|
Demetriou, who was in Queensland, initially downplayed McGuire's slur towards Goodes on Wednesday but the AFL later toughened its stance when charging the Collingwood president under its racial and religious vilification laws. "When I was asked (in a briefing about what happened on radio) initially I replied as honestly as I could at that point in time and said that it was a very 'un-Eddie-like' thing to say," he said. "As the day progressed, I was briefed more extensively." The charge requires McGuire, who yesterday received the backing of Collingwood's board to retain his presidency, to undergo counselling. He will face no other ramifications. Collingwood vice-president Jack Kennedy said McGuire's work in the indigenous area was a reason for the board's unanimous backing. "While we accept that Eddie made a mistake that caused serious offence to Adam Goodes and many more, we balance this against the work Eddie and the board have done, and continue to do, to make Collingwood an institution that our entire 'family' can be proud of," he said. McGuire - who broke down when receiving a call on his morning talk show from a former school mate who described how the Collingwood president had stood up for him when he was teased over his Greek background - said he had discussed stepping aside from his role as a chairman of the Indigenous Foundation with former Essendon champion Michael Long. "I said 'Maybe I should step away from it' and he said, 'Nah mate, this is why we need you. You're someone that's worked closely with us and you've got great things to do'," McGuire said. The debacle tracing back to last Friday night's clash between Collingwood and Sydney has had an impact at both clubs. Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley was quizzed as to how Harry O'Brien, who appeared on Fox Footy's AFL 360 alongside McGuire on Wednesday, and indigenous star Andrew Krakouer, were faring in light of the comments by their club's president. Both have travelled to Brisbane for tonight's game at the Gabba. Buckley said: "We support all our players and if they feel for any reason that it's not within them to be able to go out and play a game of footy, then we'll support that. "I've spoken to both Andrew and Harry. It's become an issue of race, but I think it (is) an issue of respect. It's not just about race. It's discrimination in all forms." At Sydney training, Goodes and fellow Swan Lewis Jetta worked away from the main group at the beginning of the session. Coach John Longmire confirmed that Goodes, despite enduring a mentally draining week, would play in tomorrow's clash against Essendon at the SCG. "Probably the thing he's looking forward to the most is getting out on the ground and having a run around and getting a kick and doing what he has done so well for so long," he said. "He's experienced enough to know how he's going physically and mentally. The discussion I had with him ... was purely about training today and that's what he's looking forward to." Buckley backed his president, saying one mistake should not overshadow a lifetime of good deeds. "In the equation of life, Eddie is exponentially in the positive with the things he has done for people," he said. "He's all for equality. He's led this club brilliantly and I think he will continue to do so." McGuire said he felt devastated and could only imagine the impact his mistake had on others. "If I'm feeling it this morning, I can only imagine what Adam Goodes has felt all his life and Harry O'Brien," he said. "That's why I'm not turning it into the wailing wall for me. This is about these guys." Both the Magpies and Lions made several changes for tonight's clash. Collingwood premiership players Heath Shaw and Alan Didak, who is playing his first game this season, have been selected alongside Josh Thomas and debutante Kyle Martin. |
Offering one's resignation has become something of a habit for club chiefs during this tumultuous and scandal-ridden AFL season, but there was no better bet than McGuire on Thursday winning the backing of his board and the endorsement of league chief Andrew Demetriou. The AFL chief executive admitted he had spoken too soon in playing down the hurtful racist remark aimed at Adam Goodes on Triple M breakfast radio early on Wednesday, but the fact remained that Demetriou's default position was to defend McGuire. Collingwood will not suspend McGuire any more than Essendon will stand down James Hird. Had McGuire's name been Greg Westaway (St Kilda) or Steve Harris (Fremantle) he would have stepped down by now at the very least pending a racial vilification charge - which Demetriou confirmed for McGuire on Thursday. Had Matthew Knights, not Hird, overseen the pharmacologically experimental program at Essendon, never adequately checked nor controlled and which still sees players not fully aware of what they have taken and facing bans from anti-doping authorities, then he would be finished. But Hird is too big and has chosen to place himself above his club, believing himself now to be its saviour. Only the AFL has the strength to take on the Essendon legend but the prevailing view is that the league too remains beholden to the court of public opinion. It must at the very least discipline McGuire. Goodes as it stood on Thursday had no intention of further mediation with the Collingwood president given the two had already spoken and McGuire's apology had been reluctantly accepted by the Swans champion. Goodes told his coach he planned to play on Saturday and believes for now that he has said enough. Most people thought after last Saturday Goodes had said enough for his entire career. McGuire on the other hand has barely stopped talking since his hurtful comment. If McGuire has escaped lightly in tangible terms, the same cannot be said for Matt Rendell, the former Adelaide recruiting chief who was sacked by the Crows 15 months ago following a private meeting with two AFL officials in which Rendell allegedly invoked a scenario in which only indigenous players with one white parent would be taken by clubs. Rendell has always denied much of what was attributed to him as well as the tone of the conversation but he was sacked no sooner than the media exposed him. McGuire has pointed to his strong history fighting indigenous causes; Rendell too could claim that. But he lost his job. That is how it is when you deeply offend members of a race that has been bullied and mistreated and discriminated against for two centuries now. It is true that McGuire has been publicly pilloried and humiliated - although his discomfort was nothing compared with Goodes, who must continue to demonstrate leadership in a different form at the SCG on Saturday. But surely the day draws nearer for the AFL to demonstrate the leadership the game expects of it and do so without discriminating against the lesser lights nor favouring the powerful.  |
Friday, May 31, 2013
Eddie McGuire & Adam Goodes & King Kong Part 2
Round 10 Preview: Collingwood v Brisbane
AFL
SUMMARY
It's the Brisbane Lions' only Friday night game of the season and it comes against arguably their biggest foe.
They enter the match on the back of a disappointing loss against Carlton and will be without influential ruckman Matthew Leuenberger (thumb) and possibly co-captain Jonathan Brown (suspension).
In what amounts to a 'win or forget finals' scenario for the home team, they play an opponent equally desperate after the Magpies fell horribly short against the Swans last week.
Collingwood has been in a win-loss pattern since round two and the premiers again exposed their defensive deficiencies last week. No doubt the losing coach will face some serious scrutiny but it's hard to see the depleted Lions overcoming the desperate Magpies.
THE SIX POINTS
1. The Lions and Collingwood clashed once in 2012, with the Magpies comfortable 58-point winners at the Gabba in round seven.
2. The Lions have won 11 of 16 contests at the Gabba, but the Magpies have the recent ascendancy, winning four of the past five overall.
3. Travis Cloke has struggled to fire against the Lions. The big Magpies forward has 13 goals from nine matches and been held goal-less three times.
4. Collingwood continues to struggle defensively this season conceding an average of 100 points per game. They are ranked 14th in the competition, one spot ahead of the Lions.
5. One area the Lions do have an advantage is clearances. They are ranked 11th, while Collingwood is ranked 15th.
6. Two of the competition's best running defenders will go head-to-head on Friday night. Heath Shaw is ranked seventh among defenders (55th overall) according to the Official AFL Player Ratings, while Lion Pearce Hanley is ninth (66th overall).
| Collingwood v Brisbane Friday May 31 7.50pm GABBA 7mate / Fox Footy 7.30pm Weather: Min 14 Max 23 Chance of rain 60%: 1-5mm Wind: S 14kph Betting: Collingwood $1.18 Brisbane $5.00 |
It's the Brisbane Lions' only Friday night game of the season and it comes against arguably their biggest foe.
They enter the match on the back of a disappointing loss against Carlton and will be without influential ruckman Matthew Leuenberger (thumb) and possibly co-captain Jonathan Brown (suspension).
In what amounts to a 'win or forget finals' scenario for the home team, they play an opponent equally desperate after the Magpies fell horribly short against the Swans last week.
Collingwood has been in a win-loss pattern since round two and the premiers again exposed their defensive deficiencies last week. No doubt the losing coach will face some serious scrutiny but it's hard to see the depleted Lions overcoming the desperate Magpies.
THE SIX POINTS
1. The Lions and Collingwood clashed once in 2012, with the Magpies comfortable 58-point winners at the Gabba in round seven.
2. The Lions have won 11 of 16 contests at the Gabba, but the Magpies have the recent ascendancy, winning four of the past five overall.
3. Travis Cloke has struggled to fire against the Lions. The big Magpies forward has 13 goals from nine matches and been held goal-less three times.
4. Collingwood continues to struggle defensively this season conceding an average of 100 points per game. They are ranked 14th in the competition, one spot ahead of the Lions.
5. One area the Lions do have an advantage is clearances. They are ranked 11th, while Collingwood is ranked 15th.
6. Two of the competition's best running defenders will go head-to-head on Friday night. Heath Shaw is ranked seventh among defenders (55th overall) according to the Official AFL Player Ratings, while Lion Pearce Hanley is ninth (66th overall).
Round 10 Preview: Collingwood v Brisbane
Sportal
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 24, Brisbane Lions: 16, Collingwood: 8, Draws: 0
LAST TIME: Brisbane Lions 8.10 (58) defeated by Collingwood 17.14 (116) at the Gabba, Round 7, 2012
WALKING WOUNDED:
The Lions enter the match depleted of their best players, with Matthew Leuenberger (thumb) and Tom Rockliff (quad) joining suspended duo Jonathan Brown and Daniel Merrett on the sidelines. Daniel Rich (shoulder) is also unavailable, while Mitch Golby faces a late fitness test.
