Round 3 – Collingwood v Richmond: A Model of Civility

 

 

A MODEL OF CIVILITY

 

There’s a certain etiquette expected of friends when they are supporters of competing clubs and seated together at the football.

 

I’ve known Grant for over 40 years and he’s a dyed-in-the-wool Magpie fanatic. Like me, he adopted the faith of his father. We’ve made a ritual of getting together to watch Richmond and Collingwood fight it out in each new instalment of their inter-suburban rivalry. I regularly sit with him as his guest in the AFL members section. We value our friendship and studiously turning feral on each other in the heat of battle. In fact we behave like English country vicars on a butterfly-collecting ramble discussing the merits of each other’s parishes.

 

I concede before the opening bounce that Collingwood are in white-hot form. Their victories in the first two rounds over Geelong and Port Adelaide have elevated them to early premiership favourtism. They’ve captured the imagination of the football world with their risk-taking, blitzkrieg advances through the central corridor. But, as I politely intone, with the first chill of approaching winter and the forecast of rain, can the Magpies successfully apply this method in the slippery conditions? Yet I’m under no illusions. Richmond have personnel issues. Without the injured trio of Martin, Hopper and Short, as well as the suspended Nathan Broad, we are significantly below strength.

 

In the first half the Magpies swoop with deadly precision. The rain makes no difference. They out-pressure the Tigers, hunt in numbers and should be up by four goals at the first break, but for their inaccuracy. Missed shots by De Goey, McStay and Johnson prevent the margin from blowing out. It’s an unglamorous, low-scoring slugfest. Richmond have a single goal to their name by half-time, but trail by only 19 points.

 

I await my fate. Surely the Woods will hit their targets as conditions dry out in the second half and they will surely overwhelm us. It’s the clear direction the game is heading in. But the Tigers launch a counter-attacking flurry. Substitute livewire Noah Cumberland has replaced Samson Ryan and sets up both Mansell and Clarke. Riewoldt adds another and with three majors in the first nine minutes, the margin is reduced to three points. Richmond are back in it! Then Collingwood strike back through Josh Daicos, Pendlebury and Elliott and the rebellion is crushed. Elliott boots his second and Tom Lynch misses two set shots. Richmond trail by 28 points at the final break and I’m resigned to leaving the MCG without the points.

 

In the last quarter Riewoldt and Lynch cut the deficit to 14 points. The Tigers are fighting it out, but it’s as close as they get. When McStay goals to put the match beyond doubt the Coll-ing-wood chant begins. I believe it’s the last thing that people will hear at the end of civilisation. To the victors go the spoils and the final margin flatters Richmond.

 

As Grant and I make our way up the steps we are accosted by a Collingwood fan, his face aglow with the joy of victory and numerous plastic cups of beer.

 

“So we beat the Richmond VFL side, eh?”

 

It’s a clear reference to possible excuses stemming from the absence of key playmakers. But I had realised some time ago that the Tigers were coming off second best tonight and had prepared myself to run the gauntlet through a predominately black-and-white section of the stadium.

 

I intimate that yes, whilst it was true that Richmond were missing players who were difficult to replace, Collingwood thoroughly deserved their win. He seems content with that.

 

Another grinning fan informs me that “my team’s better than yours.”

 

“Tonight?” I reply. “Yes you were.”

 

I can’t help but be impressed by my mature reaction to Richmond’s defeat. Character building and all that.

 

My companion is just as virtuous as I am. Grant makes a quick toilet stop. He tells me later that a Collingwood supporter taunted the beaten fans standing at the urinal and that it was he who reminded the assailant of Richmond’s recent three flags.

 

 

COLLINGWOOD     2.6     3.10    7.15     8.15    (63)
RICHMOND              1.0       1.3      4.5      7.7      (49)

 

GOALS
Collingwood: Elliott 2, Pendlebury, Mihocek, Johnson, Hill, J. Daicos, McStay
Richmond: Riewoldt 2, Mansell, Clarke, Bolton, Lynch, Ross

 

BEST
Collingwood: De Goey, J. Daicos, N. Daicos, Sidebottom, Frampton, Mitchell, Crisp
Richmond: Baker, Taranto, Rioli, Bolton, Vlastuin, Ross

 

INJURIES
Collingwood: Mihocek (face), Cameron (knee)
Richmond: None

 

SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Josh Carmichael replaced Darcy Cameron in fourth quarter
Richmond: Noah Cumberland replaced Samson Ryan at half-time

 

Crowd: 85,241 at the MCG

 

 

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