premiership from outside the top 4 (Adelaide in 1998) so for the Hawks to make history they first have to win this game and secure a top 4 finish.
That alone should be motivation for both teams and maybe we will get a classic to end the home and away season.
This strangely enough will also be the one and only meeting between the two this season.
COLLINGWOOD PREVIEW
With four quarters left in the year there's not much to achieve for the Pies in so little time. What they can do is put an exclamation point on the end of a rather forgettable season. There haven't been many memorable moments in 2016 for the Pies in fact the only ones are painful. Dane Swan, Brent Macaffer and Alan Toovey announced their retirements earlier this week and all 3 are unlikely to play on Sunday (Swan definitely won't of course). Then there's the injury list which once again seems to be getting longer after every week. There are 12 players unavailable for selection this weekend and that's nothing new either. Injuries have played a huge part in ruining this year for the Pies but there are other reasons as well. The Pies ball use, especially out of the backline is of a low quality nature and leads to a lot of turnovers. The delivery insider forward 50 isn't much better and that makes it hard when you have a make shift forward line for most of the year.
There have been positives though, and a lot of those are playing this week. Grundy, De Goey, Phillips, Crocker, Marsh, Aish, Maynard, Crisp, Smith and Wills have all taken steps forward and all should be in the side against the Hawks. Mason Cox though may well be the story of season 2016 for Collingwood. The American came into the season as a novelty act really, but made a stunning debut in the big win on ANZAC day and has made a big influence since. If Cox is selected for this game he will have played 12 senior games which is a remarkable return. Of course there's also the experienced players at the club who have kept this side competitive for most of the season. Adam Treloar and Scott Pendlebury will fight it out for the Copeland Trophy in a few weeks, with Treloar almost into favoritism now after some excellent recent form. Ben Reid and Nathan Brown down back have had solid and largely uninterrupted seasons for the first time in years too.
For this game the Pies will be forced into at least one change with Darcy Moore once again injuring his hamstring. Travis Cloke has already been confirmed as his replacement after a solid performance in the VFL on Saturday. Tyson Goldsack, Jack Frost, Matthew Goodyear, Mason Cox, Brent Macaffer and Jarrod Witts will all consider themselves some chance of being named to play the Hawks also. The last two games have been impressive from the Pies and if they bring that effort and intensity they may be able to end the season with a history changing win.
HAWTHORN PREVIEW
The Hawthorn midfield has been so consistently strong over the years that's it's somewhat of a shock to see it falling away in 2016. Mitchell, Hodge and Lewis may be getting older but still carry the burden of a central grouping that is beaten for contested possessions and clearances most weeks. Whether that's a deliberate attempt from coach Alastair Clarkson to nurse his aging team to September or whether they are actually gradually reducing in ability, time will tell. Last week against the Eagles they had 12 fewer clearances and 45 less contested possessions, which is a massive disparity in modern day footy. The Hawks have managed to still win games despite those figures but of late it has cost them in games they have lost. The face off against a Pies midfield that just destroyed the Gold Coast Suns last week. Pendlebury, Treloar, Sidebottom, Crisp and the best young ruckman in the game, Brodie Grundy, will test this struggling Hawks midfield.
The Hawks forward line is still their greatest asset. Even with the absence of Jarryd Roughead this season they are still as efficient as just about any team when they do get a forward 50 entry. With Gunston, Breust, Rioli and Puopolo the main stays of this attack it is still something to be feared. The surprise addition of 2016 has been James Sicily who will go into this game having kicked 28 goals for the year, more than any Collingwood player. With that 5 pronged approach and with a resting ruckman also added to it the Pies may struggle to contain the Hawks if they get it inside 50 enough. The Magpies do have a competent defense although the absence of several key players to injury means they aren't running at full effectiveness down back.
The Hawthorn backline may well be their biggest concern going into the finals. Against the Eagles last week it simply folded under constant pressure and allowed the home team to dominant. With James Frawley and Josh Gibson now the only recognisable key defenders, this is an area of the ground teams look to exploit. The Hawks have relied on a team defense throughout their successful period but with Ryan Schoenmakers getting through a few VFL games he may be recalled to help their defensive depth. The Hawks backline is also struggling to rebound the ball out of defensive 50 as they rank 16th in that statistical category. They face off against a decimated Collingwood forward line this weekend which should help them get some confidence going into the finals.
This is a massive game for the Hawthorn football club. With losses in 2 of their last 3 games a defeat here places them in an elimination final in week one of the finals. A win though secures them a top 4 spot for the sixth season in a row, and that vital double chance in the finals. They know this won't be easy though and the Hawks will have to play better than they have in recent weeks. They have lost Jon Ceglar to a knee injury and with very few other options Jack Fitzpatrick may be called upon as his replacement. Ryan Schoenmakers got through another VFL game and looks fit enough to return also. You would expect a fired up Hawthorn team on Sunday, but this 2016 version of the Hawks hasn't been that reliable.
TIP
A few weeks ago this would have been a walkover. The Magpies were struggling and looked like meandering towards the end of yet another wasted season. But the past few weeks have seen a spark of life from the Pies and they will take this game up to the once might Hawks. The importance of the game won't be lost on the Hawthorn players and they usually respond so well after a loss. Talking of losses and the absence of Jon Ceglar may make a huge difference in this game. Brodie Grundy is the best young ruckman in the AFL and is dominating for the Pies on a weekly basis now. If Grundy can get on top and give first ball use to the Pies midfielders they can come away with a win in their final game of 2016.
MAGPIES BY 4 POINTS.
Preview Round 23: Collingwood v Hawthorn
AFL
SUMMARY
Noses to the grindstone this week for the Hawks, as they need to win to ensure a top-four finish. They'll be happy to be back at the MCG after a nightmare trip to Perth, although their home ground advantage is negated when you consider that Collingwood plays there more than any club. History favours the Hawks, who have won eight straight over the Pies by an average of more than six goals. But the Magpies have been better over the last month and will back the likes of Scott Pendlebury and Adam Treloar to win enough footy through the midfield to cause the Hawks some problems. Not enough to win the game necessarily, but to cause the three-time premiers some anxious moments.
LAST FIVE TIMES
This could well be Cloke's farewell game for the Pies after 245 games and 439 goals, so the hope is that he goes out with a bang.
