Round 23 – Collingwood v Essendon: Brave effort
By Caspar McLeod.
Collingwood Vs. Essendon.
M.C.G. 23/8/2019.
Brave effort. That is how I would summarise this game. Essendon, clearly out match in terms of class, and with injuries throughout the game, added to the likes of Hooker (late withdrawal), Smith, Stringer, Heppell, Daniher, and others, all watching from the stands, on bright Friday night lights against a Collingwood effort playing for a spot in the top 4, nearly won it. We jumped the Pies. The first quarter was electrifying. I took great pleasure to send a smile face emoji to a group chat consisting of me and five of my Collingwood friends from Uni (all at the game) at quarter time.
The rest of the game? To be expected. We didn’t stop, Collingwood finally showed up. I would have thought the final siren would bring a barrage of insults my way from my friends, but to their credit, they withstood that. Collingwood aren’t out of the woods yet, with a nervous weekend of waiting and watching and praying to come.
If we do play them in September, Pies fans probably don’t need reminding that they took three goes at Richmond last year to topple the Tigers. No reason we can’t return the favour this year.
Thank goodness for the two week break is all either team is saying.
Pies by 16.
COLLINGWOOD 3.1 6.7 8.9 10.16 (76)
ESSENDON 6.2 7.2 9.3 10.5 (65)
GOALS
Collingwood: Mihocek 4, Elliott 3, Thomas, Roughead, Adams
Essendon: Laverde 2, Ham 2, McDonald-Tipungwuti 2, McKernan 2, Brown, Langford
BEST
Collingwood: Grundy, Mihocek, Elliott, Pendlebury, Roughead, Treloar, Mayne
Essendon: McDonald-Tipungwuti, McGrath, McKernan, Merrett, Parish
Fans’ Best on Ground, in partnership with Google: Brodie Grundy
INJURIES
Collingwood: Scharenberg (concussion), Moore (hamstring)
Essendon: Hooker (illness) replaced in selected side by Hartley, Hurley (shoulder)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Hosking, Chamberlain
Official crowd: 85,405 at the MCG
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.
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About Caspar McLeod
Third Culture Kid at Heart. Grew up in Asia, discovered footy at age 9. AFL has since been my burning passion. Ask me who were the winners all the grand finals between 1938 and last year's decider, and I'll be happy to tell you. I'm a footy nut with a passion for writing and acting. All though I love writing and acting, during the footy season, AFL is my true passion. Waiting ever so patiently for the day when Essendon Next win the flag.
And just like that it happened. Essendon supporters have suddenly discovered that the Wednesday 4.9.19 flight to Perth has skyrocketed in price. In the true spirit of ANZAC Day, they are not happy. I don’t know if they can boo an airline counter, but I’m sure they’ll give it a go.
Which brings me to my hobby horse. Can the WA or SA Government please do something about getting a bus to and from Perth for the football supporters, if only for the month of September. It just seems bizarre that the Bulldog hordes can easily jump on a train to Sydney, or a bus, the Richmond army can get a train to Roma Street, but the poor old Perth supporters – it’s a flight or nothing. And it will probably be Weagles supporters coming the other way in 3 weeks and possibly for the GF.