For the Magpies, Heath Shaw has seemingly overcome a sore back and high skinfolds and will add composure to the Collingwood defence. Any other changes will be based on form.
Veterans Alan Didak and Ben Johnson continue to knock down the door thanks to their strong VFL form and youngsters Kyle Martin and Jackson Paine also have selection claims.
FORM:
Michael Voss' men enter the match on the back of a disappointing loss against Carlton, a result which offset their confidence-lifting triumph over Essendon on the road the week before. One area the Lions do have an advantage is clearances. They are ranked 11th, while Collingwood is ranked 15th.
A week after knocking off Geelong, the Magpies copped a Friday-night hiding at the hands of Sydney last week and find themselves outside the top eight. Collingwood have been in a win-loss pattern since Round 2, and while a win wouldn't pull them out of the logjam of middle teams, a loss would cast doubt on their ability to make the finals. At least the Pies have a relatively soft run after this week, with matches against Melbourne and the Bulldogs before their Round 13 bye.
WE THINK:
A full-strength Brisbane team would be a genuine chance of handing Collingwood their second interstate loss of the season. But unfortunately, the Lions have been left decimated with no Brown, Merrett, Leuenberger or Rockliff on top of the already grounded Daniel Rich.
And they will find the going tough against a Collingwood side desperate to bounce back after one of their poorest displays in a long time on Friday night against the Swans. The Lions, who haven't featured in a Friday night match since their last finals appearance against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG almost four years ago.
The last time the Gabba hosted a Friday night blockbuster was back in Round 4 of 2009, when Collingwood booted the final five goals of a tightly contested match to overcome the Lions by 17 points. We think it will be a similar result.
Collingwood will win a scrappy game by 14 points.
| Collingwood v Brisbane Friday May 31 7.50pm GABBA 7mate / Fox Footy 7.30pm Weather: Min 14 Max 23 Chance of rain 60%: 1-5mm Wind: ESE 19kph Betting: Collingwood $1.18 Brisbane $5.00 |
LAST TIME: Brisbane Lions 8.10 (58) defeated by Collingwood 17.14 (116) at the Gabba, Round 7, 2012
WALKING WOUNDED:
The Lions enter the match depleted of their best players, with Matthew Leuenberger (thumb) and Tom Rockliff (quad) joining suspended duo Jonathan Brown and Daniel Merrett on the sidelines. Daniel Rich (shoulder) is also unavailable, while Mitch Golby faces a late fitness test.
For the Magpies, Heath Shaw has seemingly overcome a sore back and high skinfolds and will add composure to the Collingwood defence. Any other changes will be based on form.
Veterans Alan Didak and Ben Johnson continue to knock down the door thanks to their strong VFL form and youngsters Kyle Martin and Jackson Paine also have selection claims.
FORM:
Michael Voss' men enter the match on the back of a disappointing loss against Carlton, a result which offset their confidence-lifting triumph over Essendon on the road the week before. One area the Lions do have an advantage is clearances. They are ranked 11th, while Collingwood is ranked 15th.
A week after knocking off Geelong, the Magpies copped a Friday-night hiding at the hands of Sydney last week and find themselves outside the top eight. Collingwood have been in a win-loss pattern since Round 2, and while a win wouldn't pull them out of the logjam of middle teams, a loss would cast doubt on their ability to make the finals. At least the Pies have a relatively soft run after this week, with matches against Melbourne and the Bulldogs before their Round 13 bye.
WE THINK:
A full-strength Brisbane team would be a genuine chance of handing Collingwood their second interstate loss of the season. But unfortunately, the Lions have been left decimated with no Brown, Merrett, Leuenberger or Rockliff on top of the already grounded Daniel Rich.
And they will find the going tough against a Collingwood side desperate to bounce back after one of their poorest displays in a long time on Friday night against the Swans. The Lions, who haven't featured in a Friday night match since their last finals appearance against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG almost four years ago.
The last time the Gabba hosted a Friday night blockbuster was back in Round 4 of 2009, when Collingwood booted the final five goals of a tightly contested match to overcome the Lions by 17 points. We think it will be a similar result.
Collingwood will win a scrappy game by 14 points.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Round 10 Preview: Collingwood v Brisbane
Collingwood News
Collingwood will be hoping to arrest its inconsistent start to 2013 when it heads to Brisbane to tackle on the Lions on Friday night.
The Magpies have not strung together consecutive victories since the opening two rounds and understand the importance of getting the season back on track as they sit in 11th position on the ladder, their lowest position at this stage of the season since 2005.
Head-to-Head (since 1987)
Collingwood: 21
Brisbane: 18
Drawn: 0
Past Five
Round 7 2012
Collingwood 17.14 (116)
Brisbane 8.10 (58)
Goals – Collingwood: Goldsack 3, Cloke 2, Sinclair 2, Sidebottom 2, Swan 2, Cloke 2, Wood 2, Didak, Shaw, Keeffe, Wellingham
Brisbane: Brown 2, Karnezis 2, Black, Polec, Merrett, Rich
Disposals – Collingwood: Sidebottom 35, Swan 34, Pendlebury 33, Beams 20, Shaw 28, O'Brien 28
Brisbane: Redden 28, Rockliff 22, Hawksley 21, Black 20, Rich 20
Brownlow: 3. S.Sidebottom (Coll), 2. D.Swan (Coll), 1. S.Pendlebury (Coll)
At the Gabba
Round 22 2011
Collingwood 14.18 (102)
Brisbane 13.6 (84)
Goals – Collingwood: Cloke 5, Fasolo 2, Young 2, Swan 2, Beams, L.Brown, Sinclair
Brisbane: McGrath 3, Cornelius 2, Staker 2, Rockliff 2, Banfield, McKeever, Sheldon, Power
Disposals – Collingwood: Swan 33, Beams 30, Ball 30, Didak 30, Pendlebury 30
Brisbane: Rockliff 30, Redden 29, Black 26, Power 25, Leuenberger 24
Brownlow: 3. D.Swan (Coll), 2. T.Cloke (Coll), 1. T.Rockliff (Bris)
At the MCG
Round 10 2010
Collingwood 11.14 (80)
Brisbane 13.10 (88)
Goals – Collingwood: Dawes 2, Didak 2, Sidebottom 2, Jolly, Anthony, O'Brien, Pendlebury, D.Thomas
Brisbane: Brown 4, Fevola 4, Rich 2, Banfield 2, Power
Disposals – Collingwood: D.Thomas 34, Pendlebury 33, Swan 29, Ball 27, Didak 25
Brisbane: Power 35, Rockliff 30, Johnstone 29, Staker 29, Rich 28
Brownlow: 3. L.Power (Bris), 2. D.Thomas (Coll), 1. B.Staker (Bris)
At the Gabba
Round 18 2009
Collingwood 12.23 (95)
Brisbane 8.7 (55)
Goals – Collingwood: Thomas 3, Beams 2, Davis 2, Didak, Anthony, Medhurst, O'Bree, Pendlebury
Brisbane: Brown 5, Sherman, Rischitelli, Merrett
Disposals – Collingwood: Pendlebury 36, Swan 36, Didak 29, Davis 24, O'Bree 20, Lockyer 20
Brisbane: McGrath 29, Black 27, Macdonald 26, Sherman 24, Power 23
Brownlow: 3. S.Pendlebury (Coll), 2. L.Davis (Coll), 1. J.Brown (Bris)
At the MCG.
Round 4 2009
Collingwood 13.12 (90)
Brisbane 10.13 (73)
Goals – Collingwood: Medhurst 4, Davis 3, Lockyer 2, Cloke, Anthony, Swan, Thomas
Brisbane: Brown 2, Dalziell 2, Selwood 2, Adcock, Rischitelli, Clark, Notting
Disposals – Collingwood: Pendlebury 35, Lockyer 29, Barham 28, Cox 27, Clarke 26
Brisbane: Dalziell 28, Power 28, Adcock 25, Black 25, Rischitelli 20, Brennan 20
Brownlow: 3. S.Pendlebury (Coll), 2. B.Dalziell (Bris), 1. P.Medhurst (Coll)
At the Gabba.
Stats and figures
- Collingwood and Brisbane's most famous stouches came in the 2002 and 2003 seasons when the two clubs met on six occasions. Collingwood came out victorious on two occasions and the Lions on four. Unfortunately, it was the Lions who won the games that truly mattered. They entered the 2002 Grand Final raging favourites but were nearly pipped by a gutsy Collingwood side that most thought would not come within a bull's roar of Leigh Matthews' team of superstars. Twelve months later the Lions were there again when it counted, but this time by an unceremonious 50-points. It was a loss that Collingwood did not recover from for some time.
- Remember Jaxson Barham? The son of ex-Magpie hero Ricky made an eye-catching debut against the Lions at the Gabba in round four, 2009. The No. 43 collected 28 possessions and laid nine tackles in his first game of senior football. Unfortunately, his direct opponent Luke Power also won 28. Although Barham received a NAB Rising Star nomination for his performance, he could only manage another six senior games before being delisted at the end of 2010.
