Round 19: Richmond 105 Collingwood 77

THE FACTS

2018 AFL Round 20 COLLINGWOOD v SYDNEY SWANS Time & Place: Saturday August 4, 7:25pm EST SCG 7mate 7.00pm EST Fox Footy 7:20pm EST Weather: Min 8 Max 21 Chance of rain 0% Wind: NNW 9kph Betting: Collingwood $1.83 Sydney Swans $1.98

RICHMOND           5.2.32  8.3.51  11.6.72   16.9.105
COLLINGWOOD   2.1.13  7.1.43  11.2.68     12.5.77

GOALS - Collingwood: Thomas 4, Hoskin-Elliott 3, Cox 2, Daicos, Brown, Mihocek

BEST - Collingwood: Grundy, Pendlebury, Thomas, Greenwood, Adams, Moore

INJURIES - Collingwood: Howe (concussion), Mihocek (ankle), Scharenberg (knee)

REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil

OFFICIAL CROWD - 88,180 at the MCG

TALKING POINTS

1. Higgins makes every post a winner There was no shortage of brilliant goalsneaks on the MCG on Saturday, but Jack Higgins outdid them all with a miraculous effort in the third quarter that is sure, at the very least, to give the Goal of the Year a serious shake. Gathering the ball just before the goal-line, Higgins kept it alive by tapping it forward, then somehow weaved his way around the right-hand goalpost just in time to soccer the ball with a flying scissor-kick that flew over his head and through the big sticks. Any player at soccer's recent World Cup would have been proud to claim it as his own, while it was also reminiscent of a star cricketer thwarting a six by throwing the ball back over the boundary rope to complete a catch. 2. Tigers find an extra gear again When Josh Thomas kicked his fourth goal late in the third quarter to bring Collingwood back within four points, it seemed the Magpies had the confidence and momentum to go on and record their biggest win of 2018. However, as they have done so often this year when challenged, the Tigers put the foot down in the final quarter to pull comfortably clear. With three unanswered goals in the first five minutes, the reigning premiers were suddenly 22 points ahead and were never seriously challenged from there. Yes, Collingwood had been carrying an undermanned interchange bench after Jeremy Howe's game-ending concussion late in the first term and losing Matt Scharenberg to a knee injury. But the Tiger tsunami in the final quarter had a sense of déjà vu – and inevitability – about it nonetheless. 3. Vertically-challenged Magpies lose more height The Magpies entered Saturday's game already light on for tall options in defence and became even more shorthanded when Jeremy Howe was concussed in a marking contest late in the first quarter. With Lynden Dunn and, probably, Tyson Goldsack out for rest of the season with knee injuries, Howe had become the Pies' No.1 key defender in recent weeks and, as such, got the big job on Richmond spearhead Jack Riewoldt. However, Howe's day was over after teammate Darcy Moore accidentally kneed him in the head as both flew for a pack mark. It meant Moore had to go to Riewoldt. The emerging defender gave the daunting task his all, but Riewoldt kicked-started the three-goal burst at the start of the final quarter that broke the game open for the reigning premier and finished with three valuable goals. 4. Richmond top legendary Demons' record MCG run With their win over the Magpies, the Tigers recorded their 18thconsecutive victory at the MCG, breaking the record they had shared with Norm Smith's legendary Melbourne team of 1955-56. Richmond's golden run started in round 14, 2017, with a 26-point win over traditional foe Carlton, so it was fitting it toppled another bitter enemy to claim the record in its own right. Before this streak, the Tigers' club record for consecutive wins at the MCG was 11, from round 11, 1974 to round 10, 1975. 5. Another record remains intact On a sunny winter afternoon in Melbourne, Richmond and Collingwood came close to recording their biggest ever crowd in a home and away game, with 88,180 fans flocking to the MCG to see the reigning premier and ladder-leader clash with the third-placed Magpies. The teams' biggest crowd of 92,436 was set in round four, 1977, an afternoon on which the Magpies prevailed by 26 points. Saturday's crowd was comfortably ahead of the teams' next highest attendance, 82,191, which was set in round two, 1971. Saturday's match was the first time since round six, 1985, that the traditional foes had clashed when both were inside the top four. With both sides looking well placed to enjoy sustained success over the next few years, the 41-year-old record might not last too much longer.

