Collingwood vs Melbourne: Back to the bad old days, bad old ways

Collingwood vs Melbourne: Back to the bad old days, bad old ways:
By Luke Mason

Flat as a tack, Collingwood.

As wasteful as it gets, really. I’m honestly not sure where to start on this one. It was, quite simply, a return to the bad old days and ways of the Collingwood teams from ten years prior.

You could nearly, nearly, forgive the players for thinking they had done their job for the first half of the season. We had overcome two challengers (the Western Bulldogs and Geelong) and then our arch nemesis of the 21^st century, Brisbane. And with only one week remaining until the week off and a number of key players injured, you’d think that they may be in the mindset which thinks: One more and we’re there.

Add the injection of a number of inexperienced and somewhat raw rookies (Travis Cloke, Adam Iacobucci, Julian Rowe, and, from last week, Scott Pendlebury) and the aura of invincibility developed from the first ten weeks evaporates pretty quickly. It’s not the fault of the newcomers, merely a lack of senior exposure – Iacobucci and Rowe have not played this season, and Cloke and Pendlebury have not been fixtures thus far.

But it was still an inexcusable loss, one which, if we are to challenge in 2006, is not to occur again, and the sooner it is stamped out the better.

These games are the sorts that we should expect to win, or at least challenge in. Melbourne is widely tipped to challenge for the flag this season, and a win on Monday would have confirmed our status as bona fide premiership contenders. It would have proved a deserving reward for a challenging five weeks of football, a period that saw us lose admirably to West Coast in Perth (the hardest road trip in football today), thump fellow contenders Geelong, shrug off a persistent Western Bulldogs outfit and tough it out against bogey side Brisbane (yes, I just mentioned this before, but it still fits in). To defeat Melbourne would cap off a magnificent first half to the season, and see us into the break full of momentum, a chance to take the foot off the pedal for half a week.

I’m not complaining about our 8-3 record at the halfway mark. Had I been offered a start to the season such as this, I’d have taken it every time. But I feel we could, and perhaps should be 10-1.

We had Adelaide on the ropes at the final change, but the damn Crows employed their stodgy brand of football, chipping the ball around and strangling us before slamming the foot on the pedal. Having gone in at ¾ time a point down, I’d have expected we were going to at least hold them to within ten points either side. And had the game been played at the MCG, a ground that does not suit Adelaide’s possession football, and at a time when we had been perfectly warmed up, we’d have won. But I’m not, and wasn’t overly disappointed with the loss. The Crows are (as far as I’m concerned) flag favourites, and with good reason.

But play them at the MCG in September and I’d back our side in every day of the week.

The West Coast loss was brave, and we did actually beat them after the first ten minutes, a time in which they slammed on four quick fire goals to stun us into action. Still, we had our opportunities and did not take them. Our fault, but that happens. And how could you be disappointed with a 14 point loss to the giants from across the Nullarbor, a game which saw us tough it out and not give in, the first indication that our grit, the hallmark of our 2002 and 2003 campaigns, is back.

The Melbourne loss aside, I’m not disappointed with our season to date, and I can’t see how anyone can be.

What did everyone actually expect from the team this year? It really began as the season of mystery; the list could have gone either way. So far, so good. After all, we were infact the 15^th ranked side of last season, injuries or not, things did not look bright.

So I’m pleased, we have won 2/3 of what we won between 2004 and 2005 in half a season, going nicely.

The defeat at the hands of Melbourne was not what we have come to expect, and not acceptable if we are, as everyone says, the real deal. Every team has their off days, and it has to be said, Monday was ours. But you expect more, not hope, expect. We are accustomed to playing in front of the big crowds in blockbuster games, in all seriousness, what game is not a blockbuster for us now? Fremantle? Yes, probably the only one, although you can safely say that in the lead up to the match Chris Connolly will spruik the Dockers chances and say that they are going to mix it and match it with the big boys, and how they deserve to play in front of a big crowd at the MCG.

Dream on!

I was going to go to the match on Monday, but opted not to, a warm afternoon at home sounded more appealing. Weak? Yeah, probably, but to be honest, the mind said yes, the body no. I’d already been to the Richmond vs Kangaroos match two days earlier, and the fact that there would be no seating guarantees turned me off going. I hope it doesn’t sound like I am a bandwagoner, that I’m not, but I felt like a rest from going to the football.

