| 2017 AFL Round 17 COLLINGWOOD v GOLD COAST Time & Place: Saturday July 15, 4:35pm EST Metricon Stadium TV: Fox Footy 4:30pm EST Weather: Min 13 Max 23 Betting: Collingwood $1.97 Gold Coast $1.84 |
ESSENDON 5.0.30 9.3.57 13.6.84 18.9.117
COLLINGWOOD 2.3.15 4.6.30 9.7.61 12.8.80
GOALS - Collingwood: Fasolo 4, Elliott 3, Broomhead, Reid, Cox, De Goey, Adams
BEST - Collingwood: Sidebottom, Elliott, Goldsack, Pendlebury
INJURIES - Collingwood: Jeremy Howe (calf) replaced in selected side by Matt Scharenberg
REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil
OFFICIAL CROWD - 63,537 at the MCG
| 1. Levi Greenwood's elbow Collingwood tagger Levi Greenwood felled Essendon star Zach Merrett off the ball with what appeared to be an errant elbow early in the third quarter. Merrett did not move for some time as a melee erupted with Essendon players taking exception to Greenwood's act. The incident came soon after Greenwood had conceded a 50m penalty that led to a goal to Cale Hooker when Merrett led him between Hooker and the mark. Merrett left the ground to be assessed for concussion but returned 20 minutes later and kicked the opening goal of the final quarter. Greenwood was summoned to the bench for a chat with coach Nathan Buckley. Despite Merrett returning the incident is sure to keep the debate on whether red cards should be introduced. 2. Where to for Collingwood? With finals out of the question, Magpies coach Nathan Buckley's coaching future is looking grim. The manner of the loss to Essendon did not help, with the Bombers attacking through the corridor from the start while Collingwood chipped the ball around carefully taking uncontested marks and struggling to put pressure on the opposition. The Bombers played on while the Magpies were stop-start in their movement and as a result kicked five unanswered goals in the first quarter after the Magpies scored the first two. The Magpies looked hesitant and did not bring the pressure or intensity required. There will be calls for change but the Magpies still need to decide whether anyone could do a better job than Buckley. 3. Orazio Fantasia is dangerous Fantasia equalled his previous best effort of five goals when he booted a goal at the start of the last quarter, bringing his goal tally to nine against the Magpies for the season. Fantasia not only snagged goals, he also disrupted the Magpies' defence with his pace and tackling pressure. He laid five tackles and hit more than 80 per cent of his kicks in an outstanding return to form. If Fantasia and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti rediscover their early season form, the Bombers will worry anyone. |
4. Tom Bellchambers is back The popular big man got the Bombers off to a flying start with his brilliant tap work at centre bounces. At quarter-time Essendon had six centre clearances to one and were 15 points ahead after Bellchambers kicked a goal on the siren. After missing 2016 and then suffering an injury pre-season, Bellchambers has reclaimed the No.1 ruck spot from Matthew Leuenberger. A goalkicker and a strong teammate, he even remonstrated on the bench with Taylor Adams after watching teammate Merrett being struck. His only down moment for the day was when he missed a set shot from the top of the square late in the last quarter, but his presence was a positive. 5. Stewart wins the day James Stewart may not know the difference between former players Cam Mooney and Luke Darcy but he knows where the goals are, kicking two goals in the second quarter when the Bombers needed him. It was the first time in his 26-game career he had played in a win against Collingwood, the team that overlooked him as a father-son selection in 2012. Stewart has struggled to establish himself but he would have enjoyed playing in a winning team against the club his dad Craig represented in 115 games. Nathan Buckley's coaching future is looking grim. The manner of the loss to Essendon did not help, with the Bombers attacking through the corridor from the start while Collingwood chipped the ball around carefully taking uncontested marks and struggling to put pressure on the opposition. |
