COLLINGWOOD 1.6.12 7.11.53 12.15.87 17.20.122
MELBOURNE 1.5.11 1.7.13 3.9.27 5.9.39
SCORERS
Collingwood: Cloke (3.3), Kennedy (3.2), Martin (3.1), Thomas (2.0), Lynch (1.3), Didak (1.2), O'Brien (1.1), Swan (1.1), Macaffer (1.0), Pendlebury (1.0), Seedsman (0.3), Reid (0.1)
BEST
Collingwood: Swan, Ball, Shaw, Pendlebury, Sidebottom, J.Thomas, O'Brien
INJURIES
Collingwood: TBC
SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Adam Oxley replaced Nathan Brown in the third quarter
REPORTS
Collingwood: Nil
OFFICIAL CROWD: 50,835 at the MCG
| THE MEDIA | ||
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Melbourne resistance was brave but all too brief in the showpiece game of its season, with Collingwood flexing its muscle to win Monday's Queen's Birthday match by 83 points at the MCG. After promising to play Monday's game like a final, the Demons fought impressively in the first quarter, tackling at a level not seen this season and earning loud applause from the faithful. The Dees trailed by only one point at the first change. However, it proved a standard they could not uphold, with the Magpies booting 10 unanswered goals through the second and third quarters to win 17.20 (122) to 5.9 (39). In a blow to the injury-hit Demons, who are already without Mitch Clark, Jack Grimes and James Frawley, key forward Chris Dawes suffered a suspected knee injury and took no part in the match after half-time. The result was a powerful show of strength from Collingwood, which moved to sixth on the ladder with a 7-4 record and enjoyed a significant percentage boost. The victors had 10 separate goalkickers, while in the midfield Dane Swan (39 possessions and eight clearances), Luke Ball (31 and eight) and 21-year-old Josh Thomas (27 and two goals) were all influential. Half-backs Heath Shaw and Harry O'Brien, who continue to prosper further afield, set up the Magpies' attacks with their run and precise ball use. In just his second game, elevated rookie Kyle Martin kicked an equal game-high three goals, matching teammates Ben Kennedy and Travis Cloke, who was relatively well held by opponent Colin Garland. Melbourne attacked the first quarter like it was a Grand Final, let alone a final, with midfielder Colin Sylvia, who returned from a three-game suspension, tackling like a man starved of the football. Jack Watts was winning contested ball and fending off opponents, while captain Jack Trengove led by example. The effort didn't last, however, with the Magpies controlling the midfield and kicking 16 goals to four thereafter. As well as Garland, Matt Jones (24 possessions) and Tom McDonald were impressive for the Demons, while Trengove kicked on to finish with two goals. 1. Melbourne's "final" Speaking on 3AW pre-match, Melbourne coach Mark Neeld said he and his players had approached the game as a final, identifying it as an opportunity to show genuine intent in the club's annual showpiece event. Neeld didn't want his charges to be overawed by the Pies or the big crowd. And they weren't … for a quarter at least. The Demons' intensity, teamwork and tackling pressure (usually untackleable Pies star Scott Pendlebury was twice caught for holding the ball early) seemed to surprise the Pies. When veteran Aaron Davey slotted their first goal, a dazzling effort that turned back the clock, he ran off the field to an ovation from the MCC members, who dared to dream. 2. Killer Watts Four years after he endured a torrid AFL debut in a Queen's Birthday game, Jack Watts finally looked like a hardened footballer, rather than the schoolboy that AFL legend Leigh Matthews has often described him as. Melbourne's much-maligned No. 1 draft pick was so good early, with seven possessions (four contested) in the first quarter, that club great Garry Lyon declared on Triple M: "I've never seen Jack Watts attack the footy in this manner." Opposed to Heath Shaw, and later Nick Maxwell, the 22-year-old posed match-up problems with his athleticism, mobility and newfound intensity. After quarter-time though, Watts was starved of opportunities. 3. Dawes takes on his old mates When Chris Dawes' trade to Melbourne was confirmed last October, he and Collingwood premiership teammate Nathan Brown were holidaying together. Brown even pondered the possibility of them playing on each other in the Queen's Birthday game, and that's exactly what transpired. It was an intriguing duel, albeit much too brief, with Dawes taking the honours in the first quarter-and-a-bit before substituted out of the game at half-time with a knee injury. Before then, Dawes had been a strong presence in the air and also with his vigour, laying heavy tackles and even becoming involved in a skirmish with former skipper Nick Maxwell after hurting his knee in a tackle. 4. The Pies unleash their 'Ox' Melbourne president Don McLardy returned fire at club great David 'The Ox' Schwarz in his pre-match speech, and later that afternoon the Pies blooded their own young man bearing the same nickname – 20-year-old Queenslander Adam Oxley. The upgraded rookie started as the Magpies' substitute and was given an opportunity when Nathan Brown was subbed out in the third term. Oxley was almost immediately into the fray, delivering a superb left-foot pass to Dane Swan for an easy goal. He also took a terrific contested mark at half-back, and spent time on Melbourne high-flyer Jeremy Howe. He certainly looks a likely type. 5. Pie-romania after early Melbourne resistance Scores were level at 1.4 apiece late in the first quarter, and the Pies made little traction early in the second term, but for the next hour they dominated the contest, piling on the next 10 goals to just five behinds to storm to a 65-point lead. Melbourne went more than two quarters without a goal, and didn't kick its next major until the 23-minute mark of the third quarter. In the process, the Pies gave their low percentage a welcome boost. |