- A long-forgotten game between the two sides was staged on a Saturday night at the Gabba midway through 1997. Collingwood entered the match desperate to snap its four-game losing streak but inexplicably failed to trouble the scorers in the opening quarter. In the meantime, Brisbane had piled on 5.8 (38) to open up what was essentially a match winning lead. The Pies bit back hard in the final quarter, kicking 6.3 to 2.8, and almost had the chance to steal the game when Mark Richardson marked at the top of the goal square as the game approached its final minutes. Richardson's decision to play on had dire consequences – his kick was smothered off the boot and the Lions regained possession and had time up its sleeve to take the ball down the other end for Jarrod Molloy (6.4) to seal the deal.
- The Brisbane Lions hold a memorable role in Collingwood history. They were the victors in the final home and away game played at Victoria Park back in round 22, 1999. The match in itself was hardly memorable – Brisbane bolted out of the gates to lead by 33-points at the first change and was never threatened en route to a 42-point win. Skipper Nathan Buckley was typically manful with 28 possessions while Anthony Rocca tried to hold the forward line together with 3.2 from seven marks on a cold and dark August afternoon. Scott Crow was the final man to score a goal for Collingwood on the hallowed turf. He was gazumped by Lions young gun Luke Power who kicked the final ever goal at the ground shortly before the final siren.
- Not much went right for Collingwood in the late 1990s. Not even when they had the ball in hand, as it turned out. Poor Nathan Buckley and Scott Burns were involved in a comical passage of play early in Collingwood's meeting with Brisbane at the Gabba in round 14, 1998. Buckley had won the ball at a centre bounce in the opening quarter and was preparing to pump Collingwood deep inside 50 with one of his trademark drop pumps. But instead of putting the Magpies into a dangerous position, KO'd Burns who was standing only metres in front of him. The ball collected Burns flush in the back of the head and knocked his lights out. Brisbane knocked Collingwood's lights out with an 11-goal second half that saw the Magpies marooned in 13th position on the ladder.
A foot in both camps
Several players have spent time in black and white and maroon and gold since the Bears became the Lions in 1997, such as Blake Carcella, Mal Michael, Jarrod Molloy, Anthony Corrie, Shane O'Bree, Ben Hudson and Cameron Wood. Craig McRae, Shane Woewodin and Adrian Fletcher have all been an assistant coach (or in Woewodin's case, a player and coach) at both clubs. Other interesting points of note include the fact that former Lion Nathan Chapman lived with Nathan Buckley during his one year with the Bears in 1993, Marcus Picken (the son of Magpie legend Billy) played 25 games for Brisbane between 1998 and 2001, and Marcus Allan (the son of former Collingwood player and administrator Graeme) played five games off the rookie list for the Lions in 2006-2007. Dayne Beams' younger brother Claye is a current member of Brisbane's best team, but is unfortunately out for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury.
Injury List
Collingwood
Lachlan Keeffe (bruised kidney) – 1 week
Tyson Goldsack (hip) – 1-2 weeks
Michael Hartley (shoulder) – 2 weeks
Clinton Young (hamstring) – 2-4 weeks
Jackson Ramsay (wrist) – 4 weeks
Jack Frost (knee) – 4-6 weeks
Dayne Beams (quad) – 5-6 weeks
Alex Fasolo (foot) – indefinite
Dale Thomas (ankle) – indefinite
Alan Toovey (knee) – season
Next Five Weeks
Collingwood
Round 11 – Melbourne at the MCG
Round 12 – Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium
Round 13 – Bye
Round 14 – Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium
Round 15 – Carlton at the MCG
| Collingwood v Brisbane Friday May 31 7.50pm GABBA 7mate / Fox Footy 7.30pm Weather: Min 14 Max 23 Chance of rain 60%: 1-5mm Wind: S 14kph Betting: Collingwood $1.18 Brisbane $5.00 |
The Magpies have not strung together consecutive victories since the opening two rounds and understand the importance of getting the season back on track as they sit in 11th position on the ladder, their lowest position at this stage of the season since 2005.
Head-to-Head (since 1987)
Collingwood: 21
Brisbane: 18
Drawn: 0
Past Five
Round 7 2012
Collingwood 17.14 (116)
Brisbane 8.10 (58)
Goals – Collingwood: Goldsack 3, Cloke 2, Sinclair 2, Sidebottom 2, Swan 2, Cloke 2, Wood 2, Didak, Shaw, Keeffe, Wellingham
Brisbane: Brown 2, Karnezis 2, Black, Polec, Merrett, Rich
Disposals – Collingwood: Sidebottom 35, Swan 34, Pendlebury 33, Beams 20, Shaw 28, O'Brien 28
Brisbane: Redden 28, Rockliff 22, Hawksley 21, Black 20, Rich 20
Brownlow: 3. S.Sidebottom (Coll), 2. D.Swan (Coll), 1. S.Pendlebury (Coll)
At the Gabba
Round 22 2011
Collingwood 14.18 (102)
Brisbane 13.6 (84)
Goals – Collingwood: Cloke 5, Fasolo 2, Young 2, Swan 2, Beams, L.Brown, Sinclair
Brisbane: McGrath 3, Cornelius 2, Staker 2, Rockliff 2, Banfield, McKeever, Sheldon, Power
Disposals – Collingwood: Swan 33, Beams 30, Ball 30, Didak 30, Pendlebury 30
Brisbane: Rockliff 30, Redden 29, Black 26, Power 25, Leuenberger 24
Brownlow: 3. D.Swan (Coll), 2. T.Cloke (Coll), 1. T.Rockliff (Bris)
At the MCG
Round 10 2010
Collingwood 11.14 (80)
Brisbane 13.10 (88)
Goals – Collingwood: Dawes 2, Didak 2, Sidebottom 2, Jolly, Anthony, O'Brien, Pendlebury, D.Thomas
Brisbane: Brown 4, Fevola 4, Rich 2, Banfield 2, Power
Disposals – Collingwood: D.Thomas 34, Pendlebury 33, Swan 29, Ball 27, Didak 25
Brisbane: Power 35, Rockliff 30, Johnstone 29, Staker 29, Rich 28
Brownlow: 3. L.Power (Bris), 2. D.Thomas (Coll), 1. B.Staker (Bris)
At the Gabba
Round 18 2009
Collingwood 12.23 (95)
Brisbane 8.7 (55)
Goals – Collingwood: Thomas 3, Beams 2, Davis 2, Didak, Anthony, Medhurst, O'Bree, Pendlebury
Brisbane: Brown 5, Sherman, Rischitelli, Merrett
Disposals – Collingwood: Pendlebury 36, Swan 36, Didak 29, Davis 24, O'Bree 20, Lockyer 20
Brisbane: McGrath 29, Black 27, Macdonald 26, Sherman 24, Power 23
Brownlow: 3. S.Pendlebury (Coll), 2. L.Davis (Coll), 1. J.Brown (Bris)
At the MCG.
Round 4 2009
Collingwood 13.12 (90)
Brisbane 10.13 (73)
Goals – Collingwood: Medhurst 4, Davis 3, Lockyer 2, Cloke, Anthony, Swan, Thomas
Brisbane: Brown 2, Dalziell 2, Selwood 2, Adcock, Rischitelli, Clark, Notting
Disposals – Collingwood: Pendlebury 35, Lockyer 29, Barham 28, Cox 27, Clarke 26
Brisbane: Dalziell 28, Power 28, Adcock 25, Black 25, Rischitelli 20, Brennan 20
Brownlow: 3. S.Pendlebury (Coll), 2. B.Dalziell (Bris), 1. P.Medhurst (Coll)
At the Gabba.
Stats and figures
- Collingwood and Brisbane's most famous stouches came in the 2002 and 2003 seasons when the two clubs met on six occasions. Collingwood came out victorious on two occasions and the Lions on four. Unfortunately, it was the Lions who won the games that truly mattered. They entered the 2002 Grand Final raging favourites but were nearly pipped by a gutsy Collingwood side that most thought would not come within a bull's roar of Leigh Matthews' team of superstars. Twelve months later the Lions were there again when it counted, but this time by an unceremonious 50-points. It was a loss that Collingwood did not recover from for some time.
- Remember Jaxson Barham? The son of ex-Magpie hero Ricky made an eye-catching debut against the Lions at the Gabba in round four, 2009. The No. 43 collected 28 possessions and laid nine tackles in his first game of senior football. Unfortunately, his direct opponent Luke Power also won 28. Although Barham received a NAB Rising Star nomination for his performance, he could only manage another six senior games before being delisted at the end of 2010.
- A long-forgotten game between the two sides was staged on a Saturday night at the Gabba midway through 1997. Collingwood entered the match desperate to snap its four-game losing streak but inexplicably failed to trouble the scorers in the opening quarter. In the meantime, Brisbane had piled on 5.8 (38) to open up what was essentially a match winning lead. The Pies bit back hard in the final quarter, kicking 6.3 to 2.8, and almost had the chance to steal the game when Mark Richardson marked at the top of the goal square as the game approached its final minutes. Richardson's decision to play on had dire consequences – his kick was smothered off the boot and the Lions regained possession and had time up its sleeve to take the ball down the other end for Jarrod Molloy (6.4) to seal the deal.
