By Barry Kennedy, AFANA Reporter in Melbourne
The West Coast Eagles had come off a trying week for the match against Collingwood at the Telstra Dome. Former top draft pick Michael Gardiner provided an unwanted distraction for his club and left his own football future in limbo after crashing his car while driving drunk. His subsequent indefinite suspension by the Eagles hierarchy allowed opposing ruckman and fellow number one draft pick, Josh Fraser, free reign to control the game. Collingwood capitalised on this advantage and created many others to carve out a convincing victory.
The hole left by Gardiner's absence, and that of fellow tall Dean Cox, wasn't immediately felt for the Eagles with new lead ruckman Mark Seaby drifting forward for the first goal of the game. His was the first of several strong marks taken by the Eagles tall timber in the first quarter. Quinten Lynch and Brett Staker kicked two apiece for the visitors in the first quarter, while Andrew McDougall also pulled down some good grabs.
Josh Fraser was a huge influence for Collingwood with his work rate and skills helping out all over the field throughout the first quarter. Youngster Chris Egan kicked two for Collingwood during this period. His first goal from beyond 50 meters on the run was a real team lifter, while later in the quarter he finished off the work of skipper Nathan Buckley.
The Eagles were getting great efforts from dynamic midfield duo Chris Judd and Daniel Kerr, while deft gathers by half back sweeper David Wirrapanda were also valuable. They should have been more in front than 15 points. Poor kicking for goal and a silly 50 meters and goal given away to the Magpies' Brodie Holland would prove costly.
Not for the first time this year Nathan Buckley changed the direction of the game by heading into the forward line in the second quarter. A big grab and goal by the Collingwood skipper set the scene for the term. Fraser kicked the next major after 200 gamer Anthony Rocca hit the freerunning tall. When Ben Davies goaled after getting at the end of a clever Buckley pass from the pocket the Pies were in front.
The Eagles steadied through Seaby who kicked two goals. A Chris Tarrant goal for Collingwood was soon cancelled out by a piece of Daniel Kerr magic. Kerr is a talented runner, but on Saturday he showed he can also jump as well, as Collingwood's Scott Burns found out at his expense. Kerr's aerial adventure, a serious contender for the mark of the season was ably converted for a goal and a 12 point lead to the Eagles.
Collingwood kept the pressure on and ended the quarter well. Fraser kicked another while Shane O'Bree bobbed up with two classy finishes to give the Collingwood a 11 point break at the main change. The return of Brodie Holland was giving Collingwood more midfield depth and tellingly allowed Buckley to be the architect up forward. Ben Johnson was limiting the influence of Judd, while O'Bree's finished off the work with his clever goals. Kerr was clearly the Eagles best to half time with 20 touches.
The third quarter was a much dourer affair with space much harder to come by. First year player Sam Butler reduced the Magpies advantage with a goal after Judd had ripped the ball from a pack. Collingwood responded with another goal from O'Bree. Wirrapanda pounced on a Lockyer mistake to make the margin 7 points midway through the term.
Both sides employed floods and short kicking became a feature as both teams went into a more defensive mind set. The West Coast Eagles were caught on the hop when Alan Didak earned a free and lobbed the ball to the unmanned Tarrant ensuring Collingwood took a 12 point buffer into the last quarter.
The Collingwood forward line was looking more effervescent with youngsters Dale Thomas and Chris Egan combining well with Tarrant and Didak.
Collingwood's versatile and classy forward line proved a potent force in the last quarter. Buckley was again instrumental fending off a West Coast defender before giving off to Tarrant for his third. Alan Didak scored the next keeping his feet as his man fell to the ground. Tarrant then capped off his day with a beautiful long range conversion to give Collingwood a 29 point lead seven minutes into the quarter.
Michael Braun's well executed snap kept the Eagles in touch, but short kicks especially in the Eagles back half gave the impression of a side down on confidence. Nathan Buckley earned a free to restore the five goal margin. Another quick reply by McDougall kept the prospects of another Eagles comeback on the cards, but time was running out.
An intercept and goal by Dane Swan after an errant short pass in the Eagles back line was an appropriate sealer for the Pies. It had been clear the Eagles were unsettled down back for some time despite the fine efforts of Darren Glass and Wirrapanda.
Dale Thomas capped a fine day with a rousing goal late in the term, while Rocca finally got on the board in his 200th game to finish a great day out for Collingwood.
