Pretty Black and White Wrap UP Collingwood V St Kilda AFL – MCG Saturday 18 March 2019

The first quarter started with Langdon giving away a 50m penalty from a push after a mark. Mihocek got a free from a push in the back and scored Collingwood’s first goal. And whilst the Pies had plenty of options in the goal square, they were not playing their game. Stephenson showed his work rate with a give and go with Mihocek and a goal for the Pies. Grundy was his usual hard-working self in the ruck and around the field. Although the game was scrappy Maynard was handing hard tackles in defence making it hard for St Kilda to score. Sidebottom worked well with Stephenson, but the team had difficulty transitioning from defence to attack which limited their options and opportunity to get into their 50. Mihocek booted a deep kick to Reid who juggled the ball and took the mark. Reid was settled this week and kicked his first goal for the Pies since coming back. Varcoe was a work horse and tackled hard and gave plenty of second and third efforts around the field. Varcoe and Phillips combined for a goal after many Collingwood hands brought the ball in the Pies 50.  At the first break Collingwood led by 10 points and had 30 more disposals than St Kilda.
The start of the second term saw The Saints bust out and score quickly. Mihocek and Browne worked well to give Mihocek a goal. Varcoe ran down his opponent and was rewarded with a shot for goal and added 6 points to the black and white tally. Mihocek took a knock to the head an spent a short time on the bench. Meanwhile Treloar got a finger in the eye with a late hit to the head from a mark. St Kilda increased their tackling pressure and out did the Pies 21-17. The Pies were slow to man up and St Kilda took off and started scoring. Langdon hurt his knee and was strapped up at quarter time and was still propy during the quarter. Collingwood struggled to get the ball in their 50 and the Saints dominated the quarter 14 – 3 inside 50’s and used speed and space to improve their score line. The Pies started to settle, and Beams added a point to the total and for a short time the Saints led by a point. However, the star-studded line up that is Collingwood used teamwork and Sidebottom kicked a goal. The Pies were back in front at the main break by 5 points.
Collingwood came flying out of the box in the third quarter. Reid hit the post on what looked like a good shot and only managed a behind. Thomas, ever vigilant, ran down his player got the ball to Stephenson who passed it to Reid who dribbled it through for another goal. Beams looked on target for a goal, but it was touched. The Magpies settled into their own game and had much better pressure in their 50. St Kilda managed 2 goals in a row and with a point to each team the scores were level. Forward pressure by the Pies and some great teamwork from Mihocek to Treloar and then on to Thomas produced another black and white goal. The Saints were quick to respond with a goal of their own and took the lead by a point. Collingwood found their rhythm on the clearances with Beams collecting the tap from Grundy and kicked it to Reid who scored another goal for Collingwood. Pies led by 5 and the Saints came back with a goal of their own and led by a point for the third time this quarter. Roughead did a good job of stepping up without Moore and Langdon and this is where the game started to open up. Sidebottom ran through the play and turned the ball over at pace and passed it on to Hoskin-Elliott and then to Mihocek for a goal. Sidebottom got in on the clearances and Collingwood lifted the tempo. Stephenson was instrumental in the goal by Hoskin-Elliott. Wills worked hard showing that he was a good pick for the team this week. St Kilda scored another goal and Mayne was diligent in defence. The Pies led by 5 points at the final break.
The final term saw Collingwood maintain the tempo that they found in the latter part of the third quarter. Thomas had an early shot for goal and added a point. Maynard had a crack at goal from about 50 metres out but only managed a behind. Sidebottom produced some fancy footwork and gave the Saints something to worry about with a goal. Collingwood brought out pressure all over the field and the onslaught began. Sidebottom and Beams added another point each and some great teamwork from Hoskin Elliott, Varcoe and Pendlebury saw Stephenson bag another goal. Crisp pulled out some great defence and a huge kick to Reid which was almost a mark and crumbed by Varcoe who scored again for Collingwood. Greenwood kept the selectors happy with some good marks and Varcoe continued to give his all. Sidebottom was on a roll with some hard running and a nice kick to Mihocek adding 6 points to the tally. Hoskin-Elliott took a nice mark in front of goal but only managed a behind. Pendlebury scored a 50-metre penalty from a hard at hearing opponent, although it was clear that the umpire said “hold” not “play on”. The kick landed with Stephenson who has pulled out a good old-fashioned torpedo right through the middle of the sticks and well into the crowd. Mihocek had a mark of his own about 50 metres from goal on the siren and added on one last point against the Saints. Collingwood took away a 41-point win against the St Kilda.
Final Score  Pies  17 10 112          Saints 10 11 71  Pies by 41 points
My Take
Collingwood struggled to find their rhythm early in the game and rightly so with some key players missing. It was fantastic to see so many players step up all over the field. Losing Langdon was unexpected and hurt the Pies temporarily until the gap was filled. You could throw a blanket over most of the team for Best on Ground. The teamwork and comradery between these players was so nice to see.
Reid was a lot more settled this week and it showed with a little more accuracy and less nerves at the shots at goal and the confidence in his marking. Grundy was his usual hard-working self and Roughead looked like he had been with the side forever. Varcoe paid a beautiful tribute to his sister, Maggie, and I’m sure she would be looking down on his game with love and admiration for his work rate and all his effort. Sidebottom was all class as was Stephenson, yes even with that torpedo. Which by the way I think Bucks secretly loved, and Mihocek was sensational and instrumental in some goal assists even with 3 hard knocks to the head. Watching the AFL highlights he was involved in so much of the play up and down the field. Treloar also copped a finger in the eye but didn’t let it slow him down and Thomas was hard at work using speed and fancy footwork. It was a good result for a team that is losing players each week to injury although they are only minor, and most will probably be back in the side within a couple of weeks. It demonstrated just what a cohesive unit the Collingwood team is. Can’t wait for next week against Sydney. Go Pies!
#Collingwood #Sidebyside #Collingwoodforever #BlackandWhiteFlag2019
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