Round 18 – Collingwood v North Melbourne: Floreat Pica Society match report

 

Round 18
Collingwood v North Melbourne
Friday 10th July 2026
Marvel Stadium

 

To end a significant week where Amber became an Australian citizen during NAIDOC week. Amber first arrived in Melbourne in early 2009, about 3 weeks before Black Saturday. Long journey for her with a significant bump, and then a few years for us in Canada. 13 years later than it should have occurred. It is a time to celebrate, and hopefully with a Magpies win as accompaniment.

 

I arrive at the ground much later than I planned – not that going to Marvel really gets my heart racing with excitement. I thought about attending the VFL, but opted to visit Fed Square for some NAIDOC Week festivities instead. Upon arriving, or shortly thereafter, North are warming up directly in front of where I sit. And I see the huge frame of Damien Monkhorst. He is pointing and giving instructions to Xerri. I am thinking that maybe he gave advice about how to intimidate Bruz considering how much ‘Monkey’ loved a stoush when representing the Pies.

 

As the Pies players entered the arena, it was beautiful to see acknowledgement of NAIDOC Week with a smoking ceremony and didgeridoo being played. It brought some atmosphere to this often soulless place.

 

Captains in arms tonight. Who is doing the toss? I did not remember to notice!

 

Welcome to Country with Uncle Colin Hunter. Disappointed with the noise of people talking around me, there is still too much talking and not enough listening in.

 

We were happy with our much better seats on level 1. I am extremely sensitive to the unusual lighting high in the stands at Marvel. This time we were far enough back to be sheltered from the lights.

 

1st quarter:

 

As I suspected pre-game, Ed gets the role on LDU to continue building his experience in the centre square. Josh kicks us off with an aimless torp and a turnover.

 

Luckily Larkey misses a sitter after too much latitude from Ed on LDU.

 

Josh makes amends with a purposeful kick to Shooter. First major registered.

 

Amber points out the different back of guernsey on the First Nations designed guernsey. It more closely resembles a Port Magpies/Power guernsey in that sense.

 

Bruz gets away with one. Does nothing but harass Trembath in marking contest, but no free given.

 

Curtis back after a very unlucky three week suspension. Kicks their first to tie it up at 7 after 7 mins.

 

Two lucky frees to us. Sloppy defence from Corr, the veteran who originally came from Macleod. Dan Mc drills it and continues with his impressive accuracy. Ben King lite in scoring, but arguably provides better contests and repeat efforts.

 

Leading hitouts early. Xerri really seems to have also been impacted by new ruck rules this year. Along with DC, two of the best rucks last year.

 

Nick’s disposal and decisions have improved in past six weeks approximately. He is exceptional and consistent, but his disposal and sometimes tunnel vision approach around goal was bringing down his ability to get the ball at will. He has started well tonight.

 

Larkey lacking accuracy. His efficient kicking has dropped off in comparison to his career stats. Has captaincy worn him down?

 

Skunk with a coast to coast similar to last week’s. The Marvel specialist nailing one on the run from about 45. Seems to have grown in confidence after his hammy injury. Shows our strength and conditioning staff are elite to get him playing his best footy at this point of the season.

 

Ned Long showing his elite pressure in close and earns the free. If his decision making with the ball could improve, his future with the Pies would be secure.

 

Puncher by name and deed. He is showing good judgement, and playing within his abilities – a bit like Presti.

 

Beau continuing his poor disposal of late. His timing and execution just seems to be off.

 

Larkey balances his posts. Just needs to miss right for a perfect quarter as he has three behinds.

 

50 metres conceded for nothing impactful. It is too harsh a penalty 90% of the time these days.

 

Larkey lines up. As Dennis Cometti famously uttered, “the stadium holds its breath. It’s a goal.” No perfect quarter for Larkey. Unless he misses one to the right in the final 5 mins. Lots of time for that to happen.

 

But Nick gets tunnel vision and puts one across the face.

 

The boy from Blackburn, Trembath, marks over DC, Puncher and Billy F in a pure contest. Low trajectory but through the middle.

 

Scott Pendlebury with a not so towering mark opposed to the might of Caleb Daniel. Nick with the goal assist. More of this please!

 

Drone weirdly drifts along the flank in front of us. Little did we know that it is part of the coverage, although the ball is on the other side of the ground.

 

4.4 to 3.4 at 1/4 time.

 

2nd quarter:

 

Dar(jee)ling takes a mark with flavour. And converts from 20 out. 2nd goal in a row where Puncher’s opponent marks in contest and goals.

 

Banch with the Roos 2nd of qtr at 4 min mark. 1 goal up for them. Pies not defending the unfamiliar home territory against one whose home it actually is.

 

Lower kick to Shooter’s advantage on the lead. Anything above head on lead is much tougher on taller opponents. Team play with stroll in goal for McStay who POUNDS it through. Scores level at 6 mins in, and with 16 inside 50s each there is not much separating the two sides.

 

Pendles walks the line by taking 20 tippy toes steps.  Finds Lippa in front who nails it from 35. He is back in goal kicking form, and on his former home ground.