I went for a walk outside pre-game, just to consider our prospects for the afternoon. As I stood under a tree while the rain fell, I thought about the coaching staffs selection policies for the afternoon. They were valid, but still a touch disconcerting.

This is meant as no disrespect for Julian Rowe, Adam Iacobucci, Travis Cloke or Dale Thomas, the latter two, in particular, have been handy/potent in our rise this season.

But when you consider the outs:

~Blake Caracella

~Dane Swan

~Brodie Holland

~Nick Maxwell

*I don’t include Guy Richards here, more on him later.

It is basically trading experience for inexperience when we are about to play on the greatest stage of all, the MCG in front of a packed house, nothing better than that.

That may work against Fremantle, the Kangaroos or perhaps Richmond, for example, and certainly Essendon and Carlton, given that they are now in their sorry states down the foot of the ladder.

But not against one of the form teams of the league on the biggest stage in football. It is fraught with danger, put simply.

Rowe was quiet, certainly not a prominent figure at all, Iacobucci did not receive the sort of run he may have been hoping for, and I did take heart from the spark he provided when on in the first and second terms as a rover. He is small in stature, Yakka, but he packs a punch, never gives in and looked as if he really did want to be out there. He wasn’t coasting or riding on the coat-tails of his more experienced teammates.

Thomas, too, was handy, but only really showed something in the second half, with two goals and plenty of run. But he at least showed something, that he actually wanted to win his own ball and was prepared to work for it, a trait that will surely become one of his trademarks in the future. His chase on Daniel Ward in the final term a case in point. Ward, hardly quick, motored towards the Demons fifty meter line, before Thomas reached him, scragged him and won the ball himself. For a scrawny young boy to do something like that is certainly something to take heart from.

The highlight with Thomas is that he brings something different to the table, so much needed flair, some spark to the equation, and plenty of run through the midfield. I thought another week off prior to the bye would have given him just what he needed: three weeks of no football, to completely recharge the batteries, and have him freshened for the second half of the year. Now the loss of Swan, Caracella, Holland and Maxwell may have aided his cause, I’d have preferred to have allowed him another week to recuperate, which is the sort of thing that allows depth to come into play.

Depth?

Do we have it? I’m sure we do, but for the first time this season, it was tested.

It was an interesting intersection for Malthouse and co. They could have gone down the road of the tried and true, reviving the stuttering career of Jason Cloke (yes, I’m all for that), brought back Rhyce Shaw (normally an illness takes a week to recover, perhaps another week at Williamstown would have done him good, and then thrown in someone such as Iacobucci (whose efforts did deserve senior recognition), as well as retaining Guy Richards.

Now surely Richards’ form against Brisbane warranted another crack at senior action? He has taken six seasons to become a semi-regular at league level, and after his best effort in two years, surely it was time to retain him, make sure we at least break even with Jeff White and demolish Mark Jamar, a workhorse but nothing special.

Richards stood up to the test against the likes of Jamie Charman and Beau McDonald, both ruckmen massive in size and mean in the way they go about the play. Mean, that is what all ruckmen should be, nasty, not overly rough, but mean nonetheless. Put simply, they need to put fear into anyone they come across.

Stretch doesn’t exactly fit into that category, but he at least showed some signs against the two monsters from Brisbane. He looked somewhat the part around the ground, too.

So why not reward good form and allow him another opportunity to continue his form, unless he is one of the two players Malthouse alluded to as under injury clouds. If so, perhaps it was the right move to leave him out, but at least allow us the chance to know what is wrong.

Travis Cloke is a handy replacement, and was probably included with an eye to stretching the Demons defence, a good move. But why not just play Richards and use Fraser in Cloke’s role? Surely Fraser is the more potent option up forward? And the way we went, he would have been handy up there, too.

But you can argue that all inclusions bar Tarrant and Thomas (who have not played VFL this season) had shown good form with Williamstown and had earned their shots.

