Round 7 – Collingwood v Carlton: There were two teams playing you know

 

Supporters of both Carlton and Collingwood approached this match anxiously. Would the Collingwood who had soundly beaten Geelong just six days prior turn up? Or would it be the outfit that had surrendered meekly to Essendon  on Anzac Day? There was some reason to anticipate a committed Collingwood effort with the hoopla associated with the Magpies’ 125 year anniversary celebration. I’m personally cynical about the likelihood of a lift in performance for such events, but it is widely assumed that it can energise players.

 

The Blues are beginning to provide a reasonable level of consistency, as newly-arrived players find their niche, and there is evidence of growing confidence -individual and collective. This is especially evident in defence, where Simpson and Docherty are reliable leaders, Plowman is improving and newcomers Marchbank and (spectacularly in the most recent two matches) Alex Silvagni have found a role where they can contribute. The upshot of this is that the Blues are likely to fall short against the several teams which are blessed with superior personnel, but against the battlers they are competitive, especially when conditions suit.

 

In the event Carlton comprehensively outplayed the Magpies, who apart from a brief rally early in the 2nd quarter, were subdued. In reviewing the women’s competition earlier in the year, I suggested that the low scoring in evidence could possibly be explained by the fact that it is easier to coach defensive skills than creativity. The Carlton men’s team is building from the back, as reflected in their modest points for tally.

 

The opening minutes of the match seemed to threaten a nil-all draw, as 12 minutes elapsed before Sidebottom registered the first score a behind. Collingwood led for less than a minute, as the ball was quickly moved down field where the lively and skilful newcomer Petrevski-Seton kicked the opening goal. In a lacklustre opening term, Wright and Charlie Curnow added further goals to stretch the lead beyond three goals,before Fasolo won a free from Simpson chopping his arms, and converted. This play seemed ominous at the time, as the ball was delivered by Treloar with Pendlebury and Sidebottom involved in bringing the ball out of defence quickly to mount the attack. These three are probably Collingwood’s most accomplished players. Happily from a Carlton perspective, they didn’t do a great deal further damage, although Pendlebury had a lot of possession and used it in his usual constructive fashion.

 

The Magpies began the 2nd quarter well. Elliott effected a run-down tackle on Murphy after the Carlton skipper had crumbed a marking contest involving two Collingwood talls. Elliott goaled and I nervously recalled an occasion some years ago in which he was the dominant influence in a Collingwood victory in the corresponding match. Again, this potential threat did not materialise. However de Goey, enjoying his return after a disciplinary absence, scored an opportunistic crumbing goal to bring the Pies within a point; but that was all she wrote. Wright, Petrevski-Seton and Weitering supplied goals for the Blues in the remainder of the quarter to establish what proved to be a winning  break by half-time. These goals all came from effective ball movement, Petrevski-Seton released Wright with a beautifully-weighted kick which allowed the former Crow to run into an open goal; Murphy provided Petrevski-Seton with a perfect square pass for his goal, and Weitering’s major was a direct result of a superb run-down tackle on Hoskin-Elliott by Alex Silvagni, with Plowman and Wright exploiting the advantage play.

 

Graham extended the Blues’  lead early in the third with a fine kick from an awkward distance and angle; de Goey replied for Collingwood. This was the only period of the match which was relatively free-scoring which seemed to advantage Carlton. Charlie Curnow goaled twice, with Casboult and Gibbs also scoring. The only interruption to this flurry was Cox’s conversion from a mark, but by now the margin had stretched to six goals. Two late goals to Elliott created an illusion that the match might still be contestable, but the pattern of play suggested otherwise.

 

The final quarter proceeded in pedestrian fashion with just a single goal at either end. Daisy Thomas sold the dummy to his former team mate Tyson Goldsack and goaled, which seemed to equally delight player and  Carlton fans. Darcy Moore goaled from a big contested mark, but that served only to underline what had been a dirty day for him.

 

A meritorious win by the Blues, even if the opposition was very disappointing. Collingwood seemed listless and lacked cohesion or an ability to change the pattern of the match.  Reid was a solid defender, Elliott bobbed up for goals but his effectiveness was limited. Pendlebury was a constant source of drive, but there were far too few in support. For Carlton, Murphy was his usual industrious self, Petrevski-Seton played with a confidence and surety that belied his inexperience (and was deservedly named the week’s Rising Star), Kreuzer was a solid competitor in the ruck, and was even more effective in his follow-up play and Simpson marshalled the back line superbly. However the fundamental difference between the teams was that Carlton had very few non-contributors, while Collingwood had a number of players who didn’t rise to the status of passengers, they were stowaways.

 

COLLINGWOOD      1.3    3.5    7.6     8.8 (56)

CARLTON                3.4    6.5    11.5   12.7 (79)

 

GOALS

Collingwood: Elliott 3, De Goey 2, Fasolo, Cox, Moore

Carlton: Petresvki-Seton 2, Wright 2, Casboult 2, Simpson, Weitering, Graham, C.Curnow, Gibbs, Thomas

 

BEST

Collingwood: Reid, Elliott, Adams, Pendlebury

Carlton: Petresvki-Seton, Kreuzer, Cripps, Murphy, Marchbank, Simpson, E.Curnow

 

INJURIES

Collingwood: Daniel Wells (soreness) replaced in selected side by Tim Broomhead, Mason Cox (ankle).

Carlton: Nil

 

Reports: Nil

 

Umpires: Foot, Findlay, McInerney

 

Official crowd: 70,279 at the MCG

Malarkey Medal Votes:

  1. Petrevski-Seton (Carl.) 2. Murphy (Carl.) 1. Kreuzer (Carl.)

 

Comments

  1. Loved the ‘stowaways’ line PF. You didn’t mention the Blues secret weapon last weekend.
    My Carlton mad neighbour (he lived in Carlton 30 years ago when his parents first migrated from Chile) took his Blues mad 9yo son Sebastian and family to Melbourne for their first “MCG Experience”. He is like a dog with 2 tails this week, and believes the win was entirely due to his presence (what other explanation can there be?)
    Step aside PF and JB – the baton has been passed to Sebastian.

  2. Tony Robb says

    Great summation Peter, My son and I travelled down for the game and enjoyed spoiling the Party Pies day. The midfield and backplane is coming together nicely. Curnow and Jack Silvani will develop into good players but I think the Blues need to target an experienced key forward in the draft
    Cheers
    TR

  3. Phillip Dimitriadis says

    And that’s what the Blues do to us. They let us wallow in our own inflated self-importance and then teach us how to play FOOTBALL. Been happening since the 1910 GF, Peter.
    A fine win by your baggers and an excellent report. Cheers

  4. John Butler says

    Good summation Peter. This was a very pleasing win. Promising development in so many of our youngsters. We look a much healthier club than we did 2 years ago.

    Cheers

  5. Sal Ciardulli says

    Great report!

    Loved the stowaways – perhaps a new bit of banter from the boundary.

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