Round 19 – Port Adelaide v Collingwood: Floreat Pica Society report

 

Before we start I just thought I’d try something novel. I decided to do a player comparison of both sides prior to the game, not opponents but like-types. It took a few re-jigs and a few of them draw a long bow. My reason for doing this is simple. I believe there is very little separating these two sides and as such finding a teams weakness should, hypothetically, give me the outcome barring any black swan events

 

So here goes:

 

Moore (A+) v Aliir  (A)

Murphy (A) v Burton (A-)

Howe (A-) v Jones (A-) I would normally call Howe A but he hasn’t got back to form yet

Quaynor (A+)  v Houston (A+)

Maynard (A)  v  Farrell (B+) Only based on kick quality

Noble (A)  v  Bergman (A)

Sidebottom (A+)  v  Boak (A+)

Crisp (A-)  v Duursma (A)

Adams  (A-)  v Horne-Francis (A)

Lipinski (B)  v  Wines (B+) Long bow -In and Under- big bodies-Neither travelling that well

N Daicos (A+)  v  Butters (A+)

De Goey  (A)  v  Powell-Pepper (A+)

Cameron (A-)  v  Lycett  (B-)

J Daicos  (A)  v  Rozee  (A+)

McCreery (A-)  v  Drew (A)  Red haired tackling machines

Eliott (A)  v  Rioli  (A-)  Dangerous around goal

McStay (B+)  v  Dixon (A-)

Mihocek ( A) v Marshall (A)

Hill (B+)  v  Evans (B)

Cox (B-)  v  Finlayson (B)  Back up ruckmen and occasional goalscorers

Mitchell (A)  v Jonas (B+) Long bow

Remainder have no comparables as far as I can determine

Pendlebury (A+), Markov (B+)

McEntee (B+), Williams (B)

 

Count method example: Moore v Aliir  scores plus one for the Magpies.

 

So the wash-up was down to the wire until I got to the non-comparables. After being ‘all square’ the difference between Pendles and Williams left the Pies Ratings 3 Pts to the better.

 

Pies will win!  Q.E.D.

 

Now to the Game.

 

The weather is terrible, Rain all day, cold night, tough slippery conditions, Tay Tay’s 200^th.

 

I get the feeling this will be like watching Epic Theatre on a Sunday Arvo. Gladiators everywhere. Apologies to anyone younger than 60. Youtube might throw something up, who knows. I wonder if Chat GPT could find it?

 

Q1 Starts as expected. Surging football. Moving the ball forward at all times to gain ground in the conditions. I’m not going to give a blow by blow because it’s too far in the past.

 

Critical moments : Sidebottom tackle on Powell-Pepper is vice like. As P/P will prove a few minute later he fends off Moore to create PTA’s first goal.

 

McStay returns the favour.

 

Rozee responds likewise.

 

It’s messy but it’s enthralling.

 

Sidey is involved.  Rozee is causing headaches. Port are intercepting more than us. Quaynor is proving his value (Stat In his last Twenty one-on-ones he has lost Two. Marshall looks dangerous. Maynard is getting plenty.

 

Marshall goals. Elliot damaging accuracy. Mihocek goals. Cameron is working Lycett over. Murphy everywhere.

 

Score Pies 4.3-27 PTA 4.0-24. No clear advantage.

Q2 Howe has been quiet. Billy gifts Tay Tay a goal for his 200^th, great servant. Butters doesn’t get pinged for a deliberate OOB. Short time later Aliir gets pinged for playing on over the boundary line. Evener from the Umps? Quarter is marked by a lot of fumbling, over-running by the Pies. Cox shows inexperience with a double-handed tap/throw. Momentum seems to have shifted to PTA.

 

Scores Pies 5.3-33 PTA 6.4-40

 

Q3 Tay Tay denied a free held without the ball. Marshall blatant throw to Evans for a goal. Rioli is starting to get into it. Goals to Checkers, McStay and Bobby not enough to stem PTA ascendency. The McStay goal was play of the day so far with DeGoey breaking clear of two tackles from the ball up, clean delivery to Crisp who fended two players then ran and bounced to deliver to McStay. Port costing themselves dearly with wasted goal attempts. Other than a great one-on-two mark by Moore our fumbling got worse. Even Pendles struggled. Commentators note Crispy’s 206^thconsecutive game. Unbelievable. Our one point of clear advantage is Cameron over Lycett

 

Scores  Pies 7.4-46  PTA  9.9-63

 

Q4 Can the Pies overcome this deficit with the rain falling again

Sidey opens the quarter with a standing start left footer for a beautiful goal. Both backlines are holding there ground, until Jaicos goals from 40 on the boundary. We’re back to 5pts. Jaics almost scores again.

 

Horne-Francis reminds me of N Buckley in his running and kicking style.  Willie on Murph MRO? Naicos Free , high tackle kicks truly. He’s had a tough night out against Drew. Pies trail by 6 pts. Howe applies an excellent tackle on the Powell-Pepper train. McCreery breaks clear and delivers centimetre-perfect to Bobby for another major. Scores level, 7^th lead change. Quick rebound sees Finlayson score. 5 pts the diff. Nine mins to go.

 

Farrell brain fade deliberate OOB sees Billy kick another one from the boundary. Pies by 1pt. 9^th lead change. Powell-Pepper then scores a very impressive major. Pies 5pts down. Pendles pin-points Billy for another clutch goal from the 50 M arc on the boundary. Iceman! 1pt Pies. A rushed behind to the Pies 2pts up. 2 mins to go. Sidebottom stands up and just gets enough of it to spoil Farrell mark at PTA CHF. Best kick in the PTA side. Tay Tay has the last say with a smother out of the middle. Siren sounds Pies 13.7-85  Port 12.11-83. The Pies do it again. OMG!

 

What did we learn. These two teams have a very similar playing style. Speed is of the essence. Quick clean hands in tight were equal. Accuracy was where the game was decided.There was no luck involved, both teams have proven their credentials. How good would the game have been at the G, in the dry, in September?

 

 

PORT ADELAIDE   4.0    6.4    9.9    12.11 (83)
COLLINGWOOD    4.3    5.3    7.4    13.7 (85)

 

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Rozee 2, Dixon 2, Powell-Pepper 2, Rioli, Marshall, Horne-Francis, Finlayson, Evans, Duursma
Collingwood: Elliott 3, McStay 2, Mihocek 2, Sidebottom, McCreery, Hill, N.Daicos, J.Daicos, Adams

 

BEST
Port Adelaide: Rozee, Powell-Pepper, Butters, Houston, Horne-Francis
Collingwood: Adams, Sidebottom, J.Daicos, Moore, Pendlebury, Elliott

 

INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Nil
Collingwood: Nil

 

SUBSTITUTES
Port Adelaide: Dylan Williams (replaced Scott Lycett in the fourth quarter)
Collingwood: Oleg Markov (replaced Tom Mitchell in the third quarter)

 

Crowd: 47,965 at Adelaide Oval

 

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