I was quite pleased to see Iacobucci’s name in the squad, he has been written up as a mini Paul Licuria, and could end up a prominent figure in our future midfield. He at least shows something at the stoppages, which is an area that we have been bashed in all season.

With Rowe, I’m not exactly sure where I sit. He looks classy enough and seems to chase when he doesn’t have the ball, but his disposal is questionable as is his composure. Both will most likely improve with time. He does bring more speed to the side, too, but it is still hard to call yet. I am not calling for his name to be cut from the list, but his progress has been somewhat difficult to read.

But the club must surely like what they see, he was handed a number 9 guernsey last season, it generally only occurs to those who earn it.

At the same stage of his career (three years in), Mark McGough was cut from the list. I’m sure the club will persist longer with Rowey.

I can see why the coaches would have pushed for their turn to senior ranks, for two main reasons:

a) Players in form (particularly those in a sustained period of good form) should be rewarded, no matter the circumstances.

It is only fair to give credit where credit is due, and the likes of Iacobucci, Rowe and Travis Cloke have all earned their places through some good efforts at Williamstown, as Scott Pendlebury and Heath Shaw did before them.

But all in the one shot? It’s an overdose!

b) All players need exposure at the highest level and when it counts.

Again, I agree, but this match was the wrong opportunity to do so. A crunch game against a firing opposition, and in front of a massive crowd. Ok, maybe one or two youngsters (including Pendles, who should not and was not dropped), but not a whole influx. It’s overkill, and our starting bench of T.Cloke, Iacobucci, Rowe and Pendlebury was probably a bit too much. Good pace, good youth, promise for the future, but when four senior (could well be five if you include Richards) depart, you’d want to include one or two more hardened bodies.

Which brings us to Chad Morrison.

Morrison is another whose reselection mystifies. Granted, he was not the worst last week against the Lions, but if we were to beat Melbourne, he was not one of the players to play a major role, nor was he one who was going to play the shutdown role on an Aaron Davey or Byron Pickett, his lack of pace (yes, it’s not his fault) counting against him there.

Was he retained to fill the Swan role as the rudder across halfback? Possibly, he has a similar build, but is not as good by foot and certainly is not a play maker.

I have nothing personal against Chad, I was in support of his recruitment in late 2004, but he is not in our best team, put simply.

But wasn’t I arguing earlier for more mature bodies to replace the second tier? Yes, I was, but I was also after players with speed/would replace, eye for an eye. Unfortunately, I can’t see Chad in that group just yet. I really do hope he proves me wrong, but...the writing is on the wall. I do hope he can return to the best form he showed at West Coast in his heyday, he was mentioned in the same breath as Ben Cousins only seven or so years ago, and many tend to forget he was handy for the Eagles when we traded picks seven and 37 (?) and Bo Nixon for him, or thereabouts.

One thing the injury toll taught us is how underrated and how important Dane Swan, Brodie Holland, Blake Caracella and Nick Maxwell are to Collingwood.

On Monday, we were smashed at the clearances, only Shane O'Bree and, to a lesser extent; Scott Burns were able to fight on gamely. We had hardly any defensive pressure applied on the way out, either, and we were beaten comprehensively in the one-on-one duels.

Swan and Holland are vital in their compartment, as they both add grunt and strength to the side. Swan, in particular, is enjoying an excellent season, and he carries with him some underrated pace, and has proven a steadying influence off halfback and on the wing. For mine, Swan is the rudder of the Collingwood ship in 2006. Of course, Rocca is the main staple, but Swan may well just be the go to man, the steadying influence across the centreline and halfback. Thank goodness he will be back when we face the Swans; it’ll prove a test for him to show how far he has come since he spilt the mark in the goal square last time we met, allowing Goodes to goal and steal the game.

With almost all targets missed by hand or foot, I couldn’t help but long for Blake Caracella to return, and think what may have happened had the ball sat up for him out on the wing last Saturday night against the Lions.

Arguably the classiest player in our side, Caracella will at least find targets and would have added poise and composure to a haphazard Collingwood on Monday. What he lacks for in pace he adds up for in nous. Vastly underrated. He could almost be utilised as a loose man in defence, something of a sweeper across halfback. He played that role (briefly, I think) against West Coast in round seven, and was a steadier for the side. We should look to play through both he and Ben Johnson at every opportunity. At least it means something will happen when they have the ball.

