Round 10 – Collingwood v Adelaide: Floreat Pica Society Match Report

Match Report for FPS, May 18, 2024

 

Collingwood v Kuwarna, MCG

 

In the full knowledge, that recent Collingwood vs Adelaide games have been extraordinarily tight struggles, I spent some time pre-game, delving a little deeper into the recent history of these matches. In doing so, I discovered, that not only have five of the past six games have been decided by less than a goal but the Pies had not been defeated by the Crows since Round 17, 2016, when we lost 69 pts to 97 in front of 50,002 at Adelaide Oval.

 

Going into this game, the Pies had won the past eight encounters and the game prior to this run actually ended up as a draw, when Mitch McGovern kicked a goal in the 32^nd minute of the final quarter at the MCG on July 30, 2017.

 

With this wretched history, it was reasonable to assume the Crows were going to present themselves at the G, on a beautiful sunny day, desperate to address this imbalance.

 

Q1

 

Our starting forward line looked a long way from its best with the likes of Elliott, Mihocek, McStay and even Howe absent but with Bobby Hill supercharged for the Sir Doug Nicholls Round and Jordan de Goey back after missing since Anzac Day, I was optimistic that something good would happen. In addition to this, it was relatively still, perfectly dry and sunny and Mason Cox had a 15 cm advantage over his direct opponent, Jordan Butts – surely today would be the day!!

 

Our forward line star for the quarter was, of course, Mr Scott Dependlebury with exquisite passes to Hoskin-Elliott, playing full forward and De Goey, who both goaled and then to complete the deal, slotted two beautiful goals himself. His quarter time stats were 8 kicks, 4 handballs, 2 goals, 2 assists and 2 clearances.

 

The quarter was also highlighted by a period of approximately 6 mins, where the ball was controlled by the Crows on the members wing/flank and our defence was under constant and significant pressure yet yielded only one goal (Walker) to the Crows despite 8 successive Inside 50 entries. Long periods of sustained pressure in our defence was to become a feature of the game. Importantly, IQ, lurking across half back, took a characteristic intercept mark, which have been few and far between so far is season.

 

Others to shine in Q1 were Naicos, Noble, Crisp and Jaicos.

 

Quarter time scores : Pies 4.2.26  Crows 3.1.19

                 

Q2

 

The second quarter was a reasonably tight and dour affair for periods and again our backline was under sustained pressure, which required close checking and unnerving faith in the Pies system. Despite this, there were several highlights worth mentioning such as Joe Richards second career goal, in as many games, which came after only 15 seconds of play. John Noble’s very smart pass to Bobby Hill leading directly at him from the goal square was all class. Lachy Schultz took a courageous diving mark, which looked as though it may have caused a concussion but he bravely took his set shot from 45m on the boundary line and slotted it through the middle. Reef McInnes made the most of a bouncing ball, that deceived the Crows defenders and chipped in for a nice snap in general play but that fourth goal came in the mid point of the quarter and was our last for the term.

 

The Crows, on the other hand, who seemed to control the ball for extended periods without much to show for it, scored three goals for the quarter and they all came in the last 5 mins prior to half time. Ominous and uncomfortable signs as a commanding lead had evaporated.

 

Best contributors for the quarter were Jaicos, Noble, Moore, Maynard, Naicos

 

Half time scores: Pies 8.2.50     Crows 6.3.39

 

Q3

 

In what I considered a strange move after a strong showing in the first half, John Noble started the quarter on the bench but eventually provided a quarter highlight with a dashing run through centre half forward with a long goal on the run from about 50m. The opportunity followed another period whereby the Crows had controlled much of the play but due to our relentless harassment and sustained pressure had not generated much to show for it. Noble’s goal was the result of a spilled ball from a Cox tackle, which was swooped on by IQ, who handballed to Markov to Sullivan to JDG and onto Noble. We just seemed to to be able to absorb pressure for long periods and then make the most of the opportunity, when the Crows coughed it up. It was a great moment for a true servant of the club, who is simply inspiring with his never say die attitude and ability to bounce back from last year’s disappointment. And didn’t his team mates and the crowd show it???

 

A personal highlight was Jack Crisp’s unsuccessful tackle on Taylor Walker at CHB. Crisp just launched himself at Taylor with 100% conviction and became air borne in the process, causing the ball to spill out and again, be whisked away by our defenders.

