Richmond started well with organised play but Mihocek’s defensive efforts and the mismatch against Cox gave Collingwood their first goal. Elliott soccered the ball off the ground for a goal that went through the middle but wasn’t paid because of a call of a soft contact by Cox, which upon review, was nothing. The Pies struggled early on with kick placement and after a lengthy period in their 50 Josh Thomas scored Collingwood’s second goal. Phillips had some great moves after a kick from De Goey that saw the Pies bag their third goal. A charity call from the umpires saw Lynch (Richmond) score the second goal for the tigers with a minute to go in the quarter.
Greenwood was a good match up against Dusty Martin, but Richmond still managed to goal very early in the second term. Cox’s use of his height in front of goals on a set shot proved to be an effective deterrent and Darcy Moore made the job of scoring even harder for the tigers. Quick hands helped Collingwood find a goal from De Goey. As the Pies dangerously chipped the ball around the defence end Treloar was able to bust through and give Phillips a one-handed mark. Fantastic delivery to De Goey saw another goal to Collingwood. Richmond responded quickly with a goal as the match up between Roughead and Lynch was not as good as it looked on paper. The Pies led by 6 points at the main break.
The third term started in a flurry with Mayne goaling for Collingwood within the first 30 seconds. Quick hands saw De Goey bag his third goal from about 55 metres out. Richmond responded with a goal after some reasonably good defence in the Pies 50. Maynard delivered an outstanding kick to Stephenson which was very quickly moved on to Brodie Mihocek giving him his second goal. Grundy took a one-handed mark and gave a little hook kick inside 50 to De Goey giving him his fourth goal for the game. The Captain, Pendlebury added his own goal to the tally after a strong tackle.
At the start of the final term Cox showed that some big men have great footwork which gave him a goal within the first 30 seconds. Richmond attempted a reply but could only find a point. Edwards (Richmond) looked dangerous with a great crumb only to find the strong, capable hands of Phillips. Cox used his wing span and large hands to intercept a Richmond back line pass and took a shot at goal. At this stage the Pies appeared to be struggling to get the ball into their 50. A break through saw Elliott selflessly give Stephenson a goal. A good chip from Aish to Crisp and a strong mark by Elliott saw yet another point added to the black and white tally. Stephenson goaled after Elliot copped a deliberate elbow to the chin and quick hands gave De Goey his fifth goal for the game. In the dying minutes of the game De Goey pass the ball to Cox for another shot at goal but it hit the post. The final quarter belonged to Collingwood with Richmond only getting into the game periodically. As Richmond took the foot off Collingwood put the foot down. It was fantastic to watch.
The Pies created a new record of the most touches, 99, in the first half of a game; well done team.
Final Score  Pies  17  8 110            Cats 10 6 66    Pies by 44 points
My Take
Collingwood seemed determined to make good after the loss against the Cats. The difference between last week and this week is that Collingwood did not allow the Tigers to dictate the style of play. Richmond spend the bulk of the game chasing the ball and in my opinion were not as fit as Collingwood. They also lacked momentum and at times their star players went missing, which means that our defenders did an outstanding job.
But before we start claiming the flag, there is still work to be done and aspects of the game that need to be tidied up. Kick placement for some players was poor with the ball going well beyond the intended players reach or out of bounds on the full. At times there seemed to be a lack of communication; at one point we had 3 forwards going up for the same ball. There were also times during the game when the player waiting for the ball was standing still and an easy target for an intercept. This happened against the Cats as well. The dangerous practise of the chipping the ball around trying to find a way in is a scenario that is just begging for an intercept and goal from the opposition.
What did look good was that the defenders worked so well together and at times the forwards knew exactly where the other was going to be. The running game and the intensity from the centre bounce made this team, at times, look like a well-oiled machine. These parts of the game will only get better and I’m sure that Bucks is reviewing the heck out of the game, so in future our first quarter looks like the last five minutes of our fourth quarter against Richmond. This season keeps getting better. I think we are ready to take on the Weagles. Bring it on. Go Pies!
#Collingwood #Sidebyside #Collingwoodforever #BlackandWhiteFlag2019

The season's first game for Collingwood saw the welcome return of some very talented players in Moore, Elliott and Aish with the addition of Beams and Roughead as Newbies.
