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Brody Mihocek
Brody Mihocek (AFANA file picture)

The Collingwood Magpies delivered the Fremantle Dockers a lesson in  wet weather football at Optus Stadium. It is the second week in a row the Dockers have floundered in rain and raises questions as to whether their high-pace, high-skill game can be adapted to wet and slippery conditions. The Magpies played traditional wet weather football where they gained territory at all costs, whether it was by kicking the ball forward along the ground or simply just knocking it forward with a fist. The Dockers played their high possession game, which fell apart with skill errors in the conditions and gifted Collingwood several goals through sloppy turnovers.

The first quarter was even with both teams booting two goals in the sodden conditions. Darcy Cameron took a solid wet-weather mark after using strength on Sean Darcy to boot the Pies' first goal. At the other end Rory Lobb kicked truly after being awarded a free kick for having his arms chopped in a marking (catching) contest. Sam Switkowski put the Dockers in front with a clever shot from the boundary line, before Brody Mihocek soccered a goal from close range for the Magpies, after a quick transition from defense.

The rain continued in the second quarter and the pies showed how to handle the wet with Jamie Elliott kicking to Mihocek, who scored his second goal at the five-minute mark. The Dockers had control of the ball for much of the second quarter, but the Magpies booted three goals while denying the Dockers any major scores. When it mattered, Collingwood showed cleaner ball skills in front of goals while the Dockers fiddled and overused the ball in their attempt to set up attacks. Collingwood pushed the Dockers wide by denying them the central corridor forcing the Dockers to take the long way to goal. When Collingwood got the ball they used a no-fuss style of pushing the ball in a straight line and relying on players up forward to win their contests. It wasn't pretty but it was highly effective in the wet.

Jordan Clarke marks the ball
Jordan Clark (AFANA file picture)

The third quarter was a more even struggle with Collingwood matching the Dockers in clearances, even though Sean Darcy dominated in the ruck for the Dockers, after the big American Mason Cox retired from the game with an injured finger. Collingwood played their wingers Steele Sidebottom and Josh Daicos on the defensive side of stoppages which proved more effective than the Docker tactic of allowing their wingers, Blake Acres and Jordan Clark, to operate in close to the ball. When the Dockers won clearances, they were frequently under pressure from Collingwood tacklers causing turnovers which were mopped up by Daicos and Sidebottom. The Magpies won the tackle count 89 to 60 which is indicative of the pressure and desperation the Magpies were able to apply throughout the game. Will Brodie was the Dockers' best on-ball player, winning a game high 11 clearances and he also snapped a goal for the Dockers in the third quarter, to keep them in the game. Collingwood's two goals for the quarter came from strong marks by Mihocek and Oliver Henry (who finished with four goals after being a late inclusion).

Collingwood sealed the game early in the last quarter after Michael Walters brought the Dockers within three goals. Henry booted two and Jack Ginnivan also kicked truly to shut down the possibility of a Docker fightback. A goal from Docker veteran David Mundy was answered by Henry booting his fourth. Andrew Brayshaw received a fifty meter penalty to boot a consolation goal for the Dockers when the game was well and truly done.

Next week Collingwood return to the MCG to meet the Carlton Blues. The Dockers will play the powerful Melbourne Demons at the same venue, but a day earlier. The Dockers are likely to lose their third game in a row.

Scores
Fremantle Dockers   2.2 2.4 3.6  6.8 (44)
Collingwood Magpies 2.2 5.3 7.4 12.8 (80)

Best
Fremantle Dockers:   Brodie, Mundy, Brayshaw, Serong, Darcy
Collingwood Magpies: Lipinsky, Henry, Pendlebury, Crisp, Sidebottom

Article last changed on Thursday, June 02, 2022 - 9:45 AM EDT


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