PREDICTION: Hawthorn by 10 points
SUMMARY
| Round 23 COLLINGWOOD v HAWTHORN Time, Place, TV: Sunday August 28, 3:20pm MCG 7mate / Fox Sports 3:00pm Weather: Min 8 Max 18 Chance of rain 40%: <1mm Wind: NNW 24kph Betting: Collingwood $4.95 Hawthorn $1.18 |
LAST FIVE TIMES
- R14, 2015, Hawthorn 15.11 (101) d Collingwood 12.19 (91) at the MCG
- R23, 2014, Hawthorn 18.13 (121) d Collingwood 8.8 (56) at the MCG
- R14, 2014, Hawthorn 17.13 (115) d Collingwood 13.8 (86) at the MCG
- R21, 2013, Hawthorn 18.11 (119) d Collingwood 12.12 (84) at the MCG
- R3, 2013, Hawthorn 22.13 (145) d Collingwood 13.12 (90) at the MCG
- Cyril Rioli was the difference between the sides the last time they played, kicking five goals even though Scott Pendlebury collected the three Brownlow votes with 37 disposals and 10 tackles.
- Both sides have struggled in clearances in 2016; Hawthorn is ranked 10th with 36.5 per game while Collingwood is equal 14th at 34.2 per game.
- This season has been one of the lowest scoring seasons in a long time for Collingwood. Leading goal-kicker is the injured Alex Fasolo with only 25. If it stays at 25 it will be the lowest tally at Collingwood since 1954.
- The teams have played 30 times at the MCG with 19 wins to 11. Collingwood has struggled at the MCG in 2016 winning six and losing seven.
- The Magpies have been a strong handballing side in 2016, ranked fifth averaging 176.3 per game, compared to the Hawks in equal 14th at 158.8 handballs per game.
- Hawthorn's Isaac Smith will be the better-ranked Smith in this game according to the official Schick AFL Player Ratings. He comes in at No.199 compared to Magpie Josh who is No.466.
This could well be Cloke's farewell game for the Pies after 245 games and 439 goals, so the hope is that he goes out with a bang.
PREDICTION: Hawthorn by 10 points
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Farewell Dane Swan, Alan Toovey and Brent Macaffer
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From the rookie list to premiership success, Brent Macaffer and Alan Toovey have called time on their football careers. The pair has shared many challenges and triumphs over the past decade and endeared themselves to Collingwood fans. Macaffer began his AFL career in a memorable way, securing his first senior game as a late inclusion on ANZAC Day in 2009 and kicking a goal with his first kick. Pick No. 26 in the 2007 Rookie Draft, Macaffer took his chances when they presented over the next 18 months and found himself a premiership player at the conclusion of the 2010 season. Two knee reconstructions in three years (2012 and 2014) halted the 28 year old's career but in between setbacks his reinvention as a tagger produced a break out year in 2013 where he was shutting down some of the game's most respected midfielders. Throughout his 77 games, Macaffer secured a premiership medallion, finished fifth in the club's 2014 best and fairest and was named in the club's five-man leadership group this year. Coach Nathan Buckley said Macaffer's career has thrown everything at him. "His growth as a person through it all has been significant. He played many roles in his time and gave everything he had to them," Buckley said. "Above all, his care and support for his teammates endeared them to him and he became a strong leader as a result." Toovey's football journey has spanned over a decade and includes 159 games for Collingwood. A fan favourite, the Collingwood army's affectionate chant of 'Toooovs' echoed around the MCG every time the defender ran off half back with the ball in hand. Selected at pick No. 2 in the 2006 Rookie Draft, the West Australian wasted little time making his mark, earning his senior debut in Round 3 the following year. Consistency and tenacity meant Toovey quickly became a vital cog in Collingwood's backline, continually shutting down some of the games' best small forwards. Toovey was a member of the 2010 premiership team and received the highly-regarded Darren Millane Award as best clubman in 2012 before a knee injury cruelled his 2013 season. Buckley described Toovey as reliable, dependable, selfless and an absolute competitor. "Alan achieved the ideal of being a great teammate from his first game and carried on for 11 seasons," Buckley said. "Tooves' contribution to his team was consistent effort and attitude and you knew he would just get the job done...every time." Macaffer and Toovey will play out the AFL and VFL seasons.
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COLLINGWOOD champion Dane Swan has announced his retirement after admitting he couldn't trust his injured foot to hold up into a sixteenth AFL season. The Magpies superstar confirmed the news in a letter to members shortly after 10.30am, with the club holding a media event to celebrate his career featuring Swan, president Eddie McGuire, former coach Mick Malthouse, coach Nathan Buckley and his father, Billy Swan. Swan said he came to the decision to retire "two or three weeks ago" despite his heart telling him to play on. In the end the superstar midfielder knew he couldn't go on after the horrific broken leg and foot he suffered in Round 1 this year. "Two or three weeks ago I thought it was probably time," he said. "I just couldn't trust my foot to go around anymore. "I was trying to fight the decision in my head. I've probably known for a while that I didn't think I could play but going down and watching the boys I'd like to get back out there. "I was probably trying to push that decision in my head. In my heart I wanted to go on but my head knew that I couldn't go on. "I spoke to Bucks a couple of times and he sort of said deep down you'll know. "It was right in my gut that I needed to go. "Thankfully I probably got the best out of myself. Did I look after myself as well as some of the others? "Probably not but I think I got the best out of my career and the best out of my life in these last 15 years. "I've been lucky I've had the best of both worlds — do what I want off the field and play some decent footy on it as well." Swan paid tribute to premiership teammate Ben Johnson, who he said helped him realise the hard work it takes to play AFL football. It's well documented the star midfielder was on the outs at Collingwood, with then-coach Malthouse giving him one more chance to continue his career. "There's no doubt without that I was gone. I had no idea how hard it was to be an AFL player. I can't thank them (Johnson and his mates) enough," he said. "They showed me and they forced me to work because they cared about me too as a person and thought I could play." Buckley lauded the star midfielder's work ethic despite his carefree persona and involvement in the well-publicised "ratpack" "There was raw talent, clearly but there was a particular off-season when he started training with 'Johnno' (Ben Johnson) and it was either going to go one way or the other," Buckley recalled. "He just decided ... he had a couple of really good