THE MEDIA

SUPERFOOTY - Mick Malthouse It was judgment day for Collingwood. How much had they learnt from their 43-point loss to Richmond in Round 6? The evidence until this game was that Richmond had maintained its rage, and Collingwood had made giant strides, faltering only against second-top side West Coast. With multiple changes to both teams, more for Collingwood, my interest was in how the structures had changed, if at all. Collingwood was brave earlier in the season and coming off the Anzac Day game, which would have no doubt contributed to the three-quarter-time 11-point deficit blowing out in the final term. But to me the upside is always what you learn as a losing side. The Pies have certainly tightened up defensively and have become less predictable in the forward line. They also have arguably the best, or close to the best, ruck and midfield combination in the competition. So where was this going to place them in the game? It is a shame that Jordan de Goey was out, because he has been the form player of the competition and would have added to the Pies chances of winning. But the players who did come in - Taylor Adams, Darcy Moore, and Brody Mihocek, among others - were vitally important to the dynamics of the team. The Tigers, with less injuries, made fewer changes, and their structure hasn’t changed because it has worked beautifully for them all year. As per usual Richmond didn’t necessarily have more possessions than its opponent early on, but it had a better efficiency rate, caused generally by its high intensity pressure, particularly around the ball and in its forward line. Collingwood’s efficiency by quarter time was only 68 per cent compared to 75 per cent, and yet three players; Steele Sidebottom (12 possessions) Adams (11) and Scott Pendlebury (11) all dominated possession. The engine room of the Tigers - Dustin Martin (3) Dion Prestia (6) and Trent Cotchin (6) -were short of touch, but as a collective Richmond is less reliant on its superstars. Mihocek kept Alex Rance busy with a goal early in the second term, and further influenced the scoreline with a brilliant bit of play to get the ball to Will Hoskin-Elliott for a goal before the main break. Darcy Moore had his good moments on Jack Riewoldt with outstanding discipline, destroying anything in the air, but he is still learning the art of playing deep defence and became too aggressive in his positioning allowing Riewoldt to get in behind him for his second goal. It was Collingwood’s contested possession rate (they had 14 more up to half-time,) that got them well back in the game, dominating the stoppages when Toby Nankervis was off the ground. Richmond paid the penalty for not having a second ruckman, as a Mason Cox free kick from a ruck infringement put the Pies back to within a kick late in the second term. Levi Greenwood wore Martin like a shadow, doing a terrific job, and clearly got under his skin when the Brownlow Medallist gave away a 50m penalty and almost gave up the Tigers’ slim lead heading into the break. Martin got his payback one-on-one in the goalsquare with Greenwood, for a mark and goal and the half-time lead. There was real evidence of fatigue from both sides at half time, as it became obvious this was a true September rehearsal. Collingwood’s first-half match-ups were brilliant, taking full toll in the ruck. In the third term, Brodie Grundy and Cox stepped up another notch, smashing Richmond in the stoppages every time Nankervis had a rest, allowing Collingwood to dominate territory and possession. By three-quarter-time the Pies had the top six possession getters. Remarkably, the top three for Richmond were backline players. There was little sign of Cotchin, Martin and Kane Lambert, with only Prestia having any influence. It was a credit to Richmond that it could maintain its lead. It was certainly a credit to Collingwood to keep coming. The Pies were tested with the loss of two key backs, Jeremy Howe in the first term with concussion and Matthew Scharenberg late with a knee injury. It would be a tragedy if he has re-injured his ACL as he has been outstanding since coming back off multiple reconstructions, and will be a big hole to fill. But the Tigers finished off the game playing as they have played all year, with high-pressure football and Collingwood in the end found it too hard to go with them. Even though the Pies had the top six possession winners, as a whole they weren’t able to break down the team of Richmond. Once again, the Tigers were able to motor away from an opposition in the last quarter, with 25 less team possessions, but 10 more inside 50s for the game. It’s hard to argue a case for a Tigers’ player to be in the best three, but maybe that is why Richmond is on top and Collingwood is now three games behind. The Pies had dominant players, but too few contributors at the most psychological moments of the match. There is capacity for both sides to learn from this contest. Richmond needs a second ruck come forward, or a forward come ruck. Against a two-ruck team they are highly vulnerable and the side that can exploit this vulnerability is Collingwood. De Goey will return. If Adam Treloar can get back too, he will further punish the Tigers