Round 9 – Geelong v Collingwood: Encore! Bravo!

Round 9
Geelong v Collingwood
Saturday 9 May 2026
MCG 

 

ENCORE! BRAVO!

 

It was a big weekend in our household with La Traviata coached by Joe Verdi on Friday night and Saturday with the Pivotonians v Carringbush on Saturday with the respective conductors both graduates from the Leigh Matthews school of Music. Maestro’s Christopher Scott and Craig McRae wielding and weaving the boards.

 

What were the differences between the two events?  Very little when you can look back for the twenty six hours from go to whoa.

 

Both spectacles’ had leading performers. ‘Trav’  had Filipe Manu as Alfredo and  ‘The Bush’ had Nick D. Both similar types. Alfredo controlled the stage throughout while Nick D did not have a great night by his standards.  Amazing how these two looked alike on the stage although 35’s movements were silkier.

 

However the real performers and the one that the buffs came to see were Stacey Alleaume as Violetta and Tom Stewart as himself. Alleaume, a soprano with emphasis on coloratura and Stewart, a chippy, on long kicking and safe hands.

 

As is the usual happening in opera, the ending is always sad with the heroine taking her last gasp. The football is much the same although Carringbush’s last gasp came in Act III. The other principal at the footy, the Pivotonians,  turned on a controlled performance in Act’s III and IV where they added 11 goals to 4. The Pies were a bit ‘mezzo’ or should I say messy.

 

It was a masterly performance from the ensemble from Corio against a team that had hoped to put on a Grand Opera for the veteran leading man Scott Pendlebury. Pendles was solid but lacked the usual control.

 

Meanwhile Tom Stewart, in his 200^th performance was solid without taking centre stage. But then again you rely on the total ensemble to support the principals and Geelong did it beautifully.

 

In summing up two wonderful nights out without the Marx Brothers in sight.  All the performers plied their trade in fine style although the weather at the open air event hampered the abilities of some of the supporting cast.

The one real winner was at La Traviata were the SURTITLES out performed any extraneous noise that goes on at the footy.

 

No noise, have a look if you want and carry on with the performance, no endless repeats, no advertisements. Heaven!

 

 

DAME NELLIE MELBA BROWNLOW VOTES:

 

3       Stacey Alleaume     for 120 minutes of sheer  excellence

2.      Scott Pendlebury  for his years of special performances

1        Tom Stewart          showing that anyone can make it.

 

GEELONG                   5.3     7.6     11.10     18.14     (122)
COLLINGWOOD     3.4     5.8     5.14     9.14     (68)

 

GOALS
Geelong: O.Henry 4, Mannagh 3, Close 2, Martin 2, Dangerfield 2, Neale 2, Dempsey, Cameron, Bowes
Collingwood: McStay 3, Buller 2, J.Daicos, Pendlebury, Schultz, Anderson

 

BEST
Geelong: Smith, Holmes, Mullin, Dempsey, Neale, O.Henry
Collingwood: De Goey, Crisp, Pendlebury, J.Daicos, N.Daicos, McStay

 

INJURIES
Geelong: Nil
Collingwood: Moore (concussion)

 

Crowd: 83,166 at the MCG

 

To read all Round 9 match reports click HERE

 

 

More stories from Citrus Bob Utber can be read Here.

 

 

 

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