mates to push each other along and it really was the impetus that started the success of that late 2000s and ultimately the flag (in 2010). "That was Swanny just deciding he wanted to make the most of this along with Johnno and a couple of others and they trained over the off-season and came back in really good shape and his game started building from there. "One thing that Swanny does do and really took from that was he wouldn't want to tell anyone that ... he worked as hard as he actually did throughout his career. He wouldn't want to give the impression he actually cared or tried. "But that's in fact what we saw internally and if he wasn't doing it out on the track he'd be building himself on the treadmill and doing his six 500s, which was his staple. "And doing it at a pace that no one else would be able to keep up with." McGuire said there's no doubt Swan has earned his place in the history of the football club alongside names including Gordon Coventry, Peter McKenna and Tony Shaw. "One of the greatest players in the history of the Collingwood Football Club," McGuire said. "He's the player of his generation." His father Billy, a gun footballer in his own right, paid tribute to the dedication of his son to his career. "It's a testament to Dane, he just improved every year," he said. Swan announced his retirement in a letter to members, declaring "the end has arrived" as he revealed the painful reality of the horrific broken leg and foot he suffered in the opening five minutes of the Round 1 clash against Sydney. "I once said that Collingwood couldn't get rid of me. I joked about being an indestructible pest, a cockroach, capable of surviving anything life or the game could throw at me," he said. "Playing football, for Collingwood, was fun and fun, as some of you may have gathered over the years, is a powerful motivation of mine," he said. "The truth, of course, is that I am not indestructible and with a surgically repaired foot that aches with every step, I have played my last game. The end has arrived." The Brownlow Medallist paid tribute to the football club he played his entire AFL career at, in an emotional thank you to the members and supporters that have followed his career. "But in retirement there is still something very true in what I said about staying at Collingwood," he said. "It is the place that, in football terms, I have called home for the last 15 years, somewhere I will always feel I belong. That I can return to. "In a way, I will never leave Collingwood because I know Collingwood will never leave me. "You should know that whatever I was able to give back, whatever my career amounted to, I will always owe Collingwood. "I wore the black and white stripes with pride, always feeling that you were equally proud top see me waddle out in number 36. We were good together." Swan played 258 games for Collingwood, with former coach Mick Malthouse expected to be among those to be present at his press conference and pay tribute to the Brownlow Medallist. Past players, current teammates and family will also be in attendance. Swan to is set to be compensated in the hundreds of thousands of dollars for the foot injury that has forced his exit. It's understood Swan will be eligible for a payout of about $400,000. The compensation clause, part of the AFL-AFL Players' Association collective bargaining agreement, allows players who suffer new career-ending injuries access to 50 per cent of their base salary in the last year of their contract. Players have to prove their retirement came from an injury that was not from a pre-existing condition, which Swan should have little trouble in doing. The Brownlow medallist broke three bones — including a fracture of his Lisfranc — in the opening minutes of Collingwood's Round 1 clash with Sydney. Swan, 32, was taken at pick No. 58 in the 2001 national draft and became one of Collingwood's most decorated and loved players. |
Injury List
| Injury Update Tuesday, August 23, 2016 | |||
| Player | Injury | Status | Round 23 COLLINGWOOD v HAWTHORN Time, Place, TV: Sunday August 28, 3:20pm MCG 7mate / Fox Sports 3:00pm Weather: Min 8 Max 16 Chance of rain 60%: 1-5mm Wind: N 30kph Betting: Collingwood $5.10 Hawthorn $1.17 |
| Taylor Adams | Ankle and hip | Season | |
| Tim Broomhead | Shoulder | Season | |
| Jorden De Goey | Ankle | Test | |
| Jamie Elliott | Back | Season | |
| Alex Fasolo | Shoulder | Season | |
| Tyson Goldsack | Foot | Test | |
| Tom Langdon | Knee | Season | |
| Darcy Moore | Hamstring | Season | |
| Jackson Ramsay | Knee | Season | |
| Ben Reid | Knee | Season | |
| Matt Scharenberg* | Knee | Season | |
| Brayden Sier | Back | 1-2 weeks | |
| Ben Sinclair | Concussion | Season | |
| Dane Swan* | Broken leg/foot | Season | |
| * Placed on the club's long-term injury list | |||
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Darcy Moore will focus on his conditioning work in order to overcome a string of recent hamstring injuries. The 20-year-old's season is over after Moore suffered damage to his hamstring in the second quarter of Saturday night's win over the Gold Coast Suns. Collingwood director of football Neil Balme on Monday said the injury wasn't severe, but would be enough to sideline Moore from the upcoming round 23 clash with Hawthorn. "It's not terrible, but it's bad enough for him to miss this week," Balme told Collingwood Media's 'Blackmores Injury Update'. "I'm sure that he'll get out of that fine, but he certainly won't play this week." When Moore returns to pre-season training, he may take on an adapted program to prevent future problems. "Obviously with an athlete like him, we're going to have to do a fair bit of work conditioning him to make sure he's resilient to play week after week for the many, many years he's going to play with the Pies," Balme said. As Balme discussed Moore's fitness in the future, two Magpies spent the day recovering from surgery. Ben Reid went under the knife to repair an injured knee last week, while Taylor Adams on Monday had an arthroscopic operation on his hip. "Ben has had surgery on his knee," Balme said. "There's obviously quite a significant recovery period but he'll have a decent pre-season and should be able to play at the start of next season. "Taylor Adams missed the game with an ankle and has also had some hip injuries. "It's only been done today, so I'm not sure of the outcome. But I expect that to be a quick recovery." After a 12th consecutive victory on Sunday, the VFL Magpies' season will continue beyond the completion of the home and away season. Two players eligible to compete in the VFL finals are Tyson Goldsack and Brayden Sier. While Sier has been on the sidelines in recent weeks, Goldsack was last week named in Collingwood's AFL side before a foot and ankle injury forced a late withdrawal. Balme on Monday said he was "pretty confident" the premiership defender would return this weekend, however the outlook on Collingwood's first pick in the 2015 draft remained less convincing. "Brayden Sier he thought might be back for this week," Balme said. "He's some chance of playing in the VFL finals, but unless he gets some work into his legs, he may not." A number of Collingwood players who weren't discussed by Balme remain on the injury list. |
