Round 4 – Collingwood v Carlton: Floreat Pica Society match report
Pies v Blues Round 3 (or 4??) 03/04/25
Preamble.
There’s been a lot of chatter and talk about the Blues so far this season already. Which is good, as it’s pretty well all been negative.
To quote Titus O’Rielly:
In life, you can be happy – or you can be a Carlton supporter.
How the Blues haven’t been reported to the Human Rights Commission for what they’ve done to their fans, I’ll never know.
If this sort of psychological warfare was being perpetrated on any other group, there would be outrage, but it’s happening to Blues supporters so were all fine with it.
This pretty well sums it up.
There’s been a lot of press early this season already with a number of media articles looking back on the last 20 25 years by former coaches of the once arrogant club. All very revealing about the ingrained boardroom, silver-tailed, self interested culture that has poisoned their well.
The knock-on, notable feature of their club is their fans – unlike any other club’s fans – they roundly boo their own players from the field after every loss.
In fact they (collectively) will boo them at any time during the game for any skill error, lack of endeavour or any perceived infraction at all.
Look, I am no fan of Carlton (the club) however I do have some serious empathy for their players. Cripps is a heart-and-soul player as are a couple of others. Can you imagine this? The players having to cop greater flak and criticism from their fans than their direct opponents?
Anyway, A danger game for The Pies – ALWAYS a danger game against the traditional enemy, even when they are on the ropes so we had better bring our best game tonight or there will be tears all around.
After a great catch up at the Grace Darling with Logue Hester, Mugga’s mate from WA and his friend, Simone, who are over for the footy we get to our seats at 7.32 when the game had already begun – I stuffed up the time – I had 7.40 as “per usual” and it started at 7.30????……… the AFL……
Getting into the game was a complete shambles. “Security” was a joke. At Gate 4 we were funnelled into two (instead of the usual six or eight) single-lane corridors through vertical metal detectors with one, very harassed “security” guard who was clearly stressed. Bag checking was done on the side with another overwhelmed and stressed checker. Completely missed me with my backpack and folded, metal-framed umbrella. My daughter, Mae and I both commented on this at the time. Hopeless.
Later events would bear this out……..
1st Quarter
Well, as said earlier, we missed the start and I arrive just in time to see Carlton kick the opening score, a point. They are kicking to the Punt Road end. Eight mins in, following a nice bit of play, we kick the replying point. Only a few minutes in I know, however the bounce has not been kind to us so far, (hope that this doesn’t continue). At the 91/2 min mark Carlton kick the opening goal of the game. A minute later and despite better options, a Carlton player blazes away selfishly and kicks a point, 0.1 Pies, 1.2 Blues.
A couple of minutes later, Patrick Cripps kicks a beauty, well done – 0.1 to 2.2. Followed by our opening goal from 50m’s to our marque defender, Bruz Maynard. 3rd goal in two weeks! Wonderful. Great shepherd from Checkers in the goal square. 1.1 to 2.2
A minute later after great sharking off the pack, Perryman kicks a beauty. 2.1 to 2.2. A few seconds later, Carlton kick a quick answering….point. Next score is another point to the Blues after the mark is paid after a blatant push in the back. Jeeeez. Two more points to the Blues and after some sensational play by Sidebottom at the 28 minute mark, JDG has a shot from 50 and nails it. 3.2 to 2.5. 30 minute mark Charlie Curnow kicks a lovely goal to give Carlton back the lead. A long quarter, 33 mins and the siren sounds and an old-fashioned melee breaks out as teams go to their huddles.
A messy quarter, both sides had some good play followed by poor play…. 3.2 Pies, 3.5 Blues. Collingwood certainly looking like the have had a week off and endeavouring to get back into the groove.
2nd Quarter
4 minutes in and the rain begins to fall with the resultant errors in disposal. Jamie Elliot has a shot on goal with a greasy ball and misses. Well it’s certainly wet weather football, after a good piece of playon football, Lipinsky has a shot and misses. 3.3 to 3.5. Some questionable umpiring, however that’s to be expected. Nearly 16 min mark, Bobby Hill gets one around the neck but misses, 3.4 to 3.5. Rain stops. Checkers has a tough shot from 50 and it is rushed through. Even stevens, 3.5 apiece. Carlton has a shot and misses everything – bit of a let off… McStay has a shot after landing flat on his back and misses again, we hit the front however. After a great defensive mark Jeremy Howe passes to Mihocek who hits the post after a (usually) easy set shot from 20m’s. Hmmmm.
Next thing you know it’s an easy goal to Carlton – 1st goal for the quarter – at the 24 minute mark. Siren goes early at the 281/2 minute mark and the Blues lead 4.5 to The Pies 3.7.
Half Time.
5 shots on goal scoring 5 points to one shot on goal scoring 6 points….. Frampton is having a pretty good game. Seems that Collingwood are playing well within themselves at the moment, certainly appear to be a tad rusty if you like. Seems to be the battle of the center half back lines at the moment, clearances pretty even. De Koning and Cameron are having a fabulous tussle so far, probably Cameron having slightly better impact around the ground.
