Have Collingwood wasted their chance or is it the Saints who will rue their missed opportunity after the grand final replay next week?
So what worked in the drawn match?
St Kilda’s decision to go in with one ruckman proved vindicated at the final siren, as the Saints were able to match it with the Pies in the running stakes.
It nearly went terribly wrong when Michael Gardiner went down late in the second quarter, but the forced move of Justin Koschitzke into the centre helped the Saint get into the match and this will help his confidence heading into the replay.
The Saints’ small defenders did a great job on the dangerous Collingwood small forwards.
Steven Baker was more than serviceable and Sean Dempster’s job on Alan Didak was crucial.
Ross Lyon’s half time moves were strong. The move of Sam Gilbert forward forced Nick Maxwell to play on someone, and Gilbert also chipped in with an important third quarter goal.
Farren Ray went to Dane Swan and was fantastic on the influential Collingwood midfielder. Dale Thomas rose to the big stage and was Collingwood’s best as well as announcing himself as a big game player.
Nathan Brown was very good on Nick Riewoldt. Brown came in with a point to prove and did so against the player who threatened to tear the game apart. He didn’t win the contest with Riewoldt, but the Pies will take a 50-50 split next week.
What didn’t work?
Leon Davis for a start. With one goal for the match, it will be a nervous week ahead for Neon Leon.
Collingwood had 62 forward 50 entries but the way they went in played into St Kilda’s hands. The Pies bombed the ball in long and had shots from long range and allowed the Saints the chance to halve the contested ball situations and rush behinds.
Collingwood will need to address this during the week and make sure they spot up targets next week. Chris Dawes’ kicking was very poor and may have been a sign of nerves, one hopes he can get it right for the rematch.
Collingwood again did kick poorly in front of goal but it was made to look worse with the amount of rush behinds conceded.
Missed chances hurt the Pies and as has been said all year it needs to be worked on or it will hurt them, only time will tell now.
St Kilda’s second quarter nearly cost them the premiership and Ross Lyon described it as pathetic. They can’t afford to do that two weeks in a row. The week ahead will offer up plenty of questions for both clubs to consider behind closed doors.
St Kilda will need to assess their injuries. It appears Gardiner won’t come up.
St Kilda could bring in the unlucky Ben McEvoy but they looked much better in the second half with Koschitzke and Jason Blake sharing the ruck duties and having the third man up around the ground.
Nick Dal Santo and Jason Gram were under injury clouds and didn’t have great games, so questions over their fitness will be asked.
Collingwood will have to weigh up the Davis scenario. Will they back the small forward’s ability to kick a freakish goal or will they cut him from the list?
Paul Medhurst may come into consideration after a strong end to the season with the VFL side. Tyson Goldsack will come into calculations but the Collingwood defence was solid and the better move could be to add another runner into the midfield-forward rotation.
It’s bound to be a cracker of replay and at least it won’t be a draw, provided the AFL Commission ratifies the rule change.
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