Collingwood has rediscovered its best high-pressure football and dashed Carlton's slim finals hopes in a powerful 41-point win at the MCG on Friday night.
After falling 28 points behind in the opening term, the Magpies went on to kick 15 goals to five and win 17.16 (118) to 12.5 (77), moving three games clear inside the top eight.
It was a nightmare match for the Blues, who lost key forward Jarrad Waite to a knee injury in the first term and nursed Eddie Betts (hip) and Mitch Robinson (shoulder) to the final siren.
The loss of Waite was a clear turning point, with Collingwood taking the opportunity to send defender Ben Reid forward in a move that changed the game.
Reid kicked four goals, while power forward Travis Cloke finished with five goals in a dominant performance that sent him to equal top of the Coleman Medal leaderboard with 41 goals for the season.
The Magpies were unstoppable in attack, but they set up the big win by returning to the high-pressure football they were once known for, out-tackling the Blues 74-60.
Dane Swan was given plenty of latitude and finished with 41 possessions to win the Richard Pratt Medal for best on ground, while Scott Pendlebury, who played on after an early knock to his ribs, had 33 and seven clearances.
In the final three quarters the Magpies had 24 more forward entries than their opponents, making a significant statement on the big stage after their top-eight credentials had been questioned through the week.
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley wanted to make the point at the end of his post-match press conference.
"Last thing: we had seven of the youngest eight players on the field tonight," he said.
"Carlton have eight top 10 draft picks, and we have four.
"Some scribes were saying during the week that they've had a better season than us.
"It's not about Carlton versus Collingwood, but I reckon it's time for a reality check to assess where we're at.
"We're doing all right."
Buckley also refused to deny reports of a rift with defender Harry O'Brien, which had dominated discussion in the lead-up to the game. O'Brien missed the match with an ankle injury.
On a season-defining night for both clubs, Carlton will be left to ponder a three-game break between itself and the Magpies and a missed opportunity to re-enter the finals race.
Waite's left leg was caught under a tackle midway through the first quarter. He left the ground immediately and was substituted out after assessment in the rooms.
With the star goalkicker off, Carlton needed its small forwards to fire, but Betts, Jeff Garlett and Chris Yarran didn't lift, finishing with four goals between them.
Arguably the biggest disappointment, however, was captain Marc Murphy, who returned from a jaw injury wearing a helmet but made little impression with 18 possessions.
Andrew Carrazzo was more influential in his return from a calf injury, finishing with 24 touches, while former skipper Chris Judd battled throughout to finish with 29.
"We got beaten all over. I'm trying to think of a good player. They beat us comprehensively right across the board," Blues coach Mick Malthouse said.
"The worry was that Collingwood took over the game and we didn't get back in the game … in any division."
It wasn't always so bleak for the Blues, who burst out of the blocks to kick 7.0 in the first quarter, building a 28-point lead at the 26-minute mark before Collingwood responded.
With Waite off the ground, Reid was sent forward in the game's decisive move, kicking two goals in the final two minutes of the first quarter to cut the margin to nine points.
The second quarter was an onslaught as the Magpies got on top in the midfield, convincingly winning the inside 50s (14-5) and kicking six goals to Carlton's one, which only came after a dropped Heath Shaw mark on the last line of defence handed Betts a gift.
Cloke dominated opponent Michael Jamison, while Swan did as his pleased, with a bemused Betts pointing at his teammates to get near the Brownlow medallist at one stage.
Carlton faces St Kilda at Etihad Stadium next weekend, while Collingwood takes on Adelaide at the MCG on Friday night.
1. Memory lane with Murphy
Helmets have faded out of the AFL like tight shorts and reasonably-priced meat pies. But Carlton captain Marc Murphy – the club's top-ranked player in the Official AFL Player Ratings – evoked memories of past helmeted midfielders Shaun Hart and Nathan Burke on Friday night, as he donned the headgear to protect the cheekbone he fractured in round 12. Unfortunately, Murphy's brave move to declare himself fit for the crunch match backfired, as he managed 18 disposals but had minimal influence.
2. Waite loss felt at both ends
Carlton lost key forward Jarrad Waite with a suspected left knee injury midway through the first quarter after he was gang-tackled by Collingwood defenders Ben Reid and Nathan Brown. The injury not only left the Blues short a tall target up forward, it also gave them headaches in defence. As soon as Waite left the field, Buckley moved Reid forward. He was picked up first by Lachie Henderson, who until that point had been handling young back-up ruckman Jarrod Witts with ease, and then by Andrew Walker. Reid finished with four goals in a pivotal performance. Just as importantly, his presence inside 50 also took the pressure off Travis Cloke, who was able to find space and boot five of his own as the Magpies ran away with the game.
