Round 11 – Collingwood v Carlton: An unintentional parallel

 

 

 

 

 

I have a canvas hanging over my bed of Michael Jordan’s iconic final shot in a Chicago Bulls uniform. Jordan and the basketball are illuminated, while everyone else is in black and white. It’s fascinating to see how powerful one moment can be. If you pay attention to the fans in the background, a group of ladies in the bottom left corner are mortified about what’s unfolding. As you shift towards the middle, many fans have hands on their heads in disbelief. Then towards the top right, there is a young Bulls fan already about to celebrate, knowing that MJ won’t miss the bucket.

 

Now let’s look at Collingwood v Carlton. There’s no bigger rivalry in the country. Labor v Liberal, Coles v Woolworths, Parma v Parmi (Seriously, is Parmi even a word?), none of them even come close. Its ignited brutality, competitiveness and hatred towards the enemy trumps that of other feuds. These teams simply do not like each other. Although the rivalry hasn’t been as prominent in my life (due to Carlton’s lack of success in the last two decades), I still love it when we get a win against the Blues.

 

Today is no exception. Actually, today even more so than any other. All of the stipulations imaginable are in place. Carlton are in the top four for the first time in a decade, Collingwood are competitive again, Voss and McRae coach against each other for the first time but, more importantly, the overall head-to-head record sits at 128 apiece. There could be no better or bigger stage for this duel to play out. Sunday afternoon, 80,000 expected, at a ground that makes the Colosseum shake in its boots.

 

I like our chances today. In fact, I tipped us to win. However, I adhered to an adaptation of the footy tipping first commandment– when in doubt, always tip your team. But nonetheless a win against “Flagmantle” last week has raised my confidence levels. If we can sustain that pressure we did last Sunday, then Carlton will be in for a challenge.

 

Now what makes this rivalry great? Is it the biffo? Even though it’s a shadow of what it once was, there’s still that white line fever that riles up the players and the crowd. Is it the hype surrounding these blockbusters? A Collingwood v Carlton clash provides for the story of the week on any footy show, news bulletin, or social media site. Is it the storied history these two teams have? Multiple grand final encounters, and legendary moments which have impacted history.

 

You know there’s gonna be a bumper crowd when the concourse is packed an hour before the start of the game. For every Collingwood supporter I walked past, there was a Carlton supporter right next to them. It’s a divide like no other. Families, friends, partners, colleagues all separated by the colour of their jumper or scarf. My family experiences this same divide. Dad supports Carlton, whilst me, mum and my brother all bleed black and white. On my way out the door today, da da da da da was the tune coming from my dad’s mouth.

 

“The only time you’ll hear that song today is before the game and that’s because they have to play it,” I replied.

 

I also experienced the divide at school. You could’ve split my year level evenly into thirds (Carlton fans, Collingwood fans and the rest).

 

As a kid, I once floated the idea of becoming a Carlton supporter. The idea of seeing Judd and Fevola in full flight every week was appetising but, after a hot minute, common sense (and a talk with my disapproving mum) made me think otherwise. Instead, I’ve enjoyed the likes of Swan and Pendlebury enjoy the successes that Carlton players and fans can only dream of, including the 2010 premiership.

 

The game begins the only way a proper Collingwood v Carlton game should begin – a brawl within the first five minutes. A hard-hitting tackle from Taylor Adams on the Carlton skipper is a hosed down version of a sweet hit off the ball back in the 80s.

 

Collingwood draw first blood through Jamie Elliott and I’m feeling content. Whilst it’s nice to post the first major, the day is far from over. With a formidable line-up, the enemy can tear up the game in an instant…and that is exactly what they do through Charlie Curnow. I think to myself that this match-up could be the barometer for either side. Curnow has been in form for several weeks (even more so with McKay out), while Darcy Moore got touched up by Tom Lynch a few weeks back, and has struggled in one-on-one contests without a lockdown defender in the side.

 

After Durdin skims through a pot shot, my slim hopes for today become slighter, knowing what Carlton are capable of. However, that hope increases again when Mason Cox launches to the sky and finally takes a contested mark. It must be his day, he lives for these big crowds. 80,000 in the house and halfway through the first quarter, supporters are still flowing in.

 

My next confidence booster comes when Moore flashes past Owies for an intercept mark and begins to dash away. His trademark stroll fires you up like a sports car going from 0 to 100.  “HAVE A SHOT,” I scream out as he streams from half-back. It wouldn’t be beyond him. Anything could happen when he’s going at that pace. After an Ollie Henry conversion, the belief grows greater. It then grows even greater when Ginnivan marks with an open goal ahead of him. Everyone begins to rise out of their seats in total euphoria, but almost simultaneously all hands go on heads, with the sighs to match. Either or, we boast an 8-point lead at quarter time.

