Round 9 – Geelong v Collingwood: Floreat Pica Society match report

 

 

Round 9
Geelong v Collingwood
Saturday 9 May 2026
MCG 

 

The collective noun for a group of cats is called a clowder originating from Middle English for ‘clotter’ or ‘clutter’ (referring to huddling together), synonyms include a ‘clutter’, ‘pounce’, or ‘glaring’. (thank you wiki)

 

The collective noun for a group of magpies is of course a premiership of pies.

 

Cats are simply un-Australian. They are a menace.

 

 

As far as cats are concerned, my hero is John Wamsley pictured above with the pelt of a dead feral cat on his head.  John Wamsley (born 1938) is an Australian environmentalist. He was the Prime Minister’s Environmentalist of the Year for 2003. Wamsley is known for his attempt to set up a network of wildlife sanctuaries across Australia (wiki)

 

John believed in killing feral cats and was responsible (in effect) for domestic cats to be locked up at night and really cats should be indoors all the time to protect native fauna. The locking up of domestic cats and killing of feral cats: what’s not to like?

 

Apart from killing and destroying native fauna, cats bring disease: Toxoplasmosis and cat scratch fever are two which come to mind. After all, a well-known Geelong Football Club player was not known as Scratcher Neal for nothing – but I could be wrong.

 

 

History between the clubs:

 

Collingwood and Geelong have played each-other 243 times.

 

Collingwood has won 136 times,

 

Geelong have won 106 times

 

There has been 1 draw.

 

In the last 5 years however, Geelong has won 5 of the last 7 matches v Collingwood. As a nation we’re all poorer for it, Geelong has the wood over Collingwood.

 

 

Onto the match itself (if I have to)

Sadly, the highlight of the night for me is walking from my car near St Kilda Road to the MCG (a 2km walk) full of hope.

 

Dexoyribonucleic Acid that is, DNA. I hear our coach (and other coaches for that matter), use the term all the time. It’s not part of our DNA is an oft-used phrase. That is, DNA is part of our genetic make-up, it’s what we’re made of, our character, DNA indeed!

 

Match milestones:

 

432 games: Pendlebury equalling Brent (Boomer) Harvey’s AFL record game’s total.

 

200 games: Tom Stewart

 

150 games: Patrick Lipinski.

 

The match itself:

 

 

First quarter:

 

While last week the coaches made some really clever moves, with Sidebottom on Sicily which stopped Sicily’s effectiveness.

 

This week the coaching staff erred – too clever by half.

 

This week the coaches put Sidebottom in the backline on Close. Brad Close is probably the fastest player at Geelong over 20 metres, matched by Jack Martin. (Sidebottom has many strengths, pace is not one of them). Close and Martin kicked 2 goals each and assisted in others. While not the sole responsibility of Sidebottom I reckon it was a mismatch.

 

One of our best intercepting and rebounding defenders IQ was put on a wing to curb the skilful and fast Dempsey. A bit of robbing Peter to pay Paul. We lost our rebound and curbed Dempsey in the first half. However, when Moore was concussed by the Geelong player Mullins (not deliberate as both were going for the ball – but was it necessary or reckless?) then Dempsey had relatively free reign igniting Geelong in the second half. When IQ was needed down back. The coaches got this one right.

 

Rather than provide a detailed blow by blow description, I’ve chosen to make a few points with some themes in each quarter

 

 

First quarter

 

Basically, in contrast with last week Collingwood didn’t take their opportunities.

 

Crisp who had a difficult job in his last match v Geelong last year missed from about 50 metres which would have won Collingwood the match. In the first quarter her missed a simple shot directly in front of goal from about 40 metres out. (Sadly, the first of a few misses by Crisp).

 

DeGoey was everywhere amassing 13 possessions.

 

McStay and Schultz also missed easy shorts and Nick Daicos too missed (also a regular occurrence these days).

 

Collingwood were winning centre clearances but losing stoppage clearances.

 

On the positive side of the ledger, Jack Buller was looking good, and a great snap by McStay finished off a good passage of play with Collingwood looking dangerous at times early on.

 

The Jack Henry, featured too many times. Both Geelong and Collingwood were sloppy, but it looked a lot easier for Geelong to kick goals than it did for Collingwood.

 

The first two kicks for goal by the man mountain Neale (not scratcher) were from bullet like accurate kicks to a fast leading forward. There wasn’t anything that Frampton could do with the ease in which the Neale was found. Neale had 6 score involvements in the first quarter.

