Round 2 – St Kilda v Collingwood: Oh no Jimmy (Floreat Pica Society)

by Jim Kesselschmidt for the Floreat Pica Society

 

 

St Kilda v Collingwood, Round 3 at the MCG or “Oh no Jimmie” 

Just because it was the Danny (Spud) Frawley’s Memorial Foundation match v Collingwood at the MCG on Thursday there wasn’t any reason for the pies to play like spuds. The foundation match purpose is to raise awareness of & raise funds for mental illness. I was certainly feeling a bit depressed post-match.

A few facts before the match:

224: The amount of games played between Collingwood and St Kilda.
162: The games Collingwood has won v St Kilda (72.32%).
60: The games Collingwood has lost to St Kilda. (26.79%)
02: There have been two draws (and we all know one of those)!!

A brief history of St Kilda

Basically, it was named by Superintendent Latrobe (Latrobe of course is the Latin for “didn’t get into Monash” (thank you Dave O’Neil) – where I done me first degree). Latrobe gave the name St Kilda to that part of the world after a watching a boat named “Lady of St Kilda” anchored off the beach in 1841. During the 1900s, St Kilda became a favoured suburb of Melbourne’s elite, and many palatial mansions were constructed along its hills and waterfront. (Wiki)

I always find this a tad ironic as years ago when working in acute crisis mental health it was the area where the homeless and deinstitutionalised would be placed or ended up living. Visiting the Gatwick Hotel in Fitzroy Street as part of a crisis team and the lesser known and certainly misnamed Hollywood Hotel on Beaconsfield Parade could be particularly courageous & at times felt threatening (indeed we were often accompanied by the police)

St Kilda was named in large part after the lady of St Kilda, a certain Rachel Chiesley (alluded to above) whose husband James (Jimmy) Erskine using provocation basically as a rationale to get her locked up & secluded to the Isle of St Kilda which lies 65 kilometres west of the Outer Hebrides off Scotland’s Northwest Coast.

Some might say that the geographical location of the isle of St Kilda reflects St Kilda Football club’s relationship to the AFL: remote; an add on; perhaps unnecessary and, related to crime and punishment. I of course could never say such a thing.

The history of Moorabbin and surrounding suburbs is littered with corruption, racism and privilege which I won’t go into here but was an eye opener when doing a bit of reading thinking I might use it as a reference point.

Who said Allan Jeans was dead?

8 July 1972: Jimmy O’Dea. For those who don’t know, Jimmy O’Dea of St Kilda king hit (“cowards punch” they now call it) to render one of the best ever footballers I’ve ever seen (I was 16 at the time) in a coma for weeks. John Greening suffered horrendous injuries and was lucky not to die as a result, and O’Dea was lucky not to be suspended for more than just ten weeks. John Greening never returned to play as well again. Jimmy O’Dea’s coach was Allan Jeans. Some say St Kilda was instructed to take Greening out. I wouldn’t know. I’ve also heard from someone who worked with Jimmy O’Dea that he is a lovely person.

3 March 2024: Jimmy Webster: recently took out the unfortunate North Melbourne player.

January 1732 : (Jimmy) James Erskine Lord Grange: sent his wife “taken in secret from Edinburgh to St Kilda, where she remained for about ten years. From there, she was taken to Assynt in Sutherland, and finally to Skye. To complete the idea that she was dead her funeral was publicly celebrated, but she survived until May 1745”.

Ooo aye Jimmy.

I’ve previously written about the Kesselschmidt family holidays when I was a child. Taking the number 1 tram from Lygon Street Brunswick in the 1960’s to St Kilda beach. Basically when we got to the beach you just had to make sure you returned to the bosom of your family before the family went home. Swimming, frolicking, going to the pier, these days it would probably constitute a child protection notification due to not hovering over your precious one every waking second. No beach canopies or beach tents in those days. No sunscreen either; coconut oil to get as tanned as possible (the dermatologists and skin GP’s now say thank you very much). Those were the days my friends but jokes aside there was something in non-neurotic parenting for a child with the joyful absence & lack of intrusion of social media.

Having said that I recall the Hare Krishna’s (HK’s) were new and exotic with their faces painted, use of drums along a conga like line of young ecstatic converts, singing, chanting, “Hare Hare, Hare Krishna” when amongst the throng of “Little Jerusalem” as we called that part of the beach where our parents, other relatives and family friends sat and socialised, baked in the sun while playing games, eating while the HK’s were making all manner of noise and they stood out in this pre colour TV, pre mobile phone, pre social media times. It certainly was a shock when a young man adorned in the Hare Krishna accoutrement, clothes, face paint, shaved head and other things called out “Hello Mrs Kesselschmidt” to my astonished mother. Turns out it was a young man who’d gone to the same Socialist Zionist youth group as my brother, sister & I did albeit in his case a few years earlier!! (I never knew him but he became an early celebrity chef back in the days when there weren’t celebrity chefs (apart of course from the galloping gourmet Graham Kerr and a few others). Kurma Dasa was host of the TV show cooking with Kurma and writer of internationally acclaimed cookbooks!!