Fraser was a clear best on ground for the Magpies. He has the ability to find space and his disposal skills are brilliant for such a tall player. Buckley was again magnificent while Tarrant reversed a recent form slump by kicking four goals. Shane O'Bree's three goals broke open the game while Chris Egan played the best match of his short career. His blend of athleticism and confidence is not unlike Sydney's Adam Goodes. Simon Prestigiacomo, Dane Swan and James Clement lifted in defense after the Eagles good first quarter.
West Coast got a magnificent effort and a historic leap from Daniel Kerr. He worked tirelessly across the ground. Judd was slightly subdued by his high standards but still influential enough, as was Andrew Embley. Wirrapanda again demonstrated his considerable poise while Darren Glass was well on top of Rocca all day. Beaten but far from disgraced was ruckman Mark Seaby who saw his direct opponent get plenty of the ball but still managed three goals himself.
The win kept the Magpies in the Four and arrested a three week losing streak. With a number of matches against struggling sides to wind up the season, Collingwood is still a realistic chance of a position as high as second at the end of the season. That scenario will become even more realistic if West Coast slips against Adelaide next week; Collingwood has a chance to consolidate its form against the young Hawks.
Round 16 was a round dedicated to the 1980's, particularly the expansion of the old VFL to a national competition. With history in the consciousness of AFL suporters, the highly professional West Coast Eagles may now rue a key decision made in 1996 to draft a brilliant but temperamental ruckman, Michael Gardiner. His absence on the weekend and almost certain sacking now seems like a big waste, for he should be at the peak of his powers. Collingwood use of its 1999 number one draft pick on Josh Fraser now looks a far sounder decision. Fraser is now showing what he can do as are the ambitious Magpies.
Best: Collingwood: J Fraser N Buckley C Egan D Thomas S O'Bree C Tarrant. West Coast: D Kerr C Judd M Seaby D Glass A Embley. Umpires: H Kennedy K Nicholls D Goldspink.
Official crowd: 38,777 at Telstra Dome
The West Coast Eagles had come off a trying week for the match against Collingwood at the Telstra Dome. Former top draft pick Michael Gardiner provided an unwanted distraction for his club and left his own football future in limbo after crashing his car while driving drunk. His subsequent indefinite suspension by the Eagles hierarchy allowed opposing ruckman and fellow number one draft pick, Josh Fraser, free reign to control the game. Collingwood capitalised on this advantage and created many others to carve out a convincing victory.
The hole left by Gardiner's absence, and that of fellow tall Dean Cox, wasn't immediately felt for the Eagles with new lead ruckman Mark Seaby drifting forward for the first goal of the game. His was the first of several strong marks taken by the Eagles tall timber in the first quarter. Quinten Lynch and Brett Staker kicked two apiece for the visitors in the first quarter, while Andrew McDougall also pulled down some good grabs.
Josh Fraser was a huge influence for Collingwood with his work rate and skills helping out all over the field throughout the first quarter. Youngster Chris Egan kicked two for Collingwood during this period. His first goal from beyond 50 meters on the run was a real team lifter, while later in the quarter he finished off the work of skipper Nathan Buckley.
The Eagles were getting great efforts from dynamic midfield duo Chris Judd and Daniel Kerr, while deft gathers by half back sweeper David Wirrapanda were also valuable. They should have been more in front than 15 points. Poor kicking for goal and a silly 50 meters and goal given away to the Magpies' Brodie Holland would prove costly.
Not for the first time this year Nathan Buckley changed the direction of the game by heading into the forward line in the second quarter. A big grab and goal by the Collingwood skipper set the scene for the term. Fraser kicked the next major after 200 gamer Anthony Rocca hit the freerunning tall. When Ben Davies goaled after getting at the end of a clever Buckley pass from the pocket the Pies were in front.
The Eagles steadied through Seaby who kicked two goals. A Chris Tarrant goal for Collingwood was soon cancelled out by a piece of Daniel Kerr magic. Kerr is a talented runner, but on Saturday he showed he can also jump as well, as Collingwood's Scott Burns found out at his expense. Kerr's aerial adventure, a serious contender for the mark of the season was ably converted for a goal and a 12 point lead to the Eagles.
Collingwood kept the pressure on and ended the quarter well. Fraser kicked another while Shane O'Bree bobbed up with two classy finishes to give the Collingwood a 11 point break at the main change. The return of Brodie Holland was giving Collingwood more midfield depth and tellingly allowed Buckley to be the architect up forward. Ben Johnson was limiting the influence of Judd, while O'Bree's finished off the work with his clever goals. Kerr was clearly the Eagles best to half time with 20 touches.