3. Where to for the Blues?
Carlton looked every bit the September contender when it raced to a 28-point lead during the first quarter. But the Blues' complete capitulation from that point onwards will have serious questions being asked at Visy Park. At 6-8 and two wins plus percentage out of the top eight, Mick Malthouse's team looks unlikely to play finals, although it does have a good run home. The veteran coach must now work out how the side can improve by 2014. Even before the match, CEO Greg Swann indicated planning was underway, forecasting significant list turnover at year's end. Several players will be nervous.
4. Sam sets sail
Former VFL star Sam Dwyer added a highlight to his productive first season at AFL level with a wonderful goal during the third quarter. The 26-year-old Magpie gathered a loose ball deep in the forward pocket, with Chris Judd on his hammer and Dennis Armfield closing from the inside. With only a split second to act, Dwyer kicked across his body, dribbling the ball one way and then the other, and straight through the middle.
5. Where, oh where is Harry O?
Much of the talk in the lead-up to the match centred on Collingwood half-back Harry O'Brien and his alleged spat with his coach Nathan Buckley. Out of the game with an ankle injury, O'Brien was not at the MCG, with Buckley revealing afterwards that the 26-year-old had flown to Port Douglas for some "R and R time". Buckley did not deny there was a rift, saying only that he wouldn't discuss the matter publicly. He said O'Brien was due back in Melbourne on Sunday afternoon, and would be available for next week's clash with Adelaide.
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This was small ball versus big ball. This was the master coach versus his former apprentice.
We knew going in Collingwood had a major problem defending small forwards. So Blues coach Mick Malthouse went with his best, throwing his A-grade mosquito fleet of Jeff Garlett, Eddie Betts and Chris Yarran in waves.
Then Jarrad Waite went down with an injury, an all-too-often occurrence for those in navy blue. And the Blues would never recover. Waite is no Travis Cloke, but he is just as important to Carlton.
A big man down, Malthouse had no option but to raise the stakes, calling in the full swarm - five smalls to surround one tall. He would use Matthew Kreuzer, Levi Casboult and Lachie Henderson as the targets.
But the Blues' best punches from the start came from the gloves of cruiser-weights such as Garlett, who kicked the opening two goals, and Betts, who kicked one and set up two more in the first quarter to give the Blues a 28-point head start.
So then it was Nathan Buckley's move. Under pressure all week, he was as aggressive as ever, most comfortable in the heat of battle. He called the bluff and bet his big chips, moving Ben Reid forward - which kept Andrew Walker occupied - to structure up a three-pronged tall forward line. And the Pies came storming back.
Cloke booted four goals before half-time, Reid kicked two in two minutes from marks inside 50 and Jarrod Witts chimed in with another two.
The Pies went from 28 points down to 24 up at the main break. And Buckley's bigs had contributed eight of the team's 11 goals.
The parameters set, this was always going to come down to the midfield.
The Blues required constant movement to give their small forwards a chance.
And having been a man down since quarter-time - and with Betts, Walker and Mitch Robinson carrying injuries - it was going to be a big ask. Too big.
In a way, Malthouse was fighting with one arm behind his back when you count in the body toll, especially Waite.
Smashed in the middle early (Carlton won clearances 15-7 in the first term), the Collingwood midfield didn't just wrestle back control, they ripped it off the Blues.
Paul Seedsman ignited the surge, Dane Swan and Scott Pendlebury kicked into gear, and the rest went with them.
Swan was supreme, racking up a season-high 41 disposals. He was in everything, in the way he can do it. And Pendlebury's 33 disposals and impact was just as valuable.
The Pies hunted the arch enemy. And big chase-downs from behind led to big turnovers and big goals.
This was Buckley's team: eight players with fewer than 50 games' experience and six with less than 30. And those in whom Buckley had shown faith - new boys such as Sam Dwyer, Josh Thomas and Seedsman - repaid him on a night when the spotlight was as much on the coaches as the players.
And it was big ball that triumphed. By a knockout.
Cloke (five), Reid (four) and Witts (two) combined for 11 goals and a stack of marks.
Betts, Garlett and Yarran struggled after quarter-time although, meaningful inside 50s were few and far between.
ON TARGET
Carlton's goalkicking was a highlight early, with the Blues kicking seven goals straight. In fairness, one must add the two hurried attempts which went out on the full, but otherwise the Blues were on song. It didn't last.