 

Howe was spoiling OK, some turnovers by Sidebottom and others made it difficult to get the ball out of Geelong’s forward line.

 

Geelong’s first two entries into the forward line resulted in goals. They were quite efficient. Collingwood too looked threatening (albeit at times).

 

Cats: 5.3

 

Pies: 3.4

 

There was still plenty of room for hope.

 

 

Second Quarter

 

Two goals each in the second quarter with Collingwood kicking 4 behinds to Geelong’s 3. A lot of intercept marking and rebounding by Geelong’s half back line.

 

Scoring became hard for both teams at one point due to pressure applied by both teams.

 

Pendlebury kicked a goal to put Collingwood close after a superb strong tackle in his milestone game on Geelong’s Kolodjashnij. By this stage of the match Pendlebury has the most tackles laid by any player (thank you kayo) However, this was quickly clawed back by the Cats with Martin kicking a goal for Geelong preceded by quick movement. Sadly, a portent for the second half.

 

Buller did well but missed from relatively acute angles.

 

Collingwood took 12 marks inside 50m but did not capitalise.

 

Despite not doing too much and not having a great game (not a bad game either) Moore was concussed by a Geelong player when both were going for the ball. This was a decisive moment in the match not because Moore was BOG (far from it) but it upset the balance and freed up the hitherto unremarkable Dempsey amongst other negative consequences for Collingwood.

 

There was immense pressure during the term. You could not fault their desire. Poise and class however was another matter.

 

Schultz was trying his heart out but needed more support. Long too was trying very hard but lacks the polish needed to finish off his work.

 

Cats: 7.6.48

 

Pies: 5.8.38

 

There was still hope but Geelong looked better

 

 

Third quarter

 

Max Holmes got off the leash, as did Cameron (their’s) and Dangerfield, Smith and Dempsey.

 

Basically, we were blitzed. 5 unanswered goals to Geelong goals punctuated by 6 behinds to Collingwood. Not good enough. Collingwood looked startled, heavy legged and flat footed.

 

Cats: 11.10.76

Pies: 5.14.44

 

Less hope than earlier (just sayin’)

 

 

Fourth quarter

 

Geelong was 32 points up with a quarter to go.

 

Basically we got smashed.

 

Geelong won by 54 points.

 

‘nuff said about the match.

 

 

Final scores:

 

Cats: 18:14.122

Pies: 9.14.68

 

 

Post match observations

 

Darcy Cameron and Nick Daicos are playing injured.

 

Nick Daicos needs more support.

 

Jack Buller gives us hope.

 

Geelong’s recruiting is amazing, Collingwood’s is not.

 

Jamie Elliott’s form is very concerning.

 

We should not have delisted Mason Cox (we need a 3^rd ruck as insurance).

 

Roan Steele is very good, very clean but needs 10 more kg’s as he is not physically strong enough.

 

Ned Long is strong enough but lacks finishing / polish.

 

Josh Daicos loses concentration at times when defending.

 

Collingwood needs a strategy to stop momentum surges as we looked like bunny rabbits in the headlight in the second half.

 

The two matches where Collingwood looked poor this year were against the Grand Finalists of 2025.

 

 

Notes:

 

In my line of work DNA when referring to patients / clients / consumers, means ‘Did Not Attend’ when referring to say planned appointments etc.

 

As for the second half of the match, the acronym DNA can be applied to the centre clearances and match stoppages and sadly the team.

 

 

Disclosure:

 

I have three cats as pets who never go outside.

 

Two belong to my oldest daughter Lucy. When Lucy was living in Sydney at age 23 (12 years ago) she asked me if she should get pet cats as the vet had two kittens and would cover the first year’s expenses. I said no as she was a state manager in a women’s retail clothing company (yes, I’m very proud of my children) needing to travel, was out a lot, pets cost a lot of money and live longer than 12 months. She asked her mother (who would take in any stray in the southern hemisphere – well she took me in) and who of course said yes!  Naturally, after a few years the cats became ours. The other cat belongs to my late mother.

 

My relationship with cats is like Kinky Friedmans: “I rarely meddled in the cat’s personal affairs, and she rarely meddled in mine. Neither of us were foolish enough to attribute human emotions to our pets”.

 

Kinky also beautifully noted that:

 

“People may surprise you with unexpected kindness. Dogs have a depth of loyalty that we often seem unworthy of. But the love of a cat is a blessing, a privilege in this world”

 

And that alas is football.

 

The Votes:

 

3. JDG
4. Bruzzie
5. Buller

 

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 from the Floreat Pica Society can be read Here

 

 

 

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