by Mark O’Connell for the Floreat Pica Society.
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Ever since the premiership I find myself smiling about some aspect of it almost every day. The contrast between winning and losing is incredible. I remember for weeks after the 2018 loss being out for walks with the dog and continually playing over the finale in my mind and lamenting that we couldn’t have done something different.
And how short has this off-season been! Playing round 0 on March 9 is unprecedented.
But here we are and the lead up to playing GWS was mainly around selection.
Would the likes of Johnson, McInnes, Macrae and Dean get the call up? Would Noble come back? (still a bit sad for him). Would Howe and Pendlebury come up after minor injuries?
The selected team looks pretty good on paper and I feel reasonably confident.
First quarter
We start reasonably brightly and get the first goal with a long snap to Mihocek. Then inexplicably Callum M. Brown is allowed to dash towards goal with no pressure and slot one from 55 metre. Where’s this 2-3 goal wind the commentators were carrying on about when we won the toss. Minutes later the same guy marks unopposed and kicks his second. By the time he had 3 it reminded me of Bomber Thompson bursting into the rooms at half time of the 2007 PF screaming “who’s playing on that F%#$* Irishman”.
A slightly fortuitous free kick to Cameron gives him an easy goal dead in front and then Bobby snaps one and things are back on track. The rest of the quarter is all GWS with number 1 draft pick from 2022 Cadman looking dangerous with his marking.
Q-T GWS 5-2 lead an innaccurate Collingwood 3-6.
Second quarter
The start of the term sees a run of behinds before McCreery executes a great tackle on Coniglio and kick well from 45. We seem to be controlling general play but whenever a goal is kicked they inevitably follow up with another straight after with Tom Green and Hogan. A great goal to Nick Daicos gets the Pies crowd excited. Thirty minutes ticks over but four goals are still to come with Mitchell quickly replying after Hogan but the giants get the last two from Brown yet again and Daniels.
At half time I wonder where is Pendlebury? It seems he’s hardly been on the ground and has had 2 possessions only. However my main concern is the backline is not holding up in the absence of Howe and Murphy.
H-T GWS 10-5 lead Collingwood 6-10.
Third quarter
Again we control general play without scoring early in the term. Two ground ball fumbles from McCreery are costly – this is an obvious weakness in his game. Elliott has a set shot and misses. Story of the night so far. Schultz is trying hard but is having little effect on the game. Hogan marks up forward helped by first gamer Dean falling over and kicks his third. A four goal margin is a real worry. A great tackle by Sidebottom leads to a Schultz set shot which he sprays badly. Isn’t he meant to be a good kick? Toby Greene runs off Markov who’s having an ordinary night and kicks one from the boundary. A Cadman snap makes it a six goal margin and GWS are looking like winners a long way from home. Noble is substituted on in place of Mitchell and Nick kicks yet another behind from a free kick. Richo tells us we have 13 inside 50s for no goals in the quarter.
A long goal from Kelly sees a 41 point lead in the shadows of half time. We seem to be playing several men short. Johnson is giving us nothing. Cameron is having a decent all round game whilst Cox has been poor. Josh Daicos was quiet early but is getting better the longer the game goes.
3Q-T GWS 14-5 lead a disappointing Collingwood 6-13
Final quarter
Mihocek snaps the first of the term and it’s back to 34 points. However in the blink of an eye Hogan has his fourth after a lead that leaves Dean in his wake. When Brown kicks his fifth it’s definitely curtains and what a poor start to the season it’s been. Daniels kicks his third and I’m tempted to turn off the tele but I’ve got a job to do! Mihocek kicks his third and at least you know he’ll fight to the bitter end. Bobby gets a 50 metre penalty and kicks his second as the end drags out. Maynard makes the score a little bit more respectable but it’s too little too late. Daniels kicks a fourth and WHE misses a sitter. Cameron kicks a second for us to cap off a good game.
Final score GWS 18-6-114 defeated Collingwood 11-16-82
Votes for the Horsburgh
Didn’t really like too many but here goes
3 Darcy Cameron
2 Josh Daicos
1 Nick Daicos
Well I’ve learnt that you never write a team off after Round 0 so we need to bounce back against Sydney next week. A couple of changes are needed with Johnson and Markov two I’d be omitting. Others would need to lift appreciably including February champion Lipinski.
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GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 5.2 10.5 14.5 18.6 (114)
COLLINGWOOD 3.6 6.10 6.13 11.16 (82)
GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Brown 5, Hogan 4, Daniels 4, Cadman 2, Kelly, Greene, Green
Collingwood: Mihocek 3, Hill 2, Cameron 2, Mitchell, McCreery, Maynard, N.Daicos
INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: Ward (shoulder)
Collingwood: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Greater Western Sydney: Toby McMullin (replaced Callan Ward in the third quarter)
Collingwood: John Noble (replaced Tom Mitchell in the third quarter)
Crowd: 21,235 at Engie Stadium
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