Collingwood, despite facing a 24-point deficit in the final quarter and two players out, have stunned the West Coast Eagles, winning by eight points in a sensational victory at Etihad Stadium.
The first quarter was a topsy-turvy one, with both teams managing to get extended periods of momentum.
After the first five or six minutes resulted in a bunch of behinds and Josh Kennedy booting the first goal of the match for the visitors.
Collingwood produced a stunning 10 minutes which saw them boot three consecutive goals and completed dominate a Eagles side which were overwhelmed. Collingwood’s usual inaccuracy plagued them, though, and West Coast soon produced a dominant period of their own which saw them kick three consecutive goals as well.
It was the Eagles by four points at quarter time, then.
The second quarter was a much tighter affair, with teams unable to gain any major period of ascendancy and saw the Eagles boot three goals to Collingwood’s two.
The Eagles, though, were better in general play against a Pies side which produced it’s usual mistakes, although the Eagles themselves weren’t immune to skill errors.
The quarter was marked by Josh Kennedy’s two goals, which took his tally to four before half time, and an injury to Darcy Moore, who was taken to hospital.
The Eagles nine-point margin was blown out in the third quarter thanks to two quick goals to Kennedy.
This was the point that most people – especially me – would’ve expected the Eagles to run away with this match, especially when the Pies lost a second player after Travis Varcoe, who suffered a sickening collision with the ground.
The Pies, though, seemed to have other ideas, storming back into the game with a string of three goals – two of them to Jordan De Goey. The crowd was alive, at least until the Eagles managed to get their comfortable margin back by three-quarter time.
The Pies, though, displayed some phenomenal resilience throughout the final quarter, not even letting a bout of inaccuracy prevent them from continually pushing the Eagles, eventually breaking through for a memorable victory thanks to late goals to Jamie Elliott and Alex Fasolo.
Jordan De Goey was sensational for the Pies – 4 goals and 20 touches – while Adam Treloar (35 touches), Jack Crisp (33) and Taylor Adams (26, one goal) were also prolific. Jeremy Howe (26 touches, 9 marks) was excellent.
Jamie Elliott (3 goals) and Ben Reid (2) were the Pies other multiple goal scorers.
Shannon Hurn (29 touches), Dom Sheed (26) and Luke Shuey (26) were the top disposal-getters for the Eagles, while Josh Kennedy (6 goals) was sensational in his 200th game.
Jack Darling and Jamie Cripps were also good, with two goals apiece.
The Eagles travel back home to host Brisbane next Sunday, while Collingwood have a daunting match against Adelaide at the ‘G, also on the Sunday.
Collingwood: 13.15 (93)
West Coast: 13.7 (85)
Phil
Guest
As soon as Yeo missed that, I knew we were going to lose. It looked the same a few other times this season. Against Gold Coast Hill missed a set shot from 40 meters out to give us a 3 goal lead and he missed. Jetta missed one against Melbourne which would have sealed the game at Subiaco, he missed and we went on to lose. Yesterday, Yeo misses an absolute sitter and again we go on to lose. Think of where we would be on the ladder if it wasn't for those moments.
Phil
Guest
It's not an East Coast thing; we suck everywhere. We lost 3 of the last 5 in Perth too.
Mattician6x6
Guest
PtS - would it be fair to say journos etc are laying into Buckley creating this attitude towards him by some ATM. Well done on win yesterday when it was on the line your boys wanted it and the loss of Moore inadvertently helped imo as the it forced Buckley to go small in fwd line exposing WCE for being to top heavy in our back line.
Gungadin
Guest
Kicking sideways Collingwood look completely out of their depth. Straighten them, send the ball down the corridor and they look great. BUT, it should never have gotten to this. We need to get the administration right first. Like it or not Eddie, its time to go. Broadie or Toorak boy, you gotta face facts, the Club doesnt need a PR president its needs a lesser profiled professional. No ones saying you havent done a great job, thats self evident. 18yrs in charge of a football club is too long. Collingwood supporters, just like you, arent backward in coming forward so please do some self examination.