Key forward Travis Cloke will replace the injured Darcy Moore in the final round against Hawthorn, despite senior selection making him ineligible for VFL finals. The 29-year-old has spent the past fortnight with the Magpies' VFL squad after being dropped for the third time this season, and has kicked a total of nine goals in his last two VFL outings. Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley confirmed Cloke had earned a reprieve after Moore went down with a right hamstring injury against Gold Coast on Saturday night. "Cloke will play. You can't have the to and fro going through the week," Buckley told Fox Footy on Monday night. "Darcy has been our premier forward throughout the year when he's been up and he's missed some games with injury. "Clokey's form in the last couple of weeks since going back has been really strong at VFL level and he's next best suited to the role that Darcy's been playing, so he'll come in and have an opportunity to fulfill his role and perform in a game that we're really keen to win." Sunday's clash against the Hawks may be Cloke's last game for the Magpies, with speculation rife that he may change clubs at the end of the season despite having one year remaining on his contract. Moore, meanwhile, had scans on Monday to have the hamstring injury assessed. He said the injury was more serious than the tightness that forced him to miss round 20 as a precaution, but he ruled out damage to the tendon and expected it to be just a standard hamstring issue. "It was a bit worse this time. A few weeks ago it was more precautionary, but this time was definitely an episode," Moore said. "[I will] hopefully get a few weeks of good rehab in, have a good break in the off-season and come back ready to go." Despite injury Moore, 20, has had an excellent second season, playing 17 games for 24 goals and showing enough for Buckley to declare him the main man up forward for Collingwood over the next decade. His injury is likely to deny him the Magpies' leading goalkicker award for the season however, with Alex Fasolo having kicked 25 goals in 12 games before his season ended early following shoulder surgery. By contrast, Cloke, who has kicked 15 goals in 12 games this season, has struggled to adapt to the team's needs. Collingwood is on top of the VFL ladder with one match to play. To be eligible for VFL finals, players must play no more than 12 senior games. |
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ON THE BLOCK: Darcy Moore's hamstring strain paves the way for a possible recall for Travis Cloke, who has nine goals from his past two VFL outings. Tyson Goldsack was a late withdrawal with a foot problem which emerged on game day. Speculation continues to swirl around Dane Swan with a possible announcement on the Brownlow medallist's future this week. ON THE CUSP: Cloke has kicked nine goals in two matches in the VFL and surely gets a recall to the senior team for what could be his final game in black and white. Tim Golds and Alan Toovey were also among the Pies' best against Box Hill. LEO SCHLINK'S FORECAST: The Pies could barely have been more impressive in a 71-point demolition of Gold Coast. But for 0.9 in the final term, Nathan Buckley's team would have posted a record win over the Suns. Stung by a narrow loss to the Western Bulldogs in Round 20, Collingwood gets the chance to end its season on a high against reigning premier Hawthorn this week. To do so, it will need to be even more efficient than it was against the Suns. |
Monday, August 22, 2016
2016: LADDER ROUND 22
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| Pos Position C Change from last round P Played W Won L Lost D Drawn F Points for A Points against % Percentage Form Past five results Next Next opponent Pts Points |
Sunday, August 21, 2016
Round 22: Collingwood 118 Gold Coast 47
COLLINGWOOD 7.3.45 12.8.80 16.13.109 16.22.118
GOLD COAST 0.2.2 1.6.12 4.8.32 6.11.47
GOALS - Collingwood: White 3, De Goey 3, Crisp 2, Greenwood 2, Treloar, Smith, Crocker, Sidebottom, Phillips, Pendlebury
BEST - Collingwood: Grundy, White, Treloar, Crisp, Howe, Pendlebury, Smith, De Goey
INJURIES - Collingwood: Goldsack (foot) replaced in selected side by Williams, Moore (hamstring), De Goey (right foot)
REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil
OFFICIAL CROWD - 17,644 at Etihad Stadium
GOLD COAST 0.2.2 1.6.12 4.8.32 6.11.47
GOALS - Collingwood: White 3, De Goey 3, Crisp 2, Greenwood 2, Treloar, Smith, Crocker, Sidebottom, Phillips, Pendlebury
BEST - Collingwood: Grundy, White, Treloar, Crisp, Howe, Pendlebury, Smith, De Goey
INJURIES - Collingwood: Goldsack (foot) replaced in selected side by Williams, Moore (hamstring), De Goey (right foot)
REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil
OFFICIAL CROWD - 17,644 at Etihad Stadium
| 1. The injury curse continues Nic Naitanui and Jonathon Ceglar require knee reconstructions after hurting themselves on Friday night, Paddy McCartin broke his collarbone on Saturday, North Melbourne's Scott Thompson's groin played up and Darcy Moore and Sean Lemmens joined the long list of casualties from this week's footy. The Sun was knocked out after a collision with Jesse White while Moore's right hamstring was injured as he slid for a mark. It could mean Travis Cloke has one last chance to prove his worth, after the premiership player kicked four goals earlier on Saturday in the VFL. 2. Fair to say the Melbourne experiment didn't work The Suns spent the week in Melbourne after they played Essendon last Sunday. The combination of a six-day break, and the club not being in finals contention, meant they were prepared to stay in Victoria to do some sponsor and media work, and to let the players experience the footy-mad environment. They responded by not kicking their second goal of the game until halfway through the third term in a listless display. It came on the back of a poor effort versus the Bombers, and Gold Coast looks to be running on fumes. It's hard to determine how much impact not returning home had on the Suns' display, but they're unlikely to try it again. 3. Jesse White – the ultimate tease The 28-year-old has long had a massive gap between his best and worst, and he was excellent against the Suns, although it came in a contest where both teams were out of finals contention. He finished with 17 disposals, 10 marks and registered 3.4. Some of his work in the air was brilliant, with his best effort coming at the end of the second term, when he took a grab between Rory Thompson and Steven May. It just happens too rarely for the liking of Magpies fans. This is the final season of a three-year deal for the former Sydney Swan, and it remains to be seen whether White will earn another contract. |