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Essendon didn't need any extra motivation to hold onto a comfortable lead against Collingwood on Saturday given the Bombers' capitulations in the previous two weeks. But when Magpie Levi Greenwood floored Bombers star Zach Merrett with a behind-the-play elbow in the third term that will draw the scrutiny of the Match Review Panel on Monday, there was no way Essendon was going to let another one slip. The Bombers had a couple of scares in their 37-point win over the Pies on Saturday, but unlike their how-on-earth-did-they-lose-that games against Sydney and the Brisbane Lions, there was to be no repeat performance at the MCG. The 18.9 (117) to 12.8 (80) win, Essendon's seventh of the season, keeps alive its flickering finals hopes. It also ends any chance of Collingwood making a late surge to the top-eight while placing more pressure on coach Nathan Buckley. Greenwood, who was sent to stop Merrett from the start of the game, appeared to strike Merrett to the chin early in the third term, forcing the 21-year-old off the field to undergo a concussion test. The Bombers immediately remonstrated with the former Roo, before Merrett returned about 15 minutes later having cleared the test. His classy goal at the start of the final quarter went a long way to sealing the win. Orazio Fantasia was the star for the Bombers, lighting up the forward line with an equal career-high bag of five goals. James Kelly (32 disposals) offered a sure hand in defence, Dyson Heppell (32) was excellent through the midfield, Darcy Parish (28) had plenty of it, and David Zaharakis' run of good form continued with a game-high 38 disposals. Steele Sidebottom was Collingwood's best with 26 disposals, but it was a largely uninspiring showing from the Pies. Collingwood controlled things early in the first term, but two bad turnovers from Brayden Maynard in the back half got Essendon into its groove. The Bombers pounced on both kicks to then slot goals, beginning a five-goal run for the term to end it 15 points ahead. The contrast in style was obvious from the get-go. While the Magpies chipped their way around the boundary line (they nearly doubled Essendon for uncontested marks in the first term), the Bombers played more directly as ruckman Tom Bellchambers booted two goals for the quarter. Things opened up further for the Bombers in the second term, as they piled on four to two goals to take a 27-point lead into the main break. Collingwood let itself down in the manner Collingwood often lets itself down. By foot it was wasteful and indirect, and aside from skipper Scott Pendlebury, it lacked the polish to keep up with the fast, quick and dangerous Bombers. Essendon hasn't had any trouble scoring this season, having entered the clash averaging 94 points a game. And the addition of James Stewart has helped in that respect, with the former Giant booting two smart running goals in the second term against the Pies, who could have taken the son of former Collingwood player Craig under the father-son rule in 2012. Stopping the opposition from scoring has proven more of a challenge for the Bombers, given they on average concede 92 points a game. But at half time against Collingwood they had things under control, with backmen Michael Hurley, Kelly and Andy McGrath among their best. The third term was spiced up by the Greenwood incident and ensuing brawl, and Essendon looked set to run away with the game when they led by 34 points 10 minutes into the term. However, the Magpies kicked four of the next six goals to cut their deficit to 23 points at the final change and give themselves a sniff. But Essendon wasn't going to let it happen again. Not again. Two goals in the opening two minutes of the final term drew curtains on the contest. MEDICAL ROOM Collingwood: The Pies lost defensive playmaker Jeremy Howe before the game with calf tightness, so will be hoping he can make a speedy recovery. They appeared to get through the game without any serious issues. UP NEXT The Pies travel to Metricon Stadium to play Gold Coast on Saturday. There can be no turning back from here. Eddie McGuire will return from overseas in coming days knowing that the most difficult decision of his near-two decade reign as Collingwood president is staring him and his board squarely in the face. There can be no other conclusion after the Pies slumped to their fourth loss in a row, with their heaviest defeat of the season, a 37-point loss to traditional rivals Essendon marred by dire ball use and moments of serious ill-discipline. The Pies are mired in the bottom four with seven rounds to play, and the screws of Nathan Buckley's seemingly doomed coaching tenure are being tightened. After two unacceptable finishes in a row, this was a badly needed win for the Bombers, whose finals hopes remain very much alive heading into a Friday night clash with top-eight aspirants St Kilda. Orazio Fantasia's finishing was telling, while Dyson Heppell, Zach Merrett and David Zaharakis ensured the Dons had the better of the midfield duel, and Michael Hurley played another rock-solid game in defence. But as long as Buckley's fate remains uncertain the Pies have to be the focus. In many respects this was a classic Collingwood 2017 afternoon. It began with unwanted injury news: Jeremy Howe was a late withdrawal with a calf complaint. The Pies weren't without their moments during the game; that this was their heaviest defeat of the year shows they have been competitive. But yet again Collingwood couldn't find