Round 5 Gather Round – Collingwood v Sydney: Floreat Pica Society Report

 

 

 

 

COLLINGWOOD v SYDNEY SWANS – GATHER ROUND

Adelaide Oval

Friday, April 11, 2025 

 

My first contribution for the year and think I got pretty lucky in getting this game and result!! I must admit that I changed my tip at least 5 times during Friday. Our family has an unmercifully cut-throat tipping competition and whilst winning is everything and despite being a “Collingwood worrier”, I’ve never tipped against the Pies irrespective of the quality of the opposition. Excluding Grand Finals, I’ve always admired the Swans as a fiercely competitive, hard tackling team and with the Pies going into the game without Houston, JDG and Schultz, I was really worried about our ability to score and match the Swans midfield pace. Thankfully, my heart overruled my head and I went with the Pies as always and remain in second place on the family ladder!!

 

The build up to this, the third, Gather Round, seemed to have been more intense than previous years in 2023 and 2024 and I can only guess that this is the result of the organisers having really strong “event confidence”. This, the result of the whole program being well attended by fans, capturing the attention of the media and being sought after by competing potential hosts. Whilst I’ve been to Adelaide Oval on several occasions for Test and Pink Ball Test matches, I am yet to make the Gather Round but it’s on my list. Next year perhaps?

 

The night started well with a very cheeky and provocative cheer squad banner, which read “We are the Pies of South Australia”. No doubt niggling Crows and Power fans alike even though neither was involved in this match. Loved it.

 

Q1

 

I was surprised to see Ed Allen start as the sub, thinking he might have gone straight into middle to provide some physicality around the ball in place of JDG. I remember Ed’s Round 25 game against Melbourne last year particularly well and thought he might get given the instruction to make a similar contribution. Another reason I’ve never been considered a coaching candidate at the Pies!!??

 

In any event, the game lit up in the first minute of the game, when Ned Long got what was to become one of many hardball gets and flicked out a handpass to Sullivan, who in turn got the ball across to Lipinksi, who in the flash of an eye controlled the ball in one hand, fashioned an over the shoulder handpass out to Bobby, who was cruising in 5^th gear and who as Gerard Whately said “ Lights up the hill”. We were away!!!

 

The quarter progressed at a really high level of physical intensity and speed highlighted by McStay absolutely smashing his way into a contested marking opportunity (failed to hold it) and a searing Naicos pass to Mihocek, which resulted in a goal. What I really liked about the piece of play with the Naicos pass was the incredibly clever handball from Sidey. He put the ball well in front of Naicos allowing him to run onto the ball, under pressure, at full speed, cleanly gather and just put the ball in front of Mihocek with Swans players in front and behind him laces out. Replay. Replay. Replay.

 

Goals to McCreery after a mark was not paid to McStay, who then followed up with a strongly contested mark and goal from 45m was a good finish to a “hot” quarter.

 

Quarter time: Pies 4.3.27 Swans 4.1.25

 

Q2

 

The second quarter was another period of high quality and high pressure football and I thought the Pies were terrific in meeting every challenge thrown at them, including the highly dubious free kick from a ball up, which saw the ball get tapped out and then land over the boundary line. How the umpire thought a ‘single’ hand that hit the ball and not both ruck’s hands is beyond me. I must admit, I don’t know the rule well enough to know if a ‘draw’ is an option available to the umpire.

 

Darcy Moore made a terrible error deep in defence, which cost us a goal and WHE had a moment he probably regretted and I really hoped he would get a chance in the game to redeem himself, which he did with a nice goal around the corner after Darcy Cameron jagged the ball out of the ruck and handballed it off.

 

My #1 highlight for the quarter (or night??) was an “underground” Sidebottom handball on the wing to a running McCreery, who then kicked deep into the forward line and resulted in a Bobby Hill loose ball get and handball to Sullivan, who finished off with a nice goal from about 45m out. I just marvel at Sidebottom. He runs at a high speed waddle, weaving his way around opponents all the time assessing what he will do with the ball. His decision making and delivery are elite and I just hope he is able to maintain his standards for another couple of years.

 

The Swans second half of the quarter was excellent after the margin had blown out 26 points and were able to get back to within 10 pts with only a few minutes remaining. A nice roving goal from Jamie Elliott, who watched McStay fly against three opponents in a pack and stayed on the ground like he should, helped get the margin back out to 17 pts at the break.

 

Half time: Pies 10.7.67 vs Swans 8.2.50

 

Q3

 

With the Swans really challenging us in the back half of the previous quarter, I didn’t know what to expect in Q3. I took confidence from the number of contested marks our big guys were taking and our contested ball presence, which was really enhanced by Ned Long but the Swans had gotten to with 10 pts when a lot of other teams would have capitulated. Our mids really had a good quarter with Naicos, IQ, Pendles, Lipinski and Elliott all making valuable contributions. WHE had another good moment, taking a mark  running into oncoming traffic followed by a pass to the goal square, which was marked by Membrey and resulted in a goal.

 

Some manic Magpie pressure then saw the Swans turn the ball over in our forward line allowing Bobby to run onto a loose ball and pass to Jamie, who in turn kicked a goal. It was at this point that my roast chicken, salad and chips dinner decided to celebrate all over the couch. Despite my desperate pleas, I was forbidden from waiting until the end of the quarter to attend the clean up operation.

 

I don’t recall ever seeing McCreery kick a booming 55m goal on the run at the same time as kneeling at the couch, sponge in hand, family dog competing for the crumbs and me being berated for my clumsiness. I informed Mrs. Waters  she was starting to sound a little like Mrs. Barassi!!!

 

Three Quarter time: Pies 13.11.89 vs Swans 10.4.64

 

Q4

 

The pace came off a little in the final quarter and the Pies really showed some classy use of the ball. When Naiocs, Sidey and Pendles have 12, 8 and 6 disposal respectively for the quarter, you know you are going to see some brilliance.

 

Add to this contested mark and goals to Elliott and Mihocek and another crumbing goal for Billy after some great ground work by McStay and it was all over. Our tenth win in a row at Adelaide Oval and perhaps just as importantly, we are three from three for Gather Round, which is a great reward for our travelling supporters.

 

Full time: Pies 16.13.109 vs Swans 12.6.78

 

Best players: Sidebottom, Long, N Daicos, Pendlebury, Crisp, Lipinski, Quaynor, Moore

 

Takeouts:

• Our contested marking, particularly in the forward line was excellent. McStay, Checkers, Membrey all taking good grabs and also providing opportunity for our smalls to crumb near goal. Their chase and tackle was also excellent and created scoring opportunities such as Checkers tackle on Rampe.
• Ned Long played a beauty of a game. He gets a bit of stuff thrown at him on social media but I think he is talented and can play 200 games if lucky with injury. Big, lumpy, has some skill and chases like a man possessed.
• I couldn’t pick up who played on Chad Warner but whoever it was did a great job. Warner had 24 possessions but had little influence on the game.
• Naicos was tagged all night by Jordan and still had a great game. As Fly pointed out, he’s getting tagged weekly and is going great.
• Great team effort and everyone made critical contributions when required.
• I could sit and watch Sidey highlights all night long – provided I had an easy to manage meal on my lap!!

 

Horsburgh Medal Votes

3. Ned Long
4. Nick Daicos
5. Steele

 

Read more Floreat Pica Match Reports HERE.

 

 

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