This was one quarter of match, three quarters of match practice. The first quarter was Melbourne's nod to the occasion, the biggest day of its football year. The Demons matched Collingwood in every aspect, and beat the Magpies handsomely in one, contested possession, 36-25. The Melbourne faithful, rallying perhaps one last time, were in full and throaty voice, indignant during play, rapturous at quarter-time. In the moist air, there hung the merest hint of the impossible. That only made what followed all the more anti-climatic. In the remaining three quarters, Collingwood had the ball 87 more times than Melbourne, including 31 times in contested situations. It led the inside-50 count 54-23, and outscored the Demons 110-28. In the last quarter, Melbourne advanced the ball inside 50 just four miserable times. At least it was efficient, kicking two goals. By then, the seagulls were making more noise than the Melbourne fans. So, on the one day, the Demons put in their best and worst performances of this annus horribilis. At least no one is in any doubt about where they stand. They don't, still. But, if anything, this muddied the Collingwood waters. The Magpies had wanted a four-quarter effort, and played three. In the first quarter, Scott Pendlebury was caught in possession twice, and Quinten Lynch missed three times, including once from 20 metres. Over and over, the Magpies stalled at half-back. It was as if they had sleep-walked into this game. Stung by a burst from coach Nathan Buckley at quarter-time, they then played some of their slickest football. They got match kilometres into Alan Didak, who regained some of his cockiness of old. His first goal this season was kicked with a Didak flourish, though he understood the humble context and was careful not to flaunt it. Luke Ball was back to his old tricks, ferreting the ball out from the bottom of packs. He led all-comers for contested possessions, and as much as any one player was responsible for the change in complexion in this match after quarter-time. The Magpies introduced another new player, their seventh this season. With his first kick, a cultured left-footer, Adam Oxley spotted up Dane Swan in scarcely a metre of leading space, an astute career move. Swan goaled. Collingwood's injury malaise is a double-edged sword, hurting now, but laying down a foundation for the future. But it was not all sweetness and light. Travis Cloke began by slotting a goal from the bleachers, but thereafter lost his range as only he can, managing a total of three goals from eight shots. After one flew wide in the last quarter, he flapped his arms in frustration. For Melbourne's gallant Colin Garland, this counted as a moral victory. Meantime, Nathan Brown was subbed out, seemingly because of what is known in the trade as a niggle. But it was hard to gauge Collingwood, because really, there was no measuring stick. Former Magpie Chris Dawes kept the back line honest early, until an ankle strain put him out of the game. Thereafter, Melbourne's forward line became a bird sanctuary. Pendlebury and Swan, left untagged, had more than 70 possessions between them. No serious team will give them the freedom of the land like that. Time after time, Melbourne tried to run the ball out of defence, so played into Collingwood's hands, literally. Mark Neeld, still Melbourne's coach, counted 24 Collingwood shots on goal from Melbourne's surrendering of the ball. From quarter-time, Collingwood kicked 10 goals in a row. Midway through the last quarter, even the Collingwood end of the MCG was half-empty. The event – you could not call it a match – was reduced to an exercise by Collingwood in piercing Melbourne's 18-man defence. It would not have surprised if both coaches had appeared on the ground, setting out witches' hats. The Queen's Birthday occasion rarely has been so faux. It cried out at least for a Jeremy Howe mark, but this was not a day even for momentary soaring. In the end, Collingwood added a 14-goal win to its spluttering season, and Melbourne dreamt of the day when it too would splutter. TEN OF THE BEST Aaron Davey thrilled the surprisingly vocal Demons contingent with a first-quarter goal that featured two baulks. But it was another 59 minutes until they got the opportunity to wave their flags again, when Jack Trengove threaded a set shot in the third quarter. In