Round 15: Collingwood 99 Gold Coast 60

THE FACTS

2018 AFL Round 16 COLLINGWOOD v ESSENDON Time & Place: Sunday July 8, 3:20pm EST MCG Fox Sports 3:00pm EST Weather: Min 5 Max 12 Chance of rain 56%: 1mm Wind: NW 22kph Betting: Collingwood $1.59 Essendon $2.38

COLLINGWOOD     4.3.27   10.6.66   13.11.89   14.15.99
GOLD COAST         3.2.20     4.4.28       7.7.49     8.12.60

GOALS - Collingwood: Thomas 4, Stephenson 3, De Goey 2, Cox, Crocker, Maynard, Mihocek, Pendlebury,

BEST - Collingwood: Grundy, Pendlebury, Stephenson, Thomas, Adams

INJURIES - Collingwood: Lynden Dunn (leg)

REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil

OFFICIAL CROWD - 13, 637 at Carrara Stadium Gold Coast

TALKING POINTS

1. Collingwood storms into top two Collingwood propelled itself into second place on the ladder with its sixth win in a row. The Magpies’ 39-point victory over the Suns was also their tenth win of the year, the first time they've won that many games in a season since 2015. Adam Treloar might have been missing but the Pies’ midfield was as fearsome as ever, with skipper Scott Pendlebury leading the way on the back of some sensational service from ruckman Brodie Grundy. Nathan Buckley's men are finals bound and have now laid the groundwork for a top-four finish. 2. Reborn Pie scores goal-of-the-year contender Josh Thomas came back to haunt the team he once played Under 18s for with a sensational four goal effort, including an Eddie Betts-like goal of the year contender in the second quarter. Thomas looked like he would slide across the boundary with the ball, but kept the Sherrin in play, regained his feet and snapped truly from the pocket. Thomas played for the Gold Coast in TAC Cup in 2009 before the expansion club joined the AFL but was drafted by Collingwood. His performance showed why the Suns would rue not picking him up. 3. Suns show last-quarter fight                             Just when it looked like Gold Coast was staring down the barrel of another blow out, Stuart Dew's side showed some much needed fight to win the last quarter. They might have claimed it by a mere point, but it was only the second time they’ve won a final term this season, so for Suns fans, it’s a start. Wil Powell on debut looked promising, scoring a fantastic snapped goal with this first kick in AFL football, while Gold Coast local Brayden Crossley also put in a solid performance. 4. Young Pie stakes Rising Star claim You could nearly start writing Jaidyn Stephenson's name on the Rising Star award now. The first-year Collingwood forward has been building momentum in recent weeks and kept his hot form going with a three-goal performance against the Suns.  The smart 19-year-old scored his first goal in the second quarter when he gave stronger-bodied opponent Steven May a well-timed nudge under the ball, allowing the Pie to run into an open goal. The elusive Stephenson then scored two quick goals early in the third term to take the game away from the Suns. 5. Hollywood on the Gold Coast The Gold Coast might have been missing some star power on the field with gun forward Tom Lynch out injured, but it was a different prospect in the stands with Hollywood A-lister Matt Damon spotted enjoying the hospitality at Metricon Stadium. The buzz around the ground was that AFL-mad actor Chris Hemsworth, who lives just over the border in northern New South Wales, was the man responsible for bringing Damon along. Unfortunately for the Gold Coast fans, the Suns couldn’t make a Jason Bourne-like escape from a rampaging Collingwood's clutches.