- The Brisbane Lions hold a memorable role in Collingwood history. They were the victors in the final home and away game played at Victoria Park back in round 22, 1999. The match in itself was hardly memorable – Brisbane bolted out of the gates to lead by 33-points at the first change and was never threatened en route to a 42-point win. Skipper Nathan Buckley was typically manful with 28 possessions while Anthony Rocca tried to hold the forward line together with 3.2 from seven marks on a cold and dark August afternoon. Scott Crow was the final man to score a goal for Collingwood on the hallowed turf. He was gazumped by Lions young gun Luke Power who kicked the final ever goal at the ground shortly before the final siren.
- Not much went right for Collingwood in the late 1990s. Not even when they had the ball in hand, as it turned out. Poor Nathan Buckley and Scott Burns were involved in a comical passage of play early in Collingwood's meeting with Brisbane at the Gabba in round 14, 1998. Buckley had won the ball at a centre bounce in the opening quarter and was preparing to pump Collingwood deep inside 50 with one of his trademark drop pumps. But instead of putting the Magpies into a dangerous position, KO'd Burns who was standing only metres in front of him. The ball collected Burns flush in the back of the head and knocked his lights out. Brisbane knocked Collingwood's lights out with an 11-goal second half that saw the Magpies marooned in 13th position on the ladder.
A foot in both camps
Several players have spent time in black and white and maroon and gold since the Bears became the Lions in 1997, such as Blake Carcella, Mal Michael, Jarrod Molloy, Anthony Corrie, Shane O'Bree, Ben Hudson and Cameron Wood. Craig McRae, Shane Woewodin and Adrian Fletcher have all been an assistant coach (or in Woewodin's case, a player and coach) at both clubs. Other interesting points of note include the fact that former Lion Nathan Chapman lived with Nathan Buckley during his one year with the Bears in 1993, Marcus Picken (the son of Magpie legend Billy) played 25 games for Brisbane between 1998 and 2001, and Marcus Allan (the son of former Collingwood player and administrator Graeme) played five games off the rookie list for the Lions in 2006-2007. Dayne Beams' younger brother Claye is a current member of Brisbane's best team, but is unfortunately out for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury.
Injury List
Collingwood
Lachlan Keeffe (bruised kidney) – 1 week
Tyson Goldsack (hip) – 1-2 weeks
Michael Hartley (shoulder) – 2 weeks
Clinton Young (hamstring) – 2-4 weeks
Jackson Ramsay (wrist) – 4 weeks
Jack Frost (knee) – 4-6 weeks
Dayne Beams (quad) – 5-6 weeks
Alex Fasolo (foot) – indefinite
Dale Thomas (ankle) – indefinite
Alan Toovey (knee) – season
Next Five Weeks
Collingwood
Round 11 – Melbourne at the MCG
Round 12 – Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium
Round 13 – Bye
Round 14 – Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium
Round 15 – Carlton at the MCG
Round 10: The Team
Collingwood News
B: Nathan Brown, Ben Reid, Harry O’Brien
HB: Heath Shaw, Nick Maxwell, Marley Williams
C: Steele Sidebottom, Dane Swan, Luke Ball
HF: Jamie Elliott, Quinten Lynch, Brent Macaffer
F: Ben Kennedy, Travis Cloke, Alan Didak
Foll: Darren Jolly, Scott Pendlebury, Jarryd Blair
Int: Andrew Krakouer, Josh Thomas, Kyle Martin, Paul Seedsman
Emg: Marty Clarke, Jarrod Witts, Ben Sinclair
IN: Didak, Martin, Shaw, J.Thomas
OUT: Dwyer (groin), Russell (ankle), Clarke, Witts (omitted)
NEW: Kyle Martin (22, Noble Park/Frankston)
| Collingwood v Brisbane Friday May 31 7.50pm GABBA 7mate / Fox Footy 7.30pm Weather: Min 14 Max 23 Chance of rain 60%: 1-5mm Wind: S 14kph Betting: Collingwood $1.18 Brisbane $5.00 |
HB: Heath Shaw, Nick Maxwell, Marley Williams
C: Steele Sidebottom, Dane Swan, Luke Ball
HF: Jamie Elliott, Quinten Lynch, Brent Macaffer
F: Ben Kennedy, Travis Cloke, Alan Didak
Foll: Darren Jolly, Scott Pendlebury, Jarryd Blair
Int: Andrew Krakouer, Josh Thomas, Kyle Martin, Paul Seedsman
Emg: Marty Clarke, Jarrod Witts, Ben Sinclair
IN: Didak, Martin, Shaw, J.Thomas
OUT: Dwyer (groin), Russell (ankle), Clarke, Witts (omitted)
NEW: Kyle Martin (22, Noble Park/Frankston)
| Collingwood News |
| Collingwood has made a raft of changes for its match against Brisbane at the Gabba tomorrow night, with veteran Alan Didak called up to make his first appearance of the 2013 season. Having made an irresistible case for a return with a series of strong performances at VFL level, Didak is one of four inclusions for the clash, joining midfielder Josh Thomas, defender Heath Shaw and debutant Kyle Martin, who has been recognised for his VFL form with an elevation to the senior list. While Martin firmly catapulted into selection consideration following his six-goal effort against Essendon in the VFL last week, the 22-year old has undoubtedly affirmed himself as one of the most consistent performers in Dale Tapping's side and currently sits second on the VFL goal kicking table with 21. Averaging 33 disposals and nine tackles in his last three outings for the VFL Magpies, Martin's defensive intensity and ability to secure the hard ball has seen him lauded as an AFL player-in-waiting, a prophecy he will be able to realise in the Lions' den. Director of Football Geoff Walsh described Martin's elevation to the senior list as due reward for his influential displays in the VFL. "Kyle's been elevated on the back of some consistent and really strong performances in the VFL," Walsh said. "Arguably he has been our most consistent player this season. His form in the midfield has been outstanding, he's also been able to kick goals each week as evidenced by him sitting second on the VFL goal kicking table. "To date, he's played a pretty impressive season. Alex Fasolo's injury has opened up an opportunity for Kyle to step up as a long term injury replacement. It's the old story; someone else's misfortune creates opportunities for others. In Kyle's case, it's well deserved." Shaw meanwhile returns after overcoming a lower back complaint which saw him sidelined for a fortnight, while Thomas has earned an immediate recall after once again demonstrating his class in the VFL. The incoming quartet replaces Martin Clarke, Jarrod Witts, Sam Dwyer and Jordan Russell, with the latter two players missing out through injury. "Jordy's ankle hasn't come up from last week. He tried to come back on against the Swans, but that wasn't fruitful in itself, while Sammy has a bit of groin soreness," Walsh said. "He has struggled with it which is contrary to his form, which has been strong, but has suffered a few issues with it during the week, so we just decided to give him a spell in the hope he overcomes it." |
Eddie McGuire & Adam Goodes & King Kong
Statement from Eddie McGuire
Dear members, I would like to offer my sincerest apologies to the entire Collingwood family, particularly to our indigenous and ethnic supporter groups for the comments I made about Adam Goodes today. Regardless of my intentions, I acknowledge that the comments referring to Adam were offensive and for that I am truly sorry. What I said today was the opposite of what was in my mind at the time. It was thoughtless but absolutely said without malice. In a week that has been dominated by our thoughts on Indigenous relations and racial vilification, the Collingwood Football Club and I have stood and will continue to stand absolutely against racism in all its forms and will continue to work actively in the area. Adam Goodes has been a trailblazer for all indigenous footballers and his leadership has stood out like a beacon not only in the AFL but for the whole of Australia. I am grateful to Adam for graciously accepting my apology today. We have worked tirelessly to build Collingwood into an institution that fans can be proud of and one others can admire for its commitment to equality and social justice. I am proud of the leadership the club has assumed in promoting racial equality, of its multiple ethnic and indigenous programs and the impact that these have had on the countless people who have been involved. Today I made a mistake that I absolutely regret. I am sad that my words have cast a shadow on this great club. I will continue to work tirelessly in advancing the interests of our indigenous and ethnic communities and to ensure that the Collingwood Football Club remains a standard bearer for all to follow. Eddie McGuire President |
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EDDIE McGuire will meet Collingwood chiefs to decide if he should stand aside as club president. An apologetic Pies boss was cited for breaching the AFL racial vilification policy over his "King Kong" reference to Swan Adam Goodes. Late last night he emailed Collingwood's 75,490 members, saying: "I would like to offer my sincerest apologies to the entire Collingwood family ... I am sad that my words have cast a shadow on this great club." The AFL has ordered him to mediation with Goodes and to take tolerance classes, on pain of a fine of up to $20,000. On Fox Footy, asked if he should stand down during an enforced AFL mediation process, McGuire said: "I'll speak to the board ... tomorrow." McGuire told Fox Footy: "If that's appropriate (to step aside), if that's symbolic, if that makes a difference, then I will. "I would have no problem if Triple M said have a spell, if Fox Footy said, 'You know what? We don't want you to be the face of footy this weekend'. Then I would happily do that and I'd cop that blemish on my impeccable record." McGuire insisted he did not racially vilify anyone when he suggested on his radio show that Goodes promote the new King Kong musical. When co-host Luke Darcy said the huge gorilla hand jutting from the Eureka Skydeck was a "great promo" for the show, McGuire said: "Get Adam Goodes down for it, d'you reckon?" The AFL said McGuire's comments were "totally unacceptable" and that he would be dealt with under Rule 30 of the AFL Player Rules - a rule introduced to combat racial and religious vilification in the league. In his email, McGuire offered apologies "particularly to our indigenous and ethnic supporter groups. Regardless of my intentions, I acknowledge that the comments referring to Adam were offensive and for that I am truly sorry. It was thoughtless but absolutely said without malice". Just five days ago he had condemned a teenage girl for calling the dual Brownlow medallist an ape during Sydney's 47-point defeat of Collingwood. Goodes, one of footy's most decorated indigenous players, was "gutted" by her remarks. But Sydney Swans chairman Richard Colless said