With 4 points in it – the game is virtually all tied up and anything can happen in the second half…..
3rd Quarter
Quarter begins with a quick shot on goal from Shultzy from 50 who misses. We kick a point, then after a good bit of play from Elliot to De Goally who thumps it through and we hit the front, 4.8 to 4.5. First goal to us since the 1st quarter.
6 mins and 50 Shultz kicks a fine goal via some lovely play – classic stuff, Daicos, Pendlebury, Shultz. Captain Darcy gets a 50 m penalty, shoots from 50 and misses. A bit rusty kicking for goal…. The kickout from the Blues is turned over and Membrey kicks a beautiful goal. Nick Daicos is looking real good. 16 points the difference. Perryman pulls wonderful mark out of nowhere, however kicks a point from 50 out. 6.10 to 4.5.
Another three points by the 18 min mark and it’s 6.12 to 4.5. Despite spending nearly all of the time in our forward half 18 shots on goal for 6 goals is a (recurring) worry.
Carlton rushes one then Shultzy comes to the rescue and kicks another. Bobby Hill misses for another behind. 5 mins later and it’s ¾ time, 7.13 Pies to 4.6 Blues.
Darcy Cameron and Tom De Koning’s ruck duel continues to be a close fought battle and just about the highlight of the game for me so far. Terrific stuff. Collingwood really took the tackling up 2 or 3 notches in this quarter and it showed starkly on the scoreboard. 4 goals 6 points to one rushed behind to the Blues….. if only we could convert!!! The Blues just were not allowed any air, or space to play. Shultz was just terrific. A 25 point lead in the context of the game is pretty good.
4th Quarter
Well’ I didn’t know that Ned Long was on – he must have been subbed out for someone (JDG it was) – however he just kicked a LOVELY goal, particularly in the rain. Excellent. Mihocek takes a fabulous mark in the wet sliding on his bum however kicks a point. 32 points up – 62 to 30. Typical wet weather football, wet, greasy, lots of tackles, kicking off the ground, rain still falling….. dour wet weather football at the moment. Halfway through and the fizz certainly seems to have gone out of the game. Certainly the stands are looking pretty empty as Carlton supporters desert the ground. The highlight for the crowd is shots of Peter Daicos smiling and waving to the crowd to rapturous applause. The Blues kick a couple more goals and the siren sounds.
Full time.
Pies 8.15 to Blues 6.10. 17 points to the good. The Blues battled manfully, and aside from a couple proper stars – Walsh, Docherty, TDK and a couple of others – were generally outclassed.
Wash up.
The Per Mac Cup/ McGuane/ McKenna/Thomas Shield votes are as follows:
As mentioned earlier, I thought Frampton played his role really well. The backline were terrific against some quality players. Maynard was solid, Moore really good, Howe a rock. IQ did his stuff without shining. Lipinsky was more than handy as was Naicos. McStay worried his opponent, thought that Checkers and Elliot had good games which could/should have been better if they were more accurate. Membrey’s goal might keep him in the side next week, particularly without Jordan De Goey and Houston. McCreery was solid without starring. Houston is good, real good. Bobby Hill was not up to his best (up at night with a new baby I’m told). Ned Long had a great quarter. Perryman deserved votes as did Shultz, great games by both.
I couldn’t split 4 players – how does 4 go into 6? Anyway this is the best I can do:
3 votes Cameron. What a game against fair dinkum class. Thought that he shaded Tom De Koning, which is no mean feat, mainly for his play around the ground. Gunna be sore today, his was a real contest.
1 vote Sidebottom. Evergreen.
1 vote Pendlebury. As above.
1 vote Nick Dacios. We are privileged to watch a proper champion.
Floreat Pica
Go Pies!
Frank
COLLINGWOOD 3.2 3.7 7.13 8.15 (63)
CARLTON 3.5 4.5 4.6 6.10 (46)
GOALS
Collingwood: De Goey 2, Schultz 2 Long, Maynard, Membrey, Perryman
Carlton: Hewett 2, Hollands 2, Cripps, Curnow
INJURIES
Collingwood: Nil
Carlton: Cowan (hamstring)
SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Ned Long (replaced Jordan De Goey at three-quarter time)
Carlton: Ashton Moir (replaced Lachie Cowan in the first quarter)
Crowd: 82,058
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About Floreat Pica Society
Marvellous report Frank. Liked reading it. I woulda had Schultz in the votes but who to leave out?
Spotted in the North Fitzroy area (or thereabouts) on the Friday after the game:
file:///var/mobile/Library/SMS/Attachments/b9/09/7807AA9C-F8CB-4E0F-9227-6E22C04F8C97/IMG_6557.jpeg
Go Pies
Thanks Jim
Yeah, I thought that Schultz’s game was right up there, certainly was our best forward on the day and one of the main reasons our 3rd quarter was so good.
His tackling pressure was off the scale. I reckon he’s really fitting into the side now, after a shaky first half last season.
It was a tough call leaving him out.
Floreat Pica