between, Collingwood piled on 10 goals of its own. DIDAK'S CLASSY CAMEO Veteran Magpie Alan Didak was made to work hard for a senior recall, but the absence of Andrew Krakouer provided him a great opportunity to reclaim his mantle as the side's premier creative forward. But instead of sitting deep, Didak was used on a wing or flank, and used his guile and freakish skill to great effect. DAWES' DIRTY DAY The sterling effort of Demon Chris Dawes last weekend against Hawthorn raised expectations he would be even better against his old club. His first quarter on Monday produced only two marks but he left no doubt where his loyalties lay after he became embroiled in a scuffle with Nick Maxwell. But as the match progressed it became obvious he was struggling with a knee injury, which prompted his substitution at half-time. With Mitch Clark already missing, the loss of the spearhead was another blow the Demons could not absorb. |
THIS was the Queen's Birthday Dis-Honours List. And, yes, the Demons stood in line for the bouquets once again. It shouldn't be so surprising. In three of their past five seasons - 2008, 2009 and 2013 - the Demons have been 1-10 at the halfway mark of the season. The last time they won on the Queen's Birthday, Her Royal Highness was a teenage girl. What was expected to happen at the MCG actually happened, and without being too blunt, this game was without a significant euphoric moment. For the Demons, perhaps their most potent arousal came in the first quarter when Aaron Davey skipped through two players to kick Melbourne's first goal at the 17th minute, which meant at the first break, they only trailed Collingwood by a point. Their next goal would come at the 20th minute of the third quarter, via Jack Trengove. In between, was classic Melbourne. They compete without result. They could turnover for Australia. They could frustrate the Dalai Lama. In that first 30 minutes, they probably played their best footy of the season against a legitimate team, yet kicked 1.5. They beat Magpies in the contested ball, won the tackles, squared the inside 50s, and narrowly lost disposals. The joy - and hope - of a competitive Melbourne was lost soon after. The Magpies kicked six goals in the second quarter and 10 unanswered all up across the second and third quarters. By then, it was 11 goals to one. In the final three quarters, the Pies kicked 16 goals to four. By the end, the Magpies had significantly won all the necessary statistical components. By the very end, everyone was praying for the final siren. The Magpies survived without injury and got solid match time into players. Alan Didak played forward/midfield and although the opposition yesterday wasn't of preliminary final ilk, he danced and dipped for 25 touches, six inside 50s and a goal. He moved well, Didak, and if that kind of form is sustainable, he will play plenty of senior games in the run home. Josh Thomas was another. Twenty-seven touches and two goals suggests he motored past VFL standard, while Quinten Lynch was as busy as he's been in the past month playing high key forward. Really, it was quintessential Collingwood. Swan and Pendlebury racked the numbers, Ball won the contested ball, Heath Shaw was the charge of the light brigade form deep in the defence, and Travis Cloke seemed to have a nine shots at goal: three goals, three behinds and three out of bounds on the full. Everyone else played their role, some better than others. Marley Williams is not a bad player out of the back, McCaffer didn't play as tag, Ben Kennedy kicked three goals and knows where to go get it in the forward 50m, and Kyle Martin kicked three goals in his second game. Truly, most of the rest them were so mundane, they are not worth writing about. And no disrespect there. The Demons looked like giants in the first quarter, led by the Jones boys Nathan and Matt, Trengove, Colin Sylvia's five tackles, and Jack Watts had seven touches and took two marks and kicked two behinds. The crowd rode everything of Jack's. He skipped around three Pies in the first quarter, in the same spot he got belted by three Pies in hsi first game, and the crowd cheered. Then Jack made a spoil and the crowd cheered. Then Jack led and marked and the crowd cheered. Jack completed a fend off in the middle of the MCG and the crowd clap. And when Jack marked 35m from goal, the crowd was out of control. And his point, well, that was about the end of the cheering. Coach Mark Neeld spoke of frustration after the game - turnovers and the inability to complete a chain of possession - and frustration was widespread. In the third quarter, three Demons didn't go for a high-bounce ball just inside centre half-forward, Jarryd Blair got it and chipped to Cloke who marked in front of Colin Garland. Garland's frustration was absolute. He swung Cloke to the ground and berated his midfielders. The result was a 50m penalty and the goal made it 10 goals the margin at the final break. Garland was the face of the Demons yesterday. Frustrated, exasperated and battle-weary. It's a face all Melburnians know too well. |
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