at the stoppages. In the end Round 19 mirrored Round 6, with a dominant last quarter by the Tigers being the difference. However, the Pies will take confidence from Saturday’s performance that they can reverse the result in the future. AFL THE TIGERS are officially the kings of the MCG and deserved favourites for the premiership after outlasting a brave but battered Magpie outfit by 28 points on Saturday to claim the venue's consecutive wins record. In a match that promised plenty and didn't disappoint, the Tigers won their 18th straight game at the MCG 16.9 (105) to 12.5 (77) to supersede Melbourne's record of 17 wins achieved back in the 1950s. After leading by four points at three-quarter time, the Tigers – in similar circumstances to their round six win where they nailed eight goals to the Pies' three in the final term – kicked five to one to give the contest a one-sided fourth quarter it didn't deserve. In front of a sell-out 88,180 – the second-biggest home-and-away crowd drawn by the two clubs – the occasion had a whiff of September about it as the top-ranked and third-placed team faced off in brilliant sunshine. It was a mouth-watering preview to a blockbuster match up that could repeat itself in just over a months' time - once the injury-hit Pies refurbish their line up. Already without key midfielders Jordan De Goey and Adam Treloar, Nathan Buckley's men can only be described as gallant against the premiers. After losing Jeremy Howe to concussion at the end of the first quarter, they had Brody Mihocek hobble through the second half with a sore ankle and strapped head, and Sam Murray was sore throughout the final term after copping a big hit. But most heartbreakingly of all, they expect to be without Matt Scharenberg for up to a year with the young defender unsighted after a third-term incident where his left knee buckled beneath him. If scans – as expected – confirm a tear to his anterior cruciate ligament, the 22-year-old will undergo a third knee reconstruction after repairs in 2014 (left knee) and 2015 (right). "We fear the worst, which is shattering for him – that's the overwhelming feeling in the rooms at the moment … disappointment. We're shattered for him," Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said. "That will likely be confirmed with scans that it's an ACL injury, which, for a young member of our club and playing group who has had his fair share of setbacks and obstacles, his attitude and character is first class. "We'll put our arms around him and try and support him as best we can." The injuries to Howe and Scharenberg put the Pies' backline, already without Tyson Goldsack and Lynden Dunn, under siege. While it held up admirably for the first part of the third quarter, there was always going to be a tipping point with a wounded Mihocek forced back at times to help out. They'd fought back from a 19-point quarter-time deficit to stay in the contest in the second, after a surplus of handballs against the competition's handball champions threatened to bring them undone. With Dustin Martin frustrated by a solid tagging job by Levi Greenwood, the Tigers struggled as the Pies started to move the ball better in the second. Martin moved forward after half-time in a bid to break the shackles and looked dangerous in attack where he ended with three goals, with Greenwood – and anyone else – battling to stop him one out. Shane Edwards led the Tigers again with a stunning 22-possession game, while Jayden Short was prolific with 19 disposals and two goals courtesy of handballs from teammates lining up for shots from outside 50m. David Astbury marshalled the backline in another high-possession game – his fifth this season where he's had 20 or more disposals – after starting against Mason Cox (two goals, six marks), who the Tigers had clearly put plenty of work into. Jack Higgins bobbed up with a contender for goal of the year in the third quarter, although it was surrounded by controversy about whether he actually threw the ball as he wheeled around to kick it. While Brayden Maynard did a great job on Daniel Rioli (one goal), Greenwood kept Martin's midfield game quiet, Brodie Grundy got the points against Toby Nankervis, Josh Thomas kicked four goals and Scott Pendlebury did all he could with 38 disposals, the Tigers simply got it done across the board despite a number of players below their usual form. "We had to work incredibly hard. We didn't have our best game today, but a lot of that was because the Magpies were very, very good," Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said. "The great thing from our point of view was that we had to find a different way to win. "For certain players to step up at certain stages [was pleasing] and that was a challenge in the last quarter that we spoke about. "We reset the board and wanted to go back to what we knew and we ended up getting the result at the end. I was pleased that we fought it out." But, should the Magpies restore their best 22 and the sides meet again in the coming months, the sequel promises to be a belter. MEDICAL ROOM Collingwood: Matt Scharenberg was the big one for the Pies. A simple change of direction in the fourth quarter saw the 22-year-old's left knee