a winning tall forward, with Ben Reid and Mason Cox both beaten, and the Pies' disposal was too often disastrously bad. Six days on from their stunning capitulation against Brisbane, Essendon picked up where they left off. Collingwood dominated the first 12 minutes of the game, kicking the game's first two goals. But just as was the case after their fast start against Hawthorn last weekend, it didn't last. The turning point was a pair of defensive turnovers from Brayden Maynard, whose clangers resulted in Essendon's first two goals. Despite being outplayed for most of the game to that point, the Dons had hit the lead by the 19-minute mark of the first quarter. Buckley has spoken this year of the disheartening effect that wasted chances can have on a side, and that phenomenon seemed to again play out in front of his eyes. The highlights were many for the Bombers, but daring runs through the middle from teenager Andrew McGrath and Irishman Conor McKenna are worthy of mention, as were terrific finishes from Fantasia and James Stewart. Collingwood trailed by 27 points at half-time. With the exception of skipper Scott Pendlebury the Magpies looked bereft of class, with Adam Treloar's second term ball use almost defying belief. Given the context for both sides, the third term was among the most engrossing quarters of the season. It began with a Cox goal, but thereafter things threatened to unravel for Collingwood. Levi Greenwood gave away a soft 50-metre penalty to gift an easy goal to Cale Hooker, but that was nothing compared to his next moment of ill-discipline, a stray elbow to the jaw of Merrett that sparked a melee and will almost certainly lead to a suspension for the tagger. Play continued with the backdrop of nearby wrestling, with Fantasia adding another goal, taking the margin to 33 points early in the quarter. For all the Pies' woes this year they had managed to avoid a thrashing, but with finals all but gone the cracks were spreading, and the prospect of a circuit-breaking blowout loomed large. Daniher had a chance to extend the margin beyond six goals, but missed, and perhaps conscious of Essendon's recent fadeouts, the Pies hit back. Errors began creeping in for the Dons, and Collingwood kicked four of the next five goals, twice closing to within three goals. It seemed to be happening again for the Bombers, but Merrett re-emerged from the rooms, and quickly made a difference with his accurate disposal. Daniher kicked a steadier shortly before three-quarter time, and Merrett burst from the middle to sink a long-range major inside the first minute of the final quarter. Fantasia added a fifth before Daniher kicked his second, and suddenly the margin was 42 points. Not even Essendon were going to lose from there. |
IN the end — and it's almost a fait accompli for Nathan Buckley now — the coach will lament injuries, turnovers and missed goals. That describes Buckley's coaching career. After yet another loss, this time to Essendon by 37 points, which has Collingwood at 5-10 and missing September, the Collingwood board has a decision to make, if it hasn't already happened. Pre-match, Leigh Matthews said some coaches — he admitted he did at Collingwood and the Brisbane Lions — had a sixth sense about the future. The sense on Saturday, as the Bombers kicked nine goals to two through the first and second quarters and then had the more powerful fourth quarter, was that the infamous Mick Malthouse to Nathan Buckley project had run its race. What a roller coaster — from Grand Finalists when Buckley took charge, and straight away went on a path of heavy list changes via big-name trading and so-so recruiting, to now languishing in 15th spot is an epic free-fall. And Collingwood could be 17th by Sunday night if Carlton beats Melbourne and North Melbourne beats Fremantle and finds two per cent in doing so. If football is win-loss industry, as Collingwood football boss Geoff Walsh said last weekend, then Buckley is up against it. They play some magical football, the Pies, as we saw in the third quarter against the Bombers, and play some ordinary football, as we saw in the first and second quarters, making this team one of the most curious in the competition. Just why they can't play a consistent four quarters is a question that has haunted all of Collingwood, from coaches to diehard fans, for some time. The Pies kicked the first two goals before the Bombers kicked the next seven amid a flurry of clangers and mistakes from Buckley's players. They began the game without late withdrawal Jeremy Howe — yet another crucial injury — but not even his class and awareness at the back would have curtailed the Bombers. The Pies had their moments, but not nearly enough. Indeed, their season has had some moments, but not nearly enough to win the close games. The three matches since the bye