PIES DOMINANT
Collingwood's six-goals-to-one second term was one of its most ruthless this season. The Magpies went from nine points down at quarter-time to 24 points up at the half. Magpie Clinton Young dragged down Dennis Armfield on the wing, which led to Scott Pendlebury's lead-taking goal, before Brent Macaffer's textbook tackle on Lachie Henderson in the forward-50 was so good that Henderson's frustrated remonstrations led to a 50-metre penalty and a shot from point-blank range. The Magpies got a standing ovation as they ran in at half-time while the Blues heard boo-birds from their supporters.
SHADE OF DAICS
Collingwood midfielder Sam Dwyer gave supporters a chance to cast their minds back to iconic forward Peter Daicos when Dwyer rolled home a freak goal late in the third term. After Jarryd Blair had fought tooth and nail to free his hands and pass to Dwyer, the former Port Melbourne midfielder saw he was pinned to the boundary, deep in the right forward pocket, so he threw the ball on his foot and it rolled through.
COLLINGWOOD has delivered an emphatic response to claims of another volatile player rift, burying Carlton's finals hopes on the MCG.
The Pies produced their most spirited victory of the season rallying from 28 points down in the first quarter to pulverise the Blues by 41 points.
It leaves Carlton three games out of the top eight and sweating a suspected serious knee injury to luckless key forward Jarrad Waite.
Carlton was on fire booting seven early goals but the match changed significantly as Waite limped off 15 minutes in after twisting his knee.
Early reports indicated ligament damage.
The Collingwood win was a clear tactical victory for Pies' coach Nathan Buckley in his second coaching battle against former boss Michael Malthouse.
Buckley's Pies entered the game besieged by speculation about a fall-out between the coach and defender Harry O'Brien.
While O'Brien was granted personal leave, the rest of the Pies united behind Buckley on the field with midfielder Dane Swan delivering a best afield performance to keep the Pies inside the eight.
Buckley engineered a key tactical move sending regular backman Ben Reid forward to re-shape and rejuvenate the Collingwood forward line after an awful start to the first quarter.
Answering Buckley's calls for a lift after a shock loss to Port Adelaide last weekend, Reid kicked four goals and Travis Cloke five majors in the absence of full-forward Quinten Lynch.
Carlton's decision to play captain Marc Murphy three weeks after breaking his cheekbone backfired with the skipper looking out of sorts with nine touches to three quarter time.
Livewire Eddie Betts also looked to hurt his back last night.
Before the game Carlton chief executive Greg Swann conceded the Blues finals hopes would probably be cooked if they lost last night.
COLLINGWOOD chiefs will today meet with disgruntled defender Harry O'Brien to clarify the backman's future at the club.
Magpies coach Nathan Buckley could not guarantee O'Brien would rejoin the rest of his teammates at training tomorrow upon his return from a weekend off in Port Douglas.
O'Brien, 26, was granted personal leave after reportedly falling-out with his coach during a meeting earlier in the week.
The Magpies would not elaborate on the issue, saying only that O'Brien was left out of Collingwood's 41-point win over Carlton on Friday night because of a floating bone in his ankle.
Magpies president Eddie McGuire yesterday expressed full confidence that Buckley would resolve the matter with the 172-gamer today, saying "these things happen at football clubs all the time".
But, when asked if he could guarantee O'Brien would attend training tomorrow, Buckley said on Triple M: "No, not definitely."
"We will catch him on Sunday and we'll go from there."
On 3AW radio, Buckley said O'Brien's return to training was "yet to be resolved ... by both parties".
The reported dispute overshadowed Collingwood's victory over Carlton, which has buried the Blues' finals hopes.
McGuire said the club would keep the subject of the dispute private.
"Things that happen inside the Westpac Centre stay inside the Westpac Centre and probably we've been too open in the past," McGuire said on Fox Footy.
"These things happen at football clubs all the time and if there is an issue we will deal with it in-house. If there is no issue we have nothing to worry about.
"Harry O'Brien I expect to be at training this week and we will get on with life."
McGuire likened the situation to Andrew Krakouer's request for a break last month.
"He (O'Brien) is in Port Douglas having a bit of a break, some R and R," McGuire said.
"Sometimes you've just got to have a bit of space."
O'Brien has been lauded for his multicultural and charity work and has overcome adversity in his football career, admitting this year he lived with some form of discrimination every day.
The Herald Sun is not suggesting any issue with Buckley is race-related.
The premiership backman also said witnessing a murder in Brazil in 2011 affected his on-field performance last year.
The Magpies' win was the second time this season Buckley's men have triumphed over Michael Malthouse's Blues.
After the match, Buckley said Collingwood had played seven of its eight youngest players and had four fewer top-10 draft picks than the Blues.
"Some scribes were saying that they (Carlton) have had a better season than us," Buckley said.
"It's not about Carlton versus Collingwood, but it's time for a reality check to assess where we are at.
"We are doing all right." |
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