The Pies started their game with quick hands and clever play. The mix of Moore, Aish, Crisp and Langdon saw a fantastic defensive effort in the Cats 50 and whilst the Pies showed good use of the ball and found space, the lack of accuracy kept the score low and the Cats in the game. Elliot provided Collingwood with their first goal and Stephenson scored a point with an earlier attempt. Howe was his usual athletic self and took the stand out mark of the game only for it not to be rewarded as a mark; even the commentators thought he was robbed. De Goey was slow to warm up to goal kicking giving the Cats hope and desperation in their 50. Langdon took one for the team, literally, in the face on the Geelong goal line, which must go down as the save of the year. Both Cox and De Goey were tagged by 2 or 3 players each time the ball made it into the Pies goal square. Cox would barely know himself this season getting some calls, one of which landed him a shot at goal and added 6 points to the tally.
Mihocek was great at goal assisting after Cox missed the mark, giving Elliott an easy goal. Dane Beams showed why he was an inclusion in the side and the Pies had a 13-point lead at the first break.
The second term saw the Cats start quickly but Moore and Langdon’s safe hands and a multitude of spoils made it hard for Geelong to score but not Impossible. And whilst the Pies dominated from stoppages, at times it looked like they were slow to react in their 50 but Elliot gave the fans something to cheer about just before the half time break. Treloar was an absolute work horse with 20 disposals in the first two quarters and Phillips and Aish provided very effective defence in the Cats 50.
The Pies were a little caught of guard at the start of the third quarter with Hawkins taking an uncontested mark and luckily only achieving a behind. The Pies tidied up their game and used the middle corridor but unfortunately a rushed attempt at goal only produced a point. The Pies struggled to convert in their 50 and the Cats use of the middle corridor saw an easy goal for Selwood. A poor call against Travis Varcoe for a tackle on Selwood saw a chip pass to Ablett to give the Cats the lead for the first time. Moore had a lapse in judgement and gave away a free which fortunately resulted in only a point. Elliott was well and truly covered in the goal square and as the only target this created work for the rest of the players but resulted in a goal by Treloar from a quick grab and kick.
Dynamic play and great vision by Elliott saw him take a mark and boot it to De Goey, which after a fumble or two, resulted in a snap shot at goal. De Goey found his mark and gave Collingwood the lead. A miss match of Sidebottom and Hawkins allowed the Cats to even the score by the third term break.
In the final term Constable (Geelong) kicked his very first AFL goal and the Pies slowed down on the stoppages. Treloar was taken high but no call and the cats edged forward by a point. The Cats swarmed in their 50 but still struggled and only managed to add points to their tally. Poor decision making in front of goals by Collingwood had fans up in arms with even the Coach questioning “why?”. Beams put his stamp on the game in the last quarter by crumbing and scoring a goal. Brown also put up a quick snap after the Cats kicked out on the full giving the Magpies and the fans hope of a win but with 5 mins to go Parfitt (Geelong) quickly answered the last Collingwood goal. Hawkins then kicked the final goal and Geelong went on to score a further point giving them the win.
Final Score  Pies  9 11 65               Cats 10 12 72  Cats by 7 points
My Take
I would suggest that there was probably a lot of pressure and huge expectation for Collingwood to win their first game of the season, and a fair bit of pressure by the players on themselves. And whilst it is fair that there is some expectation because we made the Grand final, this is a new year and we need to remember that the opposition has had ample opportunity to study the efforts of the previous season. Nobody needs to go and there should NOT be any calls for the Coach’s head. As supporters we need to recognise that we had a phenomenal season last year under adverse circumstances and that whilst we have the makings of an amazing team there are new inclusions and players returned from injury. These players need to get comfortable with each other and they will, given time.
A few points that are front of mind:-
At the 5-minute mark when all the damage was being done, four of the most effective players were off the field. This allowed some of the Geelong’s strongest players to capitalise on mismatches and ultimately dominate and win the quarter and the game. These players were dying to get on but apparently nobody wanted to come off. I thought that this was the job of the Coach to make this call and if not, it should be. It was more than this that cost Collingwood the game, but it is certainly something that needs to be looked at for future matches.
We need to stop sharing goals just take the shot and share the glory. There is such a thing as a goal assist and I’m pretty sure Bucks recognises it. Some players need to push harder and give second and third efforts. Also, accuracy is a problem for us so let’s sort it out early in the season.