Maxwell another we missed. When Wakelin was helped off the ground with a twinged calf, we lacked the extra tall in defence, and the man who could be expected to stand in front of the rampaging Melbourne forwards. Maxwell may be skinny, but he is brave, and doesn’t give in easily, he wouldn’t have been out of place in Collingwood sides of previous eras.

Another selection stumble was not to include either Clokey (Jason) or the impressive Harry O'Brien to fill Maxy’s role. We went in with one tall too short, I feel. It didn’t turn out to be the major issue, but I still reckon it would have aided our cause.

The crux of the issue is that our second tier players were taken from the side, a row of bricks taken from the building, forcing our third tier players to stand up. They didn’t, our top echelon failed to fire and we crumbled.

And how we crumbled.

Prior to the game, I made a pact that I would not seek any score updates from the radio or the internet, acting as if the delayed telecast was infact live.

Not a bad move, as I may not have even tuned in!

As I settled down on the couch as the two sides went through their paces and Robert Walls announced that (as all good tipsters should) Collingwood would win, I had one sneaking suspicion.

We could get smashed.

And it could have been seen coming a mile off and we probably all saw it, but it came as a shock. Channel Ten were pumping up the Demons to no end, as they should have; too. They were in form, amped up, key players on song and set to play a home game in front of a bumper crowd of 70,000 plus.

We are by far the most experienced side when it comes to playing in front of large crowds at the MCG on the big occasions. We have had mixed results, but we generally know how to cope.

We didn’t, they did, surprising, too. We are now a side that knows how to win. It isn’t foreign anymore, we are accustomed to it.

Pre-game I wrote down in the notes second:

“Watch out for Davey, Pickett and Yze...our strength is up forward, fat chance of Carroll and Holland holding our star big men”

I got the first part right, the second was way off the mark. A bit like our kicking to leading forward targets.

Isn’t it time we got a home game against Melbourne? According to my calculations, our most recent home match against the Dees was on the Queens Birthday of 1999. Eight years ago. It’s all well and good to be kind to the Demons and give them their much needed cash (shouldn’t the oldest club be one of the richest, too?), but it’s time we had our share, too. It seems to me that it is the only game Melbourne fans come out in their droves for. Annoying, they are feeding off our scraps. I’m all for giving everyone a chance and allowing them the dollars they are desperate for, but...there’s a time when push comes to shove.

First Quarter:

Collingwood: 2.5 (17)

Melbourne: 4.3 (27)

The first term sounded ominous warnings, and they smelt off. We burst from the blocks, Leon Davis continuing his excellent form with the perfect crumbing goal, roving off Rocca’s hands and drilling it. And when Leon drills it, he drills it. Low, hard and fast, they rocket off the boot. A handy start.

But it isn’t going to be a walk over. Pickett is on from the beginning, and looking super dangerous opposed to a game Heath Shaw. Tarkyn Lockyer, who has returned to form this season, showed an encouraging sign in sticking his head over the ball on the wing with a full steam Pickett rolling towards him with intent in his eyes.

Some interesting match ups saw Morrison take on Adem Yze (a fair match in my eyes, as Yze isn’t overly quick, and his body size suits Chad), Wakelin on Lynden Dunn and Tarkyn Lockyer against Aaron Davey. This along keeps the red light flashing. While Tarks was excellent against Davey last time the two met, it is a move fraught with danger. And so it proved, and it was hardly Tarks’ fault.

It is apparent early that we are not on our game. Alan Didak is in everything as we continue to press forward, Melbourne happy to absorb all our blows and then counter punch. Dids is giving Daniel Bell the run around up forward, and we are just unable to make it count on the scoreboard.

Cameron Bruce began on Bucks, but he has now shifted onto Tarrant at fullback, a surprise move indeed.

We seemingly refuse to man up, Morrison, moments after running the ball out with gusto, and Heath Shaw do not find their men and Pickett marks completely unattended inside fifty. He duly goals, and they have found the lead they will never surrender.