 

Later, the Jaicos pass to JDG, who subsequently had a shot at goal and missed was a sublime piece of play. Josh took possession of a ground ball, burst through the middle of the ground and executed a 45m pass with the precision of a laser beam. JDG had an opponent virtually sitting on his right hand shoulder as he lead to the ball and Jaicos placed the ball perfectly to his left hand side to take a clean mark. Just one small piece of play amongst thousands during the game but it was beautiful to watch.

 

A lesser part of the quarter’s play was some of our disposal errors. The upside to this is, of course, the fact I’ll be able to tell my Grandchildren, I was the G the day Nick Daicos passed the ball to the opposition twice in the one quarter!!

 

A 3 goal to 2 goal quarter and a handy lead at ¾ time but with Hosking Elliott and McInnes both out of the game with injuries, we were again managing a compromised interchange against a relentless opponent.

 

Best contributors were Crisp, IQ, JDG, Naicos, Jaicos, Dependlebury, Noble

 

Three Quarter time scores: Pies 11.4.70  Crows 8.5.53

 

Q4

 

The final quarter of the game was difficult to watch. We lost our run, our pressure fell away and the Crows kicked the first goal of the quarter.  We spent much of the quarter chasing the ball and our opponents. We were forced to kick the ball forward in an indiscriminate manner on a number of occasions and when JDG had a significant head knock, when landing on the turf, things were looking a little dire.

 

A long range bomb from Hinge, playing on the HBF, which resulted in a goal brought the Crows  to within 6 points and we were now fighting to have influence over the game.

 

I would like to know how, both, Markov and Jaicos were dealt dangerous fend-offs to the throat area, right in front of the umpire(s) and no free kick was paid? Perhaps we need 5 central umpires?

 

Then with 7 minutes to go things changed. Joe Richards should have been awarded a free kick when ex Pie Keane dropped the ball 30m out from the Pies goal and the Crows whisked the ball away. The crowd, at this point, decided enough was enough, got angry, got the Magpie chant going, inspired Cox to launch himself into a killer spoil and suddenly the Pies had upped the tempo and were desperate to hold on.

 

Yeah, sure, Izak Rankine kicked a magnificent dribble goal and the Crows hit the front at which point my son looked at me and said “Dad, minutes to go, down by a few points, we’ve got ‘em exactly where we want ‘em!!” I loved the humour but my heart rate wasn’t signing up to the theory – especially when IQ ran towards an open goal and kicked it on the full.

 

And then it happened – the Magpie moment – as IQ smothered a Crow kick, took the gathered handball from Harrison, handballed it on to Crisp, who ran through the centre, slipped over, handballed it backwards to Naicos, who, in turn, passed it 50m to JDG – game over (almost). Pies up by 4 points with 2 mins remaining. The Crowd erupts, this writer gets emotional. I love these boys, I love this club!!

 

Best contributors were Cameron, Frampton, Moore, Noble, Jaicos, Naicos

 

Final scores: Pies 12.6.78 def Kuwarna 11.8.74

 

Final observations:

 

• We are really being tested with the current level of injuries but I know most other clubs also have similar challenges. This win was a “whole of team, whole of club” effort.
• I was really pleased to see IQ start to take some intercept marks and provide some run of half back. I don’t think he is anywhere near 2022/3 but this was his best game to date in 2024
• Always with an eye to the future, Joe Richards made another solid contribution but I really didn’t notice much of Finn Macrae at all, despite playing midfield and having 12 disposals.
• We are a man short on the forward line, when Mason Cox is playing and the ball hits the ground. Terrible game.

 

MH Votes:

 

3 votes: Jack Crisp: followed on from his game last week with relentless chase and ball movement

2 votes: Naicos: big stats again overcoming some disposal errors and created the big match winning moment with his pass to JDG

1 vote: John Noble: one of his best games in his 100^th and an inspiration.

 

Note: The Collingwood jumper for this round was designed by Uncle Trevor Davis (father of Leon – 225 games for Collingwood, AA 2011). It was inspired by a piece of his art called “Healing”, reflective of the process Collingwood has undertaken in recent years.

 

 

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