THE MEDIA

SUPERFOOTY COLLINGWOOD has produced the perfect audition for Tom Lynch’s signature with a 39-point win over Gold Coast that has lifted the Magpies to second on the ladder. Lynch, a free agent at the end of the season and a target of Collingwood, Richmond and Hawthorn, watched on with the 13,637 at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night as Collingwood recorded a 14.15 (99) to 8.12 (60) victory. The 25-year-old won’t play another game this year due to a knee injury and could be next seen in Magpies colours at AFL level where he would slot into a forward line already boasting spearhead Mason Cox, Jordan de Goey and Jaidyn Stephenson. It was Collingwood’s sixth straight win and Gold Coast’s ninth straight loss. Gold Coast have become a welcome fixture for sides looking for a percentage boost and the side who has conceded the second most points this season (1361) helped ensure only reigning premiers Richmond stand ahead of the Magpies on the ladder. The Suns wanted to give fans confidence they knew what they were delivering in 2018 after so much inconsistency and they have delivered en masse. Gold Coast’s ability to repeat the same mistakes of their past, almost quarter-by-quarter, has been remarkable. The struggling club exhibited the same dare and physical pressure they have shown in the opening quarter of their recent losses, matching Collingwood’s contested work while both struggled to deliver clean balls into forward areas. The start of the second quarter signalled the predictable drop in output by Gold Coast, missed chances, turnovers in the defensive 50m and ill-discipline gifted the AFL’s most in-form side control. Gold Coast trailed by 38 points at the main break and it went out to 59 before the Suns pegged it back to 40 going into the final term. Winning the final quarter for just the second time this year was the Suns only small victory on the night. Brodie Grundy’s (49 hitouts, six clearances) influence across the ground and at stoppages couldn’t be quelled by Suns trio Jarrod Witts, Brayden Crossley and Peter Wright while the latter failed to impact the game as a forward in Lynch’s absence. Metricon Stadium has been haunted by past Suns players since the club’s return from the biggest road trip in AFL history. Gary Ablett (37 disposals, three goals) and now Josh Thomas (four goals, 22 clearances), who was part of the club’s TAC Cup side, have run riot against the Queensland club who could struggled to record another win this season. AFL COLLINGWOOD has surged into second place with its sixth straight win, easing past Gold Coast by 39 points at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night. The Magpies kicked eight consecutive goals across the first and second quarters to set up a match-winning lead and were never seriously threatened. They led by 38 points at the main break and extended that to 59 points during the third quarter before winning 14.15 (99) to 8.12 (60). The win was soured by a knee injury to defender Lynden Dunn during the third term that kept him from returning to the field. Magpies coach Nathan Buckley was frustrated his team didn't go on with the job as Gold Coast won just its second final quarter of the season. "I thought we played as good a footy in the first two-and-a-half quarters as we've played," Buckley said. "I really thought it was a challenging contest. "Then we dropped right off. It looked like physically we weren't able to maintain it. "It was an ugly game of footy for the last 45 minutes. "We played some of our best footy and we played some of our worst." However, they now trail only Richmond after 15 rounds, edging past West Coast, Sydney and Port Adelaide on percentage to sit in second. While the loss of Adam Treloar to injury might have an impact down the track, it made little difference first-up, with the midfield load shared around. Skipper Scott Pendlebury (25 disposals and a goal) and ruckman Brodie Grundy (23 touches, 49 hit-outs and nine tackles) could raffle the best on ground. Taylor Adams (30 and eight clearances) was exceptional in tight, while Steele Sidebottom (24) and Jack Crisp (22) also got plenty of ball. Josh Thomas also had a night to remember against the club he first played TAC Cup for in its inaugural 2009 season. The 26-year-old Queenslander continued his fine season, kicking four goals to go with 22 disposals, including a special effort midway through the second term. He ran down unsuspecting Suns defender Jarrod Harbrow, crunched him in a tackle and then picked up the loose ball before it could go over the boundary line and calmly slotted the snap with his left boot from deep in the right forward pocket. While it's the first time Collingwood has won six straight since 2012, the loss was Gold Coast's ninth in succession – the third worst streak in club history. The Magpies' pressure was just too much. The Suns tried hard early, and debutant Wil Powell kicked a sublime goal off the left foot with his first kick in the AFL, but they couldn't sustain the intensity for long enough. Collingwood pounced