NAB Cup, Round 1: It’s hard to imagine a better pre-season game

Could a NAB Cup game get any better? Two premiership contenders in battle, with Luke Ball playing against his former side. I am eager to see some other players, namely Simon Buckley (ex-Demon) and Darren Jolly for their new sides.

The surface of Etihad Stadium is the talking point during the week, after being pulverised by three AC/DC concerts. The whole Coventry End 50 is a replica of a local ground in a Northern Territory township at best, which is a major worry. It looked worse the night before at the soccer, but they seem to have fixed some of the problem by throwing some sand around.

The two captains Nick arrive at the centre of the ground. The Saints win the toss and kick to the grass end. Luke Ball stands in the centre of the ground, ready to get into the thick of the action. And he does, he gets the first kick of the game, so quickly and effectively that the Saints fans don’t have time to share their thoughts. The Pies get the first goal: Ben Reid gathers the ball at half back, before passing to Heath Shaw, who evades one and passes beautifully to Davis on the chest. Davis turns around and kicks it to an unopposed Leigh Brown, who lines them up from 25 out and kicks it through. Montagna hits McQualter and the chest and a goal is kicked. Youngster Nick Heyne, who is making an early influence for the Saints, drills one to Riewoldt deep in the pocket, and the superstar kicks it straight through the middle. Riewoldt kicks another, and is certainly looking 100% fit. The Pies look weary, and Schneider adds to the insult with a brilliant super goal on the run from 52. Medhurst marks and plonks one through from point blank range. McEvoy marks in the pocket and converts a great set shot, and Schneider kicks an equally good goal from a similar spot as his last one, only this time from just inside 50. At quarter-time the Saints are up 1.5.1 40 to 0.2.2 14.

The sun sets below the open Docklands roof as the second quarter begins. The Pies open the quarter with a couple of misses, before Toovey sets up Leigh Brown for his second goal. Sharrod Wellingham looks impressive for the Pies; Ball has so far been solid. Jack Steven is making a case to be in the senior squad for the Saints in 2010. The Saints hit back with goals from Montagna (result of a turnover from Ball) and another from Riewoldt. For the second time of the match, Leigh Brown marks unopposed inside 50, and as a result kicks his third goal. Lockyer kicks another and the margin is back to 18 at the break, the Pies are in a good position going into the second half. Heath Shaw has 18 possessions, and has been best on ground. The scoreboard shows 1.7.1 52 to 0.5.4 34.

The second half opens terribly for Collingwood. Leon Davis is free in the pocket, and under no pressure misses a simple kick. He looks as though he still isn’t over his poor finals form from last year. Koschitzke takes a beautiful mark in the goal square and bangs it through the middle. Blake kicks a super goal (barely) on the run, Riewoldt kicks his fourth, impressive youngster Rhys Stanley (who looks like the Saints next big thing) kicks one, and the margin has blown out to a massive 43 points. Dane Swan senses this and dribbles one through the sticks; Cloke finally kicks one after three misses, and the new Magpie Darren Jolly kicks one on the run from 55. Cloke kicks his second from the boundary line, and its back to 16 points. He almost kicks a third from a high, unbelievable snap, but it just hits the post. Jolly kicks his second goal just before the three quarter time siren, with the margin now at 10 points (2.10.3 81 to 1.9.8 71), after being at 43 in what seems like a split-second ago. It was all a result of Prestigiacomo being subbed on to the ground, in my opinion.  A thrilling last quarter is coming up.

The crowd is finally put to the test in the last quarter as Luke Ball marks inside 50. The roar from both camps is deafening. The 29,801 people hold their breaths as Ball’s kick works right and squeezes through the goals. The Collingwood players run from all angles to congratulate him. The game goes on, Milne kicks a goal, Leigh Brown replies, Swan misses a sitter and Sam Fisher kicks one through the middle. The Pies press, a rushed behind sees them one goal behind. Dayne Beams, who was Collingwood’s other sub, kicks a goal to square the ledger. Koschitzke just misses a pivotal shot from close range, before Medhurst puts the Pies in front in style. With two minutes left, and with all the momentum, Collingwood looks likely to win the game.

But despite this, there was plenty of time for the Saints. With the clock ticking down, Adam Schneider marks the ball free inside 50, an inexcusable mistake by Collingwood. But it was all a result of a beautiful piece of play from David Armitage, who looked as though he was going to go back from outside 50. Schneider steers the ball goalward, it starts right before swinging left into the crowd. The Saints are in front! They hold on. The siren sounds.

What a game.

St.Kilda 1.5.1 1.7.1 2.10.3 2.13.4 (100)

Collingwood 0.2.2 0.5.4 1.9.8 1.13.12 (99)

Super Goals

St.Kilda: Schneider, Blake.

Collingwood: Jolly.

Goals

St.Kilda: Riewoldt 4, Schneider 2, McQualter, McEvoy, Montagna, Milne, S.Fisher, Stanley, Koschitzke.

Collingwood: L.Brown 4, Cloke 2, Medhurst 2, Jolly, Swan, Ball, Beams, Lockyer.

Best

St.Kilda: Schneider, Riewoldt, Armitage, S.Fisher, Montagna, Stanley, Gilbert.

Collingwood: Shaw, O’Brien, Ball, Cloke, L.Brown, Swan, Wellingham, Toovey, Jolly, Pendlebury.

Umpires: Rosebury, Meredith, Bowen, Jennings.            Crowd: 29,801 at Etihad Stadium.

My Votes: 3. A.Schneider (ST.K), 2. H.Shaw (COLL), 1. N.Riewoldt (ST.K)