 

As De Goey goals straight out of the break, possibility of a victory starts to become more realistic. Missed opportunities aim to cripple us though, making it all the more evident that it will become our downfall later on. Goals to Cripps, Walsh and Cerra in quick succession form a script that has been written all too often this season. Curnow makes sure their hard work late doesn’t come undone, taking the lead at the main break.

 

The third quarter begins how the second quarter finished. Curnow is threatening to get the better of Moore and break the game wide open but, luckily this time, the ball was nowhere near the big sticks. The game swings back in our favour through consecutive goals from Lippa. His second major has ejected the crowd from their seats like ammunition to a slingshot. Another goal to Sidebottom puts us 11 points up at the final change.

 

The last quarter is set up for a grandstand finish. An early Carlton goal has the Collingwood fans around me in fear of the inevitable. However, Collingwood royalty would reign supreme through Tyler Brown. A chase down tackle and smother which leads to a Magpie fast break and goal has fans up and about. He then kicks a goal immediately after that makes you think “was it Grundy? IT’S GRRRRUNDY”.  By the time Ollie Henry extended the margin to 23 points midway through the last quarter, the slow Collingwood chant rang around the MCG once again, to the disapproval of many other Pies supporters. Many (including myself) believed the victory chant was way too premature…

 

…And damn right it was! Owies replied straightaway, before Curnow released the shackles of his second half woes. First a 50m rocket, then a Joey the Goose to bring it back to 5 points. After multiple moments which looked to be the match winner, Carlton are within a kick with 1:05 to play. I have never seen my mum more frustrated with a 5-minute block of football in my life. If there is one team she hates losing to, it’s Carlton. She witnessed the stranglehold they had on us through the 70s and 80s, some of those games even leaving a scarring effect.

 

So here we go. This is the moment that settles this rivalry for the next three months. 260 games of melees, grand final triumphs and heartaches, outstanding highlights and close finishes, and in game 261 the head-to-head swing is set to be decided in the final minute. The Collingwood v Carlton rivalry is well and truly alive.

 

It’s at this moment that I look up to Lord Football, hoping that he guides us to victory. A Carlton clearance however has me motionless, but Moore once again saves the day for a brief moment in time. Is that another one of those false match winning moments again? One boundary throw in turns into another boundary throw in. Time is running down, but the game is still in danger of changing hands once again.

 

An accidental toe poke from Taylor Adams to Jack Silvagni reminds me of Michael Jordan ankle breaking Bryon Russell. Yes, I know SOS 2.0 is not on the same wavelength as MJ, but if you were to encapsulate this moment, it would create a very damning parallel.

 

The Carlton fans would represent the young Bulls fan about to celebrate breaking the deadlock once again. From being 23 points down 10 minutes ago, to come from behind and embrace another Collingwood choke would speak volumes about their premiership chances. You can hear the roar as the ball approaches goal.

 

Mum would symbolise the ladies who look to have experienced their worst nightmare once again. Victory snatched from the jaws of defeat seems to occur so many times that it could become our motto. She would not be able to live this down if they walk away with victory.

 

And then there’s the people in shock. Those who have their hands on their head. That would be me.  An innocuous error which looks certain to be punished. The disbelief that something so miniscule could be the difference between two foes.

 

All of them are focused on Jack Silvagni. It goes without saying but he’s the illuminated player. One game, one rivalry, many wagers, family dinners, workplace conversations are hinged on this one kick.

 

As the ball sailed towards goal, and the roar grew louder and louder, I realised my worst nightmare was being played out in front of me. I thought we had lost the game…Until Scott Pendlebury walked out with the ball in his hands. Siren goes moments later. 129-128 Collingwood.

 

Votes: 3. Noble (COLL) 2. Walsh (CARL) 1. Daicos (COLL)

 

COLLINGWOOD         3.4       4.8       7.12       11.13 (79)
CARLTON                       2.2       6.2       6.7          11.9 (75)

 

GOALS  
Collingwood: Henry 3, Lipinski 2, Sidebottom 2, De Goey, Elliott, Cox, Brown
Carlton: Curnow 4, Owies 2, Cerra, Cripps, Durdin, Walsh, Motlop

 

BEST 
Collingwood: J.Daicos, Crisp, De Goey, Lipinski, Cox, Henry, Noble, Howe
Carlton: Walsh, Saad, Docherty, Cripps, Curnow, Hewett, Cerra

 

INJURIES
Collingwood: Nil
Carlton: Weitering (shoulder)

 

SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Beau McCreery (unused)
Carlton: Jack Carroll (replaced Jacob Weitering in the second quarter)

 

Crowd: 80,627

 

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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.

 

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