4. Fans in short supply There was nothing riding on the game, and the supporters weren't prepared to spend their Saturday night at the indoor arena. Just 17,644 people were in attendance, which was the lowest-ever number at Etihad Stadium for a Collingwood match. It's hard to blame anyone though – the Pies have had a disappointing season after being touted as potential finalists following the arrivals of Adam Treloar, Jeremy Howe and James Aish. Making the top-eight has been the minimum standard set by Nathan Buckley for 2017, or as he himself acknowledged on Friday, Buckley will be looking for a new job. 5. Howe flies, but Brodie's braids capture attention Footy fans have become accustomed to Howe taking a speccy a week, but against the Suns, he delivered two. In the second term, he flew over all two metres of Peter Wright to bring excitement to a lacklustre game. His effort over Steven May early in the third quarter was arguably even better. Brodie Grundy was the only person on the field who could match Howe in terms of being eye-catching, with the in-form ruckman sporting braids – a hairstyle not often seen in the AFL. Just 17,644 people were in attendance, which was the lowest-ever number at Etihad Stadium for a Collingwood match. It's hard to blame anyone though – the Pies have had a disappointing season after being touted as potential finalists following the arrivals of Adam Treloar, Jeremy Howe and James Aish. Making the top-eight has been the minimum standard set by Nathan Buckley for 2017, or as he himself acknowledged on Friday, Buckley will be looking for a new job. |
| THE MEDIA | |
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Darcy Moore's season is finished after he injured his right hamstring in the second quarter of Collingwood's Saturday night match against Gold Coast. Moore hurt himself while attempting a mark and was seen wearing ice on his hamstring in the rooms at half-time, and did not return to the interchange bench to start the second half. He eventually appeared in a tracksuit top on the sidelines in the final quarter. Pies coach Nathan Buckley said after the game that Moore had proven himself fit to face the Suns after he had hurt the same muscle in round 19, but that he wouldn't play against Hawthorn in round 23. "He's nicked his hammy again, so he won't play next week," Buckley said. "He was a little bit sore when he came off against West Coast and he missed the second half, and he missed the next game against Richmond. "He did everything right, ticked all the boxes, and we got him back up. There's a bit of strengthening to be done there and we wanted to win as many games as we could." The injury opens the door for Travis Cloke to return to the senior team, after the 29-year-old booted four goals in the VFL. That effort came on the back of his five goals in the state league last week. GOLD Coast spent all of last week in Melbourne in an unique plan to prepare the team for back-to-back games at Etihad Stadium. But on Saturday night's evidence against Collingwood, the Suns might as well have headed back to Queensland, skipped training and gone for a surf. Collingwood put the listless Suns outfit to the sword under the Docklands roof, setting up the commanding 71-point win with a dominant first term that saw them jump to a seven-goal lead. Gold Coast's different preparations in Melbourne might have been set up to give the young side a taste of the football bubble in Victoria, but it did not deliver a competitive effort from the Suns, who fell to the 16.22 (118) to 6.11 (47) defeat. The Pies' win was their first at Etihad Stadium since 2014, and followed their strong performance against the Western Bulldogs last week when they fell short by three points. But the victory was soured by another hamstring injury to young star Darcy Moore, which may open the door for a senior recall for Travis Cloke, who kicked four goals for the Pies' VFL side on Saturday. Pies forward Jesse White put in one of his best games with three goals, 10 marks and 17 disposals to be the most damaging inside-50 player, while Adam Treloar (38 disposals, six tackles and a goal), Scott Pendlebury (32 disposals) and Brodie Grundy (26 disposals, 36 hit-outs, five clearances) were also excellent. Jeremy Howe took on Suns goalkicking star Tom Lynch and won that battle, gathering 29 disposals and amassing 18 marks – two of which were trademark high grabs. Youngsters Josh Smith, Jordan De Goey and Tom Phillips also impressed, in what would have excited Pies' fans after a trying third straight year out of the final eight. "We rate Gold Coast's speed, and they clearly picked a more outside, quicker team. On the fast track (of Etihad Stadium), we didn't want it to turn into a running race. We controlled our ball use really well and we were able to keep the ball in our front half more often than not," coach Nathan Buckley said after the game. Touk Miller backed up his 39-disposal effort from last week's loss to Essendon with another 32 touches for the Suns, while Aaron hall provided some moments of zip with his 26 touches. There were few other winners for the Suns, who had 129 fewer disposals and 18 fewer inside 50 entries (61 to 43) than the Pies. The signs were ominous early. The Pies moved the ball with ease through their midfield, and sent it inside their forward-50 with next to no pressure. It saw them boot seven goals for the opening term to open up a 43-point lead at the first change, against a Gold Coast side that went goalless and was largely uncompetitive for the quarter. Pendlebury has made much better teams look slow and out of position than this injury-hit Suns line-up. But the poise he had to coolly turn onto his non-preferred right foot midway through the quarter and snap the Pies' fifth goal highlighted the lack of pressure by the Suns. The Suns got their first goal less than a minute into the second term when Ryan Davis made the most of a 50-metre penalty, but that was their only major of the half to record their lowest half-time score (1.6) of the season – second lowest in the club's short history. Collingwood continued to pick apart the Suns in the second term, piling on another five goals to open a 68-point margin at the main break. Pleasingly for the Pies, it wasn't just the usual faces making the running. First-year midfielder Smith collected 20 disposals in the first half, De Goey kicked two goals from 11 first-half disposals, and inconsistent forward White was having one of his best games of the season with three majors to the major change. The latter rounds of a long season often offers these types of contests, with two sides out of finals contention largely playing for time with the end of the year in reach. But Collingwood showed the way to take on the task, and Gold Coast presented the opposite approach. The Pies were methodical in their style and clinical in their execution across the game, with Treloar's third-term running goal exposing the gap between the sides. The former Greater Western Sydney midfielder, playing his 100th career game, burst out of the centre square, sped away from a group of chasing Suns, shot away a handball, won the ball back and snapped a classy goal. Treloar was too good, but it was all too easy. The Pies' 77-point advantage at the final change meant the game was already wrapped up in the last term, with the Suns' two goals the only majors of the last term. "We've been far more consistent [since the bye], Even though we've only won five of those nine, we've had a really tough draw. We lowered our colours against Richmond, but for the most part we've played more consistent footy. We've still had some personnel challenges - but every team has. We've probably handled them better in the back half of the year. It's encouraging, given we want to finish this season as well as we can. So next week against Hawthorn is pretty important." |