It is clear by now that we are off our game, with Bucks uncharacteristically spilling a grab, and Burnsy missing one that he normally scores in his sleep. I’m feeling by now that Neale Danaher has thrown us with his match ups; did anyone seriously expect to see Cameron Bruce line up on Buckley, before switching to Tarrant? Or see Ben Holland take (and beat) Rocca? Certainly both were big risks and they paid off. I think we struggled to adapt early on. Danaher pulled the first tricks and they came off.

Tarrant gives us some hope with a terrific dribbling punt, goaling like Daicos from the pocket. Taz always mauls Melbourne; it looks as if he is going to produce another special.

Not on Monday!

Our delivery to Rocca (and Tarrant) was extremely throughout the quarter, and for the most part of the afternoon we struggled to hit our targets, all over the field.

It was becoming clear by now that we were going to have to put up a decent fight to even hold Melbourne for most of the day, and with Pickett and Davey irrepressible, they shot to a 10 point quarter time lead, curtsy of some Davey magic and some Heath Shaw risk taking.

I’m all for running, charging from defence with reckless abandon, it makes for exciting footy and it stretches the opposition forwards. Most importantly, it allows us to take the initiative and change the game. What’s more, we’ve done this effectively for most of the season.

But it all seemed to come unstuck for Heater on Monday, who constantly tried to outrun Pickett and Davey to no avail. He was run down and hemmed into corners, and his disposal suffered as a direct result of it, in that the pressure applied was far too strong and he was obviously shaken from some earlier errors, as happens to young players.

I don’t want to be too critical of Heath, he simply did what he has done so well this season, and is at least taking the bit between the teeth, and, unlike many other youngsters have done over the years, retreated into his shell.

But he cost us on Monday, Davey toying with him, cruising towards him, daring Heater to take him on.

The warning signs came in thick and fast. Lacking precision by foot, slammed at the stoppages, inconsistent, wasteful and sloppy. I wrote at the time that we were playing like millionaires and not working hard enough. In the cold light of day I’m not sure whether this accusation is correct or not, but it bloody well looked like it.

To be truthful, we looked wobbly and unsettled, and did not do any of the hard sorts of things we have done so far this season.

Good: O’Bree, Didak.

Second Quarter:

Collingwood: 5.7 (37)

Melbourne: 9.3 (63)

By now the game was gone with a capital G. Gawn. It smelt terribly like the 2003 Grand Final by this stage, a ‘dangerous’ first term, preceding a deplorable second quarter.

Presti was treated like a rent-a-car by Neitz, and the team was simply not manning up. It’s often the case that when little things fall away, the team drops away and things end up messy. Without the key forwards doing anything right, and only Didak looking dangerous, we were dead in the water.

And it was simply one of those days for the Demons, one that’ll no doubt receive a run in the VCRs for years to come. The ball sat up for them, it would run away from us, their risks came off, ours didn’t. Not easy to take, but that was life. I mean, seriously, Jarred Rivers scored not only his first, but his first two goals in league footy. The footy Gods decided to just pick out this one match for him to go to town. Unbelievable, lamentable luck.

But it wasn’t as if we created our own opportunities.

One of the continual umpiring inconsistencies was on show in the second term, when Travis Cloke was mauled by the defender from 50m out, the umpire paid the free, Pendlebury (one of the few shining lights) swooped, and goaled. That’s fine, advantage will be paid, give him the goal. Good for you, Pendles.

Oh. Wait.

The unpredictable umpire decides to call it back. Did he blow time off? Oh, that means we should bring the ball back...shouldn’t common sense prevail? You’d think so. Pay the goal, pay advantage. It’s not hard, and it robbed Pendles of a goal.

Travis missed his shot, too, would you believe. Now what was I saying about Melbourne’s luck?

Other mysteries of the term saw some of the positional match ups. Now with the game slipping away at a rapid rate and the midfield on the receiving end of a flogging, wouldn’t you have brought Anthony Rocca into the ruck and sent Josh Fraser up forward? It occurred, but it took too long. Now Pebbles doesn’t have that big an influence when in the ruck, but he can crash and bash, and anything different to restart the engine would have been welcome.

