Subprime Crisis Hits Underperforming Pies!

Kim Densham, in Melbourne, reporting for AFANA.

For the second week in a row, Lions champion, Jonathan Brown sat on Channel 9’s “The Footy Show” and wrote off the Bombers. The rest of the panel unanimously agreed. On sentiment, at least the Pies would be a ‘shoo-in’ to win. All week though, the buildup, the media interest and talk back radio was about Friday night’s, ‘mid season Grand Final’, the top of the table clash between the Cats and the Hawks. However, Saturday afternoon’s encounter between the two Melbourne powerhouse clubs was not without its media interest. During the week, Essendon Coach Matthew Knights announced that the Bombers had only 26 or 28, fit players from which to choose his 22. Pies coach Michael Malthouse suggested Knights improve his arithmetic. Pointing out that more players were available for selection and were at first team training, even though they may still only be playing in the Victorian Football League (VFL) side- the Bendigo Bombers, saying he believed it to be nearer to 35 available players. The niggle was on, the mind games, of which Mick is a master, having previously made obscure references to Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, in relation to game tactics and outcomes. With former Essendon Coach Kevin Sheedy, the two had elevated pre match ‘gamesmanship’ to an art form, each trying to outdo the other. This was new territory for Knights and certainly drew the barbed response from Malthouse…Game On! After a bitterly cold Friday night, Melbourne was again frost bitten in the morning and by the time the Collingwood faithful and die-hard Bomber fans flooded toward the MCG for the 2pm kick off, the park was being gently moistened with a light drizzle of rain. Hmmm! The pitch would be slippery, an interesting test of skills for the hard tackling, accurate kicking Pies and for the quick handballing, play on Bombers. Anticipation was building!

Collingwood – Essendon games divided families, put friendships on hold and made enemies temporary allies; battle lines drawn!  Today was about the ‘guernsey’ [the team jumper], the tribe, the colors and the win! Winners would have bragging rights for the week and a week is a long time in ‘footy’. The Bombers were missing the talents of Dempsey, Davey, Winderlich, Gumbleton, Lovett, Houli and Jay Neagle. Collingwood were missing defender Tyson Goldsack, Vice-captain Josh Fraser, Anthony Rocca, Brodie Holland and Prestigiacomo. As the throng wound their way into the ‘G, the home crowd was a buzzing with excitement, Essendon had won five of its past six games. Both teams had suffered a loss last week, Essendon controversially to Richmond – with the Tiger defender, Joel Bowden, conceding two points, by handballing two rushed behinds - winding down the clock  in the final minute and the Magpies -going down to the unfashionable ‘Roos’- had also lost 3 of their last 5. The silent mantra from opposing fans was “please let this be our game”. A roar as the cheer squad banners went up, visiting team first. The Collingwood banner talked of the ‘Bombers needing parachutes’ and Essendon told of ‘soaring high and the Pies taking a dive’. Within minutes the Collingwood team burst through their banner and headed to the goal square at the city end, the Magpie cheer squad – home of the Collingwood Social Club. Soon after the Bombers burst through theirs and headed to the Punt Rd end, the home game crowd extending a deafening welcome. Friendly banter between rival mates, evaporated – replaced by steely determination and unspoken prayers for success.

The captains shook hands and the umpire trio of James, Head and Donlon, welcomed the boys. Visiting Magpie Captain, Scott Burns lost the toss and Matthew Lloyd chose to kick toward the Punt Rd end. As the teams lined up Knights had a few mismatches up his sleeve, Lucas, Lovett-Murray and Laycock headed to the bench – a bold move starting without the gun – Scott Lucas. Up forward - a ‘V’ formation, the Essendon forwards manned up, with Kyle “MacReimy” Reimers in the goal square [in a radio interview earlier, Bomber strongman, Mark McVeigh, spilled the beans and told the listeners that because of his ‘rugged’ looks and golden boots – his team mates called him - MacReimy], Monfries and Jetta were spread across the 50m arc. This was ingenuous, the Magpie defenders were forced to man up, the zone defense, would not be effective as the defenders were too far apart to cover for each other and…and no Lloyd up front! Essendon’s Coleman medalist playing across half forward. Daring tactics for the second week in a row. In defense, Ryder was on Cloke; Fletch on Medhurst, in the center, dominant ruckman David Hille was up against Collingwood's 29 gamer, Cameron Wood. From the opening roar, these two protagonists braced for a mammoth conflict.  The siren sounded and the umpire strode in for the opening bounce. Collingwood made the early running across the midfield and wing areas; however, they were unable to penetrate the 50m arc. At the breakdowns, Essendon moved the ball, as they had all season – very quickly and at every opportunity, through the middle, the engine room of Watson, Peverill, Lovett-Murray, Lonergan and Welsh hand passing with deftness and ease. Before anyone could comprehend what was happening, the Bombers were up by two goals – Lloyd opening, shortly afterwards Welsh added and as Collingwood was readjusting to the match ups, Lucas and Laycock came on in the seventh minute and changed the team structure. During this quarter, Thomas racked up some minor possession but was ineffectual and Peverill kept Collingwood’s Swan quiet. Across the board, the Pies only had 29 disposals. Essendon had five inside 50’s to Collingwood's two; the difference was the conversion rate, Bombers capitalizing on each occasion, Collingwood scoreless for most of the term. At the break, Bombers led 37 points to 9 for Collingwood.