IN TERMS of 2016 finals’ permutations, it was irrelevant but there was nothing redundant about Collingwood’s thumping 71-point thumping of Gold Coast at Etihad Stadium. In the throes of completing a season pot-holed by injury, unfulfilled hope and now the apparently imminent retirement of Dane Swan, the Magpies could have wandered aimlessly into September. Not so. Narrowly denied by the Western Bulldogs last week and with vengeful Hawthorn lurking this week, the Pies were in no mood to spare a shamefully uncompetitive Gold Coast. Aware of the microscopic scrutiny of coach Nathan Buckley, the Magpies duly produced their second-biggest of win of their season. Arch Collingwood critics will point to the Suns’ cruelly depleted injury bulletin — notably Gary Ablett, Dion Prestia and Michael Rischitelli — but failure last night would have been calamitous for both Buckley and his players. It was never a possibility. The Pies came to play. By contrast, Gold Coast checked out early. The match was over at quarter-time as the Pies mercilessly savaged a limp Suns outfit devoid of intensity to lead by 43 points. Posting its best first-quarter score — 7.3 — against Gold Coast, Collingwood condemned the Suns to a long, miserable ordeal. By half-time, the gap had blown out to 68 points. And it should have been more. By three-quarter time, it was 77 points. But for poor finishing in the final term, the winning margin would have been even more gaping. Led by Adam Treloar, Josh Smith, Scott Pendlebury, Brodie Grundy and Jeremy Howe, Collingwood’s attitude and willingness to work embarrassed the Suns. Celebrating his 100th game milestone with another towering performance, Treloar gathered a game-high 34 possessions to be the most influential player on the ground. The perceived difference in class separating the club lists might be arguable but the gulf in intensity was instructive. Gold Coast was a rabble, disinterested and bereft of confidence. Pressured, there was no response. It was destroyed in every facet as Collingwood gorged on the type of victory that resonates throughout the off-season. Setting the tone from the start with superior skill and desire — evidenced by 43 contested possessions to 28 in the first quarter alone — Collingwood took control early and refused to relent. By the end, the statistical edge had become a landslide with 451 possessions to 321, 61 to 43 inside 50s and 143 contested possessions to 124. Collingwood’s backline, protected by an industrious midfield, was miserly and suffocated Tom Lynch and Sam Day. And its forward unit, even without Darcy Moore (hamstring), was impressively potent. While Moore’s hamstring injury might provide Travis Cloke with an opening against Hawthorn after four goals yesterday in the VFL, the Gold Coast’s problems run much deeper. As experiments go, Gold Coast’s decision to spend a week in Melbourne tapping into the AFL heartland must have seemed like a good idea at the time. With matches in quick succession against Essendon and the Magpies, the Suns set up a temporary base intent on bonding and the possibility of plucking a couple of late-season wins. When Rodney Eade returns to Queensland today, he will do so with even more injury concerns after Sean Lemmens suffered concussion in a heavy collision with Jesse White. White’s right shoulder connected the left side of Lemmens’ face in an incidental clash, leaving the Suns’ defender unconscious. Medical staff raced to the prone backman, fitting a neck brace before using the motorised cart to stretcher him off. More worrying is the cavalier mindset that allowed professional footballers to be mentally uncompetitive. Moore limped from the ground after diving low for a mark in the second quarter and didn’t return. Overlooked Collingwood veteran Travis Cloke is in line for another senior recall for the Magpies' last game of the season against Hawthorn after an injury to boom forward Darcy Moore. Cloke, who has been dropped to the VFL three times this season and has been widely tipped to seek a trade to Richmond at the end of the season, kicked four goals for Collingwood's reserves side on Saturday. And Magpie coach Nathan Buckley said after his side's massive win over Gold Coast that the 29-year-old shaped as the likely replacement for Moore, who he confirmed wouldn't play next week after straining a hamstring. "He's performed really well over the last couple of weeks," Buckley said of Cloke. "Trav's kicked five and four in the last two weeks, so he's been pretty good. Mason [Cox] played [in the VFL] today, I saw the first half and he took a few good marks, but we'll pick the best side to get the job done next week." Moore had missed Collingwood's round 20 loss to Richmond after straining a hamstring against West Coast and missing the second half of that win. Buckley said the club would need to look at more strengthening work for the young key forward, whose season was now over. "He's nicked his hammy again so he won't play next week. He did everything right, ticked all the boxes and we got him back right," Buckley said. "But clearly there's a bit of strengthening to be done there. As I said, we wanted to win as many games as we could. It's unfortunate that he's gone down, but that will see him out for 2016." Buckley said he was encouraged by Collingwood's form over the second half of the season, despite the fact the Magpies will finish with their lowest tally of wins since 2005, when Buckley was still captain of the club. "We've been far more consistent [since the bye]," he said. "Even though we've only won five of those nine, we've had a really tough draw. We lowered our colours against Richmond, but for the most part we've played more consistent footy. "We've still had some personnel challenges - but every team has. We've probably handled them better in the back half of the year. It's encouraging, given we want to finish this season as well as we can. So next week against Hawthorn is pretty important."