McGuire's comments had shattered Goodes even more. "If anything I'd say (Goodes) is in more of an emotional state as a consequence of this than of the incident on Friday," he said. Goodes tweeted: "Morning Australia this is what I have woken up to", linking to a story about the gaffe. McGuire was quick to apologise on-air over what seemed to be a joke gone horribly wrong. But later, he was adamant he had not been trying to be funny, saying it was a "slip of the tongue". "I wasn't racially vilifying anyone ... I made a comment," he said. "I was thinking the opposite. I made a slip and it's one that I regret. It happens sometimes. I wasn't on my game. But there's no excuses. I put my foot in it and I stand here today to say I did the wrong thing." Colless didn't agree. "A slip of the tongue is one word mispronounced. This was a few sentences," he said. He said while Goodes had accepted a personal apology from McGuire, it did not excuse what had been said. Collingwood president Eddie McGuire apologises for his Adam Goodes "King Kong" comments, saying he "put his foot in it" and reaffirming his... He tweeted: "It doesn't matter if you are a school teacher, a doctor or even the president of my football club I will not tolerate racism, nor should we as a society. ''In my opinion race relations in this country is systematically a national disgrace and we have a long way to go to reach a more harmonious and empathetic society." The 13-year-old girl who ignited the controversy also weighed in, branding McGuire a hypocrite. She said she was surprised and confused after her apology to the AFL great. "Why would he say it again after all the trouble I got into? And he said something like that should never be repeated again, and then he goes and says it," she told the Herald Sun. GWS coach Kevin Sheedy says Eddie McGuire had a brain fail when making an on-air gaffe about Adam Goodes. "I don't understand why." The girl's mother, Joanne Looney, said McGuire owed her daughter an apology. But the pair said McGuire shouldn't stand down as club president, nor be fined. "It was a mistake, same as (my daughter) did." AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said: "Mr McGuire's comments about Adam Goodes were extremely disappointing and totally unacceptable. "(His) ill-judged comments have clearly compounded the hurt caused to Mr Goodes ... As a result, Mr McGuire will be treated under the Rules as we would anyone else." The AFL's Racial and Religious Vilification Policy requires McGuire first speak with Goodes, which he did. He'll now go through league education programs. Triple M acknowledged McGuire's comments could have been interpreted as racist and apologised to any listeners who were offended. |
THERE is a vast difference between what a 13-year-old girl yelled over the fence at a football match last Friday and what Collingwood president and broadcaster Eddie McGuire said on his breakfast radio show yesterday morning. But both comments have been heard around the world. The girl called Sydney's indigenous champion Adam Goodes "an ape". It sparked a weekend of debate - good and bad, informed and vile - about what constitutes racial abuse. Goodes was deeply hurt and could not remain on the field, even though his side was rollicking to a memorable win. McGuire said on his Triple M radio program that Adam Goodes could be used perhaps to promote the musical King Kong. Effectively McGuire was calling Goodes an ape. Again the footballer would be bewildered and offended, as would all other indigenous sportsmen and women. The girl says she was unaware that calling Goodes an ape was racially vilifying him. No doubt that is true. But McGuire knows exactly what racial vilification is. He knows exactly how much it hurts. McGuire saw the tears in the eyes of Goodes when he went into the Sydney rooms after the game on Friday night to apologise to the champ on behalf of his club and competition. And yet he made yesterday's remark. He said it was a slip of the tongue, a humiliating mistake by a professional broadcaster. McGuire should be believed, too. The difference between the two comments is not in the words but the motivation behind them. That they ultimately proved as damaging as one another is as sad as it is infuriating. Goodes will never forget either comment. The girl's mistake, made in ignorance and not malice, but the one that set alight a lifetime of abuse for Goodes, will not be an eternal stigma for the kid. The words and the moment will live on but her identity will - or should - become irrelevant. McGuire will never live down his comments. Not in 100 years. McGuire and King Kong have just become inseparable. That's McGuire you see in King Kong's fist. Judging by the reaction of Sydney chairman Richard Colless and coach John Longmire, Goodes was more upset yesterday than he was Friday night. He has spoken to McGuire and accepted his apology. But he has been racially and emotionally shirt-fronted twice within five days. The toughest of souls can become tender with repeated hits. McGuire did not articulate his case well yesterday at his news conference. He knew to do so at an electrified environment where he was, for one of the rare times in his ambitious and successful career, vulnerable would not have helped his cause. McGuire said he was doodling in his mind how King Kong might have been promoted a century ago. To explain further he would have had to talk about the way black people were depicted in early films, the stereotyping and the degradation. All but swinging from trees. But McGuire did unthinkingly and most unprofessionally put his musing to air. To McGuire it was not racial vilification. He is not capable of it. Look at all the indigenous programs with which he is associated. He has spoken passionately about fairness and equal rights. McGuire says judge him on what he did on Friday night and not what he blurted out on Wednesday morning. It is for these reasons he claims what he said on air was not racial vilification and different to the incident with the 13-year-old girl. But as different as the two cases are they are very much the same on the most crucial point of all. The girl had no idea that she was racially vilifying Goodes. McGuire had no intention of vilifying anybody. But Goodes was offended on Friday night and shattered on Wednesday morning. Goodes is in no doubt he was racially vilified. The 13-year-old girl needed it explained to her that calling Goodes an ape was racial vilification. And it was racial vilification because Goodes believed the comment was directed at his people and at his colour. Racial vilification is not in the words of the accused but in the hearts of the victim. That is the reason McGuire, for all the years of genuine concern for indigenous Australians matched by an honourable and uplifting enthusiasm to facilitate change, cannot escape the charge of racially vilifying Goodes. He said such a judgment would burn him. Someone call an ambulance.  |
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While Eddie McGuire is the man in the hot seat on this occasion, there could yet be collateral damage on the field as well as off it. The fallout from his inappropriate comments about Adam Goodes could affect Nathan Buckley, for the Magpies coach must now deal with another major issue that has already distracted at least one of his key players. Buckley will need to ensure Harry O'Brien's mindset is now solely on Friday night's crucial clash against the Brisbane Lions. On Wednesday, it was purely on McGuire. ''I'm extremely disappointed with Eddie's comments and do not care what position he holds,'' O'Brien tweeted. Whack. When was the last time you heard a player say that about his president? The pair appeared on Fox Footy to talk through their differences and seemed to be on friendly enough terms. But a hallmark of the Magpies' 2010 premiership under Mick Malthouse was the ability to escape unwanted headlines. In 2010, McGuire made a conscious decision to keep as low a profile as possible, for he did not want the club's focus to veer from its primary aim - securing a flag. Mission accomplished. A year later and the handover from Malthouse to Buckley, with McGuire wedged in the middle, was clearly a distraction as the Magpies lost to Geelong in the grand final. Buckley is already dealing with several issues. Injuries have decimated his list and several key operators are out of form. Former Sydney coach Paul Roos has even questioned what ''brand'' the team stands for on the field. And there has been a minor tiff between Dale Thomas and Darren Jolly over the latter's Fairfax Media column about his poor relationship with former Collingwood ruckman Josh Fraser. Then, in a bid to avoid controversy, club chief executive Gary Pert confirmed Buckley had asked Dayne Beams to delete an angry tweet about Justin Koschitzke's off-the-ball hit on Magpie Jamie Elliott this month. Buckley, in conjunction with consultants Leading Teams, has worked to extract greater off-field discipline from players, who had been given more freedom under Malthouse. The so-called Brat Pack have been taught some tough lessons - just ask Dane Swan and, this week, Heath Shaw, who Buckley says is one of a few players whose skinfolds are not as they should be. Suddenly, a bigger storm, involving one of the most prominent names in the country, has enveloped his club. Buckley must quickly get his men to refocus, otherwise a season that promised so much will hang in the balance.  |
