CTV > Mick Malthouse's post-match press conference
COLLINGWOOD has rebounded strongly from its shattering round two defeat to the Brisbane Lions to record a convincing 44-point Rivalry Round win over Richmond at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.
The match, played in perfect conditions under clear skies, saw the Magpies dominate the Tigers in the first half to win 18.14 (122) to 11.12 (78).
Despite a brief scare across the second and third terms, where Richmond managed four unanswered goals and got within 31 points, the match was largely dominated by black and white as the Pies pieced together their second win for the season.
The Shaw brothers were in good form, with Heath picking up 33 possessions while playing opposite Richmond star Nathan Brown, and Rhyce finding the ball 26 times and providing superb run from defence.
Goals were also shared around, with 10 individual goal-kickers recording majors. Anthony Rocca, Paul Medhurst and Dale Thomas kicked three apiece.
The match also provided young gun Jack Anthony a chance to debut, after the promising 20-year-old gained a call-up with the late withdrawal of Ben Reid. Anthony used his first kick in AFL football to boot a major, and ended with two goals from three kicks.
Tarkyn Lockyer was busy around the packs with 26 possessions and Leon Davis again enjoyed a run in the middle for a return of 24. Thomas also showed flashes of brilliance, including an incredible shot on goal that dribbled through from deep in the pocket in the third quarter.
Nathan Brown's baptism of fire continued, with the young defender often playing opposite Tigers' spearhead Matthew Richardson. Mick Malthouse again kept his interchange stewards busy with another match of more than 100 rotations.
Collingwood put on an attacking show in the first half, but the Tigers rallied in the third quarter to stop the Magpies from streaking away.
Early on, the Pies were quicker, slicker, and harder at the man and the ball. By halftime, the tackle count weighed heavily in their favour, 36 to 19, and the Tigers were one man down after Graham Polak left the field concussed.
In the first quarter alone, the Tigers managed just a single goal – which came when Nick Maxwell stepped over the mark and awarded Kayne Pettifer a 50m penalty that drew him within striking distance – while the Pies piled on five.
Their dominance continued in the second term with a six goal to three display – the most entertaining coming from Rocca after Thomas shrugged off his opponent on the boundary line and precisely centred the ball to the spearhead.
The Tigers pushed hard deep into time-on, with two running goals to Jake King and Chris Newman giving the side confidence ahead of the second half.
No matter how hard the Tigers pressed in the third, they couldn't reduce the margin below 31 points. They increased their work rate and Polak came back on, but while the Pies weren't quite as effective as they were in the first half, they still managed to hold Richmond off.
It was a 35-point difference at three-quarter time after Pettifer booted a late goal, but when Medhurst slotted the first of the final stanza, any chance of a Richmond comeback was snuffed out.
Collingwood now faces another traditional rival in Carlton next Sunday at the MCG, while Richmond is set for a trip west to meet Fremantle on Sunday at Subiaco.
Collingwood 5.2 11.7 15.9 18.14 (122)
Richmond 1.1 4.5 9.10 11.12 (78)
GOALS
Collingwood: Rocca 3, Medhurst 3, Thomas 3, Cloke 2, Anthony 2, Davis, Maxwell, Fraser, Johnson, Wood
Richmond: Pettifer 2, Pattison 2, Richardson, King, Newman, Brown, Morton, Tambling, Polak
BEST
Collingwood: H. Shaw, Medhurst, Lockyer, R. Shaw, Thomas, Davis
Richmond: Brown, Foley, Johnson, Tuck
INJURIES
Collingwood: Nil
Richmond: Polak (concussion)
Reports: Pettifer (Richmond) reported for striking Maxwell (Collingwood) by umpire Nicholls in the second quarter
Umpires: Margetts, Nicholls, McInerney
Official crowd: 70,802 at the MCG
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