 

Goals keep flowing. Trembath makes a great choice to handball to Curtis.

 

3 goals to 2 in first 11 mins. Schultz limps off. Looks like knock to his right inner knee on first glance, but we now know it is syndesmosis, or an upper ankle injury.

 

Firey tackles from Buller and Bruz. Plenty (proliferation) of boos and abuse in the outer for Maynard’s input.

 

 

Howe takes a beautiful defensive mark, and chips to Anderson who relaxes and Zurhaar intercepts. Score still level at 18 mins.

 

2 fifties to us for little to no reason in about a minute, which gives Swadling a chance to wrap his 2nd goal in cloth (swaddle). Drills it. One Goal up at the 20 min mark.

 

Ed bursting out like Christopher Judd from the centre toss up.

 

Nick with potential goal assist to Houston, but doesn’t convert.

 

Five 50s in first half. The adjudication of this makes the game feel a bit out of control. And I don’t enjoy it.

 

Touched snap shot makes the margin a goal again.

 

Howe looking as clumsy as ever. A rarity. Misjudging an attempt to mark and crashing into opponent.

 

Game has deteriorated later in this quarter to reflect the umpiring and rules.  Scrappy and careless disposal.

 

North go coast to coast, but Banch blows the chance to level it up.

 

Another opportunity set up by Nick. As I said in my report vs Adelaide in rd 1, seeing Nick dish it off inside 50 is one of his areas of growth. Unfortunately Houston and Membrey didn’t convert their chances this quarter

 

What started as a quarter full of goals ended quite full of dross.

 

7.5 to 6.6 at 1/2 time.

 

 

Both teams down a player by half time. We did not notice the incident Crisp was caught up in, leading to the unfortunate concussion to Blamires, the former Collingwood employee. Perhaps where we are sitting means we are prone to missing some incidents, and can’t see a large scoreboard either. Glad this will be our last game at Marvel for 2026.

 

3rd quarter:

 

Jordy hits Buller on the lead. The man mountain’s unconvincing run up leads to a poor kick swinging right. Buller is running hot and cold in most aspects of his game. Seems to show that he doesn’t possess that strong self belief and confidence you need to succeed at AFL level in the long term.

 

How LDU didn’t get a free against Ed reflective of inconsistent officiating. North are well ahead on free kick count, but it doesn’t feel that we have been hard done by.

 

Zurhaar attacks like a man possessed (or Gavin Brown) and wins a free at CHB. More listless and uninspiring football. Needed the didgeridoo at half time to bring back the atmosphere.

 

Unfortunately, I heard and identified an individual who hurled a homphobic slur directed at Nick Larkey. We were seated right at the Balter Bar which seemingly attracts a certain type of clientele in the standing area.

 

6th 50 of the game (3 each) gives Lipinski his second from the goalsquare. Largest lead of the game when Skunk hits DC directly in front and from 48 kicks his first in a long time – Since Opening Round in fact!

 

Beau’s form has been a bit cursed ever since rumours of Tasmania hit the media. And he gets caught red handed in the goal square.

 

Larkey has also lost his mojo, and his up and under shot from 45 touched on the line.

16 point margin at 17.5 min mark.

 

Spargo snaps one, and the son of a Shinboner reduces it to 10 pts at 20 min mark.

 

Comben drops a plum pudding off his chest. Swadling gets a soft free for late grazing contact. Deserved the point it ended up with.

 

Puncher drops a sitter. Playing on the last line is the last place to make such simple errors. It would feel horrible. Lucky for us it was in midfield and we recovered territory quickly.

 

Howe fumbles the critical ball at half back. Gets pressured, they go forward and Sheezel snaps one that, upon review is touched by a lunging Perryman. Always reliable and committed, Pez is slowly getting back to form after his hamstring injury too. Before injury, he was likely high up in the best and fairest like last year.

 

But a clean bowling of the pack has Hardeman kick 60 metre goal that bounces through from 15m. Howe doesn’t remonstrate, but footage later becomes clear that Howe was very close to or did touch the ball. EIther way, it was close call and technology can’t win us the game on its own.

 

Jordy clears it from centre. D Mc with a great contested mark, kicks truly from dead in front from about 30. Crucial goal to put us up by 9 with about a min or so left.

 

Xerri grabs and hacks from forward pockey ruck contest in dying seconds. 3 points with 26 secs left.

 

North clear and get a couple of half chances but can’t escape our clutches. 10.7 to 9.10 at the final break.

 

4th quarter:

 

Soccers from Spargo and Curtis after Xerri clearance gives them the deserved lead after 15 to 20 seconds.

Billy F with a solid mark at half back to get the ball our way.

 

Gus hits the stick to reduce it to 2 at the 2 min mark.

 

Larkey takes a mark over the back with a subtle push to Billy F. His 3rd poster (needs a 4th for perfection) extends lead by 1 to 3, 4 mins in.

 

Puncher slipping at inopportune time. His inexperience is showing out, as Darling marks on half forward.

 

Strong mark by the North skipper over Frampton, who might be lowering his colours tonight but for Larkey’s misses. This time he kicks it to put North up by 9 after 6 mins.