A defiant Eddie McGuire says he is determined to make amends for his dire on-air clanger racially vilifying Adam Goodes, and said he was willing to stand aside as Collingwood president while the AFL's process unfolded. He said he would ask the Collingwood board members whether they thought that was an appropriate step also said he would ''take a spell'' from his various media commitments if required. Eddie McGuire. ''I'll talk to the guys about it. I'll speak to the board. The board have said to me today we know what you're doing,'' he said on Fox Footy's AFL360. ''I'll work it out with other people tomorrow, I've just got to get through today to be honest. If that's appropriate, if that's symbolic, if that makes a difference, then I will. I have no problem with that. ''I have no problem if Triple M said have a spell, if Fox Footy said you know what we don't want you to be the face of footy this weekend, maybe have a spell. ''I would happily do that and I'd cop that blemish on my impeccable record in that regard to make the point. ''There's no ducking around or anything else, it is what it is. I'm enternally disappointed and sorry on what happened and I will make amends. I will make amends, I promise you I will make amends.'' McGuire also offered to resign from his position as the chairman of the Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre, an offer that Long rejected. McGuire had inexplicably suggested Goodes could be used to promote the musical King Kong just days after a 13-year-old girl hurled the racist slur of ''ape'' at Goodes during the match between the Magpies and Swans at the MCG on Friday. McGuire had been praised for his handling of that issue, but undid all the good work on his Triple M breakfast show on Wednesday. Swans chairman Richard Colless and coach John Longmire were bewildered by McGuire's comments, while it is understood that Goodes has reluctantly accepted McGuire's apology. ''I think a slip of the tongue is probably one word mispronounced. This was actually a few sentences,'' Colless said. ''It wasn't even funny. Being funny, you might have been able to make the case. It was [a] very sort of ham-fisted comment that really you would have thought only an amateur who hadn't read the papers over the weekend would have been able to make.'' The AFL has said McGuire will be put through the league's racial and religious vilification counselling process. One of the most savage responses to McGuire came from Magpies backman Harry O'Brien, who admonished his president, declaring he was ''extremely disappointed''. ''In my opinion race relations in this country is systematically a national disgrace,'' he said. McGuire later apologised to O'Brien and the pair appeared together on AFL360 to further discuss the issue of ''unintended racism''. Discussing with Luke Darcy, on their breakfast radio show on Triple M, a promotion of the King Kong musical, in which an ape's hand was hung from the Eureka Skydeck, 300 metres above the ground. Darcy said: ''One of the great promos ever was the hand coming out of the Eureka tower. What a great promo that is for King Kong.'' McGuire interjected: ''Get Adam Goodes down for it, you reckon?'' ''No, I wouldn't have thought so,'' was the response from Darcy. McGuire went on, stumbling over his words: ''You can see them doing that, can't you? Goodesy. You know, the big, not the ape thing, the whole thing … I'm just saying pumping him up and mucking around and that sort of stuff.'' McGuire then went into damage control. He soon rang AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou, federal Sports Minister Kate Lundy, Goodes and the Swans to apologise and fronted a packed media conference. ''Adam was really upset. I don't think he felt vilified because he knows me and he said that to me,'' McGuire said. McGuire said it was a ''slip of a tongue'' and ''it burns me to the core''. He said he understood if indigenous players questioned his stance on equality but said this had been a ''hallmark of his presidency'' and it was ''a cause that I live for''. ''I am not a racist and because I have done a lot of things in the past and I will continue to fight for the cause of equality in Australia,'' he said. ''People don't resign because they make a slip of the tongue. It's as simple as that. If I stood up because I was racially vilifying somebody, not only should I be resigning, I should be sacked. ''I let myself down because I had a slip of the tongue. It was as simple as that but the ramifications are greater than that.'' McGuire had spent Tuesday night at an indigenous-related event. Asked why he had used Goodes' name, McGuire replied: ''We were talking about how the arm of King Kong was on the building. To be honest I was drifting off, thinking about how [promotional] things used to be done in the old days … it just slipped out.'' |
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Collingwood News and Views
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In his first game in a year Lachlan Keeffe landed awkwardly on another player and bruised his kidneys. The injury will put the key position player out of the VFL for another week and so also set back his availability to the senior side. Collingwood's key defenders, Ben Reid and Nathan Brown, have been labouring and would likely have been dropped were it not for the absence of alternative players such as Keeffe or injured youngster Jack Frost. In the aftermath of the Sydney match the racism issue overshadowed analysis of the 47-point drubbing Collingwood received. On Tuesday coach Nathan Buckley admitted the match reinforced several facts. Heath Shaw will need to lift his game. First, it revealed Collingwood does not have the battery of elite, quick endurance runners to match the best. "I don't know what their endurance profile is, but from the outside in it looks like they've got six, seven, eight elite endurance runners that can run at pace up and back," Buckley said. "We don't have the capacity to match that at the moment with our personnel . . . if we make it a running battle it's probably going to be harder for us to win. "We acknowledge the strengths in our group – we're a hard, contested-ball side. When we put pressure on as a team on the opposition, we create opportunities for ourselves and we defend well. That's what we saw two weeks ago [against Geelong] and that's utopia, that's what we're looking for." Collingwood on Friday was missing Dayne Beams, Dale Thomas, Heath Shaw, Tyson Goldsack, Clinton Young, Alan Toovey and Alex Fasolo. Of those, Toovey and Fasolo will not return this year; Thomas might. Young has not been sighted yet but is likely to play senior football in about round 14 or 15. Shaw will return this week after Buckley admitted he had been left out with hamstring tightness. High skinfolds also did not help his cause, Buckley said. The Sydney loss also magnified other issues, such as Quinten Lynch's loss of form in the past month. The introduction of ruckman Jarrod Witts had meant Lynch was no longer relieving Darren Jolly in the ruck. Being kept out of the play had seemingly hurt his form, Buckley admitted. Managing the older players such as Alan Didak and Ben Johnson and striking a balance between them and emerging talent was a challenge for the club, he said. "We are still in the process of finding out what our best 22 looks like. We have some players who have been there and done that and you get the opportunity to prove if your best is still good enough. Then we have got young players who are hungry to take that next step . . . we are finding a balance between those two." The Pies do have young talent in the VFL. Rookie Kyle Martin has impressed all season and booted six goals last weekend, Jackson Paine kicked six a fortnight ago in his first good game of the year and followed it up with good effort last week, Josh Thomas has been "excellent", while Buckley also praised another rookie in Adam Oxley. Thomas would appear certain to return to the side after being unfortunate to miss last week. Buckley said there would likely be significant changes this week in the team to play the Brisbane Lions. "If you perform at senior level you will be supported but clearly there need to be some changes after a performance like that and we need to keep our individuals held to account for that performance," he said. "We were beaten by last year's premiers playing their best footy in 2013, so we have had a really good look at what the very best looks like this year. Sydney are the best side we have played this season." Sydney had, like Hawthorn, exposed Collingwood at stoppages and in defence by winning the ball at stoppages. Then, having sucked the Collingwood defenders up the ground, they hurt them with pace when they turned them around and had them running back towards goal. Buckley said this was an issue of the total team defence, not just the back line. "We have to move the ball better but our main focus is on how we defend, we need to be able to run hard enough and defend well enough," he said. "There's a lot of things that aren't clicking for us at the moment off one performance but when it does click you can see how damaging we can be and how hard to beat we can be, but we need to be more consistent. "We think we are going to be a better football side in the second half than we have been in the first half." |
HISTORY says Collingwood and Richmond are fighting for one finals berth. Only three times in the past decade has more than one team forced its way into the eight after this stage of the season. Richmond and Collingwood are 10th and 11th respectively, while the historical hurdle is even worse news for North Melbourne, currently 13th. Collingwood great Peter Daicos yesterday said he was sure the Magpies would come good, despite their bad loss to Sydney on Friday night. "No doubt, like a lot of teams, they rely on playing at their very best," Daicos said. "But at their best they're one of the best teams and I've got no doubt about that." Richmond's 1980 premiership coach Tony Jewell said the Tigers were on track, despite a last-start loss to Essendon. "They ran Fremantle to a point over there and beat Carlton," Jewell said. "And all of a sudden they've got two young blokes who have emerged, (Brandon) Ellis and (Nick) Vlastuin, and I reckon they're genuine players. "You add those to (Trent) Cotchin, (Brett) Deledio, (Dustin) Martin and (Nathan) Foley and I've just got a good feeling. "If their centre half-forward, (Tyrone) Vickery - he's only young and I'm a bit of a wrap for him - can really start influencing games then they're in with a chance." Only twice in the past 11 years have three teams climbed in to the eight after Round 9 - in 2009 and 2012. On both occasions those teams filled spots nine, 10 and 11 on the ladder after Round 9 and trailed eighth spot by a game or less. Daicos said the Pies' true standing would be clearer once they had played every team. Collingwood is yet to play Brisbane Lions (Friday), Melbourne (Rd 11), Western Bulldogs (Rd 12), Port Adelaide (Rd 14), Gold Coast (Rd 17), Greater Western Sydney (Rd 18) and meets both Adelaide (Rd 16) and West Coast (Rd 22) at the MCG. "Clearly the draw is going to be in their favour," Daicos said. "And the one thing that stands out having still to play those teams at the lower end of the ladder is that you could easily run in to some consistent football week-in, week-out. "I think it's a favourable run home for them. They've had a couple of their key players out as well." TAB has Collingwood $1.25 to make the finals, and Richmond a $1.75 chance - ahead of Adelaide (seventh) $1.80 and North Melbourne $5.
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Monday, May 27, 2013
Jolly High Hit
SUPERFOOTY
COLLINGWOOD ruckman Darren Jolly is under threat of suspension again.