Collingwood started with quick hands and their game looked slick. The Cats reacted back and then changed the game to their style of play to a slower game which allowed them to dominate. If Collingwood dictate the style of play this will make it easier for them to dominate not just their opponents but also the score board.
Minor errors such as dropped balls i.e. players not watching the ball into hands let us down. I’m sure this will improve during the season but again, let’s get it sorted quickly.
Lack of vision; this comes with experience, familiarity of team mates and knowing that there are options available. Also lifting or in some cases lowering the eyes can help.
Poor decision making; sometimes caused by lack of vision but often occurs under pressure. Hopefully this will improve over time.
If Collingwood can rectify these minor errors, it will change their game.
The new rule changes, will it change the game much? It has been suggested that perhaps it will make for a more even contest. Time will tell, but let’s not over complicate things and keep it as a game of skills and strategy.
I think Collingwood’s season is looking pretty good and they have some very intense games coming up. With tidier play and the interchange worked out, the season should be a good contest and a very successful one. I’m looking forward to some awesome football this year. Go Pies!
#Collingwood #Sidebyside #Collingwoodforever #BlackandWhiteFlag2019

​Collingwood
The Pies were off to a cracking start with the ball in their 50 within the first few minutes of the game. Jaimee Lambert looked dangerous very early with a couple of snaps at goal and Bonnici proved to be problematic for the Lions in their 50 and highly effective for the Pies as she moved forward. Tidy play gave Sarah D’Arcy the first goal for the Pies and the game. For a short period, mid-term, the Pies were off their players giving Wuetschner from Brisbane her first goal. Sharni Layton showed further improvement with 2nd and 3rd efforts on the ball as the defensive efforts of the Pies kicked into high gear. Ash Brazill showed great speed and footwork, winning the ball over Wuetschner. Collingwood led at the break and Brisbane were on the back foot.
The second term saw the Pies as formidable as ever with Sarah D’Arcy quickly scoring the second goal for the Pies. Emma Grant was great in defence whilst Mikala Cann had her first shot at an AFLW goal after a couple of good feeds from Chiocci and Bonnici. Jordyn Allen used fancy footwork to escape looming Lions and Lambert had a couple of further shots at goal eventually landing one. The Pies found plenty of space with Rowe and safe hands in Layton and Brazill. At the main break the Pies led by 17 points and the Lions were under siege with all the main stats going the way of Collingwood.
The Pies looked a little fatigued early in the third quarter and at times lacked communication with several players clashing over the ball, but it didn’t take long for their second wind to kick in and swarm the Lions. Whilst the Pies were confined to a point for the quarter, the Lions managed a goal through effective use of the middle corridor but failed to convert any further even though the ball was in their 50 for most of the third term. This demonstrated the relentless defence that the Pies continued to dish up to the surprised Lions.
The final term saw the Pies put in a solid defensive effort in order to maintain the lead. The Pies nabbed another point and kept the finals hungry Lions to just 3 points. Jaimee Lambert, a major ball winner for Collingwood, went down with a hit to the head. This further rallied the Pies and saw them lift giving them their first and well-deserved win of the season.
Brisbane
The Lions were caught off guard by the enthusiastic Pies and continued to under estimate just what Collingwood could and did bring for the entire game. And whilst they dished out a fair bit of hip and shoulder, Collingwood kept coming. Sabrina Frederick Traub didn’t fire until late in the final quarter and failed to impact the score board. Wuetschner was easily beaten by the athleticism of Ash Brazill  and Zielke looked dangerous at times and managed to score a goal. For the most part the Lions had good pace and found space well but were unprepared for the relentless attack from Collingwood. The loss of this game sees the Lions knocked out of the finals. The moral to this story is never under estimate the bottom team, they are always hungry to get off the bottom of the leader board.
Injuries and Umpires
Jaimee Lambert left the field in the final quarter with a blow to the head which left her slightly dazed. She was later cleared of any real injury but did not go back on the field.
The umpires missed a fair bit this week for both sides but still it was consistent which made for an even contest.
Final Score  Pies 3 7  25    Lions 2 7  19   Pies  by  6 Points
My Take
This win was no surprise to me. We have been seeing this team develop over their very short season and they are the team to watch in 2020 as they will only get better. There has been a lot of pressure on the Coach with onlookers demanding a change due to a lack of wins but let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Collingwood have a history of standing behind their embattled coaches as they are confident of just what is being achieved and how things are developing behind the scenes. So far there is some good evidence that Coach, Wayne Siekman is getting results, albeit at the end of the season.
