Collingwood 0.3.3 0.5.4 1.12.7 1.15.8 (107) Western Bulldogs 1.5.3 1.9.7 1.11.9 1.14.12 (105)
How pleasant it is to sit on the wing on the second level of Docklands.
The game
You'd be excused for thinking Collingwood (apart from Varcoe) had little interest in this game. There was no intensity in the first half, the Pies just going through the motions.
Collingwood's 3.3 in the first quarter was much worse than it looked on paper. Gault took a nice mark and missed a gimme from about 20m; Blair was awarded a free and copied Gault; and Fasolo completed the trifecta by hitting the post. I won't say I could have goaled all of those attempts, but I have no doubt my nephew would have. That would have meant that we were level at the first break.
The second quarter was similar to (or, perhaps, given that the teams changed ends, a mirror image of) the first, the Doggies at each break about double our score.
The Pies then kicked 7 unanswered goals (including 1 SG) in the first 17 minutes of Q3, ineptly conceded 2 before kicking another. Third quarters have been Collingwood's throughout the NAB Challenge.
They held a small lead at the last break, trading goals in the last to eke out a small victory.
Highlights
Once again, Collingwood's third quarter brought the supporters to life, their transition game a joy to behold. Significantly, during their purple patch, the Pies scored a single behind and that was recorded as rushed.
This week Darcy Moore (4.1) was the star of the forward line. Although it's a bit of a black mark against Gault that he managed 2.2 (and one very high shot that was eventually rushed through), it is delightful to think that when one forward goes missing, another steps into the breach. In the end, Moore, Gault and Cloke contributed 8 of the Pies' 16 majors.
Travis Varcoe's improvement was once again on display. For the third time, he would have been one of Collingwood's best. Taylor Adams is much improved from last year. Fasolo kicked a supergoal. Adam Treloar (2.0) made a good start.
Lowlights
I don't care so much about the opponents, but both sides fumbled the ball something shocking; the Pies mainly in the first half, the Dogs returning the compliment in the third quarter.
Once again, Collingwood leaked goals. Neither defence had any reason for celebration. The only defensive skills on display were from the forwards, desperately trying to keep the ball inside 50 for another scoring opportunity. At times, the only way that the ball came out from the defensive 50 was when the forwards tried to do too much and coughed it up. Did I mention fumbles?
On the other hand, Collingwood's defenders, whilst inside the defensive 50, kept passing the ball to opponents. Witts (strictly not a defender, but there to lend a hand) was a serial offender.
And don't get me started again on our inaccuracy in front of goal. On paper, 16.8 looks ok, but you had to be there to see how easy the misses really were, even from Moore who certainly had an excellent game.
Sources, Notes, Footnotes, References
Fox TV
http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/03/12/collingwood-magpies-vs-western-bulldogs-nab-challenge-live-scores-blog/?utm_source=lb_header
http://collingwoodbugle.blogspot.com.au/
No comments:
Post a Comment