He will attract the AFL match review panel's scrutiny for a high hit for the second week in a row.
Jolly appeared on video for off-the-ball high contact to Sydney's Ben McGlynn at the MCG on Friday night.
While the contact sent McGlynn sprawling to the turf, the Swan regained his feet and played on.
The panel will seek extra video rather than rely solely on television's wide shot.
Jolly escaped a rough conduct charge from the previous round after the panel decided the majority of contact was to Geelong's Mathew Stokes's body and the high contact was not sufficient force to be an offence.
The Magpies have a ready replacement should Jolly be suspended for Friday night's game in Brisbane, with veteran Ben Hudson playing a pivotal role in the VFL team's nine-point win over Essendon on Saturday.
Hudson had 29 effective hitouts in his 21-possession performance.
COLLINGWOOD ruckman Darren Jolly is under threat of suspension again.
He will attract the AFL match review panel's scrutiny for a high hit for the second week in a row.
Jolly appeared on video for off-the-ball high contact to Sydney's Ben McGlynn at the MCG on Friday night.
While the contact sent McGlynn sprawling to the turf, the Swan regained his feet and played on.
The panel will seek extra video rather than rely solely on television's wide shot.
Jolly escaped a rough conduct charge from the previous round after the panel decided the majority of contact was to Geelong's Mathew Stokes's body and the high contact was not sufficient force to be an offence.
The Magpies have a ready replacement should Jolly be suspended for Friday night's game in Brisbane, with veteran Ben Hudson playing a pivotal role in the VFL team's nine-point win over Essendon on Saturday.
Hudson had 29 effective hitouts in his 21-possession performance.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Tipping Round 9
TIPPING
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Round 9: Collingwood 55 Sydney 102
COLLINGWOOD 3.2.20 3.4.22 4.5.29 8.7.55
SYDNEY 4.5.29 7.9.51 11.11.77 15.12.102
SCORERS
Collingwood: Cloke (3.2), Elliott (2.0), Seedsman (1.1), Dwyer (1.0), Witts (1.0), Clarke (0.1)
BEST
Collingwood: O'Brien, Pendlebury, Reid, Clarke, Ball, Elliott
INJURIES
Collingwood: Russell (ankle)
SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Ben Kennedy replaced Jarrod Witts at three quarter time
REPORTS
Collingwood: Nil
OFFICIAL CROWD: 65,306 at the MCG
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The Sydney Swans have run Collingwood off its feet with a ballistic 47-point win in front of 65,306 fans at the MCG on Friday night. The Swans completely smothered the Magpies' forwards and charged forward when in possession, skipping away with a 15.12 (102) to 8.7 (55) victory. Such was the visitors' dominance, Collingwood could manage only one goal between the 25-minute mark of the first quarter and the four-minute mark of the last. The Swans booted 10 goals in the same period, getting out to a game-high 54-point lead. Only a strong last quarter from Nathan Buckley's men prevented the result from becoming a complete blowout. Champion Swan Adam Goodes was superb for the victors, collecting 30 disposals up and down the wing, as the reigning premiers repeatedly hurt Collingwood on the counter-attack. He also booted a team-high three goals in a fitting display for Indigenous Round. The veteran gained great support from his midfield, with Daniel Hannebery, Kieren Jack and Ryan O'Keefe all enjoying big games. Down back, Nick Malceski continually found space as a loose man, and also provided important help for teammate Ted Richards on dangerous spearhead Travis Cloke (three goals) in an otherwise dysfunctional Magpies forward line. Scott Pendlebury played a typically determined game for the losers, gathering 28 disposals and hitting teammates lace-out on several occasions. Steele Sidebottom and Luke Ball also worked hard, while Brent Macaffer turned in a disciplined tagging effort on Josh Kennedy, holding the Swans' clearance specialist to 18 disposals. The dampener on a memorable evening for John Longmire's team was the loss of key forward Sam Reid with a left quad injury. The win for the Swans appeared to be marred by an incident late in the game, with a female Collingwood supporter ejected from the ground after being pointed out to security by Goodes. Goodes left the field immediately after the final siren, and appeared visibly upset in the changerooms. It was the Swans' first win over Collingwood at the MCG since 2000, and came despite a pre-game drama, with the team bus turning up late after breaking down on the way to the hotel, forcing some players onto public transport. They have now won two straight over the Magpies after losing the previous 11. The loss leaves Collingwood at 5-4 for the season, and almost certain to drop out of the top eight by the end of the weekend. Already severely depleted by injury, they may be sweating on the fitness of Jordan Russell, who spent time on the bench with an ankle problem. He was, however, able to finish the game on the field. The Swans have moved to six wins, two losses and a draw, and are safe inside the top four for another week. The healthy turnout was the second-largest home and away attendance for matches between the two clubs in history. Collingwood President Eddie McGuire has vowed to seek out the fan who allegedly racially abused Sydney Swans champion Adam Goodes on Friday night and ban her from the club. McGuire immediately sought out Goodes in the changerooms following the match, apologising for the last quarter incident. Afterwards, the fuming Magpies president said the fan's behaviour was "despicable". "I went in to ask Adam what happened, and he told me someone said something; you can ask him what was said," McGuire told AFL Media. "I just apologised to him. "I wanted to look him in the eye and let him know that we don't stand for this. "This club doesn't stand for it, the football world doesn't stand for it. "I didn't want him to go away from being a fantastic leader in what is a wonderful week for our code, or to feel that this is in any way endorsed or condoned, or anything other than that we are just absolutely devastated that someone would say something like that. "We will be taking every step. "Everyone knows the rules at Collingwood: if you racially vilify anybody, it's zero tolerance; you're out. "Hopefully the police have got the person, and we'll find out and get to the bottom of it. "They should be absolutely ashamed of themselves." Magpies coach Nathan Buckley echoed his president's sentiments, saying the incident was a reminder that work still needed to be done to rid society of racism, despite gains made in the past two decades. "My opinion, and it will be the club's opinion, is that any person of any race, colour or creed is welcome to play this game and to observe this game, and should be able to do so with the freedom that any person should be able to," Buckley said. "That freedom is taken away when you choose not to respect people of other race, colour or creed. "We're disappointed that this has happened. "I believe it was a young girl; it speaks probably more to how much more work we need to do in this regard. "We'll support Adam in this situation, and we'll do anything we need to do to further improve the attitudes in society. "Football reflects society, and this is a situation that highlights that." Sydney Swans coach John Longmire welcomed McGuire's visit to the Swans' rooms post-match to apologise, saying that was an indication of how seriously the AFL industry takes racial vilification. "Adam was clearly disappointed and upset, and he's confident the AFL will work through it," Longmire said. "He's happy for the AFL to take the lead and let them deal with it." The incident happened in the Punt Road end forward pocket of the MCG, deep in the final quarter of the Swans' 47-point win. Goodes reacted angrily when he heard a comment from a female in the front row, pointing her out to security, who removed her from the ground. After the final siren, the clearly upset dual Brownlow Medallist immediately went down the players' race while his teammates celebrated the win on the field. Neither the Swans nor Magpies have publicly stated what was said. The incident has come on a weekend of celebration of the contribution of Indigenous footballers, with Indigenous Round marking the 20th anniversary of Nicky Winmar's defiant stance against racism at Collingwood's former home ground, Victoria Park. "I went in to ask Adam what happened, and he told me someone said something; you can ask him what was said," McGuire told AFL Media. "I just apologised to him. "I wanted to look him in the eye and let him know that we don't stand for this. "This club doesn't stand for it, the football world doesn't stand for it." AFL |
Sydney arrived by tram, thanks to a team bus malfunction, and went home by limousine. Having broken the Magpies' six-year, 11-game hold over them in last year's preliminary final, the Swans now seem intent on imposing a spell of their own. This was the reigning premiers' most complete performance of a year of slow gathering, and in many ways Collingwood's most abject defeat in a year of often stuttering performances. Decimation by injury is no explanation; the Swans also had cornerstone players out. It might yet go down as an even more infamous night. Late in the last quarter, Adam Goodes, who had put in yet another irresistible performance, gesticulated his disgust to a knot of Magpie supporters. After the game, Goodes' anger was still palpable. More will emerge. It made for a distasteful start to indigenous round. Collingwood brings out Sydney's miserly best; that much is clear. The defining phenomenon of this encounter was the total breakdown of the Magpies' forward line. It was ill-balanced from the start, and the Swans knew that if they contained Travis Cloke, who was double-teamed most of the night, it would leave a black hole. It took the Magpies three quarters to score what the Swans did in the first. Their four last-quarter goals were consolations. The paucity of opportunity merely reflected the burden of play in midfield, where the Swans run, spread and intensity reduced the Magpies at times to a rabble. At the other end, the Swans did themselves an injustice with their profligacy. Again, the scoreboard deceives; at least three times, the Swans kicked out on the full. They could and should have turned this into a rout. The night had begun more nobly than it ended, with a hug by proxy captains Lewis Jetta and Andrew Krakouer. Varying tactics of other weeks, neither team began with a dedicated tagger; this one would be sorted out on its merits. Sydney swarmed all over Collingwood from the start, but was oddly extravagant around goal. Goodes, of all people, missed two sitters. At the other end, Collingwood, from limited chances, kicked three goals from leads