Hopefully, not much goes on in the way of trades to other teams as this current team shows some real promise and should chalk up multiple wins next season.
The team farewell their oldest team mate, Cecilia McIntosh, who was a good leader and contributor in this team’s development.
2020 is looking good. Go Pies!
#Collingwood #Forever #AFLWMagpies

Collingwood
It was a welcome change to see the Pies start as they meant to finish. They were strong and aggressive from the get-go and whilst the ex-Pie, Mo Hope, scored within the first minute, Collingwood responded with some great team work and answered with a  goal. Grant got out another quick goal keeping Collingwood in touch. Rowe, D’Arcy and Guttridge were a tight knit, productive unit and Layton showed that she is becoming effective in the ruck and fitting into the game nicely. Lambert, Bonnici and Livingstone were their usual hardworking selves in defence and the Pies had a good running game and their best start to the season so far.
The second term saw a series of shorter, well placed kicks and marks with the Pies finding space  and Sara Rowe producing the first goal of the quarter. Ash Brazill was sensational in defence and Mo Hope was contained by Ruby Schleicher but by the end of the quarter the Roo’s began to swarm and scored another 2 goals.
After the break the Roo’s scored in the first minute. The Pies had beautiful play, chipping the ball all the way into their 50 but the Captain passed off the ball instead of taking the shot. Ilish Ross was tackled without the ball and the Roo’s were given a free in front of goals and fortunately did not convert. Lynch had very clever and patient play as she waited for her team mates to arrive in their 50. Jaimee Lambert scored a free in front of goals and could not quite make the distance but still added to the tally. Ilish Ross was tackled hard again and limped from field in a lot pain. Casey was very determined in defence and she too was tackled without the ball.
The final term saw the Pies come back with improved tackling and Lynch fantastic in defence with 2nd efforts. For the bulk of the quarter North’s kept the ball in their 50 but were unproductive. Jaimee Lambert’s clever use of the ball in strong defensive conditions eventually produced a goal through Guttridge. Steph Chiocci also scored which gave Collingwood a great last quarter adding 12 points for the Pies and keeping the Roo’s to just 3 points.
North Melbourne
The Roo’s started their game hard and fast and scored very quickly. They probably under estimated the tenacity and determination of Collingwood, in spite of their youth and inexperience. The Roo’s 2nd and 3rd terms were what ultimately won them the game.  Poor accuracy kept the Pies hopes alive and a 3 point final quarter could be their undoing against stronger teams.
Injuries and Umpires
Ilish Ross injured her left ankle in tackle and will have scans during the week.
It has always been my understanding that you cannot be tackled without the ball and yet this happened twice in defence to both Ross and Casey. There was also a situation where the ball went out and there was confusion as to just what the call/penalty should  be. I know the umpires can’t see everything, but these situations look like there is a lack of understanding of the rules. For the most part there is consistency, but these stood out this week.
Final Score  Pies 5 1 31    Roo’s 7 11 53   Roo’s  by  22 Points
My Take
This was hands down, Collingwood’s best starting quarter of the season. This team was determined to start hard and finish hard. Week by week this team is really starting to find its strengths and confidence. This week’s game showed continuous pressure and a lot of heart. I am excited to see what this team can produce if they stay together. Collingwood was fortunate that North Melbourne lacked accuracy but then one could argue that relentless pressure was enough to put them off their game. Conversely, Collingwood’s accuracy was great this week with a single behind and the rest goals.
The final term saw the Roo’s held to just 3 points and whilst the Pies have done this in previous games this time it looked like it was by design. I would also argue that the score was not indicative of the play and the continued effort.
Next week’s home game against Brisbane should be a cracker if this week’s game and the team’s momentum is anything to go by. Go Pies!
#Collingwood #Forever #AFLWMagpies

​​Collingwood
Collingwood had a slow start and lacked aggression. Ash Brazill was a welcome sight back in the team. And whilst the Pies remained scoreless in the first term Hynes managed to run down Tayla Harris and Livingstone put Harris on notice that she would need to work hard to score. Shevlin and Stratton had a lot of touches, but Collingwood failed to be competitive especially when it came to contested marks. The quarter time break saw the Players get a serve from Coach Siekman and rightly so, the response, however, was fantastic and probably produced the two best quarters so far this season.