 

Anderson fails to come at Perryman, but Gus makes a contest and it is locked in our 50.

 

Needing a goal before this one slips away. Emblebury (appropriate name vs North) reduces it to 8 after 8 mins.

 

Beau does his best work of the night after Swadling loses his feet at half forward. Curtis can’t quite get a handle as the ball bobbles. Beau bumps him in a Darren Millane-type fashion, Swadling gathers to kick in 50 and a contest win leads to a goal snapped by Nick on his left. Down by 2 after about 10 mins.

 

Next clearance leads to a mark from Lipinski who kicks from about 55. North touch it with a bee’s hair between goal and point. Correct review and 1 point deficit at 12 mins.

 

Howe mistimes his leap. The crumbs fall to North. Larkey soccers it through. 7 points after 15 mins

 

Darling pushed by Frampton. Defence been very wobbly after half time.

 

But Darling misses. 8 pts at 16 mins.

 

Luke Parker with a bizarre hack and then a hold not paid. Probably a missed shot we should’ve been given.

 

Maybe Howe is just fatigued, or could he be injured?

 

Youthful exuberance hack out of mid air from Swadling gives an easy oof in the forward pocket.

 

Some take it on at all costs circa 2022/23 comebacks with Crispy breaking a tackle at midfield. A sharing of the ball. And Crisp recollects and kicks it from 30. 2 points down at 22.5 mins.

 

Nick kicks poorly inside 50 from the centre clearance. No pressure and poor disposal.

 

Turnover and Xerri marks in the forward pocket. Across the face. 3 points down. 24 mins, 5.5 mins to go

 

Long turnover with a rushed blind kick downfield. North retaining possession

 

Great gut running from defence to attack by Nick creates a pass from DC to Skunk just inside 50. He often gets shots in flanks from 45 to 50. And another here. From about 48, the Marvel specialist puts us up by 3 after 27 mins, 3 mins to go. The COOOOLLLLIIINNNGGGGGWOOOD comes out.

 

Pies get it forward. Ned’s kick across body drops just short of Gus.

 

Great team play started by a bump and gather by Steele. Leads to mark and shot for Lippa in the left pocket. This would seal it. Naturally it hits the post. Larkey must be happy.  4 point lead. Josh marks kick in with under 1 min left.

 

Great pressure. 35yo Steele, a desperate tackle. Hack kick inside 50 and North (Trembath) get their hands to it. But team defence spoils. Ball hits the turf and the siren sounds! As it does, the roar and stampede of fans feels that the AFL owned colosseum could collapse at any moment.

 

The famous score of 13.11.89  (think 1990 GF) for us. North fall short on 12.13.85. A spirited game played in the right way. And thankfully not adversely decided by any umpiring decisions. Once again, where I sat, we didn’t even notice the Billy F tackle controversy.

 

GO PIES

 

I spent the whole game typing and barely watched with pure enjoyment. Thanks to the new Aussie Amber for her assistance throughout the game as I constantly asked for info from the AFL app.

 

Hopefully this Saturday night is still an absolute cracker despite Carlton’s loss in the big wet.

 

As I emailed to Dallas pre game, go the Carringbush!

 

Votes as decided by Amber and myself:

3 – J. Daicos

2 – D. Cameron

1. – N. Daicos, with P. Lipinski unlucky to miss.

 

Other notes:

 

Congrats to Dan McStay kicking the most goals in a season for his career. No mean feat with the injuries he has had the past 3 years.

 

Nick had his equal lowest disposals of the season. But he was more effective with the ball than in many other games. Perhaps because we are attacking more right now than we were earlier in the first third of the season. Great to see his game evolve during the season.

 

With a tight turnaround between Carlton on Saturday night, and then the Crows next Thursday night, there might be some rotations throughout the team over the next two weeks. It does help that the VFL are in some good form.

 

So it wouldn’t surprise me if we see rotations  of our veterans (except Crisp), with the possible inclusion of players including Steele, Harrison, Hayes, Podhajski, West, Sullivan, Parker, Ryan, Cochran, Coe, Howes.

 

Jiath and De Mattia were both absent last week due to injury (as was Smit), so they are probably unlikely to be considered. Prindable, Saxena and McCarthy all look to be outside of consideration for this season.

 

 

COLLINGWOOD               4.4   7.5   10.7   13.11 (89)
NORTH MELBOURNE       3.4   6.6   9.10   12.13 (85)

 

GOALS
Collingwood: McStay 3, Lipinski 2, Membrey 2, Schultz, Pendlebury, Swadling, Cameron, N.Daicos, Crisp
North Melbourne: Curtis 3, Larkey 3, Trembath, Darling, Banch, Spargo, Hardeman, Xerri

 

BEST (Dan’s best)
Collingwood: J.Daicos, N.Daicos, Cameron, De Goey, Howe
North Melbourne: Xerri, Parker, Sheezel, Zurhaar, Larkey

 

INJURIES
Collingwood: Lachie Schultz (ankle)
North Melbourne: Tom Blamires (concussion)

 

Crowd: 48,369

 

 

Read other round 18 match reports HERE

 

 

 

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