Collingwood vs West Coast Eagles: AFL Finals live blog, scores

 
Michael DiFabrizio Columnist

By , 15 Sep 2012 Michael DiFabrizio is a Roar Expert

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    Collingwood vs West Coast Eagles: AFL Finals live blog, scores + enlarge image

    Carlton and Collingwood - old rivals face off with new spice added.

    Live Scores

    Scores updated each minute. REFRESH NOW

    Collingwood vs. West Coast
    Melbourne Cricket Ground
    2012 AFL Premiership Season September 16, 2012
    Collingwood won by 13 points
    Collingwood West Coast
     Goal Behinds Points Goal Behinds Points
    Q13422   5131
    Q24529   6440
    Q381058   7648
    Q4101373   9660
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    Often, semi finals can appear to be mere formalities. But when Collingwood – a side that’s been to grand finals the past two seasons – and West Coast – a side coming off a 96-point win – meet, that’ll hardly be the case. We’ll have live scores and updates from 7.45pm AEST.

    While the Pies have the benefit of home ground advantage and will enter the contest slight favourites, the signs of concern are mounting.

    As I illustrated earlier in the week, they’ve won just one of their last five games against top eight-bound opposition. In those games, their percentage is 71.16, the worst record out of all top eight teams.

    Making matters worse, among those games was a round 22 road trip to Patersons Stadium, where West Coast got up by 49 points.

    So you can quickly put a big line through “form” and award that advantage to the Eagles.

    That said, looking beyond simply results, Andrew Krakouer’s return to the Pies has been a success and Travis Cloke is kicking his way back to something near his best. The pair had ten goals between them in the 38-point loss to Hawthorn last Friday night.

    It’s yet to be determined if these factors are the prelude to a turnaround or simply false hope.

    Said coach Nathan Buckley after the game: “We’ve lost our double chance tonight but I think we’re closer to where we need to get to.”

    Out west last weekend, the Eagles destroyed North Melbourne, beginning with a seven goal to nil first quarter. Jack Darling, Andrew Embley and Josh Kennedy had four goals each, while Nic Naitanui and Dean Cox were damaging in the ruck.

    Said coach John Worsfold after the game: “We’ve taken one tiny step forward in winning our first final and we’ve earned the opportunity to play against the Pies next week.”

    “We’ve played some pretty good footy throughout the year, but in terms of Kennedy and Embley back in the team, we haven’t had them back in and real match-hardened since the first few rounds of the year.”

    It will be a challenge for Collingwood to handle both of the Eagles’ ruckmen. While West Coast were held to just one multiple goal kicker back in round 22 (Luke Shuey with two), they dominated the hitouts: Naitanui had 30, Cox had 28 and the only Pie to register in the stat, Cameron Wood, had 12.

    Darren Jolly is obviously back now, but those numbers suggest the men in black and white will find it near impossible to just break even tonight.

    On the other hand, it will be a challenge for West Coast to handle all of the Magpie midfield guns.

    Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan and Dayne Beams haven’t dipped below 27 disposals in the past three weeks, while Dale Thomas and Steele Sidebottom are also capable of big games.

    Suddenly, it almost appears as though the Pies just might be deserved favourites after all.

    At the very least, while the form guide is underwhelming for Collingwood, and in contrast pretty good for West Coast, it would be wrong to underestimate what the Pies are capable of.

    It’s looming as a massive game. We’ll have coverage from first bounce at 7.45pm AEST.

    Live Score Updates

    Scores updated each minute. REFRESH NOW

    Events
    Quarter 1
    4' BEHIND - Alex Fasolo (Collingwood)
    7' BEHIND - Scott Selwood (West Coast)
    8' GOAL - Jack Darling (West Coast)
    9' GOAL - Patrick McGinnity (West Coast)
    13' BEHIND - Rushed (Collingwood)
    17' GOAL - Daniel Kerr (West Coast)
    17' GOAL - Josh Hill (West Coast)
    21' BEHIND - Tyson Goldsack (Collingwood)
    22' GOAL - Harry O'Brien (Collingwood)
    25' GOAL - Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)
    26' BEHIND - Tyson Goldsack (Collingwood)
    30' GOAL - Dean Cox (West Coast)
    32' GOAL - Darren Jolly (Collingwood)
    Quarter 2
    4' GOAL - Dane Swan (Collingwood)
    9' BEHIND - Josh Hill (West Coast)
    20' BEHIND - Daniel Kerr (West Coast)
    22' BEHIND - Josh Hill (West Coast)
    24' BEHIND - Rushed (Collingwood)
    25' GOAL - Josh Hill (West Coast)
    Quarter 3
    1' GOAL - Dale Thomas (Collingwood)
    3' GOAL - Dale Thomas (Collingwood)
    6' BEHIND - Rushed (Collingwood)
    7' GOAL - Dale Thomas (Collingwood)
    12' BEHIND - Andrew Krakouer (Collingwood)
    18' BEHIND - Rushed (Collingwood)
    19' BEHIND - Will Schofield (West Coast)
    21' BEHIND - Travis Cloke (Collingwood)
    24' BEHIND - Alex Fasolo (Collingwood)
    25' GOAL - Jarryd Blair (Collingwood)
    26' BEHIND - Andrew Gaff (West Coast)
    30' GOAL - Jack Darling (West Coast)
    Quarter 4
    3' GOAL - Nicholas Naitanui (West Coast)
    5' GOAL - Joshua Kennedy (West Coast)
    9' GOAL - Tyson Goldsack (Collingwood)
    14' GOAL - Dane Swan (Collingwood)
    17' BEHIND - Dale Thomas (Collingwood)
    18' BEHIND - Andrew Krakouer (Collingwood)
    29' BEHIND - Sharrod Wellingham (Collingwood)
    Michael DiFabrizio is completing his journalism degree. As an AFL writer, he has been an expert columnist at The Roar since 2009, and appeared in The Age and on ABC television and radio. Follow Michael on twitter @mdifabrizio