Quarters 2 and 3 saw a very aggressive and thinking team that lead at the main break and ¾ time. The second term saw Collingwood take control of the game with the Captain, Chiocci, leading the charge. Shorter kicks proved to be the answer to the first quarter woes. Lynch clocked up her first AFLW goal as did Allen. Sarah Rowe and Ash Brazill showed sensational athleticism, with Rowe feeding Guttridge front and centre, giving her, her first AFLW goal in a good debut performance. Lambert, Brazill and Shevlin were the major ball winners at half time and Collingwood looked good.
The defence was ferocious with Casey and Livingstone not allowing the Blues anything but a point in the second quarter. Whilst the Pies were up in the 3rd term they struggled to find true targets in their 50 in the last 5 minutes. All that turned around with extraordinary leg work by Sarah Rowe and a goal on the siren that saw the Pies in the lead at the break.
Unfortunately, the ¾ time instructions of “cool and calm” didn’t fire up the team and Collingwood barely had the ball in their 50. In the final 3 minutes of play the Pies could not buy a call and the umpires ‘manufactured’ a call for Carlton in front of goals around the 12-minute mark. The Pies were desperate to score in the last quarter but could not counter the blues attack or defence.
Carlton
The Blues started hard and kept the Pies to a zero score in the first quarter. They were surprised by the intensity of what appeared to be a completely different team after the first break. Collingwood  kept Carlton on their toes in the second and third term while Carlton started to find their momentum toward the end of the 3rd quarter. Experience, talent and a lack of whistle saw the Blues take control of the final quarter and keep their season well and truly alive.
Injuries and Umpires
Tayla Harris (Carlton) was on and off the field for her right shoulder and spent most of the third quarter on the bench nursing it.
I know, another hot day down at Ikon Park and the umpiring was reasonably consistent and fair in the first half but then the umpires appeared to clock off in the second half of the third term. They forgot what their whistles were for in the last quarter and then made the call for Walker (Carlton) in front of goals when they had not paid the same call all game. There were at least 3 calls that should have gone the way of the Pies in that last 3 minutes that if paid, the goal to Carlton may not have transpired (as easily if at all). That said, there were plenty of frees that could have gone Carlton’s way in the 3rd term for some high tackles. I understand that the umpires are trying to keep the game flowing but surely, they can still call the obvious?
 
Final Score  Pies 4 5 29   Blues 4 10 34
My Take
Collingwood need to produce four full quarters and not take the first quarter to assess their opposition or warm up. With two outstanding quarters this young team showed that they are not only competitive but can win with persistent effort.
It was encouraging to see Maxi (Nick Maxwell) in the Coaches box and does explain why the defence was so formidable. There is some real talent in this team and with more experience they can only get better.
One criticism is that players in defence, especially in front of goals, need to know when to punch and when to mark. The wrong decision here proved to be costly in this game, but if you never make a mistake then how do you learn? I’m excited to see just what the Pies can produce in their next game. Go Pies!

​A blustery and hot location gave a definite advantage to the team kicking with the wind. Both teams were hungry for their first win, and while the Magpies probably had their best game yet, they didn’t manage to get their first win.
Collingwood
The first quarter saw Collingwood kicking against the wind. The Pies frenzied response to a quick GWS goal saw many handballs and shorter kicks working together to push the ball into their 50 but didn’t translate into any shots for goal; leaving the Pies scoreless in the first term. Livingstone worked hard in defence as did Casey and Hildebrand and whilst the Pies seemed to get off to a slower start, they had eased into the game by the 10-minute mark. The Pies showed their desperation and physicality letting the Giants know that it would not be an easy game.
In the second term the Pies came out swing with Stratton scoring the first point. Sharni Layton earned her pay with an effective tap and a well-placed kick to Membery in front position in front of the goals. Sarah Dargan also scored closing the gap. The team effort of a tight defensive game kept the Giants to just a point. The Pies had better movement and found more space this quarter but still had trouble finding targets.
After the break the Pies really piled on the defence making it very difficult for GWS in their 50 despite the unwarranted free kick to Farrugia and both teams kicking the ball out of bounds several times in a row due to the windy conditions.