buckle, with scans expected to confirm the need for a reconstruction. Meanwhile, Jeremy Howe didn't play after quarter-time following a friendly-fire collision with Darcy Moore. Moore's knee hit Howe's forehead flush, which left the defender with concussion. He'll be tested throughout the week, as will Brody Mihocek, who played out the game with a sore ankle. NEXT UP The Magpies have a week to lick their wounds and regroup before facing Sydney at the SCG on Saturday night. REAL FOOTY Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley says his faith in his team remains strong despite the Magpies fearing they have lost a second key defender to a season-ending knee injury. Matthew Scharenberg, having already had a knee reconstruction on his each leg - the first in 2014 and the second a year later - crumbled to the turf of the MCG in an innocuous incident in the third term of a 28-point loss to Richmond on Saturday. He was helped from the field on a day the gallant Pies had already lost Jeremy Howe (concussion) in the first term. Buckley said the Magpies and a "shattered" Scharenberg, 22, feared the worst, that being a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, but they would until scans were completed to confirm the injury. "We fear the worst which is shattering for him. That's the overwhelming feeling in the rooms ... is disappointment for him and we are shattered for him," he said. "For a young member of our club, of our playing group, who has had his fair share of set backs and obstacles, his attitude is first class, his character is first class. We will put our arms around him, try and support him as best we can." Scharenberg, the sixth pick in the 2013 national draft, has also battled foot problems. He debuted in 2015 but this had been his best campaign, playing in 17 matches, including the loss to the top-of-the-table Tigers, who posted a record-breaking 18th-straight win at the MCG, edging Melbourne's record between 1955-56. The Pies had recently lost fullback Lynden Dunn to a ruptured ACL, were without prime movers Jordan de Goey and Adam Treloar and had Brody Mihocek nursing a sore ankle against the Tigers. Veteran Tyson Goldsack could return from a knee reconstruction before the end of the season to help in defence. "We love the commitment of the players to the way we want to go about it, and to each other, and that's the thing you are proud of, and we are proud of. We got beaten on the day but we didn't lower our colours. We will learn a little bit out of that," Buckley said. "You can throw whatever you like at our group. They will find a way to respond positively, to stand up, find a reason to continue to fight. That was evident today. We haven't lost anything in that regard." Despite the defeat, the Magpies, led by Steele Sidebottom, Tom Phillips and Scott Pendlebury, remain firmly in contention for a top-four spot heading into the final month of the home-and-away campaign. Ruckman Brodie Grundy enhanced his Brownlow medal prospects with a best-on-ground performance, including 48 hit outs and 23 touches, while Darcy Moore continued to emerge as a key defender. Tagger Levi Greenwood had the better of a frustrated Dustin Martin in the midfield. However, Martin went forward and booted three pivotal goals in front of a crowd of 88,180 - the biggest between the clubs since the 1980 grand final. Tigers coach Damien Hardwick said he was "reasonably pleased" with how Martin had played, despite the Brownlow medallist conceding a 50-metre penalty in frustration late in the second term. "We probably need to improve that area of our game - I think we are AFL No.1 for giving 50s away," he said. "The thing I like about Dusty Martin, irrespective of his performance, he just loves to win. He is one of the best players in the competition, he is one of the best players the game has ever seen. For him, it is all about winning. It's amazing for a guy that has that much ability ... it's a real progression for him as a player. He is one of the Richmond greats." Small forward Jack Higgins produced one of the goals of the year in the third term when he maintained possession of the ball despite being behind the goal-line, then threw the ball in the air around the goal post, regained possession and then kicked the ball over his head for a goal. Hardwick said Higgins, in his first season, never ceased to surprise. "I am going to steal (chief executive) Brendon Gale's line here - they don't teach that in VCE," he said. Asked if it should have been a goal, Hardwick said: "We sit here trying to figure it out - one of our VFL boys kicked a similar type of goal. It was quite funny to watch the reaction of the Collingwood boys - they are not sure, checking whether it was a throw or a behind. We were probably a little bit puzzled ourselves." Buckley also questioned whether it should have been ruled a goal. Hardwick was delighted with how his side responded with a five-goal-to-one final term, content his side had found a "different way to win". Senior Tigers assistant coach Blake Caracella, applauded for playing a key role in overseeing the on-field tactics which led to last year's premiership, is off contract but Gale said he expected him to re-sign soon.