Round 1 – Collingwood v Port Adelaide: Hot Pies at a hot ‘G! (Floreat Pica Society)

 

 

Collingwood v Port Adelaide

7:35pm, Saturday March 15

MCG

 

 

 

By Richard Atkins

 

Apologies for a slight delayed match report, but there were just so many highlights to get through…not that I’m complaining! Please find my rambling observations of a great response from the Pies below.

 

First Quarter

I can’t remember being at a night game at the ‘G that was so hot. I can however remember being at a game where our banner ripped before the players ran through it…but there’s no need to open old wounds. A new role for Pendles as the sub made sense given the back-to-back six-day turnarounds and hot weather.

 

From the first bounce, it looked like Nick would be in for a tough night at the office with Willem Drew tagging him immediately. Drew continued to hold, punch and generally harass Nick until the tag was dropped in the last quarter (most of which was ignored by the umpires). Sidey continued his hybrid midfield/tagging role by going to Rozee and having an influence straight away. An early goal from Lukosius in new colours from a very rare Daicos turnover had the crowd wondering what type of effort we were in for.

 

Similar to early in Round Zero, we looked up for the fight around the contest but were a bit fumbly and rushed by foot and in front of goal. However, as the quarter developed, our tackling pressure, centre clearance work, overlap running on the wing and defensive structure all looked much better.

 

Membrey broke the scoreboard pressure by following up his great work in the air by snapping a checkside for our first major. But the Skunk was not done yet. A classy set shot from the pocket was followed by some hard gut running for his third goal which had me again wondering what the Saints were thinking when they parted with their three-time time leading goal scorer.

 

More tackling pressure led to Checkers snapping truly from almost the same spot as the 2023 Grand Final (any excuse to reference that game).

 

Sullivan showed why he was selected this week by going in hard for a hot footy and coming off second best against the 200 gamer, Darcy Byrne Jones.

 

A surprising turnover from Sidey and a red hot holding the ball call against Houston kept Port in it (I was surprised that Port didn’t really lay into Houston after the goal, or much during/before the game, and think it reflected their lack of intensity). Houston did as he pleased in his first quarter for the black and white, finishing the term with ten touches.

 

Jamie kicked a contender for goal of the year only for ‘snicko’ to ruin the party!

 

The greasy and hot conditions seemed to get to both teams in the final five minutes of the quarter with some poor decisions and foot skills all round. Luckily, McStay took half a second to compose himself and snapped a goal to restore our three-goal margin (had he taken another half second he would have been beaten by the siren). All members of ‘Triple M’ were on the board!

 

Pies 6.5.41

Port 3.2.20

 

 

Second Quarter

Again, Port drew first blood quickly. JHF showed how devastating he can be out of the middle with two quick centre clearances. Perryman playing a defensive role had kept JHF quiet up to that point.

 

A huge contest and then chase down tackle from the Great Barrier Reef was great to see. It’s a huge ask for Reef to fill the void left by Murph but he seems to have the body and speed to give it a crack…time will tell.

 

Jamie struck it sweetly from outside 50 to get our first goal of the term (even snicko couldn’t deny that one).

 

Contested marks on the wing by Membrey and McStay, allowing Miocheck and Elliot to stay ahead of the footy really showed how effective our new forward line could be if it clicks.

 

Sidey capped off some strong team pressure and slick handballs with a trademark balanced running goal at the 12 minute mark.

 

Unfortunately, Membrey couldn’t keep up his hot kicking from the first quarter after receiving the first check side inside 50 pass that I’ve ever seen from Bobby Hill.

 

Much like the first quarter, skills began to break down a bit for both teams as the ball seemed to turn into a bar of soap in the humid, breezeless MCG.

 

Jamie doubled up his goals for the quarter with a dead eye set shot from the pocket with two minutes left in the half. Again, the inside 50 was set up by the structure of Membrey presenting along the wing.

 

Pies 9.7.61

Port 4.3.27

 

 

Third Quarter

Port really should have kept up the trend of scoring an early first goal in each quarter but Joey Richards was denied by a desperate Captain Moore on the line (still a bit sad to see Joey in the black, white and teal).

 

Clean hands from Checkers (off a very rare kick on the right foot by Maynard) and McStay gave us our first goal of many to come in the second half.

 

Tony, I’m not sure if this counts as a ‘turning point’, but the floodgates really opened with Maynard’s application in the third quarter to expand the Triple Ms to the Quadruple Ms. He stuck first by taking advantage (against Bobby’s advice) from a great chase down tackle by Schultz. Thirty seconds later, Schultz’s tackling again locked the ball inside 50 and Maynard was the beneficiary by slotting a second from 50. A few minutes later, a clear set play from Howe and Maynard to just hammer the ball forward up the middle of the ground led to a Mihocek walk-in goal and it was party time at the ‘G – Port were done.

 

Nick let off some steam after a great centre clearance followed by hard running to burn off Drew (and two other Port mids) to snap a great goal.

 

What a luxury it was to roll out the 405 game Rolls Royce when you’re up by ten goals! Pendles was subbed on for Howe (I assume it was tactical given Howe’s age and Port’s lack of tall forwards).

 

Port had well and truly rolled over, with crumbing goals to Sullivan and Schultz giving us ten in a row – Membrey and McStay continued to give our mids predictable contests to build off.

 

One moment I noticed at the ground that may not have been obvious from the broadcast was a solid two-minute effort from IQ to end the quarter. He started with some nice offensive half back speed breaking the lines, followed it up with a 100m defensive sprint to impact an inside 50 and then finished with another sprint across the width of the ground to provide an outlet for Lipinski to get out of D50. When the siren went, Nick sprinted off the bench straight IQ – I assume to praise his effort (a nice moment of leadership and celebrating good habits no matter the score).

 

Pies 16.9.105

Port 5.5.35

 

 

Fourth Quarter

The game was well and truly over so I won’t go into detail for the final quarter (one highlight for me was when the cool breeze finally rolled into the ‘G). However, it was great to see that we ran out a true four-quarter performance after a disappointing Opening Round – a week really is a long time in footy.

 

 

Final score: Pies 21.10.136 def Port 6.9.45

 

Votes (honestly you could have made a case for half the team)

3 – Sidebottom

2 – Membrey

1 – McStay

 

 

 

 

To return to our Footy Almanac home page click HERE.

 

Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

 

Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?

And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help things keep ticking over please consider making your own contribution.

Become an Almanac (annual) member – click HERE.