CTV> Alan Toovey speaks to CTV in the rooms after the 46 point win against Richmond CTV> Assistant coach Paul Hudson fronts the media after he oversaw Collingwood's win
COLLINGWOOD has booked a spot in the NAB Cup semi-finals after running away from Richmond to win by 46 points at the Telstra Dome on Thursday night.
Richmond and Ben Cousins stole all the headlines leading into the NAB Cup quarter final, but the Magpies stole the Tigers’ thunder.
Concussion to promising forward Brent Macaffer was the only sour point for the Pies, the youngster leaving the field in the second term and not returning.
On the field however, the Pies had plenty of reasons to smile.
Collingwood took an 11-point lead into the final term and proved too good over the final minutes, powering away to win 1.13.10 (97) to 2.3.15 (51).
The Magpies booted one supergoal and four other majors in the final term while the Tigers could only muster three behinds.
The match was dominated by flooding throughout the middle and back halves of the ground at different stages – making life tough for forwards of both teams.
However it was Collingwood that showed it was better-equipped to handle what might become the norm for football, circa 2009.
In fact the Pies, despite an inaccurate Travis Cloke looming large all night, had 13 individual goalkickers to show that they’ll be able to share their workload in attack this season.
The game was light-on for highlights but there were plenty of positives for coach Mick Malthouse to take out of the pre-season clash.
Most notably, the first-up performance of youngster Dayne Beams would have given the veteran a smile from ear to ear.
Beams gathered 14 touches, booted a goal and worked hard to show he’s one youngster capable of playing senior football this season.
Meanwhile, more experienced campaigners such as Scott Pendlebury (22 possessions), Dane Swan (21 in just a half of football) and Alan Didak (21 and two goals) did as they pleased at different stages.
It was also Collingwood’s ability to put the foot to the floor (perhaps due to fitness) in the final quarter that was heartening for Pies fans.
Earlier, Malthouse’s team had struggled to shake a persistent Tigers line-up, buoyed by the inclusion of Cousins, who was making a good fist of his return to AFL football.
The former West Coast star finished the game with 21 disposals but had 14 by half-time in an impressive display.
His team was also giving the Magpies a run for their money.
Collingwood led by a point at the main break but it could have been at least a goal more if Cloke hadn’t blown a golden opportunity just before the half-time siren.
It had been a frustrating half for both sides – and fans – as the two teams dropped numbers backed and trialed defensive zones, meaning the only real chance to score effectively was on a quick counter attack.
Collingwood looked sharp in the first term and gained a quick two-goal buffer, with John Anthony drilling through the first via a clever Brent Macaffer handball and then feeding Josh Fraser for the team’s second.
Beams, the first draftee of last year’s crop to play a senior match in the black and white, showed his class with a great kick to set up Macaffer and the Pies led by a goal at the first change.
With numbers dropping back into the defensive zone to a greater extent in the second term, players realised that perhaps the best way to beat the zone was to go over it.
Beams, with a bevy of yellow and black in front of him, kicked truly over the top from 45m to register the first goal of the second term almost 14 minutes into the quarter to extend Collingwood’s lead.
However when Matt White booted the Tigers’ second supergoal a moment later, the two sides were neck and neck heading into the second half.
Dane Swan’s presence in the third term helped spark the Pies and kept his team in front.
When he was the only player to show any real intent, grabbing the ball near the sticks and screwing one over his shoulder, his team led by close to two goals at the final change.
And it was all one-way traffic in the final term.
Collingwood 0.4.2 0.5.4 0.9.5 1.13.10 (97)
Richmond 1.1.5 2.1.9 2.3.12 2.3.15 (51)
GOALS
Collingwood: Nine-point goals: Didak Goals: McCarthy, Fraser, Pendlebury, Macaffer, Beams, Didak, Lockyer, Leigh Brown, Swan, Cloke, Toovey, Anthony, Nathan Brown
Richmond: Nine-point goals: Newman, White Goals: Brown, Vickery, Richardson
BEST
Collingwood: Pendlebury, Cloke, O’Bree, Beams, Cox, Toovey
Richmond: Foley, Brown, Cousins, Simmonds, Raines, Thomson, Rance
INJURIES
Collingwood: Macaffer (concussion)
Richmond: Johnson (leg), Cousins (concussion)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Stevic, Meredith, Ryan
Crowd: 37,121 at Telstra Dome
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
