Summary
Credit first to Melbourne. They’re into a finals spot with their fifth win in seven matches, their third on the spin - all of which have featured scores between 88 and 100 points. This one also matters for coming against a top-eight rival, Melbourne’s first such victory since 2018.
It was a victory earned with great hustle in midfield, notably from Brayshaw and Oliver, but most importantly clean delivery inside-50 allowing a confident mobile attacking unit to demonstrate remarkable efficiency. There were ten goal-kickers in total, Spargo (3.0) with the most, Petracca (1.1) with the best, but the man deserving the biggest name-check is probably Weideman (2.0), who led continuously, competed hard, and straightened Melbourne up, in contrast to their opposition.
The Demons weren’t especially pretty around the ground, and they were shaky at times in defence - Lever in particular - but they didn’t need to be flash to be effective. Collingwood were that bad.
The Pies were boosted by a list of handy inclusions, suggesting this was a fixture targeted by Nathan Buckley and his coaching staff from a few weeks out, but his side started sloppily and never recovered. They got their hands on enough ball, especially early on, but either there were no targets presenting ahead of the footy, or the targets kept being missed. Then errors crept into their game, Brody Mihocek was stretchered off with a sickening injury, and Ben Reid followed him into the sheds before three-quarter-time with a tweaked hamstring.
This was a horror night for Collingwood, and one that ends with them seventh on the ladder and looking over their shoulder at the chasing pack, instead of the lofty heights of fourth and steeling themselves for a run to the flag. There are major questions to be asked all over the ground, but principally in the forward line, where Buckley’s injury-hit stocks are going to be tested to their limits in the coming weeks.
That’s all from me for tonight. Thanks for your company. Let’s do this again soon.
Melbourne 16.4 (100) beat Collingwood 6.8 (44)
Melbourne are in the eight! They did what they had to, and more, in difficult conditions at the Gabba, but what they had to do wasn’t a lot against an abject Collingwood. Delight for the Demons, misery for the Magpies.
Bailey Fritsch too clean in the wet 👏#AFLDeesPies pic.twitter.com/1lKcHFduZL
— AFL (@AFL) August 15, 2020
Q4: 2 mins remaining: Melbourne 16.4 (100) v 6.8 (44) Collingwood - Elliott doesn’t make the distance, from five yards. In his defence, he was spinning and snapping on his non-preferred.
If there’s a supporter base that deserves some slack...
Q4: 3 mins remaining: Melbourne 16.4 (100) v 6.7 (43) Collingwood - There haven’t been too many arrows inside 50 but Salem has just reached into his quiver and nailed Sparrow on the lead. Melbourne’s tenth goal-kicker goes back to bring up the century. Bat raised at the Gabba on Salem’s 100th.
Q4: 6 mins remaining: Melbourne 15.4 (94) v 6.7 (43) Collingwood - Somebody bring the mercy rule in! The Sidebottom clanger is bad enough, seeing his soft chip intercepted by Melksham, but then Adams makes it worse by conceding 50m, allowing the former Bomber to walk to the goal square and hammer home his side’s 15th of the night.
Q4: 6 mins remaining: Melbourne 14.4 (88) v 6.7 (43) Collingwood -Fritsch gets another. Oliver feeds vandenBerg to deliver to a leading forward, but his kick is awful, so bad it not only beats Weideman on the run but also the Magpie chasing him. Fritsch mops up superbly, scooping the ball off the wet deck and snapping truly from 35m with the minimum of fuss.
Q4: 7 mins remaining: Melbourne 13.4 (82) v 6.7 (43) Collingwood - Just to reinforce the point that it’s at the bookends of the ground that have been the problem for the Magpies, the three top possession winners are all in black and white, and in Sidebottom, Adams and Pendlebury they are the kind of players adept at making good use of the footy. But they have to something or someone to kick to.
Q4: 9 mins remaining: Melbourne 13.4 (82) v 6.7 (43) Collingwood - Hoskin-Elliott butchers an inside-50, sending down a Demon throat with an unguarded player waving frantically at the top of the square. Then Varcoe reaches that gallop that footy players get to just before they wheel away in celebration, only to see his snap on the run ricochet back off the post. When it’s not your night...
Q4: 12 mins remaining: Melbourne 13.4 (82) v 6.6 (42) Collingwood
Without the omitted Cox and Stephenson they are lacking a marking target.
With injuries to top forwards like Franklin, Daniher and Brown, a fit Tom Hawkins looks more invaluable everyday.
Collingwood’s lack of structure ahead of the ball has been glaring. On innumerable occasions heir midfield has found possession in not unfavourable territory only to have to fade or draw kicks along the arc instead of hitting a steam train lace out.
Updated
Q4: 15 mins remaining: Melbourne 13.4 (82) v 6.6 (42) Collingwood - Can the Pies pull off a miracle? Will Hoskin-Elliott does have a look of Ben Stokes about him, so...
*Record scratch*. Fritsch marks on the lead after Melbourne claim the opening clearance and he calmly goes back and eases through a left-footed set shot with balletic multi-limb extension.
Update on Brody Mihocek - doctors are not too worried, just a bad concussion. Phew.
Salt, meet wound.
Ben Reid has gone down with a hamstring.
— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) August 15, 2020
His night is done. #AFLDeesPies pic.twitter.com/EVkr3S56TM
I don’t think either side on display this afternoon are going to feature in this discussion.
Well, form and momentum are elusive beasts. In a 17 match season, 9 wins might get you in the finals. The Dees might find themselves there tonight, with a game in hand, and very winnable games between now and the finals.
Anything can happen, but - and I say this as a Demon sympathiser - this is Melbourne we’re dealing with.
Pies don't have a forward line any more and the Dees are playing like the downhill skiers they are
I’m with Jude.
Three-quarter-time: Melbourne 12.4 (76) v 6.6 (42) Collingwood
The Magpies pushed as hard as they could, but they are not a functioning attacking unit tonight and Nathan Buckley faces an awkward week of questioning.
Meanwhile, Christian Petracca demonstrated why he’s such a wonderful footballer with the individual goal of the game.
Q3: 1 min remaining: Melbourne 12.4 (76) v 6.6 (42) Collingwood - Collingwood’s territorial dominance and weight of possession warrants more than 1.4 this quarter but that’s their lot. Another bout of aimless attacking ends with Lever hacking clear then a marking contest infringement inviting Melbourne inside-50, and that eats up a couple of minutes of comeback opportunity.
Q3: 2 mins remaining: Melbourne 12.4 (76) v 6.6 (42) Collingwood - Pickett misses an open goal, swiping a fresh-air kick with the ball bobbling on the ground in the goalsquare. Ordinarily that would feature heavily in the postmatch; not tonight.
Collingwood manage to clear their lines and chip the ball downfield. Eventually Elliott hoists a massive up-and-under on the turn that promises a huge rumbling pack, except only Hoskin-Elliott follows the flight and he takes an uncontested mark 20m out. He doesn’t miss from there.
Q3: 4 mins remaining: Melbourne 12.4 (76) v 5.6 (36) Collingwood - “He’s the only one that looks shaky, Jake Lever” laments Lyon, not for the first time, as the former Crow is caught in possession in the back pocket. It doesn’t cost them though, because Collingwood.
Q3: 6 mins remaining: Melbourne 12.4 (76) v 5.6 (36) Collingwood - Collingwood’s delivery inside-50 has been woeful. For the umpteenth time they have clean possession in the middle third only to make a poor decision, Varcoe the offender on this occasion. Melbourne accept their good fortune, transitioning from one end to the other smartly before Petracca marks in the left forward pocket - and kicks an absolute beauty of a set shot! In an ugly scrap that was very handsome indeed. Terrific lead, strong mark, and needle-threading bomb from 50m. That could have been Jonathan Brown in Melbourne’s #5 guernsey.
Q3: 9 mins remaining: Melbourne 11.4 (70) v 5.6 (36) Collingwood - Ooof. Langdon goals for Melbourne. A very harsh free goes against Thomas for sliding into Viney below the knees. The ball goes downfield and Langdon out-leads Weideman, marks, then kicks a very strong 45m set shot. For all Collingwood’s huffing and puffing, the Demons need one opportunity to extend their advantage.
To make matters worse, Ben Reid is now heading down the race. Nathan Buckley could be forgiven for setting up another game with Alicia Molik and having the authorities suspend him from the remainder of the season.
Q3: 10 mins remaining: Melbourne 10.4 (64) v 5.5 (35) Collingwood - What you don’t need in these circumstances is cheap free-kicks and each side trades one, the latter, by Weideman, allows Collingwood to break, and it almost costs them when Elliott kicks to the advantage of Hoskin-Ellliott, the former Giant showing great feet to spin out of trouble and kick what looks like a goal - until Hibberb appears from stage right to downgrade six to one.
Q3: 11 mins remaining: Melbourne 10.4 (64) v 5.4 (34) Collingwood - It is raining heavily now, and the wind has picked up, favouring Collingwood this quarter. If we thought the skills were ropey before half-time they aren’t going to improve any time soon.
Exhibit A: Collingwood surging down the right flank until Sidebottom can hack towards the forward pocket. Hibberd sails across and fumbles the uncontested mark, forcing a stoppage. Melbourne cannot clear their lines this quarter and the Pies keep drilling the ball back at them. There’s no composure though and with such a slippery footy there needs to be precision inside-50.
Q3: 14 mins remaining: Melbourne 10.4 (64) v 5.4 (34) Collingwood - Collingwood fly out of the blocks, chasing down Melbourne in possession then hassling in attack until Philips has space to shoot with his left boot, but it’s a weak effort and requires Reid’s bodywork to earn only a point. Melbourne then get a couple of opportunities to clear their lines without success, May fumbling a mark then Viney failing to gain yards. The Pies return for their fourth repeat-50 of the quarter, but again it only ends with a point.
Rain falling.
The second half is underway!
My tiges are a five goal better team with a crowd, I think. West Coast too - but for them it needs to be a home crowd, I'd have thought. Geelong never have a "home" crowd for a final anyway, so they're more used to handling that. Port - I'm interested in your thoughts on that - and Jude's, Ragazzo's, etc...Port v Richmond; Geelong v West Coast. The results might depend a bit on where those matches are played, and how many people are allowed into the ground to watch.
Back to the flag chat. I don’t think either side on display this afternoon are going to feature in this discussion.
who are your flag favourites, and who are the other genuine contenders ?
I think whatever we thought we knew about 'runs home' no longer applies.
Port - 7 day breaks, they don't play any team currently in the 8; the stewards should launch an inquiry if they don't finish top at the end of the minor round.
Tigers: Don't have to travel to Perth. Play West Coast and Geelong on a longer break than their opponents.
West Coast: Five games in 19 days, with 4 day breaks before they play Richmond and the Saints.
Collingwood: Of the four games, only 2 are 'tough' - one against the Lions, the other against Port.
Cats: Just the one tough game, against Richmond.
Giants: Should win all of their remaining matches, but I tipped them against Sydney.
Skip to the Preliminary Finals: Port v Richmond; Geelong v West Coast. The results might depend a bit on where those matches are played, and how many people are allowed into the ground to watch.
What do you make of that? Melbourne haven’t been assured around the ground but they have been tigerish in midfield and efficient in attack: 20 inside-50s, 14 scoring shots, 10 goals - bish bash bosh.
They have been helped by Collingwood, who are really stinking the place out and require a decent rejig to even up the contest.
Goals 👉 Spargo (3), Weideman (2), Brayshaw, Langdon, McDonald, Melksham + Pickett
— Melbourne Demons (@melbournefc) August 15, 2020
Top Disposals 👉 Oliver (16), Petracca (15), Langdon (12) + vandenBerg (12)#GoDees #AFLDeesPies
Updated
Half-time: Melbourne 10.4 (64) v 5.2 (32) Collingwood
Melbourne lead by 32. Collingwood’s defence is all over the place. Brody Mihocek is recuperating following a serious knock to the head. Plenty happened in that second quarter, not all of it good, but it ends with the Demons in a commanding position.
With Mihocek being knocked out and 12 goals kicked. that quarter went for 37 minutes.
— Rudi (@RudiEdsall) August 15, 2020
Q2: 1 min remaining: Melbourne 10.4 (64) v 5.2 (32) Collingwood - Annnnnnnd Melbourne kick right back. 64 points before half-time, against the parsimonious Pies! This is bizarro world.
Collingwood win the clearance but Melbourne’s pressure quickly forces the turnover, after which the ball inside 50 catches the Magpies unsettled and after the ball comes to ground Langdon is first to it and he snaps a glorious 45m goal on the run!
Updated
Q2: 2 mins remaining: Melbourne 9.4 (58) v 5.2 (32) Collingwood - The goal does come eventually for the Pies. Melbourne can’t clear their lines, Lever again at fault, and Reid goals after earning a free-kick from a late Hibberd tackle.
The exasperation and sadness in Garry Lyon’s voice when he commentates on Jake Lever is like something out of a Shakespearean tragedy. He’s not angry, just disappointed.
Updated
Q2: 2 mins remaining: Melbourne 9.4 (58) v 4.2 (26) Collingwood - This compact Gabba is playing havoc with my updates. It’s only one kick from a clearance to a shot on goal. This time it’s Collingwood’s turn to enjoy the chodish dimensions after some silk from Pendlebury in midfield. Daicos misses the set shot from 40m.
Q2: 3 mins remaining: Melbourne 9.4 (58) v 4.1 (25) Collingwood - Spargo again! A couple of free-kicks again favour Melbourne, enabling them to establish territory. A poor entry inside 50 is cut off, but the clearing kick is a shocker, straight to Brayshaw. He takes his time to load up and bomb to the top of the square where McDonald almost takes a pack mark but Spargo pinches the ball off his fingertips and dribbles the ball through the big sticks.
Q2: 4 mins remaining: Melbourne 8.4 (52) v 4.1 (25) Collingwood - Whatever Melbourne can do, Collingwood can do just as quickly. Centre clearance, long bomb, mark - this time from Adams - technically excellent kick from range, and the scoreboard ticks over again. Varcoe was involved in that chain of possession, and he’s been adjacent to a lot of what the Pies have done well so far - which isn’t saying much.
Q2: 5 mins remaining: Melbourne 8.4 (52) v 3.1 (19) Collingwood - Oh wow, Melbourne have kicked another goal! Spargo this time, wheeling away in celebration after snapping truly on his right boot after the Demons executed a fresh and clean centre clearance. Where has Collingwood’s defence gone today?
Q2: 6 mins remaining: Melbourne 7.4 (46) v 3.1 (19) Collingwood - Melbourne are on the receiving end of a few free-kicks in quick succession, which helps them finesse the ball around halfback then advance down the left wing. After a stoppage they look to have created space on the edge of 50 from which to create a scoring opportunity but Brayshaw has to wait an age to claim the mark and Varcoe spoils. Collingwood then threaten to rebound at speed but Jones does brilliantly on the chase and there aren’t enough Pies in support to capitalise on the scraps.
A phase or so later there’s a ball-up on centre wing that ends in Demon hands, Brayshaw’s, and one sharp handball later Preuss has time and space to hammer a kick deep into the danger zone where McDonald brings the ball to ground and Melksham instinctively kicks the ball off the ground through for a goal!
Q2: 8 mins remaining: Melbourne 6.4 (40) v 3.1 (19) Collingwood - My eyes! Collingwood finally get a solid chain of possession out of their back half, courtesy of Varcoe, but his delivery inside-50 is poor and should be intercepted, but the Melbourne defender loses his footing and there’s a scrum instead.
The Demons emerge from that melee through Oliver, who is coathangered, and from that free-kick the ball gets manoeuvred downfield until Spargo is spotted in an acre or ten of lush Gabba pasture. He kicks truly from 30m.
Updated
Q2: 10 mins remaining: Melbourne 5.4 (34) v 3.1 (19) Collingwood - Elliott sharks one back for Collingwood, but courtesy of an absolute stinking clanger from Jake Lever, who handballed out of traffic straight to Grundy 30m from goal. The ruckman was alert enough to accept the gift and pass it on to Elliott who ran into the open goal square. This is not champagne footy.
Updated
Q2: 11 mins remaining: Melbourne 5.3 (33) v 2.1 (13) Collingwood - After a long delay Melbourne get their hands on the footy straight away but cough it up on right centre wing. Collingwood respond by looking at the pill like it’s some contaminated goop that should not be under their control. Melbourne are invited to go inside 50 once, then twice, and on the second occasion they make it count, McDonald marking uncontested by the point post with the Magpie defence AWOL. The set shot snap is ungainly but effective.
Collingwood need a big effort to rescue what is turning into a wretched day.
Q2: 13 mins remaining: Melbourne 4.3 (27) v 2.1 (13) Collingwood - Hard to imagine Mihocek returns to the ground today as he is driven off the oval on the back of a medical buggy. He is conscious and moving his arms and legs, but his neck is in a protective brace as he is stretchered down the race.
Q2: 13 mins remaining: Melbourne 4.3 (27) v 2.1 (13) Collingwood - Yikes! That doesn’t look good. Mihocek is being treated on-field by trainers after being crunched in a marking contest, the damage administered principally by vandenBerg, who came over the top to fist the ball to safety, taking the Pie with him as collateral damage.
There are eight trainers on the field, along with a stretcher, tending to the stricken forward. This is a long and very necessary delay. Fingers crossed for a swift recovery.
Updated
Q2: 14 mins remaining: Melbourne 4.3 (27) v 2.1 (13) Collingwood - Melbourne hit back straight away! A rare centre clearance becomes a territorial advantage, but Collingwood are well set in defence. They repel the ball to centre wing where Petracca escapes what looks like a holding-the-ball free-kick, Jones feeding off the scraps, finding Melksham, who then kicks an outrageous swirler from the right forward pocket that seems destined to become a miraculous goal until Weideman leaps strongly to mark in the goal square. Two snags for the big lad.
Q2: 15 mins remaining: Melbourne 3.3 (21) v 2.1 (13) Collingwood - Much much much better from Collingwood. They win the clearance then possess carefully around halfback before there’s a gap for Noble to burst through and send the ball downfield. Here Sidebottom takes over, crumbing front and square on the 50m line, pivoting, sizing up the scene, then hitting Brown on the lead about 30m out bang in front. He doesn’t miss from there.
Am I being harsh, or was that a bit of a scrubby quarter? Maybe I’m high on the hog after watching Geelong last night and covering Port’s barnburner last weekend.
Quarter-time: Melbourne 3.3 (21) v 1.1 (7) Collingwood
Unconvincing from both sides, especially when it came to moving the ball forward, but Melbourne have the upper hand at quarter-time.
If the ball is on the deck and Kozzie is around, your defence isn't safe 💥#AFLDeesPies pic.twitter.com/pMVlGa0KLy
— AFL (@AFL) August 15, 2020
Q1: 1 min remaining: Melbourne 3.3 (21) v 1.1 (7) Collingwood - The Pies just cannot move the ball from one end to the other. Noble does superbly to engineer a rebound opportunity but it splutters out of momentum just over halfway.
They keep coming though, and after Pendlebury and Adams extract the ball from traffic Reid finds some separation and is hit on his chest by a lovely kick from Thomas. The big forward goes back and gets his faltering side on the board.
Q1: 2 mins remaining: Melbourne 3.3 (21) v 0.1 (1) Collingwood - Everything is coming up Melbourne so far. Hibbered outmarks two pies to claim an important interception. Then Preuss gets in front of Grundy to mark the clearing kick. By the time the chain reaches Langdon he has an array of targets, and he chooses Fritsch, who misses.
Q1: 4 mins remaining: Melbourne 3.2 (20) v 0.1 (1) Collingwood - The Pies are all over the place. Poor skills, low pressure, dreadful decision making, and another sloppy exit out of defence almost costs them but Vandenberg misses a difficult long range set shot.
Q1: 6 mins remaining: Melbourne 3.1 (19) v 0.1 (1) Collingwood - After watching Geelong last night, this feels like a reserve grade match. Melbourne scrub the ball forward down the right flank before heading inboard. Collingwood should nip the attack in the bud right there, but Dunn fails to clear, allowing Melbourne another rumble, resulting in a bomb to the top of the square where all hell breaks loose, bodies everywhere in the air and on the ground, but despite plenty of Pies in attendance there’s no assertiveness and Pickett nips in like a thief in the night to toe-poke the ball off the ground and through the posts from six-yards.
Q1: 8 mins remaining: Melbourne 2.1 (13) v 0.1 (1) Collingwood - Better from Collingwood, winning the centre clearance then forcing repeat entries into Melbourne’s defensive 50. The second of those sees Noble find a yard of space and drill a beautiful pass to the lead of Cameron, who takes a strong mark with his hands well in front of his face. Unfortunately he misses a very gettable set shot.
Q1: 9 mins remaining: Melbourne 2.1 (13) v 0.0 (0) Collingwood - The Dees are hinting at some form without fully capitalising, while the Pies remain unable to string any possession together by hand or foot, even Pendlebury looks ragged.
After some scruffy football from both sides Melbourne hustle the ball down the right flank without authority until Spargo buts his body on the line on the 50m arc to earn a free-kick. He gets up, lifts his eyes, and finds Brayshaw on a similar latitude but bang in front. The behelmeted midfielder doesn’t look convinced he can make the journey but he goes back nonetheless and throws caution to the wind - and he’s rewarded with a towering goal.
Q1: 11 mins remaining: Melbourne 1.1 (7) v 0.0 (0) Collingwood - Finally some quality! Oliver to Brayshaw to Oliver on halfway, then a deep entry clunked by Weideman 20m bang in front. The goal is a formality.
Q1: 12 mins remaining: Melbourne 0.1 (1) v 0.0 (0) Collingwood - Melbourne have a solid platform in midfield following a stoppage but some poor skills from Brayshaw, Tomlinson, and a couple others, butcher an attacking opportunity. Collingwood then have a couple of bites without executing cleanly, once again locking the ball deep in Demon territory. The killer ball arrives from a Grundy free-kick but again the pressure is released with a free-kick, this time against Elliott for blocking May.
This is a scrappy start.
Q1: 14 mins remaining: Melbourne 0.1 (1) v 0.0 (0) Collingwood - The Pies win the opening clearance then lock the ball in Melbourne’s 50. They can’t capitalise though with a pack denying Ben Reid a contested mark before Grundy flops all over a Demon back to concede a relieving free-kick.
Melbourne smuggle their way clear down the left wing but are unable to find a clear entry. They get a second look pretty quickly though when the Pies try to switch play from right to left along the paint of the arc, and it was in the air a long time, enough for Melbourne to intercept then offload to Petracca but his effort is on the narrow side.
Peeeeeeeeep!
Underway at the Gabba!
The teams are out on the Gabba, Melbourne in their familiar uniform, Collingwood in the whitest version of their barcode.
Conditions are surprisingly cool for Queensland, and there’s been some rain around, so the ball might be slippier than usual for this time of the evening.
Reflecting on Geelong’s performance last night, and the vagaries of this oddest of seasons, who are your flag favourites, and who are the other genuine contenders ?Maybe I’m too conservative and leaning on history, but my gut says West Coast (especially if they get a finals run in WA), with Richmond a close second. But only one from that pair are likely to make the top four, meaning Geelong, Brisbane and Port all demand serious consideration - in that order, for mine. I can’t see anyone from outside that five challenging.
Naming five of the eight is one way of covering your bases ;)
But don't ask me to do any better ;), If it counts I'm tipping the Storm to win the rugby league Grand final.
Ha! If pressed, West Coast, right now (but that could change by next weekend). But yes, the Storm have to be heavily favoured in the NRL. They just need to keep their big players fit, which is no given considering the season so far.
Pies fans will be happy to see Jeremy Howe back on his feet following his horror injury earlier in the season. Dees supporters, how do you feel about your ex?
First run post-surgery for @howie0038: ☑️ pic.twitter.com/QzNagCTHhi
— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) August 14, 2020
Geelong would have to be flag favourites. Although, their biggest challenge lies ahead - they have to win finals, which they have struggled to do over the last few years. Brisbane are too inaccurate in front of goal to be a contender. Tigers need Cotchin back - they can't beat the top teams without him. I still have the Saints as a roughey, but they would need to avoid Geelong in the finals. And West Coast seem to be travelling nicely now. So, as it stands here and now, Geelong v West Coast. But a very very long way from being assured.
I don’t disagree with much in there. While Hawkins is deservedly hogging the headlines, it’s Geelong’s second tier players that have impressed me most in the past fortnight. I’m always mindful of that adage about grand finals being won by the bottom six on the list, not the top six, and in recent seasons I think that’s where the Cats have come unstuck. Recently there seems to be a consistently high level of form and adherence to strategy all over the ground, irrespective of reputation.
The first match of the day has just concluded, and it was far from a classic, despite the scoreboard. Brisbane will be pleased with the four points and an ugly win to go with their string of high-octane performances.
FT: @brisbanelions 7.11 (53) defeat @NMFCOfficial 8.4 (52). #AFLNorthLions pic.twitter.com/JxHxfg5JOT
— AFL (@AFL) August 15, 2020
The toxic relationships between sport and gambling, and social media and everything, were put in the spotlight earlier this week. Here’s Scott Heinrich’s take on an ugly underbelly to following footy.
In related news...
All 10 Victorian AFL teams are looking out for their fans and have said no to sport betting sponsorship.
— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) August 15, 2020
Watch @CollingwoodFC and @melbournefc play the game they love tonight.
#LoveTheGameNotTheOdds pic.twitter.com/dNaGrsmnBL
Collingwood XXII
Magpies fans must have been licking their lips when the team lists were announced with Scott Pendlebury a headlining a series of significant inclusions. The club captain returns after missing four games with a quadricep strain, with Nathan Buckley confirming his skipper had done “everything in his power” to get up for today’s contest.
Coming into the 22 alongside Pendlebury are Darcy Moore, Ben Reid, Jamie Elliott and Will Hoskin-Elliott - a serious injection of talent all across the ground.
B: Jack Crisp, Darcy Moore, Jack Madgen
HB: Brayden Maynard, Lynden Dunn, John Noble
C: Tom Phillips, Steele Sidebottom, Josh Daicos
HF: Brody Mihocek, Ben Reid, Will Hoskin-Elliott
F: Callum Brown, Darcy Cameron, Jamie Elliott
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Taylor Adams, Scott Pendlebury
Int: Travis Varcoe, Rupert Wills, Josh Thomas, Trey Ruscoe
In: Jamie Elliott, Scott Pendlebury, Ben Reid, Darcy Moore, Will Hoskin-Elliott
Out: Brayden Sier (quad), Jaidyn Stephenson (omitted), Jordan Roughead (concussion), Tim Broomhead (omitted), Chris Mayne (omitted)
Melbourne XXII
Melbourne’s 22 is all about Braydon Preuss with the Demons calling on their third-choice ruckman in the continued absence of skipper Max Gawn and the recent injury to understudy Luke Jackson. Preuss will have the sizeable challenge of Brodie Grundy to deal with on his first outing for 2020.
Preuss comes into the side alongside vice-captain Jack Viney and defender Jay Lockhart, who both return from minor injuries.
B: Michael Hibberd, Steven May, Jay Lockhart
HB: Christian Salem, Jake Lever, Nathan Jones
C: Ed Langdon, Clayton Oliver, Adam Tomlinson
HF: Jake Melksham, Tom McDonald, Bayley Fritsch
F: Christian Petracca, Sam Weideman, Kysaiah Pickett
FOL: Braydon Preuss, Angus Brayshaw, Jack Viney
INT: James Harmes, Charlie Spargo, Aaron vandenBerg, Tom Sparrow
In: Lockhart, Preuss, Viney
Out: Jackson (hamstring), Hannan (omitted), Rivers (omitted)
1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ for Salo. 👏#GoDees pic.twitter.com/U6JydKkNwL
— Melbourne Demons (@melbournefc) August 15, 2020
It’s a milestone day for Christian Salem. The 25-year-old, who was selected with pick No.9 in the 2013 National Draft, took three or four years to find form and fitness at the highest level, but is now a fixture in Melbourne’s line-up as a rebounding halfback.
Reflecting on Geelong’s performance last night, and the vagaries of this oddest of seasons, who are your flag favourites, and who are the other genuine contenders ?
Maybe I’m too conservative and leaning on history, but my gut says West Coast (especially if they get a finals run in WA), with Richmond a close second. But only one from that pair are likely to make the top four, meaning Geelong, Brisbane and Port all demand serious consideration - in that order, for mine. I can’t see anyone from outside that five challenging.
In case you missed any of last night’s action, Geelong - and Tom Hawkins in particular - laid down one heck of a premiership marker, bullying ladder-leading Port Adelaide for four quarters.
Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of another crucial round 12 fixture in this AFL season: Melbourne v Collingwood at the Gabba. The opening bounce will be performed around 5.10pm.
This clash between two historic rivals has the whiff of a reckoning about it to me. I cannot see how the loser walks away from this contest with their season still a going concern.
Defeat for Melbourne would mean a desperate scrap for the eighth and final playoff spot, alongside GWS, Essendon and Western Bulldogs. But they would be embarking on that mission without a victory over a side currently in the top-eight. (They didn’t beat any top-eight sides in 2019 either.)
Failure for the Magpies would severely damage their chances of heading into the finals among the top four, and it would also put their top-eight status in jeopardy, not to mention add to the cloud of negativity that has hovered over the club this year.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out where things are going awry for Collingwood on the field - the Pies have a top score of just 64 points since round three, back when they were flag favourites.
On the bright side, Nathan Buckley’s outfit arrives at today’s clash with consecutive wins under its belt for only the second time in 2020, albeit a scratchy pair of victories over struggling Sydney and Adelaide. They also have a bolstered 22 and a relish for this head-to-head, winning the past four against the Dees.
Melbourne also hit the starting line with momentum after percentage boosting outings against easybeats North Melbourne and Adelaide. They contribute to four comprehensive victories in a six game spell that has breathed new life into what was becoming a rancorous campaign. But it’s one thing the Dees filling their boots against also-rans, another altogether taking down a probable finalist in an arm wrestle.
I’ll be back in a short while with line-ups and some more news from around the competition. If you want to get in touch at any point, you can reach me on Twitter or email, and we should be open below the line too.
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Scoff all you want about the Dees, but I've watched us cop some hideous beltings. Good to see us dish them out, regardless of the quality of the opposition