In the final quarter Ross and Grant were excellent at backing up, with Alexander being held in front goals and no whistle from the umpire. Hynes was good in the ruck, but her kicking was ineffective. Membrey was awarded a free in front of goals and scored her second for the game in her debut for the Pies. Shevlin also showed great promise easily scoring her first AFLW goal with Dargan and Rowe adding another point each to the total. The last 3 minutes of the game saw Collingwood find their rhythm with a good running game and whilst they looked like a threat they were beaten by the clock.
GWS
The Giants had a flying start with a quick goal. They managed to find space easily and at times found a way around the intense Collingwood defence. Kicking with the wind in the first quarter helped cement their score and ultimately the win. Subsequent quarters brought mixed results with Staunton having the only attempt at goal in the second term. Clever use of the ball and a good running game kept the opposition busy, but the Giants had trouble breaking through the defence. Their cracking first quarter was what ultimately got them over the line.
Injuries and Umpires
Nicole Hildebrand copped a roll on the head from a hard tackle on Mackrill and left the field but was later cleared to continue playing.
The umpires missed a few free calls, especially for Collingwood but the windy conditions would not have helped them with their task. However, the ridiculous call of contact on Farrugia against Collingwood did dish out an unfair advantage. Fortunately, the ¾ time siren intervened. If the commentators say “There is nothing in that” then there is nothing in that. And whilst no team really wants charity from the umpires, when a player is held in front of goals and not given a free kick, it can make one question what the umpires are looking at. Yes, yes, it was hot and windy and possibly they had momentarily clocked off, it happens to the best of us.
Final Score  Pies 4 3 27    Giants 5 6 36   Giants by 9 Points
My Take
Collingwood have been working hard to work together and it showed on the field in this game. With the exclusion of Ash Brazill due to concussion, most of the team really stepped up and gave their all. Even with a slow start, once the team found their rhythm they looked like a cohesive unit. A 0 score in the first quarter was in no way indicative of the efforts.
Membrey was an effective inclusion and the newbies, Shevlin and Layton showed promise of things to come. Bonnici was relentless in defence as was Lambert, Livingstone and Hildebrand (before and after the head roll). MacIntosh had an impressive game that showed why she is a leader and a good role model. It really was a team effort in this game and does show just what they are capable of. If the Pies can produce 4 full quarters of a good hard game and tidy up their kicks they could be on the end of a win or two. I hope this game has silenced a few of the naysayers and garnered more support for this sport, these women and for that matter women in sport in general.
Supporters should also ease up on the Coach. We need to remember that Collingwood lost some ‘big’ players and are rebuilding. And one could argue that the results are slow at coming but they are there and were apparent this week. This was evident in the performance of the whole team and the confidence of some of the newer players. Looking forward to next week’s game. Go Pies!
#Collingwood #Forever #AFLWMagpies

Collingwood
The Pies were taken by surprise by the tenaciousness and speed of Freo. The Dockers scored easily within the first minute of play.
Collingwood had some good defensive work by a few players but were too slow to offload the ball. They were also unable to get the ball into their 50. Notably, Steph Chiocci gave a good 50 metre chase and her opponent was caught with the ball. D’Arcy worked hard in the middle of the ground and there were some good contests however, the Pies poor disposal was very quickly capitalised on by the Dockers.
The second quarter from the Pies started slowly with them too slow to the ball and too far off their players. Freo effectively shut down Collingwood and lapped up their errors, entering the half time break with a 31-point lead and the Pies trailing with just two behinds.
After the break, the Pies looked a little livelier with Bonicci being matched up with Hooker from Freo. This worked well and forced Freo to look for another of their many options. Sarah D’Arcy finally bagged a goal after two 50 metre frees in a row and Jordyn Allen contributed a point. MacIntosh, the team veteran, sprang to life and was dishing out some good tackles. Brazill was effective in defence but was caught with the ball as her team mates couldn’t find their words.
The Pies managed to find themselves for the last quarter with Jaimee Lambert scoring a quick bouncing goal. The Pies put more pressure around the ball and stoppages. Shevlin added another point as her debut contribution to the score and it appeared that Fremantle were, for a short time, taken by surprise.
