Round 2 – Footscray v Collingwood: Floreat Pica Society Report by Bangkok Correspondent Paul McKay

Footscray v Collingwood at the MCG.

Round 2, Friday, March 21st, 2025

 

Big milestones tonight – celebration of 100 years of the Footscray Bulldogs (and in keeping with

history & tradition, we are calling them Footscray tonight). Then of course, it’s our magnificent

Pendlebottom – Sidey & Pendles play their 308th game together. Our timeless combination.

 

No Bont, Adams, Johannisen or Jones for the Dogs tonight, but they have plenty of depth – we

can never take them lightly. In the wild colour hairdressing stakes, Rory Lobb leads with the

pale blue look, and Vandermeer, second with a pale blonde. The red of Ted Richards means

they have all the team colours covered.

 

 

We are under way, and Sam Darcy scores in the first minute after he pins our skipper Darcy,

holding a ball that he had held for less than a millisecond. No prior would be the usual call, but

this ump is not having it. First goal to Footascray. Pies push forward from the bounce and

another somewhat soft free kick denies Jack Crisp an otherwise perfectly honest goal.

The game is hard & fast and this comes at a cost. On the wing, McInnes goes down with an

injury to his right knee – he is taken straight downstairs. We await the news.

 

Free kicks seem to be all going to the Dogs and they are moving the ball well, denying us early

possession. Kennedy, the ex Blue, hits the right post from a running shot. Lucky.

Cox gets his first touch, and our sub, Ned Long is on early, after Reef’s departure. Lobb, the

blue praying mantis, is everywhere, and Darcy is also proving a tall & difficult handful. A slightly

lofted kickout from Houston ends up coming back – a goal to McNeil, on his own in the forward

line. The blonde Vandermeer marks at 45 and his goal means we are 22 points down and yet to

score! Naughton is soon having another set shot, but misses. It could have been worse. Some

composure and some possession is needed… fast!

 

JDG gets us on the board – check side kick for a point. Soon after, he is dumped after kicking

from HF, McStay gets the downfield free kick and goals. Our first major. Our ball movement is

starting to get it’s sweetness back. Sidey finds Billy, he misses to the left.

 

Sam Darcy is marking everything. It’s a fast & tough Q1, the Pies need to weather the storm.

Slight nerves from the Dogs backs, the ball falls to Naicos – caught high, free kick. His set shot

flushes the post. A basketball flick (or was it a fumble?) from Pendles, to McCreery and then to

the hard working Lachie Schulz … goal! Dogs by 6 points. Siren goes with the ball 5m from our

goal. We have some momentum, but it is swinging wildly. Continuing on from last week, our

tackle count is roaring along – 19 to11.

 

Qtr time; Dogs lead, 22 to 16.

 

Come on up for the rising. From the bounce, Naico and JDG combine sublimely and deep in our

forward line, Billy Elliott is seen rising gracefully, pulling down a trademark Billy grab, and kicks

the goal. Bobby Hill smiling like a Cheshire Cat with that effort. Ned Long is making solid early

contributions – he takes a sharp left on the 50m line, goes long and finds Bobby Hill. Goal. Pies

seem to be back in control. But not for long. Sam Darcy is found on his own in the forward line,

no mistake. Our Darcy has his hands full. On the bounce, this time our Darcy beats their Darcy.

Yet two minutes later, it’s the opposite again and their Darcy gains the ascendancy and kicks

another. Dogs by 7 and Fly decides to move Howe to Sam Darcy. Some cunning possession and

the ball is with Dan Houston – he bangs a beautiful set shot home from 55m. Houston is

mobbed by his teammates, yet his face says… just another day at the office. Another free to the

Dogs, Harmes caught high by Bruzz within range. Goal. Pendles takes an awkward high bump, lands hard on his rear after a marking contest. A bit sore, he takes a lie down, sauna position for a few seconds, collects himself, then finds Billy in full forward flight, he scoops, turns, kicks a behind. Missed opportunities. Dogs by 7.

 

Highlight – the midfield collect and over the right shoulder “flick” from Pendles draws massive

ooohs from the crowd, the ball lands in a familiar Naicos, Jaicos combination, onto McStay, and

there is an equally loud “oh no”, as Dan overlooks JDG and picks out Mason. He misses. Lobb’s

careless kick out is deemed deliberate, but Patty Lippa hits the post from a curling boundary

free kick. Senior Libba is not happy at all with Junior Libba finding Jeremy Howe all alone in the

Dogs forward line. Next forward move, and it’s our man Dan McStay again – concocting a deeply

unpopular plan to pass to Membrey in the square. The result – all Pies fans are seen with two

hands on their head, all sporting a sad & painful grimace. Clanger of the night by far. Fly is seen

rushing to sit down on the bench… unimpressed.

 

Half time; Dogs lead, 43 to 38.

 

Bucks is heard talking about Darcy Moore during the half time break. Bit of belated coaching.

Says he is too loose.

 

Q3 under way, Pies get the clearance, Dan McStay collects at HF, and duly sprays it into the 24th

row. Our Darcy Moore is getting back on top with a great tackle on Naughton, however he

follows this great feat by immediately lodging his own entry for clanger of the night – completely

missing Perryman at HF, Sam Darcy collects, waltzes in and hits the post! It’s a comedy of

errors. The fast finishing Lachie Shulz dances his way into the goal square, evading heavy traffic,

goal. Scores level.

 

The busy, ongoing conspiracy between Jaicos, Naicos, Pendles is on full display and from this,

McCreery roves the forward contest beautifully – another goal. Commentators are sniffing open

black & white floodgates. If only. Here comes that Sam Darcy again. I do not like that Sam I Am.