NOTES
MEDICAL ROOM Collingwood: Tyson Goldsack was a late withdrawal with a foot problem that arose on game day, with the Pies unsure on its severity. Exciting forward Darcy Moore strained his hamstring in the second term and played no further part in the game, in what will be a frustration for the Pies after some injury niggles this season. NEXT UP The Pies play Hawthorn at the MCG at 3:20pm, Sunday August 28. LAST GAME SEASON 2016 Hawthorn |
Thursday, August 18, 2016
Round 22: The Team
| Round 22 COLLINGWOOD v GOLD COAST Time, Place, TV: Saturday August 20, 7:25pm Etihad Stadium Fox Sports 7:00pm Weather: Min 6 Max 14 Chance of rain 80%: 1-5mm Wind: WNW 26kph Betting: Collingwood $1.32 Gold Coast $3.43 |
OUT: Taylor Adams (ankle)
B: Jonathon Marsh, Nathan Brown, Jeremy Howe
HB: Josh Smith, Tyson Goldsack, Brayden Maynard
C: Steele Sidebottom, Adam Treloar, James Aish
HF: Rupert Wills, Darcy Moore, Travis Varcoe
F: Adam Oxley, Jesse White, Ben Crocker
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Scott Pendlebury, Jack Crisp
Int: Jordan De Goey, Jarryd Blair, Levi Greenwood, Tom Phillips
Emg: Brent Macaffer, Marley Williams, Travis Cloke
When Treloar's new side meets the Gold Coast Suns at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night, the midfielder will reach the significant milestone of playing 100 AFL games. "I can't believe how quick it's gone," Treloar, 23, told Collingwood Media during the week. "I have to sit back and pinch myself to realise that I'm doing something that I love and I'm so passionate about," he said on vodcast 'Sports Galore'. "To be able to play 100 games at such a young age – I think eventually down the track I'll realise that it's a big milestone for me." Joining Treloar for his 100th game will be a team of players with just one change from last week's three-point loss to the Western Bulldogs. An ankle injury to Taylor Adams means the midfielder will miss the remainder of the season, while Ben Crocker returns from concussion. "He's done well with his opportunities," Collingwood director of football Neil Balme said of Crocker. "It's a pretty hard spot up forward where you have to make all your own opportunities. "He's down really well." A host of experience sits among the Magpies' emergencies, with Travis Cloke, Brent Macaffer and Marley Williams all on standby. The Saturday night clash against the Suns marks Collingwood's second consecutive week playing under the roof of Etihad Stadium. The ground hasn't been kind to the Magpies in recent years with Collingwood having lost its last six games at Etihad, last winning in round 11, 2014. The tide will look to be turned against the 14th-placed Suns as Nathan Buckley's side chases a ninth win of 2016. |
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Preview Round 22: Collingwood v Gold Coast
SportsMatt
It's been yet another disappointing year for Collingwood and the Gold Coast. Both came into season 2016 with high hopes with many tipping the Magpies to push for a top 4 spot and the Suns to push for a spot in the finals. Early on it was obvious neither were achieving their goals as they took loss after loss, both on field and in terms of personnel. That may be the biggest story of 2016 for these two promising young lists, injuries. The Magpies have been hit hard with talented players like Swan, Elliott, Reid, Fasolo, Ramsay and Scharenberg all missing plenty of games. The Suns once again have also had an injury curse befall them with names like Ablett, Rischitelli, Swallow, O'Meara and McKenzie missing large chunks of the season. But while injuries have definitely effected both teams ability to perform, to come into a round 22 matchup with a combined record of 14-26 simply isn't good enough given the talent of their respective lists.
One team will get some redemption on Saturday night though when the two face off at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne. It's the second last game of the season with both the Pies and Suns coming off close losses last week. The difference in those losses is extreme though. While the Magpies were commendable for their fight and effort against a finals side, the Suns were condemned and ridiculed for their loss to Essendon, who had previously only won one game. Prior to last weekend though the Suns had shown some good signs with wins over Fremantle and Brisbane and close losses to GWS and Melbourne. That loss to the Bombers is unforgivable though, and the only way to redeem themselves is to put up a better effort against another non finalist on Saturday night.
As the Magpies come close to the end of another wasted year it's hard not to look at the negatives that have occurred and the reasons for the failure. But there are positives and two of those are Brodie Grundy and Darcy Moore. Grundy, entrusted with the number one ruck role has matured into an AFL class ruckman in just his fourth season. At just 22 years old the big South Australian looks at home already where most ruckman don't hit their strides until at least their mid 20's. With a career high 47 hitouts last week (to improve upon the 45 against the Eagles a few weeks back) Grundy is now the ruckman that the Pies can trust going forward. Talking about forward, and young forwards, and you have Darcy Moore, who in just his second season needs just 2 more goals to win Collingwood's goal kicking award for the season. Moore also has put up big numbers against the Dogs and Eagles with 11 scoring shots in those two games. In these two players the Pies may well have the best young ruckman and best young tall forward in the game.
The biggest positive at the club at the moment though may not be at senior level at all, it's in the reserves. The Magpies VFL team has now won 11 games in a row and with 2 games remaining only needs one win to secure a top 2 spot and a home final. In the 11th win in a row last weekend, over Port Melbourne at Victoria Park, there were several standouts. Travis Cloke, the most talked about reserves play in Australian sport at the moment kicked 5 goals and if the Pies are picking a side on form he should play seniors this week. The defense held up magnificently though and this was mainly due to three senior listed players, Frost, Williams and Toovey. Williams was the standout and was especially brilliant in the final term when the opposition were attacking with a wind advantage. At least Magpies fans will see finals this year, even if it is only at VFL level.
As for the game against the Suns, all Pies fans will want to see is a repeat of the effort that was put forward against the Dogs. That effort along with the talent on the field should see the Pies notch their 9th and probably final win of season 2016.
The Gold Coast Suns were supposed to make a dramatic move up the ladder this year. After finishing in 16th spot with only 4 wins in 2015 many were predicting the Suns would even play finals this season. They started the season well too with 3 straight wins and all of a sudden it seemed these young Suns would mature into a competitive team. Since then though they've only won 3 more games and are once again sitting in the bottom third of the AFL ladder. Of course there's been extreme injury problems on the Gold Coast but a probable finish of 6-16 for the year isn't the return the club, or the AFL world were expecting.
The problems have really all stemmed from the injuries to the midfield this season for the Suns. If you look at their best possible lineup, this week they will be missing Ablett, Rischitelli, Swallow, Prestia, Nicholls and O'Meara from their central core. That's a massive list of outs and shows why they rank last for clearances this season. In their absence it's been left up to a rag tag group of kids and experienced depth players to fill the gap. Hall, Hallahan, Shaw, Martin and Miller will likely make up the midfield against the Pies and that makes it an almost impossible task to match the star studded lineup that Collingwood will field. It is hard to see the Suns beating a Collingwood midfield that includes Pendlebury, Treloar, Sidebottom, Greenwood, Grundy, Aish and Crisp.