The Magpies pulled out some great smothers, 3 in a row, which kept to Dockers to a point for the bulk of the quarter. Sarah Rowe had an outstanding chase down, catching her player with the ball. Hildebrande demonstrated her frustration by throwing the ball away from the Freo player that was awarded a free call and gave away a 50-metre penalty in front of goals sealing the fate of the Pies.
Fremantle
This team has ten hungry goal kickers, a very effective game and great use of the ball and corridors. Their game is well organised with players backing each other up and communicating continually. They have tidy footwork, good pace, great athleticism and all-round good team work. I could go into how good individuals were but then … just read the above.
Injuries and Umpires
Ash Brazill was absolutely creamed by the opposition and came off with a sore head as she was sandwiched between two players. Bonicci copped a similar greeting and spent the rest of the final term on the bench.
I thought the umpiring lacked a bit of consistency this week with Fremantle definitely getting away with a longer time to hold the ball and not dispose of it. The Pies didn’t seem to get the same favour from the Umpires which didn’t help their game or morale.
Final Score Fremantle 7 9 51    Collingwood 2 6 18
My Take
To those looking on, it would appear that Collingwood didn’t know what they were doing and lacked fitness, ball skills and hunger. And whilst I’m not giving them an out, I would suggest that possibly the travel did have an influence (jetlag and dehydration) on their game. If we look back to game one, this team had the makings of a good solid, competitive team.
Against a well organised side such as Fremantle, Collingwood need to take away some good hard lessons. As I said last week, I think this team lacks cohesion. There are a few very good individuals and other good players that could give more. Since when did you allow a team mate to get caught with the ball? “You’re hot, you’re hot” would suffice to let them know they are about to be tackled. Some players were not watching the ball into their hands and I would suggest that perhaps one player, that missed the ball 3 times, has depth of field perception issues. The coaching team should have picked this up by now.
The Pies need stronger targets, a more organised game or copy Freo and use the middle corridor, better communication and more effective use of the ball.
Social media has been really awful about this team and the outcome of Saturday’s game. I think kicking someone while they are down doesn’t help them stand up. And for that matter all the hate about women in sport and how “Men have been playing for 100 years” and do it better, suggests that the public need to give it more time and a lot more support. It’s only been 3 seasons!
My final point; it is Collingwood and for the die hards, we bleed, live and breathe black and white. Let’s get behind our women’s team and give them the support that they need. This will inspire a bit confidence and produce a better result.
#Collingwood #Forever #EveryBlackandWhiteTeam

Collingwood
​Interesting 4 quarters with Collingwood going down by 17 points in the end making this their second loss of the 2019 season. However, the low score was indicative of the tough defence on both sides.
Stand out for Collingwood, Ash Brazill, who at one point seemed to be a back, in the ruck and a forward as the ball moved into the Collingwood goal end. Her intelligent play held Melbourne to a low scoring game in the first two quarters with her outstanding defence stopping the ball just in front of the posts.
The Pies were formidable in defence in the first half which saw the Dees with a lot of possessions and unable to convert. Conversely the Pies remained scoreless for the 2nd quarter and a hurried kick by Ash Brazill still didn’t bring reward. After the Collingwood Captain, Steph Chiocci, called a group huddle at half time, the Pies broke out with more energy and tighter defence in the 3rd quarter with Lambert delivering solid tackling throughout. However, things weren’t much better on the scoring front.
Schleicher, Bonnici and Chiocci were also outstanding in the second half, opening up the game which helped Collingwood forward, Sarah Dargan, finally bag a goal in the fourth term.
Melbourne
The Dees had a mass of possessions and at times a nice running game with players finding space away from Magpie defence. O’Dea gave them their opening goal in the 2nd quarter whilst Lauren Pearce took an outstanding mark directly in front of goals and tidied up with 6 points. Melbourne dominated in the 2nd quarter and from there, took control of the game.
Tyla Hanks had a great Debut bagging two goals in the 3rd quarter and is a player to watch. Tegan Cunningham gave her all in defence and managed to shut down the Magpie attack.
Injuries and Umpires
Emma Grant, Collingwood, left the field in pain with a suspect shoulder injury and will know her fate after scans during the week.
Sharni Layton, Collingwood, copped a shocking blow and retired to the bench in the 4th term with blood nose. Whilst Steph Chiocci got absolutely creamed after the mark and was not rewarded with a 50 metre free.