He marks at an impossible height, but his set shot clunks the post again! Commentators keep

talking about danger moments, meaning Pies really getting loose, but it just ain’t happening.

The Dogs are fighting back and they are not letting up. Close game. Our tackling is ferocious and

Beau compounds the issue by dumping the light Blue Lobb onto the hard turf in front of the

Gatorade tubs. The Praying Mantis is hurt. It’s a tight contest, and my 15 second rewind button

is getting plenty of work. The Pies are defending very well in their forward half. All the pressure

results in a Ned Long set shot, he pushes it left, Pies by 7. The elder statemen combine, Howe,

Pendles, Howe, Pendles, carving through the middle. Unfortunately no goal. Ultimately,

Membrey gets a set shot – his accuracy is perfect, but it’s touched on the line by some tall

Dogs. West finds space forward and gets a goal from a set shot – Pies by 2 points. Back to our

forward line via a long Membrey kick, Houston roves perfectly, the ball takes a leg break into

Sidey’s hands… goal! Pies by 8. The clock winds down. Pies defence not letting anything in.

Libba seen niggling with Jaicos. Clearly not enjoying the tag.

 

3QT; Pies lead, 59 to 51.

 

Where is this game going? Where’s the script? Does it say we kick away to a comfortable win, or

will we see another 2022/23 style heart stopper?

 

The forward push from the Dogs is roved beautifully by Howe, who finds Schultz with a long,

relieving kick. Mass applause. Shulz is in everything. Incredible work rate. A perfect Mason Cox

intercept (who was that, trying to handball over his huge frame?) and Mason kicks nicely out in

front of a rampaging Bobby Hill who further ramps up his blistering pace, and goals. Pies by 14.

Another glorious move, starting at half back sees Dan McStay with an easy mark – 40m in front,

no angle. Misses. He’s really having some horror night. Despite all our possession, its back tothe Dogs… another Mark & Goal to that Sam I am Darcy. Pies by 9.

 

The Q4 heat is on – somehow, Libba emerges from a forward contest, slots a goal – Pies by 3 points.

Dogs are on fire, until a Howe mark cools things momentarily. Back to our forward line, and

Rory Lobb snaps Mason Cox, flush on the snout. Ouch. Mason goes off to rearrange the Ray

Charles glasses, Jaicos takes the free kick and delivers cleanly to Billy within range. He misses!

Another let off! The game is in the balance. Pies by 4 pts, 10 minutes left. Fans going nuts. JDG

lets fly from the right boundary – minor score – Pies by 5. Pressure keeps the ball in Pie land, and

McStay’s kick in the goal square is touched by the lunging Dog Williams. Pies by 6 pts. Howe

again takes a superb back line mark. Then his kick is inexplicable… to Sidey surrounded by

three salivating Dogs! Only one was needed, Freijah, to waltz in from 80m out, into 50m, then

slots an easy goal. SCORES ARE LEVEL!

 

An easy kick for JDG, 35m out, slight angle… miss! Pies fans are looking utterly exasperated.

McStay then somehow finds Bailey Dale instead of one of our forwards… he’s really having a

shocker. The rebound could be costly. Pies by one point. A Bobby Hill tackle turns it around. He

delivers to the top of the square, throw in. Tense!

 

Enter Steele Sidebottom, who steals from a heavy pack from the throw in, and slightly off

balance, wearing a thick coating of Bailey Dale, slots what could well be the match winning

goal. Pies by 7. BUT… Dogs are not done. Howe very carefully watches a long Lobb kick, slowly

dribble thought for a point. Thank God he didn’t have a Malcolm Blight moment and got the

posts mixed up! Pies by 6. McStay takes one last opportunity to put our collective hearts in our

mouths and kicks to Lachie Schulz at half back, surrounded by Dogs! Lachie somehow girds

himself and marks it under pressure. Steele has the ball on a string in the last 5 mins. He kicks it

long & out on the full, with 9 seconds left. The kick comes back and the Giant, Darcy Cameron,

takes the final mark of the game. Phew! Take a deep breath!

 

A stunned crowd has seen a special contest. From the Pies view, we see happy players,

coaches, fans. Sidey & Pendles exchange jumpers at the end of the game. Pendles going

through more of a struggle than the wirey Sidey to get his on! The FLOREAT PICA banner seen

proudly flying as the team leaves the field.

 

FINAL SCORES;

Collingwood 10.16.76

Footscray 10.10.70

 

HORSBURGH VOTES:

3; Nick Daicos – 39 possessions, feeding the ball creatively all night. Such a hard runner, and

finds targets always, even when under immense pressure. His highlight reel showed at least 3

or 4 occasions of double play, making himself available again after feeding the ball off. This

requires a super high level of fitness.

 

2. Steele Sidebottom – in the final five mins of the game he was everywhere. He was almost

what Pendles was in the ’23 GF. Directing the traffic, bringing it home.

 

1. Scott Pendlebury – second highest with 26 touches, again, creative and opening up the

contest. The combined age of these two guys is 71 (guess the math), and yet they are still super

competitive in the dying moments. Long may they continue.

 

Apologies to Jaicos, Schulz, Ned Long, Howe, Houston … all solid contributors.

 

I sure hope Reef hasn’t damaged the ACL!

 

A great to start with a Friday night win – hope you all have a good weekend.

 

Cheers from the Bangkok Correspondent.

Paul McKay.

 

 

To return to the www.footyalmanac.com.au  home page click HERE

 

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.

 

Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help keep things ticking over please consider making your own contribution.

 

Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE