Lots to like in Rivalry romp:

Lots to like in Rivalry romp:

No Buckley, no Didak, no Johnson, no Lonie, no Holland, and with ten minutes until gametime, no Clement (for the first time since 2003). No worries!

I haven’t been this happy with a Collingwood side since, well, midway through last year, but that feels like eons ago. Anyhow, Friday night’s come from behind win over Richmond was extremely satisfying. We were forced to do a 180 degree turn in form at the halftime break, and we did so, turning a 22 point deficit at the major break to a 25 point victory.

One question I must ask is as follows: Why can’t we play the whole four quarters? Agreed, Richmond were more than a handful in the first half, and outplayed us quite convincingly. It’s so typical that a guy like Richard Tambling, who has so far in his three year career struggled to stamp his authority on a contest, would jump out of the box and sting us early to play what is now being called a career best match.

But why be negative? Right now, everything emanating out of the Lexus Centre is positive, starting with the three Western Australian debutants, who each played their part in Friday night’s win.

Alan Toovey, arguably the most unheralded of the trio, jumped out of the box to boot three goals and two behinds. Most impressive considering he was recruited (in the rookie draft) and spent his first year with Williamstown as a defender. Whilst he looked a little jittery early by foot, I’m sure that can be put down to first game nerves. As the night wore in, he continued to grow into his role as a medium sized forward. Believe it or not – he has already scored as many goals as Presti has in 170 games!

Meanwhile, the two Aboriginal boys, Brad Dick and Shannon Cox, both showed promising signs. “Dickie”, as the crowd shouted every time he laid hands on the leather, will be well pleased with his two goals, the second of which helping set up our third quarter charge at the lead. What Dick brings to the side is class, he oozes it with every movement, and his pace, the way he seemingly glides across the turf yet mows down all opponents is first rate. We can’t expect too much from him yet, however, for he still weights only 70 odd kilos, and will have his ups and downs before he settles into a consistent pattern of footy. But thankfully, he brings enthusiasm and genuine spark to the side, perhaps a touch of the unknown.

Cox, on the other hand, was not as prolific or eye catching off halfback, but like Dick, oozed class in each contest. He showed terrific closing speed in spoiling in defence, and his general movement, the vibe he produced in the defensive half, was encouraging.

But the on a night of real encouragement, the two most exciting, heartwarming aspects of the match were the efforts of Dale Thomas and Tarkyn Lockyer. Thomas was terrific out of the middle, tucking the ball under his arm and running at full pelt at every opportunity. What I really like in Dale is that he is not afraid to take a risk, and is willing to run hard and take on his opponents. At times it is detrimental to the side, for there have been players in space who have been overlooked as Daisy charges towards goal. But I like it; it is something daring and different.

As for Lockyer, he is currently playing like a man possessed, and if they halted the Copeland Trophy voting now, he’d be leading, surely. For whichever reason, the penny appears to have dropped inside Tarks, who has/is returning to the heights reached in his halcyon days of 2001-2002. And thank goodness for that, because his place in the senior side was, to my mind, and those of many other Magpie fans I know, in serious jeopardy as the arms race for fast youth continues to roll on.

But it’s time to declare something – yes, Tarkyn Lockyer is back! He is now one of the first picked in my Collingwood side. Great to have the old Tarks back.

His work in the midfield was terrific, his tenacity never questioned and, dare I say it, his speed was evident. He was a real spark, and not just a linkman, but an instigator in creating play further down the field.

Elsewhere, other positives included the form of Big Anthony Rocca, who picked up where he left off last week, adding another three goals to the scoreboard, but plenty more in terms of his influence around the ground. He is still our most important player, and it’s a huge plus to have Ant running around minus a few of the kilos of muscle he added to his frame 12 months ago with an eye to playing out of the goal square, with Tarrant leading up the field. Now, it seems Pebbles is again a true centre half forward. It’s so much better to have him back to his pack crashing best. His overall value to the team was worth far more than three goals.

Paul Medhurst also chipped in with four valued goals in attack. Okay, some may argue that they were cheap junktime goals scored when the game was over as a contest. Well, yes, that may be true, but I don’t care – I’ll take them. As I said to someone post match, they were four goals Chris Tarrant would never have snared. In effect, with Rocca doing when he did best in 2002, Travis Cloke doing Tarrant’s donkey work in leading up to the wings, and then Medhurst chipping in with 2-3 goals per week. When you add to that combination a floating Fraser, a potent Buckley, Alan Didak, Leon Davis, Dick and the midfielders, goals should not be too hard to come by. The steak knives to the Tarrant deal he may be, but he’ll give bang for his buck.

The fact that Malthouse had the will to throw three kids to the wolves, on Friday night footy in front of 70,000 on the MCG – real sink or swim stuff. Thankfully, they all pulled through terrifically, and that can only aid the cause for the rest of the season. We are supposedly a team in a ‘transition’ faze, but on the evidence of the past two and a quarter weeks (starting from the final quarter against the Kangaroos), we’re on a fast track. You may argue that we’ve beaten ‘only’ Richmond and the Roos, but not only that; we held sway with West Coast all night until the very last minute.

Running out games is important – we’ve showed that in our two victories with second half charges to victory – but starting them is equally as crucial, something we’ve been lacking in todate. Even against the Eagles they got the jump on us, something to worth on.

But before I finish, I’ve got to have a laugh at the Richmond supporters. How can you not? The same old, same old, same old lines have been trotted out as yet another Tigers coach, in this case Terry Wallace, feels the heat. After their premature arrogance, it was nice to see the likes of Medhurst, who I was unashamedly not a fan of in his Fremantle days, pump the fists with vigour, turning their smug looks into something not quite depicting a happy camper.

And would it be a Collingwood-Richmond match without Matthew Richardson and his enigmatic kicking for goal? Three goals and four behinds on a perfect evening for footy. Say no more.

Looking to next week – if we are able to defeat Port Adelaide on our own MCG turf, which I’d say is an even money bet, it sets our season up perfectly. Imagine that, 3-1 after a month of footy. Helping our cause is the news that Dean Brogan will be absent through an ankle injury. Perhaps part of Malthouse’s thinking in blooding three speedy debutants was done with an eye to the match with the Power, who possess plenty of small, quick midfielders and forwards who can slice opposition sides to shreds. It will be much easier for the likes of Toovey, Dick and Cox to settle in having already played a match.

But that’s for next week. Before I finish, kudos to Dane Swan, who continues to grow in stature.

Strike while the iron is hot, and keep faith.

Votes:

3: T.Lockyer

2: S.Burns

1: D.Swan

Player Review:

Leon Davis: Flashed in and out from half forward and in the midfield. Really sparked the side with his clean hands and cool use of the football out of the centre square in the second half. Snap from the pocket was something special. Quality over quantity. 7/10

Paul Medhurst: Did all but nothing until the final term (albeit having rolled an ankle in the first quarter) when he snagged three of his four goals to bury the Tigers. I don’t care if he only gets four kicks for the game, as long as they’re four goals, I’m happy. Great to have him in the Black and White. 5/10

Scott Pendlebury: Won enough of the ball to have his say in the win, and always seems to be doing things on the bit a la Travis Johnstone. 5.5/10

Shane O'Bree: Ball magnet in the midfield, in particularly early on, and was always damaging at the stoppages. Vastly underrated. 6.5/10

Shannon Cox: Smooth mover in defence, and showed great closing speed. Plenty to work with. 3/10

Dale Thomas: Continues to inspire with his desperation onball. An onfield leader after 19 games. 7/10

Shane Wakelin: Late inclusion for James Clement, and did his job both in defence and when in attack. 4/10

Scott Burns: Ageless onball with his grunt and ability to win the hardball. In that form, Burnsy could play on forever. 8/10

Paul Licuria: May be slowing up a little but is still certainly worth his place in the midfield with the way he tackles and harasses around the packs. 5.5/10

Guy Richards: Improves with each match, and is beginning to work harder around the ground. Had the right idea with the hitouts but was unable to put all of them to proper advantage. 3/10

Rhyce Shaw: Am I really about to say this? – Oozes class off halfback. But really, he does nowadays, Shaw Snr, for he is now developing into an onfield leader, rarely missing targets by foot. 6/10

Anthony Rocca: A match winner in attack, and as mentioned above, he is worth more than just goals. 8/10

Tarkyn Lockyer: See above comment – Tarks is back to his best in the midfield. 8/10

Josh Fraser: Transformed an average first half into a quality second, and used his football brain to set up forward forays. Still cannot wait until Richards hits his straps allowing him into the forward fifty on a consistent basis. 6/10

Nick Maxwell: A quiet night down back, but kept a variety of Richmond forwards quiet. 3.5/10

Harry O'Brien: Not prolific but held Pettifer to a quiet night in the backline. 5/10

Travis Cloke: Led up the field hard but ran out of puff on occasions. Just needs to keep presenting and working and the results will come. 5/10

Brad Dick: A heartening debut from Dick, who has already cemented himself as a crowd favourite with his ability to score freakish goals and break the play open with his speed. Will be required to back up again against Port Adelaide next week should he come up from his ankle injury. 4/10

Alan Toovey: Turned a nervous start into three goals and two behinds as a medium sized forward – a terrific debut. Looks a little like Mark McGough, and whilst his kicking action may be similarly ungainly, it is certainly effective off the left. 6/10

Simon Prestigiacomo: Broke even with Richardson (3.4) and refused to allow him breathing space. 5/10

Dane Swan: Ran hard, found the ball, used the ball brilliantly and finds space. What more can we ask for? 8/10

Heath Shaw: Another to feature heavily, this time off halfback. I cannot recall Shaw actually playing a ‘poor’ game since his debut against St Kilda in late 2005. He continually backs up and does the job. 7/10

Game breaker: Dale Thomas

Collingwood v Richmond: Match Preview: Extended version:

Collingwood v Richmond: Match Preview: Extended version:

Igniting the blowtorch

By Luke Mason

The Match Ups:

Mick Malthouse will seek to exploit the Tigers lack of rucking numbers by giving Guy Richards, impressive against the Eagles, gametime in the middle to shine inturn allowing Josh Fraser the freedom in attack.

Fraser was disappointing again last week despite Dean Cox sitting the match out for a second successive week, and was outshone by Guy Richards, who was able to get his hand on the ball on more occasions than any other ruckman on the night. As I have written weekly for the past four years, and will continue to do so for a while yet, Richards’ ability to command the rucking position allows Fraser to become the third prong in the Rocca/Cloke-led attack, where he is most dangerous.

Kayne Pettifer is a likely out for the Tigers, which again minimises their scoring capacity. On that basis, it’s simple. Hold Richardson, and Joffa can again don the Gold Jacket and raise the Game Over banner. Prestigiacomo enjoys a solid record against Richo, who, as we all remember, was held to 1.6 in the opening round of 2003 by Tristan Walker.

Without their two most dangerous crumbers at ground level in Pettifer and Brown, it will prove hard work for the Tigers to find goal scoring power, perhaps relying on their midfield to provide the bulk of the goals.

Richmond, for one reason or another, are tipped by many to spend 2007 in the lower reaches of the ladder. Hell, my uncle, an avid Tiger, is already calling for the head of Wallace! Ah the Tiges are true to form aren’t they?

Yet beware the team heading towards a potential disaster season – they tend to bite hard just before hitting the wall. Think Carlton’s kick-starting of our 2002 surge with their win in the wet in round three that season. Wayne Brittain wore plenty of flack all week, and yet the Blues came out and completely nailed us in the wet. They didn’t win again until round 14 against…Richmond!

So expect Richmond to come out all guns ablaze, particularly early on. Should we weather that early storm, control the play and take the sting out of their early blast, we should be fine.

That said, I want us to thump the Tigers. Not just beat them, crush them. Let’s set ourselves a platform on which to build our 2007. It’s almost as if we are truly beginning our year this Friday. The NAB Cup, practice matches and first fortnight of the season the warm up to test the water. Now’s the real show, and it’s time we gave them a bath. It’s been three years since we overcame Richmond, and what better way to knock that one on the head than by giving them an old fashioned bath.

Three weeks in, and the Pies are 2-1 with percentage (and momentum) to boot – wouldn’t that send a few tremors through the competition? Ok, maybe not yet, it is, after all, Richmond. Had we defeated West Coast, maybe, but not just yet. However, a crushing victory this week to gather momentum before allowing that momentum to spill into overdrive with a win over Port Adelaide next week and we can truly argue that we have given ourselves every chance for September action.

That is what stings from last week’s narrow loss. Early interstate victories are like gold, for they are unexpected bonuses. But we have our chance to make our own story this week, and as long as we add polish to our work ethic, we stand every chance.

The Tigers don’t need to look anywhere for a victory incentive, though, and neither do we – it’s Rivalry Round! Seriously, do we require a name for each and every week of the season? So far it’s Heritage Round (I support this idea), Indigenous Round, Women’s Round and now Rivalry Round, instigated in 2005. Not forgetting all the hoopla surrounding the ‘season launch’.

Shouldn’t each and every week be rivalry round for all 16 sides? Doesn’t everyone feel compelled to ‘hate’ their opposition on a weekly basis? Or is that just myself and my Black and White brethren? As St Kilda’s Nick Dal Santo said when quizzed about it during the week, each match is of the upmost importance, and all sides are rivals.

And whilst we’re on the subject – St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs – true rivals? Now as I wrote above, all teams are rivals, but, apologises if I’ve overlooked the history, where is the true passion betwixt the two? None that I can think of, unless this is a ‘back to 1997’ week, when the two were the great improvers of the season.

For what it’s worth, why aren’t we playing Carlton again? Like I said earlier, whilst rivals with Richmond, we aren’t overly full of absolute hatred towards them, more confusion as to their Jekyll and Hyde nature. Sure, there was the rucking trade wars of the 1980s and 1990s, when David Cloke, Matthew Francis, Robert Schaffer and Brad Smith all changed hands, and of course the close finishes in the 1920s and 1930s, and the 1980 Grand Final (quite a list we have here), but aside from that, they aren’t a Carlton. But still right up there. Actually, I’ve changed my own mind; we are real rivals with Richmond, but at Collingwood, you think rivalry, and you think Carlton. Enough said.

No wait – round 18 2002. Now enough said.

Another topic for article.

Anthony Rocca and Travis Cloke, and potentially Fraser, will be out to make the most of Terry Wallace’s shortage of tall timer down back, the Plough set to again rely on the raw Luke McGuane and Kelvin Moore to hold down the fort on higher profile opposition. The premature delisting of Andrew Kellaway looks like a decision that may come back to haunt the Tigers over the course of the season, as it leaves the injury prone Darren Gaspar as the only key defender of any experience, resulting in the Bowden boys playing above their height, thus ensuring that they will lack in accountability.

No excuses if we lose, none whatsoever. The stage is set for us to get our year off to the start we require. That said, we faced crunch time in round four of 2002 against Hawthorn after two rotten losses and one unconvincing win.

The form guide:

The Woods were dour in defeat against the might of the West Coast Eagles on foreign territory in Perth, leading at quarter time and half time, losing by only and even two goals. Anthony Rocca and Leon Davis lit up the forward line in providing seven of the side’s ten majors, and Dane Swan and Heath Shaw continued their rise to prominence.

Richmond were again valiant in defeat, although any side that concedes the opening four goals of a match will forever find it all up hill. Shane Tuck applied the clamps to Sydney’s Brett Kirk, while Matthew Richardson and Chris Hyde enjoyed handy afternoons.

Injuries:

The Magpies will again steer to caution in allowing Nathan Buckley’s hamstring every opportunity to recover, while Alan Didak is set to resume his career with an outing in the blue and gold of Williamstown. Hard running midfielder Ben Johnson will face a test on his injured ankle, and Ryan Lonie, another dasher from defence, may require further time in the stands to overcome groin soreness.

The Richmond ruck division will be again down to the bare threads of the part-timers once again due to the ongoing troubles faced by Troy Simmonds and Trent Knobel. Meanwhile, dynamo Nathan Brown is yet to fully recover from his infamous leg troubles.

Head to Head since 2000:

Collingwood: 4

Richmond: 7

Richmond is one club who can boast a positive win-loss aggregate against the Woods in the first decade of the new millennium. This is mainly because we are often fixtured to meet them in the early going of the season. It’s as if they forget over summer that they are no good, come out believing they are, before waking up to themselves and remembering, Hey, we’re Richmond, surely we aren’t this good! And so the cycle begins, which goes a long way to explaining our losses to the Tigers in round one of 2002 and 2004.

We were forced to bide our time until the 16^th round of 2002 before we registered our first victory over the Tiges for the decade.

However, following that night the Pies won three of the following four clashes, including the two in 2003, Nathan Buckley and Jarrod Molloy the common denominators in both victories with sterling efforts, Bucks receiving five out of a possible six Brownlow Medal votes. Shane Woewodin, too, featured heavily, marking his first outing in Magpie colours with ??? possessions.

The contest staged in Heritage Round of 2004 was a nailbiter; Collingwood requiring David King to boot the match winner after his side conceded what appeared a safe lead at the final change against a Tigers outfit bound for the wooden spoon.

In recent times, Richmond have had the wood over the Maggies, fuelled by Nathan Brown’s five goal final term in ’05, before walloping us on a soggy afternoon in round 13 last season. That was the day that marked the beginning of Chris Tarrant’s downfall at Collingwood. At least in the eyes of the media. To my mind, it was Tazza’s suspension for an off the ball strike on Dale Morris in round nine against the Western Bulldogs. Again, another story for another time…

The X-Factors:

Collingwood: Josh Fraser and Guy Richards – in the absence of Troy Simmonds and Trent Knobel, should the two big men stand up in the ruck, the forward line can expect every chance to conjure a winning total.

Did you notice how Peter Everitt split Richmond apart last Saturday with his immaculate ruckwork? Spida was terrific with his tapwork against the inexperienced Adam Pattison, and gave his Swans first use of the ball. Richards is a potential Everitt clone with his palming from the ruck. If he can follow suit on Friday night, it’s our ticket to victory.

Speaking of which, from now on, each week I’ll nominate Collingwood’s designated ‘Metcard’ for victory – the ticket on which we’ll be granted victory. The inaugural Metcard is Guy Richards.

Richmond: Pride – the Tigers have blown their numerous chances in the opening fortnight of ’07, and will know well and truly that the heat will be on should they again falter.

Mitigating factors:

~ The Subiaco- hoodoo. As we all know, sides tend to struggle on the way back from Perth due to the plane trip. Considering the fact that we scored only one goal in the final quarter last week, we’ll need to consolidate this week and ensure we finish full of running (which, for the record, is what we did when we returned against Geelong last season after playing the Eagles).

~ Friday night, the spotlight is on, as will be the heat for the loser.

Questions to be answered:

- Will Richmond continue their risky high possession game?

- Can Collingwood consolidate their tidy start to the year and go 2-1?

The tip: It is the Tigers want to create a scrappy game via their overuse of the ball from halfback and through the midfield, making it difficult for their opposition to dictate terms. However, the Pies can reverse the trend in the ruck, where, if Richards and Fraser allow their rovers first use of the Sherrin, they are destined to boot a winning score. Collingwood by 9 points