Round 17 – Carlton v Collingwood: Floreat Pica Society Match Report: Dancing in the Dark

Carlton v Collingwood

Round 17

Friday, 4 July 2025, 7.20pm

MCG

DANCING IN THE DARK

 

Prologue

Whilst Collingwood were sitting first on the ladder with a 13-2 win/loss record, a full two and a

half games clear of second, and Carlton were a lowly eleventh at 6-9, those of us old enough to

know better approached this game with guarded optimism. And that’s because, more often than

not, form and ladder position counts for nought in these games. One need only look no further

than 2 years ago when the Pies were on top of the ladder with a record of 16-2 and the Blues 9th

(9-8-1) to be reminded of this – Carlton won that game in a boilover.

 

The Pies, riding a 7 game winning streak, were without a host of stars including De Goey,

Sidebottom, Hill, McCreery and Schultz – and to a lesser extent Frampton – (who has been more

than serviceable in 2025) but welcomed back Mitchell after 435 days in the injury and rehab

wilderness and Maynard 41 days after limping off the ground against NM. Coincidentally, that was

the last game local boy and debutant Roan Steele played in the WAFL before being picked up by

the Pies in the mid-season draft. The Blues meanwhile were without Silvagni, Walsh, McKay and

Saad, and made 6 changes to last week’s team, only two of which were forced. The Blues have

been pounded in the media in recent weeks for their poor performances and go into the game

with dangerously low expectations – a perfect recipe for a Carlton ambush.

 

No two clubs have played more games against each other, have revelled in inflicting as much

misery upon each other and have managed to grab the imagination of the footy public more than

Collingwood and Carlton. This is a storied rivalry, which probably began in the 1910 Grand Final

– the only one of six in which the Pies prevailed over the Blues – escalated after a particularly

spiteful game at Princes Park in 1969, reached a crescendo in the 1970 Grand Final and then

peaked in the 70s and 80s and in the 1979 and 1981 Grand Finals.

 

And so we came to Game 268, the Pies having won their last 3 against the arch enemy and 11 of

their past 13. A game watched by the two biggest supporter bases in the AFL but played in front

of a slightly disappointing crowd of 75,827, a reflection of the disenchantment felt by many Blues

fans who perhaps opted for the comfort of home instead?

 

 

Q1 – Start Me Up

Carlton starts competitively. Dropped marks in the forward line to Elliott and Hoskin-Elliot are

soon redeemed by the same two players as first WHE and then Elliott score the first two goals in

quick succession. The first from a neat piece of play by Mihocek who spots up the Hyphen, and

the second a freakish soccer goal from Billy. Carlton bounce back with two goals from Williams.

Curnow’s mobility is troubling the Magpie backline. Pies respond immediately however through

Membrey after he is rewarded with a red hot holding the ball and slots a regulation shot from 45

metres out. Naicos misses a set shot from 50. Motlop gets one back for the Blues only for McStay

to waltz into an open goal from the restart. Leggie Markov misses a set shot as well.

 

Though the scores are close, the Pies seem to have Carlton’s measure. Cameron is once again a

huge presence in the ruck, the Daicos boys are everywhere, young Steele looks impressive and

Mitchell was busy.

 

Williams, Docherty, Hewett and Curnow are the Blues’ best. Carlton is getting plenty of the ball

but not using it well into the forward line.

 

Blues 3.3.21 Pies 4.3.27

 

 

Q2 – Takin’ Care of Business

From the opening bounce, Pendles swings onto his trusty left and laces out Membrey who splits

the middle on a 60 degree angle. Impressive. A bit of up and down play for a few minutes until

Naicos bombs one on the run from outside 50! Poetry in motion! Pies, now sniffing blood, lift

across the ground and start gang tackling like wolves. Blues can’t match the rise in intensity.

Mihocek scrapes the post after an exquisite pass from Naicos. Elliott has a second shot from the

same pocket after a pass from Lipinski and this time converts. Fantasia gets one back against the

run of play. Blues keep turning the ball over on the Members wing. Pies press a number of times

until McStay eventually marks in the goal square and kicks truly on the stroke of half time.

 

Pies take control this quarter with the entire team playing well. The lacklustre play from the

previous two weeks at Docklands now just a distant memory. Carlton are just hanging on and

there is a sense of inevitability about the outcome.

 

Blues 4.5.29 Pies 8.5.53

 

 

Q3 – That’s the Way I Like It

Mihocek finishes off of a long chain of Collingwood possession with a snap from the goal square.

TDK misses from 35m out after a perfect pass from Williams. Elliott and Maynard both miss

gettable set shots. McStay goals from a free kick 15m out and suddenly the margin is out to more

than 6 goals – the rot has set in. Curnow marks 50m out but instead of lining up, he wheels

around and misses – second time he’s done this. Elliott misses his third set shot of the night but

follows up soon after with a mark and goal. Rinse and repeat from the bounce – Lipinski again to

Elliott for his fourth. Motlop snaps truly for his second but Sullivan replies soon after when he

slices his way through the Carlton defence like butter and snaps one. BUT THE BEST IS YET TO

COME! Moir marks and shapes to kick for goal but Bruzzy effects a fantastic spoil and then takes

off – he boots it long to a one-on-one for McStay who outmarks Weitering, wheels around on his

left and bangs one through from 70m out! The crowd erupts into raptures! Superb play! And the

COLLINGWOOD chant rings around the ground like the cathedral bells at a funeral procession.

It’s hauntingly intimidating – simply magnificent!

 

Parker comes on for Howe – tactical sub. The ball falls to Ned Long in the forward line and he

snaps in congestion – another goal. Then Crisp caps off a brilliant quarter by threading the needle

from the fence 40m out on the wrong side for a left footer. Pies up by 65 points – just magic.

Williams snaps his third late in the quarter but it’s a forlorn cause – the damage has well and truly

been done. Naicos has a shot after the siren after a free, but misses.

 

Best for the Pies – everyone, while it’s hard to find a winner anywhere for the Blues.

 

Blues 6.9.45 Pies 16.9.105

 

 

Q4 – Comfortingly Numb

Not unexpectedly, the last quarter becomes a snooze fest as both teams just go through the

motions. The biggest highlight was seeing the exodus of Carlton supporters making for the exits.

McGovern and Moir kick goals in junk time and then Mihocek goals from a strong mark – the last

kick of the night. The Party Pies roll on.

 

Blues 8.11.59 Pies 17.13.115

 

 

Post Mortem

Pies were bigger, stronger, classier and better for longer. They have now made the Finals but

there are bigger fish to fry. For Carlton, well they looked Dazed and Confused, they need Help

and it was A Hard Day’s Night.

 

3 votes – 2 votes – 1 vote –

Naicos – did not stop running and was involved in just about everything

Darcy Cameron – is in Copeland Trophy winning form

Darcy Moore – was probably his best game of the season

 

Writer’s Note

I’m a bit of a nerd when it comes to this stuff – I keep a running tally of the fortunes of both clubs

in this rivalry. I’ve split it into two eras as I think 1970 was the beginning of the ‘modern era’.

 

ALL TIME WINS & LOSSES FLAGS

COLL WINS CARL WINS DRAWS TOTAL COLL CARL

1897 – 1969 75 73 3 151 13 9

1970 – 60 56 1 117 3 7

TOTAL 135 129 4 268 16 16

 

 

 

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