I write about the heat advisedly. It’s been far too hot to have been watching footy in the preposterous round zero and even round one. For goodness sake, there was still Test cricket being played – far too early and far too contrived which provides in effect, the NSW teams a leg up (and in “our case” at Collingwood’s expense). Marketing, shmarketing.

Now for our round three in cooler weather and a better time of year. But a Thursday night?  I don’t like Thursdays; I think the Boomtown Rats shoulda written:

 The silicon chip inside their heads
Gets switched to over sedation
And nobody’s going to (enjoy) the footy today
They’re going to make them stay and watch

 And McCrae doesn’t understand it
He always said they were as good as gold
And he can see no reasons
But there are lots of reasons
Which reason do you need to be shown?

St Kilda have had lots of good choices and have some footy department smarts getting Silvagni on board is really smart. St Kilda played well in their first match and have young stars in the making: Phillipou and Mitch Owens in particular.

Collingwood have been smashed, dissected and bisected. Moore’s loose play at times in 2023 was invariably masked by Murphy and Howe which allowed Moore to be attacking and intercepting. Moore hasn’t played a decent match for ages. Moore also didn’t play particularly well in the Grand final just quietly, being soundly beaten by Joe Daniher in my view. Selecting Dean for the first two rounds, who hasn’t even played in the VFL (due to his awful injuries) was smug and unthinking. Dean will be a good player but needs a chance to develop. Johnson has some tricks but just doesn’t do enough to warrant inclusion, hampered of course by the poor way the ball is delivered into the forward line. In short, in the first two weeks our premiership team have simply not been working hard enough.

The selection changes are welcome: Billy Frampton, Reef McInnes and Tommy Mitchell (Mitchell was my BOG in the Grand final)

Onto the match:

The footy match

First quarter:

Jamie Elliott kicks the opening goal just 90 seconds into the game after a St Kilda turn over. Nick Daicos was instrumental in the play, moving the ball quickly.

First touch by Sidebottom is a fumble.

Early touch by De Goey is a fumble.

Marshall, St Kilda’s ruckman has for clearances in four minutes had four clearances.

Moments later in a pack after a free in the middle to St Kilda, Moore makes one of several dumb decisions; he punches it to plenty of open space between the pack and the goal line for St Kilda’s Jack Higgins to pounce.

Shortly after this when moving forward, Maynard on a wing kicks it small and inside to Moore who marks it back of Centre Half Forward. Moore again chooses poorly and kicks poorly. Basically, Moore bombs it forward, making it easy to defend and kicks it too far away for Cox to have a go at it (although Cox could’ve tried to run at it, reflecting the game is not second nature for our lanky Yankee). Moore’s the pity.

Later Bobby Hill misses a tackle at the centre of the ground against Nasiah Wanganeen- Milera one of a few he missed tonight. Bobby Hill drops a sitter from Lipinski in the forward pocket who did a good job getting the ball into the forward 50. On the rebound out of defence Lipinski kicks great goal while being tackled and off the outside of his right foot. Smart and lucky.

Schultz and Elliott spoil each other which reflects that they don’t know each other’s leading patterns, but in one way is a good mistake as both were intent. At the same time, it could also reflect the lack of overall confidence where players are trying so hard that they mount individual efforts rather than efforts of being part of a whole (a team that is).

Great snap by McInnes for a goal after a patient build-up which stands in contrast to the Moore “bomb it forward” approach.

With about 8 ½ mins remaining one St Kilda player accidentally took out another. Zayne Cordy took out the journeyman Mason Wood which is not just awful and unfortunate but there’s a sad irony about this being the Spud Frawley round memorial match. Mixed emotions: we hope the best for Mason Wood and a player’s well-being is more important than the match, but who is the break going to favour? Notwithstanding the errors and good fortune both teams are doing reasonably OK so far.

On the resumption, McCreery’s tackle was brilliant on Josh Battle as McCreery was out of position and Josh Battle is much bigger – but McCreery let’s himself and the anticipating Collingwood fans down with such a poor kick going out of bounds on the full. This leads to a turnover whereby St Kilda control the ball. A Maynard spoil is deemed to be punching Membrey’s hands. While the free may well have been there this wasn’t consistently awarded during the match to Collingwood’s disadvantage. Shortly thereafter frees galore in St Kilda’s attack to either King or Marshall, umps give it to King who kicks a goal (the frees are there).

Sidebottom collides into Markov at CHB when we are about to break; turn over & ultimately a second shot at goal for a Liam Henry goal.