and marks. It was a strength that became a weakness when it became clear that the Magpies had no plan B. The stoppages were ferociously contested, but Sydney's run and spread made it always the more threatening team. In the second quarter, the Swans made good that threat, shredding Collingwood with piercing football on the rebound. Sydney made the lumbering and ponderous Magpies look outnumbered at both ends of the ground, no mean feat on the MCG. At half-time, the Swans led in uncontested possession by 130-92. Collingwood led the tackle count 58-43, but that an indication only of the remedial work it was forced to perform. Fittingly in indigenous round, Goodes bobbed up in every play. Collingwood tried to tighten up, detailing Macaffer to Kennedy, but in the meantime, unsung Craig Bird had blotted Dane Swan out of the game. Again, only Sydney's profligacy near goal spared the Magpies; Morton, twice, was culpably lax. Three goal to none was right as a ratio, but meagre as a return for the Swans. Collingwood went goal-less for a quarter and a half. The last quarter was footnotes. The match finished on an apt note when Swans' veteran Jude Bolton threaded a goal after the final siren. What was beyond the Magpies all night long, the Swans could do even as an encore. NO GOODES ANSWER Adam Goodes had a range of opponents - Nick Maxwell, Jordan Russell and Harry O'Brien among them - all of them rotating on and off the dual Brownlow medallist when he went forward or back. But none of them had any significant effect. Goodes copped a knee in the quad in the first term but it did little to slow him up as he was the dominant player on the field. Goodes was either too strong in the pack or too mobile getting up and down the ground, particularly exploiting the open field the Swans like to run in to towards goal. BATTLE OF THE BIRD In a game of Swans and Magpies a Bird beat a Swan, but the Swans beat the Magpies. Craig Bird was tasked Dane Swan early on and Bird did an excellent job shutting him down. Swan had eight touches to half-time, of his five kicks four were rated clangers or ineffective. After half-time Swan had a range of others, like Luke Parker and Kieren Jack. EXPERIENCE COUNTS It was Sydney's elder statesmen that led the way, with Goodes, Ryan O'Keefe, Jarred McVeigh and Nick Malceski all racking up 30 or more disposals. O'Keefe's tackling was a highlight, applying a game-high 14. 1. Goodes the big story In a sad end to the opening match of Indigenous Round, Adam Goodes was allegedly racially vilified by a young female Collingwood supporter late in the fourth quarter. Goodes was best afield, winning 30 possessions and booting three goals in a masterful performance, but he was left disappointed and upset following the match. Collingwood president Eddie McGuire was immediately in the Swans' rooms to shake Goodes' hand and apologise, and he said his club was "just absolutely devastated that someone would say something like that". Swans coach John Longmire stressed Goodes' significant performance should be acknowledged, saying: "He's a leader in his community and he's a powerful figure … the way he drove himself tonight was pretty special". 2. Late arrival, fast start The bus driver who was late to pick up the Swans on Friday night may be getting a call-up if the club returns to the home of football in September, with his tardy service prompting some of the best football the Swans have played this season. The Swans bus broke down on its way to pick up the players on Friday evening, with some travelling to the MCG by tram and taxi. The team was assembled for its pre-game routine no more than 10 minutes later than planned, and the start they produced was exhilarating. The Swans played 'slingshot' football, launching fast breaks off half-back to build a 29-point lead at half time. 3. Lukewarm Pies When the shine eventually rubbed off the Magpies’ win over Geelong last Saturday night, the team was left to ponder a lapse in the third quarter that saw them concede eight goals to the Cats. On Friday night it was the second quarter that started the rot, the Swans kicking 3.4 to the Magpies' 0.2. Both sides went inside 50 11 times for the term, but Collingwood's forward line was non-existent, with Travis Cloke and Quinten Lynch touching the ball once each. It was Collingwood’s first goalless quarter of the season. 4. Dane's dirty night Not only did Dane Swan have just eight disposals in a first half he would rather forget, all were ineffective. It was a rare poor game for the Brownlow medallist, who finished with 23 possessions and did little damage from the midfield, pushing into defence at times through the match. With Dayne Beams and Dale Thomas sidelined, the Magpies’ midfield depth was exposed. Luke Ball and Scott Pendlebury recorded an equal team-high 28 possessions. 5. Reid concerns Early speculation suggests Swans key forward Sam Reid could be sidelined for the next three to four weeks with a left quad injury. The athletic big man was substituted in the third quarter and had lengthy discussions with club medical staff after having his injured leg worked on. It was another quiet night for Reid, who has kicked seven goals from nine games this season. Opposed to brother Ben, he kicked one goal, from a mark and set shot, early in the third quarter before injury struck. |
COLLINGWOOD must address a work-rate problem that threatens to trap Nathan Buckley'’s men in the mid-part of the AFL ladder. The Pies' inconsistent season continued last night when they fell to Sydney by 47 points in a match marred by a racist slur directed at Swans champion Adam Goodes. The effort was a disappointment for Buckley only a week after the Pies notched their best win of the season defeating heavyweight Geelong. The Collingwood coach said the Swans were prepared to run much harder to each end of the ground than his team did last night. "We definitely got outworked by a side with a bit to prove," Buckley said. "We wanted to back up our performance from last week, we were just unable to do that. "They ran harder back to protect their defence and they ran harder forward. "We just didn't work hard enough, we were caught in the middle." The loss leaves the Pies in danger of falling outside the top eight this round, with the club boasting one of the longest injury lists in the AFL. Buckley said the work-rate problem for the Pies was part mental, part physical. "No doubt we looked like we lacked some pep tonight," he said. "We just looked that half a step off where we needed to be. "Part of that is psychological. We set ourselves to came out to reinforce the performance of last week, but we have been a little bit up and down. "Round 3 versus Hawthorn (was a loss), then OK against Richmond, then poor against Essendon, then OK against St Kilda, then poor against Freo, then OK against Geelong, now poor again. "We've gone win-loss, win-loss since Round 3 basically. We need to be better than that.". ADAM Goodes has urged support for the young Collingwood fan who racially abused him at last night's match, saying the girl had contacted him to apologise. Goodes booted three goals and had 30 disposals in Sydney's 15.12 (102) to 8.7 (55) victory at the MCG as the Swans claimed their sixth win and consolidated their spot in the top four. Collingwood were held goal-less in the second term and scored only one major in the third term to trail by 48 points at three-quarter time before both sides kicked four goals each in the final term. But Goodes left the field visibly distressed late in the game after a verbal clash with the Collingwood fan, who was evicted by security staff after the player stood just metres from her to point her out in the stands. At an AFL press conference earlier today, the Swans veteran said that he was "gutted" to have heard the 13-year-old girl call him an ape. "It cut me deep. I'm still shattered,'' Goodes said. "Personally I don't think I've ever been more hurt. It felt like I was in high school again being bullied. I don't think I've ever been more hurt by someone calling me a name. Not just by what was said, by who it came from." But he cautioned against a backlash, saying that he did not want a "witchhunt". "The person who needs the most support right now is the little girl. She's 13. She's uneducated," he said, adding that he thought it unlikely that she understood the real meaning of the insult. Shortly after the press conference, Goodes tweeted to say that he had received a phone call from the young girl in which she apologised for her actions. "Lets support her please," he added. Speaking this morning, Sydney AFL coach John Longmire said he hoped the incident did not overshadow the dual Brownlow Medallist's best-afield display in his side's 47-point win over Collingwood. Longmire said Goodes, 33, had set himself up for a big game as part of the AFL's Indigenous Round. "His performance was magnificent and we should also acknowledge that. He played so well,'' Longmire said. "He's a leader in his community and he's a powerful figure. The way he drove himself (last night) was pretty special.'' Midfielder Dan Hannebery, with 31 disposals and two goals, was another star for the Swans along with defender Nick Malceski and co-captain Jarrad McVeigh. Longmire said key forward Sam Reid, who was subbed off in the third quarter with a thigh injury, hoped to be fit for Saturday's SCG clash with Essendon. The inconsistent Magpies travel to Brisbane to play the Lions at the Gabba next Friday night. "We will be out of the eight at the end of this round,'' Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said of his side's 5-4 win-loss record. "We have gone win-loss win-loss since round three and we need to be better than that.'' The Magpies were slaughtered on the counter-attack by the hard-running Swans. "If you turn the ball over when you have it in your hands, if you do not use it well you give them that opportunity and if you don't pressure them well enough then they are going to get out,'' Buckley said. Buckley said Sydney's pressure contributed to his side's poor ball use. Brownlow Medallist midfielder Dane Swan was one player in particular to struggle with his kicking efficiency. While Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom and Travis Cloke (three goals) were among Collingwood's better players, Buckley said overall the Magpies had been outworked. "We were well beaten in all areas especially early,'' Buckley said. At an AFL press conference earlier today, the Swans veteran said that he was "gutted" to have heard the 13-year-old girl call him an ape. "It cut me deep. I'm still shattered,'' Goodes said. "Personally I don't think I've ever been more hurt. It felt like I was in high school again being bullied. "I don't think I've ever been more hurt by someone calling me a name. "Not just by what was said, by who it came from." AAP |
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