Malthouse strode onto the pitch; steam rising in the cool night air, after that ragged first quarter performance a ‘bake’ was on. Collingwood, looking for a top four spot had not put anywhere near the required effort into their game.  Paul Medhurst had a short intense one on one session with the coach; he stood forlornly, hands on hips, taking on board Mick’s direction. After 30 minutes of bruising action and blistering pace, bodies strewn on the turf in various states of repair, physios working furiously on tired legs. Mick’s quarter time ‘bake’ paid off, the Pies dominated from the opening minute. They now, had forward structure, Cloke and Medhurst were presenting and the leads honored. Medhurst opened with his first major. Pies had come out motivated, stung into action and set up five unanswered goals. Their midfield dominant by winning the contested ball, backed up with accurate kicking. The Dons had stopped chasing and looked tired. Was fitness coming into play after the lightning pace of the opening term? The momentum had swung the Magpies way, while Laycock was in the ruck, his game was ineffectual and the coach dragged him. Hille back on. Momentum changed - Hille won the contest, long kick forward, the mark taken by Lloyd, who kicked the Dons first for the term, 17 minutes into the quarter. Within seconds, Stanton kicked another but Cloke not done yet and added his third shortly thereafter. The Pies staged a mini comeback and in the dying seconds of the half, the ball ended up in the Collingwood forward 50, in the hands of Leon Davis, the siren sounded as he lined up for a shot at goal to reduce Essendon’s lead to just 4 points. Bombers fans stood as one, the noise deafening, as Davis prepared, he looked unsettled, took his steps and kicked for goal, the ball soared up high, seemingly straight - heading for a major score, the noise then rose to a crescendo, the fans behind the goal delirious as the ball hit the post. Mass relief at the halftime break … time for some refreshments’! The margin reduced by one point, significantly it brought the points deficit back into single figures. After being behind by 26 points, the Pies were on the comeback trail. The Bombers defensive efforts not helped by Laycock’s contribution – no short kicks, no long kicks, no assists, no goals, no marks…just one single, lonely solitary handball…after an hour of football…fans not happy with the effort!.

 The third quarter it seemed would be the mental quarter. The first team to crack under the pressure would lose. The Collingwood players had not been giving 100% to this point in the game, operating at about “30 cents in the dollar”! Were they saving themselves for the finals run? Did they feel contempt for the young Bombers; did they feel they could just turn up and win? Was big match fatigue catching up on them? Whatever the answer, it would still be a mental game from here on out. Malthouse energized the Pies, Wood prevailing in the opening ruck contest, ball quickly forward to Didak, Pies open the scoring – 15 seconds into the third quarter, quick action, accurate kicking to the lead – trademark Magpies. Collingwood’s effort made it seem that they could apply the gas and haul the Bombers in at will.  Momentarily caught off guard, Essendon regrouped and kicked the next four – ten furious, frenetic, hardball minutes – body on body, the forward ‘V’ formation exposing the small Magpie defenders. Laycock must have undergone some serious half time reprogramming - he came out committed, more energy with an increased work rate. In the second half his ruck work improved, he was quickly into the stoppages; had a chance at goal and took a couple of marks. His efforts gave Hille respite and the chance to recharge. When Lloyd kicked his fourth, the Dons were up by five goals, it took until the 22-minute mark before the now lethargic Magpies kicked their second for the quarter. It seemed that Collingwood needed to be 4 or 5 goals down before they were stung into action, when they did they played ominous footy and ran all over the Dons. By the end of the quarter, they had cut the margin to 19 points.

Tactically Knights was ahead and the final term was no exception. An injury laden Lucas kept on a short leash by Magpie, Harry O’ Brien, was restricted to a couple of touches- but more importantly, Lucas had taken a powerful defender out of the game. Medhurst opened the scoring in the final term; the Bombers opened the ‘after burners’ and left Collingwood chasing their vapor trail. Essendon winning by 48 points, it could have been more, as the usually safe hands of Lloyd dropped two easy marks in his bread and butter range. The final session saw ‘MacReimy’ score two of his three majors, taking leaping marks and running on to receive a tap down ball from Hille to drill a low bouncing ball into the Collingwood cheer squad at speed, shushing the animated Magpie fans.  In the end, Collingwood had it all to play for – a spot in to top four, but underperformed, playing ‘subprime footy’- crisis time for the Lexus Center [Collingwood’s home]. Highlights for this match; young Bomber Atkinson on debut and Jobe Watson having a career high 41 possessions and  one punter in the crowd of 64,785 had the lucky raffle ticket, number 1625 winning the big screen TV, capping off a great day for the Bombers.

Essendon    19.14 (128)
Collingwood     11.14 (80)
GOALS
Essendon: Welsh 4, Lloyd 4, Reimers 3, Monfries 2, McPhee 2, Stanton, Jetta, Lovett-Murray, Hille
Collingwood: Cloke 3, Didak 2, Anthony 2, Davis 2, Medhurst 2
BEST
Essendon: Welsh, Watson, Peverill, Lloyd, Hille, Fletcher, Reimers, Monfries.
Collingwood:  Cloke, Thomas, O'Brien, Maxwell, O'Bree, Burns.
INJURIES
Essendon: Lucas (back, knee)
Collingwood: R. Shaw (heavy knock)
Reports: Lucas (Essendon) reported by umpire James for striking O'Brien (Collingwood) in the first quarter, Davis (Collingwood) reported for front-on contact on Watson in the second quarter, Didak (Collingwood) reported by umpire James for striking Slattery (Essendon) in the third quarter
Umpires: Donlon, James, Head
Official Crowd: 64,785.