Moore takes an excellent intercepting mark then for reasons known only to him shoots off a shocking handball to St Kilda’s advantage, inviting Hill to kick another St Kilda goal. Pardon my French but WTF was that?

Poor handball by Crisp who looks stale to Nick Daicos results in yet another turnover & a Higgins free.

Schulz does well to outpoint his opponent then kicks it too high for Reef McInnes.

Great quarter by Billy Frampton despite two frees against resulting in goals to St Kilda; one of which was still going to result in a goal to St Kilda without his intervention. Good quarter also by Darcy Cameron.  We win the tap outs they win the clearances. Pendles barely sighted.

Post the break where the other Mason is taken off the ground on a motorised trolley St Kilda kick 4 unanswered goals to none in what (apart from the second quarter) turns out to be a portend for the rest of the match.

They are running harder, clearing it from the centre and other stoppages easily, making turnovers count for them by working harder to support each other, appear determined, work coherently and cohesively. St Kilda were running in waves, working hard, looking fast, closing our outside run, winning clearances. Playing better and being coached better

Quarter time: Jimmy (St Kilda) 5.1.31 to Collingwood 3.1.19

Second Quarter

Bobby Hill goes for a low percentage shot rather than lower his eyes & kick it to advantage (Mihocek was close by and effectively on his own.

Moore flies, misses, then the ball ends up with his opponent Membrey who kicks truly.

Schultz does well, watching three St Kilda opponents, reading the play then kicking a great intercepting goal.

Mitchell our first free for a while kicks it to disadvantage and Pendlebury later kicks OOF.

Elliott kicks the ball lazily from St Kilda’s back line with 10:34 to go.

Mihocek misses a sitter.

Great snap goal by McInnes.

Umpires miss a free to Cox with just over a minute to go in a ruck infringement of around the neck at a throw in.

It wasn’t so much that the frees were skewed to St Kilda’s favour (although the extent to which that occurred was ridiculous), it was that the same type of free was not being awarded when St Kilda infringed on Collingwood. Watching at the G, the umps missed frees where Moore was grabbed or blocked or held and the same in our forward line especially in relation to Cox.

Crisp was making mistakes galore.

Cox just starting to get into it taking intercepting marks.

Billy Frampton doing very well throughout.

Josh Daicos started getting into it.

Half time:

Jimmy (St Kilda):  6.2.38, Collingwood: 7.4.46

Third quarter

Very early on King takes a mark, a bit lucky v Frampton but Collingwood didn’t have anyone to plug a hole / fill the space in front of him. Accordingly, King could lead into clear space & after 90 seconds kicks their first goal of this quarter.

Moore fails to intercept at the wing / half forward on Membrey when Henry takes the ball. Moore stands the mark. Big mistake and irresponsible in my view as there was another Collingwood player close by. This mistake by Moore allowed his opponent Membrey to run forward and accept the pass then kick a goal for St Kilda. Poor footy, poor judgment and poor decision making by Moore in my view. He doesn’t have Murphy in, he’s the leader and needs to accept a greater degree of responsibility than manning the mark when there was another and far better choice. Captains need to lead by example.

To make matters worse Sidebottom punches to Higgins for goal: just simple errors. Evidence based analysis suggests that Sidebottom walked under a ladder, saw a black cat and broke a mirror while stepping on cracks in the pavement. Very little is going right for him and the team. Hard to believe he was so good in the finals last year.

After a great passage of play along the wing Elliott again turns it over with a skill less & thoughtless kick to space

St Kilda were fast, accurate and spreading harder covering the outside play. For the third week in a row we are being outplayed and outcoached.

Jimmy (St Kilda 11.7.73 Collingwood 8.5.53)

Final quarter:

Last rites

Within 30 seconds Liam Henry the Freo import kicks a great snap goal for them.

A break and Elliott goals following a great kick from McCreery and repeat efforts by Maynard are noted.

Great smother by Schultz wrongly attributed to Daicos on the channel 7 commentary resulted in Bobby Hills second goal.

We should’ve been awarded a bloody obvious free kick when McCreery gave it to Josh Daicos who kicked it a tad high for Reef McInnes who got his arms chopped by Zayne Cordy. The frees by and large were rightly paid to St Kilda but not on this important occasion to Collingwood. At this time Collingwood was 15 points down. A goal would have made the difference only 9 points down with more than 10 minutes to play. Momentum begets momentum.

Again, the case of another free not being awarded: DeGoey was held, the only person in the southern hemisphere who didn’t see it was the umpire who then wrongly paid holding the ball in our forward line moments later against DeGoey with the score at 13.8.86 to 11 6.72

Umpiring incompetence extended to two boundary umpires seeing the little …. Higgins holding the ball in row B of that side of the ground before kicking a ripper of a goal. I understand all three umpires (the one that paid it against DeGoey and the boundary umpires) are called Jimmy.