And secondly, why did Nathan Buckley spend so much time on the bench with the side spluttering in front of his eyes? It’s great to rest him up for the long journey ahead, but, gee, wouldn’t you have at least thought to chuck him in the midfield mix and see what happens? As it turns out, it finally happened, but we were overrun in the meantime.

Sacrificing the Melbourne game for the future? I doubt it.

We trudged off the ground flat as a tack. Game gone, trailing by 27 points.

Good: Dids, Clement, Burns.

Ok: Fraser.

Promising: TC, Pendles.

The rest? Non existent.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I walked outside and wondered if we could still win. I concluded that, yes, we could, if:

* Yes, if we play to our absolute best, want the ball enough, play hard like last week and HIT OUR TARGETS WHEN WE GO FORWARD!

* Tarrant and Rocca must get into the game (Carroll killing Rocca, Taz spilling grabs).

* Bucks must play in the middle

* Fraser must play loose across halfback.

* Jonno needs to get his run going off halfback.

* We man up

* Licca gets back into the game

* Play through Pendles, he has been a positive and gets free.

* Jonno on Davey.

* Tag Bruce/Johnstone with Licca.

* Rocca in ruck if all else fails.

* We treat it like a new game

* Our third term continues its excellent record.

~Those in bold are those that came to fruition, in red are those that were 50/50.

I also wrote:

We’re like a rudderless ship. Maxy, Cara, Swanny and Dutchy all underrated. Missing them badly, Clemo a lone hand down back. Why didn’t Richards get a game? JC?

Add those four or five into the side, and I doubt it would have changed the scoreline all that much, but it would have straightened us up and given us more hope for the second half.

Still, 27 points is attainable...

Third quarter:

Collingwood: 9.8 (62)

Melbourne: 17.7 (109)

Nope, not attainable. Things just got worse when it looked like we’d hit rock bottom. Instead, we started digging.

Bucks began at full forward, probably as insurance if Rocca and Taz continued their dismal form. It didn’t come off, Bucks had an average day, he wasn’t alone.

We had a flame flickering briefly when Davis and Fraser combined for two in a row, our first lot of back to back goals for the day, but it was extinguished by Adem Yze and...Chad Morrison.

Poor old Chad. I say that because he always wears it from the supporters, win or lose, rain or shine. We’ve always had a scapegoat, Chad following in the footsteps of Ben Kinnear, Andrew Williams, Stephen Patterson and Jason Wild, among others.

Chad simply lacks speed, and he was exposed badly by Yze, who, inexplicably, I cannot work out how, found space 20m from goal, a good 7m from Morrison. Now Yze is not the fastest player going around, so it must be asked, what the hell happened?

The Demons went on to completely shellack us, maul us, eat us, take us apart. Goals came from everywhere, Yze typifying the sort of day his side had when he fluked a goal out of midair from a decent range. Unbelievable, yet so typical.

And what did we do when we finally got the ball down our end? We missed.

But that’s life, and that’s footy, we had a shocker, and it happens to the best of them.

Good: Dids, Clement.

Bad: Most others.

Promising: Pendles, Rowe (?); TC, Dids and Yakka in tandem in the middle.

Fourth Quarter:

Collingwood: 14.10 (94)

Melbourne: 22.9 (141)

Game long gone, Melbourne toyed with us, and gave us a fearful flogging. The only heart-warming thing to arise from the quarter was Dale Thomas, who at least worked hard, ran hard and scored two goals. Yeah, it was junktime, but it’s not as if he completely gave in.

You could say we scored five goals for the term and did ok...but then again, so did the Demons.

Isn’t it annoying how their supporters came out of the woodwork just for us? How everyone seems to life that extra bit higher for us?

Conclusion:

We were no good on the day, and Melbourne wanted the win more. They worked for their victory, took their opportunities and made things work. It was their day, full credit to them.

We, on the other hand, put in our worst match for the season, and were exposed, to an extent, on the big stage. We’ll be back, we’re better than that.

We now have a challenging month ahead, and it is up to us to fight hard and match the challenge. Win three of the next four, and top four looks a good bet. If not...things get even harder.

And one last thing: the bye couldn’t have arrived at a better time. A fully fit Swan, Wakelin, Holland and Richards will do wonders for the side.

Carna’ Pies!