If this Gold Coast team has a strength it's their forward line. Despite having one of the lowest inside forward 50 entry rates in the AFL the Suns have still managed to out score five teams for total points this season. Add to that the lack of production from their midfield and this forward line has the promise to carry this team for years to come. The star of course is Tom Lynch, who in a struggling side is amazingly still a chance of winning the Coleman medal. With 63 goals from 20 games Lynch is a bona fide star of the AFL. He has some support too with Day, Wright, Matera, Grant and Martin all able to impact the scoreboard. The Suns forwards may be able to stretch a Magpie defense that is now missing Reid, Ramsay, Scharenberg and Langdon from it's first choice lineup, if they can get the ball inside forward 50 enough of course.
The Suns backline has held up pretty well most weeks considering the beating out of the middle the team has been getting. Stephen May and Rory Thompson lead the way down back although they would love the experienced Nick Malceski to return this week. Malceski will have to pass a fitness test to take on the Pies so it won't be known for a few days if he's available. The Suns back line hasn't been as injury hit as the rest of the ground but the absence of Trent McKenzie is hurting their rebound ability. The positive for the Suns defense is they run into a dysfunctional Magpies forward line that itself has been hit by injuries. With no Fasolo, Elliott, Swan and probably Cloke (not injured obviously) the Suns will only have to restrict the output of young star Darcy Moore to have an impact here.
The Suns will want to bounce back from one of their worst performances in club history last weekend. The loss to Essendon will leave a bitter taste in the mouth and with the team staying in Melbourne for the entire week they will prepare for this game like a mini final. It is important to finish this season on a high and this may be the best chance the Suns have of doing that.
TIP
Even with the expected increase in effort from the Suns after last week's embarrassing loss Collingwood should simply win this game. The midfield is where the problem is for Gold Coast and it's hard to see how they can match it with the Pies stars in the middle. It's a small advantage to the Suns that this game is at Etihad Stadium and not the MCG but in the end that should count for little and the Pies should win quite easily.
MAGPIES BY 24 POINTS.
| Round 22 COLLINGWOOD v GOLD COAST Time, Place, TV: Saturday August 20, 7:25pm Etihad Stadium Fox Sports 7:00pm Weather: Min 6 Max 14 Chance of rain 70%: 1-5mm Wind: WNW 26kph Betting: Collingwood $1.32 Gold Coast $3.41 |
One team will get some redemption on Saturday night though when the two face off at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne. It's the second last game of the season with both the Pies and Suns coming off close losses last week. The difference in those losses is extreme though. While the Magpies were commendable for their fight and effort against a finals side, the Suns were condemned and ridiculed for their loss to Essendon, who had previously only won one game. Prior to last weekend though the Suns had shown some good signs with wins over Fremantle and Brisbane and close losses to GWS and Melbourne. That loss to the Bombers is unforgivable though, and the only way to redeem themselves is to put up a better effort against another non finalist on Saturday night.
COLLINGWOOD PREVIEW
The biggest positive at the club at the moment though may not be at senior level at all, it's in the reserves. The Magpies VFL team has now won 11 games in a row and with 2 games remaining only needs one win to secure a top 2 spot and a home final. In the 11th win in a row last weekend, over Port Melbourne at Victoria Park, there were several standouts. Travis Cloke, the most talked about reserves play in Australian sport at the moment kicked 5 goals and if the Pies are picking a side on form he should play seniors this week. The defense held up magnificently though and this was mainly due to three senior listed players, Frost, Williams and Toovey. Williams was the standout and was especially brilliant in the final term when the opposition were attacking with a wind advantage. At least Magpies fans will see finals this year, even if it is only at VFL level.
As for the game against the Suns, all Pies fans will want to see is a repeat of the effort that was put forward against the Dogs. That effort along with the talent on the field should see the Pies notch their 9th and probably final win of season 2016.
GOLD COAST PREVIEW
The problems have really all stemmed from the injuries to the midfield this season for the Suns. If you look at their best possible lineup, this week they will be missing Ablett, Rischitelli, Swallow, Prestia, Nicholls and O'Meara from their central core. That's a massive list of outs and shows why they rank last for clearances this season. In their absence it's been left up to a rag tag group of kids and experienced depth players to fill the gap. Hall, Hallahan, Shaw, Martin and Miller will likely make up the midfield against the Pies and that makes it an almost impossible task to match the star studded lineup that Collingwood will field. It is hard to see the Suns beating a Collingwood midfield that includes Pendlebury, Treloar, Sidebottom, Greenwood, Grundy, Aish and Crisp.
If this Gold Coast team has a strength it's their forward line. Despite having one of the lowest inside forward 50 entry rates in the AFL the Suns have still managed to out score five teams for total points this season. Add to that the lack of production from their midfield and this forward line has the promise to carry this team for years to come. The star of course is Tom Lynch, who in a struggling side is amazingly still a chance of winning the Coleman medal. With 63 goals from 20 games Lynch is a bona fide star of the AFL. He has some support too with Day, Wright, Matera, Grant and Martin all able to impact the scoreboard. The Suns forwards may be able to stretch a Magpie defense that is now missing Reid, Ramsay, Scharenberg and Langdon from it's first choice lineup, if they can get the ball inside forward 50 enough of course.
The Suns backline has held up pretty well most weeks considering the beating out of the middle the team has been getting. Stephen May and Rory Thompson lead the way down back although they would love the experienced Nick Malceski to return this week. Malceski will have to pass a fitness test to take on the Pies so it won't be known for a few days if he's available. The Suns back line hasn't been as injury hit as the rest of the ground but the absence of Trent McKenzie is hurting their rebound ability. The positive for the Suns defense is they run into a dysfunctional Magpies forward line that itself has been hit by injuries. With no Fasolo, Elliott, Swan and probably Cloke (not injured obviously) the Suns will only have to restrict the output of young star Darcy Moore to have an impact here.
The Suns will want to bounce back from one of their worst performances in club history last weekend. The loss to Essendon will leave a bitter taste in the mouth and with the team staying in Melbourne for the entire week they will prepare for this game like a mini final. It is important to finish this season on a high and this may be the best chance the Suns have of doing that.
TIP
Even with the expected increase in effort from the Suns after last week's embarrassing loss Collingwood should simply win this game. The midfield is where the problem is for Gold Coast and it's hard to see how they can match it with the Pies stars in the middle. It's a small advantage to the Suns that this game is at Etihad Stadium and not the MCG but in the end that should count for little and the Pies should win quite easily.
MAGPIES BY 24 POINTS.
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