The third quarter was a much dourer affair with space much harder to come by. First year player Sam Butler reduced the Magpies advantage with a goal after Judd had ripped the ball from a pack. Collingwood responded with another goal from O'Bree. Wirrapanda pounced on a Lockyer mistake to make the margin 7 points midway through the term.
Both sides employed floods and short kicking became a feature as both teams went into a more defensive mind set. The West Coast Eagles were caught on the hop when Alan Didak earned a free and lobbed the ball to the unmanned Tarrant ensuring Collingwood took a 12 point buffer into the last quarter.
The Collingwood forward line was looking more effervescent with youngsters Dale Thomas and Chris Egan combining well with Tarrant and Didak.
Collingwood's versatile and classy forward line proved a potent force in the last quarter. Buckley was again instrumental fending off a West Coast defender before giving off to Tarrant for his third. Alan Didak scored the next keeping his feet as his man fell to the ground. Tarrant then capped off his day with a beautiful long range conversion to give Collingwood a 29 point lead seven minutes into the quarter.
Michael Braun's well executed snap kept the Eagles in touch, but short kicks especially in the Eagles back half gave the impression of a side down on confidence. Nathan Buckley earned a free to restore the five goal margin. Another quick reply by McDougall kept the prospects of another Eagles comeback on the cards, but time was running out.
An intercept and goal by Dane Swan after an errant short pass in the Eagles back line was an appropriate sealer for the Pies. It had been clear the Eagles were unsettled down back for some time despite the fine efforts of Darren Glass and Wirrapanda.
Dale Thomas capped a fine day with a rousing goal late in the term, while Rocca finally got on the board in his 200th game to finish a great day out for Collingwood.
Fraser was a clear best on ground for the Magpies. He has the ability to find space and his disposal skills are brilliant for such a tall player. Buckley was again magnificent while Tarrant reversed a recent form slump by kicking four goals. Shane O'Bree's three goals broke open the game while Chris Egan played the best match of his short career. His blend of athleticism and confidence is not unlike Sydney's Adam Goodes. Simon Prestigiacomo, Dane Swan and James Clement lifted in defense after the Eagles good first quarter.
West Coast got a magnificent effort and a historic leap from Daniel Kerr. He worked tirelessly across the ground. Judd was slightly subdued by his high standards but still influential enough, as was Andrew Embley. Wirrapanda again demonstrated his considerable poise while Darren Glass was well on top of Rocca all day. Beaten but far from disgraced was ruckman Mark Seaby who saw his direct opponent get plenty of the ball but still managed three goals himself.
The win kept the Magpies in the Four and arrested a three week losing streak. With a number of matches against struggling sides to wind up the season, Collingwood is still a realistic chance of a position as high as second at the end of the season. That scenario will become even more realistic if West Coast slips against Adelaide next week; Collingwood has a chance to consolidate its form against the young Hawks.
Round 16 was a round dedicated to the 1980's, particularly the expansion of the old VFL to a national competition. With history in the consciousness of AFL suporters, the highly professional West Coast Eagles may now rue a key decision made in 1996 to draft a brilliant but temperamental ruckman, Michael Gardiner. His absence on the weekend and almost certain sacking now seems like a big waste, for he should be at the peak of his powers. Collingwood use of its 1999 number one draft pick on Josh Fraser now looks a far sounder decision. Fraser is now showing what he can do as are the ambitious Magpies.
COLLINGWOOD 3.3 10.7 12.11 19.13 (127)
WEST COAST 5.5 8.8 10.11 13.12 (90)Goals: Collingwood: C Tarrant 4 S O'Bree 3 N Buckley 2 C Egan 2 J Fraser 2 A Didak B Holland D Thomas B Davies A Rocca D Swan. West Coast: M Seaby 3 Q Lynch 2 B Staker 2 A McDougall D Kerr B Waters M Braun S Butler D Wirrpanda.
Best: Collingwood: J Fraser N Buckley C Egan D Thomas S O'Bree C Tarrant. West Coast: D Kerr C Judd M Seaby D Glass A Embley. Umpires: H Kennedy K Nicholls D Goldspink.
Official crowd: 38,777 at Telstra Dome
Article last changed on Friday, July 28, 2006 - 3:22 AM EDT