Final Score:

Jimmy (St Kilda 14.10.94 d. Collingwood 12.07.79)

What can you say?

On the way home in the car I had on 3RRR who were playing the blues. I was listening to Otis Spann playing “Cryin’ Time” quite apt really and a great instrumental.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-pUes2gwWE

When I got home Channel 7 had the gobsmacking and amazing banner saying that Collingwood’s 0 wins and 3 losses to the start of the season is the worst by a reigning premier (wait for it) since last year. With insights like that I got my dictionary out & looked up the word redundant. It said “please see redundant”.

Some final observations:

While I’m all for people to have non-binary choices, binary contrasts better exemplify the issue at hand:

They look fast, we look slow.
They look young, we look old.
They look fresh, we look tired.
They look like the hunters, we look like the hunted.
They look hungry, we look sated.
They look certain, we look anxious.

Some countries have figurehead presidents and also have prime ministers where the power lies. In terms of player leadership, I’d like Collingwood to consider keeping Moore as the figurehead captain (as his speeches and words are so articulate, sensitive and intelligent) but have a captain who does things by example not unlike Pendlebury – I’d say Maynard). Moore’s mistakes are so costly. At times he plays as loose as Donald Trump does with the truth. For an intelligent bloke, he makes some dumb on-field decisions.

Team stats for the match:

Frees for St Kilda: 30
Frees for Collingwood 16

Hit outs

Collingwood: 47
St Kilda: 13

Centre Clearances:

St Kilda: 16
Collingwood 10

Uncontested possessions:

St Kilda 247
Collingwood: 202

Possessions overall

50& St Kilda
36% Collingwood

The votes;

3.Frampton
2.Cameron
1.Maynard / Daicos J.

Final observations

Three losses from three matches is obviously a poor start. However, had the frees been evened up or paid to the pies when they were evident and despite looking a lesser side, Collingwood were closing such that I don’t think it will take too much to turn around. However, without McStay & Murphy and with our best players being down on form and confidence Collingwood looks poor at times.

Our much-vaunted midfield has been getting smashed. The team simply needs to work harder & run harder. We need to tackle more and apply more pressure.

In terms of selections we need to play McCrae for more than 1 quarter. Howe will be better – after two matches back he invariably is. Schultz is starting to show why he was selected. I know others will say but look at Ginnivan (I will too). Two first round draft picks seems a lot to pay but we got a second-round pick back in return. Schultz and the team are still learning how to play with each other and when the delivery to the forward line is as poor as it has been then I don’t think he should be singled out.

Reef McInnes played well but he is not a key position player.

Look forward to Harry De Mattia recovering from a finger injury as we could do with his pace and skill. Tew Jiath is a work in progress but looks like he will make it.

Mihocek is starting to turn things round from a poor start to the season.

Josh Daicos looked better that match but we need De Goey to lift as his start to the season has been underwhelming.

Off field Issues

Finally, a comment about our seating.

At the first AGM I’ve attended in late 2023 Craig Kelly assured the legends members that for 3 away games v Hawthorn, Melbourne and Richmond (as a previous arrangement had come to an end & Collingwood did not have a strong negotiating hand that we did earlier on in the beginning of the arrangement) that the members would have to change their premium seats. On Thursday night this applied to the St Kilda match as well.

In terms of seating under Craig Kelly’s watch, legends members who fork out a lazy $1000 if not more just quietly) we’ve had the Grand final ticketing fiasco, the new Marvel arrangements which were cumbersome to say the least and what transpired on Thursday night. There were general admission people occupying those seats.

There’s also been some grumblings since the netball issue too. I don’t mind that Collingwood is not playing a netball team as football is our core business and the club was losing 1 million a year on netball.

Pleasingly the Collingwood foundation is aiming to be the largest providers of social housing in Australia, something I’m very proud of (something learned from the AGM last year)

Collingwood is my club and like marriage through thick and thin we support out guys.  Things are never as bad as they seem although playing Brisvegas in Brisvegas next week maybe they are :)

Speaking of Jimmy’s and moving forward, there’s only one we want to listen to as we need to get our mojo back: (The great Jimmy Smith)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxTgBiYVxTM

==

ST KILDA                 5.1     6.2     11.7     14.10     (94)
COLLINGWOOD     3.1     7.4     8.5     12.7     (79)

GOALS
St Kilda: Higgins 4, King 3, Membrey 2, Henry 2, Hill, Sharman, Phillipou
Collingwood: Elliott 3, McInnes 3, Lipinski 2, Hill 2, Schultz, Cameron

INJURIES
St Kilda: Wood (concussion)
Collingwood: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
St Kilda: Zak Jones (replaced Wood in the first quarter)
Collingwood: Fin Macrae (replaced Markov at three-quarter time)

Crowd: 69,517 at the MCG