on turnovers, with cross-goal kicks from Steven May and Jarrod Harbrow in their defensive 50 picked off in the first half for goals. It was a theme that haunted Stuart Dew's men. To the Suns' credit though, they continued to fight where they haven't in previous weeks, and understandably Dew was rapt. "That last 40 minutes ... the heart that they showed and I guess the passion for each other was really there," he said. "It’s a turning point for the footy club, I think the way they went about it. "After they kicked the first three goals in the third quarter, the response was impressive. "Full credit so the players on that one. I think there was a lot to like for our footy club and supporters." Gold Coast had more inside 50s (58-52) but were sloppy. Touk Miller (33), Jarryd Lyons (32 and 12 clearances), David Swallow (31) and Jarrod Harbrow (29) all busted their backsides for four quarters. MEDICAL ROOM Collingwood: Defender Lynden Dunn was the only casualty from the contest, limping off with a knee injury in the third quarter. Coach Nathan Buckley said Dunn would need scans, but he was "concerned" about the injury. NEXT UP The Magpies will try and make it seven wins in succession next Sunday when they face arch-rivals Essendon at the MCG. REAL FOOTY Collingwood are second on the ladder. Fifteen rounds into season 2018, that is no small thing, but then, when is Collingwood not a big thing? Even re-signed for another two years, Nathan Buckley’s tenure as coach looked far from secure. And while this wasn’t a cakewalk, he has a settled team playing fine football. Let’s not get carried away, though. After a stoic first 20 minutes from the Suns, Collingwood more or less did as they pleased for the next two quarters, going to a 59-point lead, then took their foot off the pedal. The last quarter was an error-strewn scrap as the Pies were held to one goal, finishing with a 39-point win. The Suns, left bereft by the season-ending injury to forward Tom Lynch, were never going to be a match for the Pies, who have also had a favourable draw. They don’t have to face Richmond and Sydney until rounds 19 and 20. Finals seem assured, but we might not know much more until then. Collingwood have a major loss of their own to contend with, too, after Adam Treloar pinged both hamstrings last week, and there’s no doubt they missed his drive. They may be further unsettled by the potential loss of full back Lynden Dunn, who left the field in the third quarter with a leg injury. But this side, which couldn’t buy a reliable forward target last year, has so far been the most successful at building on Richmond’s unorthodox attacking model. Mason Cox is the pillar, albeit an extremely mobile one for a man 211 centimetres tall. When you’re that size, you don’t need to kick bags, just get to lots of contests. At his feet are the reborn Josh Thomas, who finished with four goals, Rising Star favourite Jaidyn Stephenson (three), Will Hoskin-Elliott (goalless, for the first time this season) and the game’s hottest property, Jordan de Goey, when he’s resting up forward rather than exploding out of the centre. Brody Mihocek, a rookie, is proving another handy option. Jamie Elliott could yet come back, another small who plays tall. Buckley suddenly has options galore at his disposal, fed by the dominant Brodie Grundy and the still sublime Scott Pendlebury. Grundy barges through contests; Pendlebury waltzes. The Suns tried valiantly to shut down Collingwood’s run, playing a highly contested brand of football that characterised their first few games this season. Stoppages were up, with 33 in the first quarter alone, Grundy facing off against former Pie Jarrod Witts. It forced a number of errors, with Jack Martin winning a free in front of goal when he caught Steele Sidebottom dead to rights, and Collingwood didn’t appear entirely switched on either, with a number of passes directed at teammates’ bootlaces and their delivery inside 50 inefficient. But the Suns, minus Lynch, had their own problems in that area. Just as Thomas gave up a goal to the home side with a misdirected pass across the centre, captain Steven May then gave one straight back with the Mihocek intercepting a short kick 35 metres from goal. That kicked off a run of eight straight goals to Collingwood that effectively finished the contest by half-time. Stephenson was first on the board in the second quarter, far too nimble at ground level for May, after edging him under the ball with the slightest of bumps. Thomas shortly had his second with a brilliant effort, sliding on to the ball in front of Jarrod Harbrow, trapping it on the boundary line and snapping over his head. Thomas’ comeback from a two-year drug suspension has been one of Collingwood’s best stories of the season: he now has 24 goals. The Suns could have easily been blown off the park, and it’s to Stuart Dew’s team’s credit that they dug in, Jarrod Harbrow repelling many attacks and Touk Miller, May and David Swallow all fighting hard to regain some respectability. Collingwood face a resurgent Essendon next week.