break, — losses to Port Adelaide, Hawthorn and the Bombers — have been the killer blow for Collingwood's season. Like all teams, the Pies would have assessed and reset at the break and believed the second half of the season was enticing. Three wins and a heartbreaking four-point loss to Melbourne before the bye had them 5-7 and the players believing. From that point, the season has fallen apart. The Port loss was poor, the Hawks out-toughed them and the Bombers outgunned them. Turnovers and missed goals cost the Pies. That's this week's excuse, anyway. Collingwood's flying start was cancelled out by mistakes by Brayden Maynard and Jamie Elliott, who coughed up the ball by foot and allowed Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Zach Merrett to respond with goals. The rot had set in. More mistakes led to Essendon kicking five consecutive goals. At the start of the second quarter, Ben Reid missed a goal from 30m directly in front. The Bombers responded with Andrew McGrath taking three bounces from the back half to set up a goal for Orazio Fantasia, who kicked five for the afternoon. James Stewart followed with a goal via an Adam Trelaor turnover. For most of the day, the Bombers were clean, quick in ball movement and were able to take the ball from back half to the forward half too easily. Essendon scored six times in the opening half from chains starting in the defensive 50. The AFL average for an entire game is only four. In the first half, Collingwood conceded a goal from nine of Essendon's 25 inside 50s, whereas Essendon conceded a goal from only four of Collingwood's 24 entries. Note this. With 80 seconds to play in the second quarter, Taylor Adams ran into goal and kicked out of bounds on the full. With six seconds to play, Fantasia won the ball at the other end and kicked a goal, giving Essendon a 27-point lead. It could have been 15 points, but in barely more than a minute it was out to almost five goals. Coulda, woulda, didn't. The Pies were the butcher kings and, when it gets all broken down at the end of the season, the fact is they don't have enough skilled players. They do have grunt, but executing under pressure is an ongoing problem. Is that Buckley's fault? Ultimately he's responsible because he's the coach, but it's more than about Buckley and his preferred game style. If or when he goes, you have to wonder if Collingwood — the entire club — needs new direction and new personnel. President Eddie McGuire and chief executive Gary Pert have overseen this debacle of a period for the Pies, but they seemingly escape any sort of scrutiny. If they do clear out the coach, maybe they should ask themselves if they should go with him. Because failure at a football club is never because of one individual. With just five wins on the board after 15 rounds, Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley says his side reached a tipping point on Saturday and had lost hope. The out-of-contract coach now faces a difficult task motivating his side in the remaining seven rounds after their 37-point loss to Essendon virtually destroyed any remaining chance they would make finals. Buckley knows the mounting losses have made his own coaching future grim but he has adopted a realistic outlook to what might happen post-season when the club will decide whether he should continue as coach. "It was a day today where I reckon they lost a little bit of hope about where they were and where they are going," Buckley said "It's my job and our job to reframe that for the back half of this season." Buckley said the constant speculation about his future inevitably affected the club but he didn't offer it as an excuse for the performance. He did not avoid questions about his coaching future. "I'm pragmatic but I'm not defeatist so I will have that short-term focus to prepare the players as best I can to have them enjoy their footy a little bit more," Buckley said. Buckley said the coaching group would determine a plan for the remainder of the season in the next 48 hours so the players could regain a sense of purpose. "It might be bringing in a kid before his time just to give him a look," Buckley said. The obvious choice in that regard would be Josh Daicos, who performed well in the VFL against Footscray last week. Buckley said that he understood Collingwood supporters would be disappointed but he wanted to let them know the players were working as hard as possible to be the best they could be. "No-one is feeling particularly great about themselves, players or coaches alike," Buckley said. "We don't want to present like we did today and we haven't for the large part of the year." He said Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe remained in doubt for next week's game but he hoped Daniel Wells would return via the VFL.
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