Final Score: 1 3  9 Pies  3 8 26 Dees
My Take
Melbourne have a good team on their hands especially if they can settle earlier in their game. They have a good running game and get plenty of ball. If they can work on converting possessions, they will be hard to beat.
Collingwood have a young team with a lot of talent but seem to lack cohesion. If they study Ash Brazill’s game and put some of her footwork, ball watching skills and play reading into training the result would be a very strong, well rounded athletic team. 2019 will be a good building year for them and they will be the team to watch in 2020. Go Pies!

​Collingwood
Collingwood got off to a good start with a tight defensive game especially from Jaimee Lambert and the team veteran Cecilia MacIntosh. Sophie Alexander produced the first goal and first point from a long kick.
The Pies continued to apply defensive pressure to the Cats and kept them to one goal and 2 behinds for their first quarter.
Sharni Layton made her debut and did a reasonable job of it starting forward and then moving into the ruck.
Ash Brazill proved to be too good for the Cats attempt at goal by touching the ball on the line keeping them to a point.
The second quarter saw Stratton relentless in defence and Livingstone giving great backline defence but that didn’t stop the Cats from scoring just before half time. Emma Grant required a bit of strapping on the left thigh but continued to show good form on the field.
Early in the third term Sharni Layton collected the main goal kicker for the Pies, Sophie Alexander, with Alexander having to be stretchered from the field with a possible concussion. Laura Butler was called in to fill Alexander’s shoes. Despite losing Alexander the Pies Sarah D’Arcy, kicked a goal within minutes of the restart of play.
The Pies continued their defensive efforts with good tackling by Jordan Allen chasing down and tackling Geelong with what threatened to be a goal.
Lambert left the field briefly after a clash of bodies and returned with a strapped ankle, had a bouncing shot at goal and was rewarded with 6 points.
Sensational footwork by Brazill in defence sent the ball into Collingwood’s end. Grant chased hard  but with no one home it made the conversion near impossible but free kick saw Stratton add a point to the tally. The 3rd quarter defensive pressure from the Pies saw the Cats kept to just two points with the Pies clocking up 2 goals and 2 behinds leading into the break.
The final term saw the Pies hopeful to win a season opener, but this was not to be. The Cats managed to open up their game and doubled their defensive efforts. The scores were levelled with the umpire calling “play on” after what looked like a push in the back for McIntosh on the Collingwood 50 metre line. Geelong showed their desperation with the ball making its way back to their end and a free kick for an obvious push in the back was awarded. The ball hit post giving Geelong the one-point lead that won them the game. With two minutes left in the final quarter the Pies were unable to answer the Cats.
Geelong
The Cats start looked promising, but they could not break through the Collingwood defence even with the outstanding athleticism of Nina Morrison.
Maddie Boyd stepped up in her debut game and impressed Cats fans with their first goal and her first AFLW goal. The Cats were inspired by Boyd’s efforts and worked hard to level the score.
The second quarter saw Jodie Orr demonstrating why she is an asset to the Cats and Clifford managed to crumb a mark resulting in a goal.
Geelong found a free kick through the inexperience of Collingwood and gave Maddie Boyd her second goal before the halftime break leaving the Pies scoreless for that quarter.
With the stop start of the third quarter the Cats were unable to gain any momentum and were kept to just two points.
The final term saw the Cats come out swinging against a very tough Collingwood defence. Ivey levelled the score and Morrison put an end to the Pies dream of winning an opener, by a kick to the post.
Injuries and Umpires
Sophie Alexander will have scans during the week for a suspected concussion as will Jamie Lambert on her ankle.
I do think that if the free had been paid to MacIntosh for the push in the back, the end result may have been different. However, I was impressed by the consistency of the umpiring and I think that they saw and called the bulk of the penalties.
Final Score  Pies 3 5 23   Cats 3 6 24
My Take
The Pies opened their season well and unfortunately were not rewarded for their efforts. If this first game is an indication of the season, then it looks like the Pies will have a good competitive season with a few wins. Hopefully they don’t dwell too much on the loss and continue to improve on their current form and their accuracy. Collingwood has some real talent in the team and I’m looking forward to a good season.
Geelong has a lot of talent and can’t find their targets easily but do seem to be a cohesive group. With consistency, improved defence and tackling, they should see a successful season.