Peter the Scribe
Guest
Chris regardless of the rest of 2017 I think it is the dawn of a new era. You know Tim Lane wrote that rubbish about Carlton and Collingwood heading in opposite directions a couple of weeks ago. So Carlton languish last on the points for ladder and headed for a bottom two finish with a disgraceful % and they all think Bolton is the Messiah! Pies, Dogs and Saints the most upside for 2018 and we can rise with a bullet. De Goey, Moore, Maynard, Aish, Kirby, Brown, Daicos all huge improvement in them and an elite group not going away for some time in Howe, Sidebottom, Pendlebury, Treloar, Jamie Elliott, Grundy....add cameos from Wells, Varcoe, Reid, Hoskin- Elliott, Fasolo....and then inside grunt from Adams, Wills,....this list will rise with a rocket and let's watch Bolton contonue with his honorable loss mentality and see how long it buys him time.
Peter the Scribe
Guest
That's because you are only looking superficially. I can't tell from your comments who you support but even if it is the Pies you are not a true supporter who absorbs everything that has happened/is happening at the club past 7 years. Some facts for you Bretto: 1 The succession plan as a massive success. Why? It resulted in the 2010 flag which happened the year after it was announced. 2. Talk of the players Buckley supposedly moved on is rubbish. the only one who counts is Heath Shaw and one player doesn't get you from 15th to 4th even if it's Dangerfield. 3. Bucks got the team to a prelim final first year, 5th spot second year. 4. Next two years the worst injury list in the AFL. 5. Team rebuild began started 2014 aimed at flag opportunities 2018-2020. We are on course for that with this list.
Bretto
Guest
I'll take some of that money Chris. What odds would you like?
Bretto
Guest
Hey Peter, what would have to happen before you believed it was time for Buckley to go. 8 years in a row getting worse results each year? 10 years in a row? Buckley is an honourable man, astute, and can talk a great game. However it's clear he is not able to get consistently good performances out of the team. And enough of this "eat their own" rubbish. He's had 6 years with a lower ladder position in each of them. Show me any other coach ever that has had those results and stayed in the job.
Chris
Guest
Collingwood could win five of the next six and we could just miss out on September action by a win or by percentage just like Tom Hafey's Richmond in 1966. As a true Maggie I expect that this could be the dawn of an new era.....Let's see if I am on the money!
Peter the Scribe
Guest
agree Don Freo....Yeo missed the sealer and he could have run in closer. That was the moment that left the door ajar. The dodgy free at the end sealed us the game but we were already in front so who knows what might've happened from there.
Peter the Scribe
Guest
AD.... firstly congrats on the blog of the game...secondly, some of us get very defensive of anti-Buckly anti-eddie, anti-pies comments...theres even heaps out there who pretend they are pies fans eating their own....comments from users such as Cat, birdman (same bloke?) are non factual and non informed. Cat claimed the Blues would finish higher than pies too all because of Bucks apparently....how's that looking now Cat? The fact is, its not so much win or lose remaining games its the nature of both....so far our biggest defeat of the season is 37 points? The rest of the season for the club is not about dreaming of a miracle finals berth but about how the team is playing and that West Coast game showed the spirit of the boys and also the camaraderie with Bucks after the game.
Peter the Scribe
Guest
Birdman nice of you to acknowledge that Bucks throws a small forward line to combat the fact he lost Darcy Moore so early, plays with half a bench most of the second half and somehow pulls a win out of the jaws of defeat....yet all you can do is try and rip into Bucks....shows your character I suppose
Jolly Roger
Guest
Its a funny old game..lose and Buckley might've felt the pointy end of his own sword, now he might get to fight another season..and now the spotlight is on Simmo's cred as a coach. interesting stats, the contested possessions - The following players had NO contested possessions in the last qtr- Matt Priddis (nine in the first three quarters), Elliot Yeo (nine), Dom Sheed (eight), Luke Shuey (seven), Liam Duggan (five), Josh Kennedy (five), Andrew Gaff (four), Mark Hutchings (four), Brad Sheppard (three), Jamie Cripps (three), Tom Barrass (zero), Will Schofield (zero). Total contested possession count - 1st Qtr - C 28 / WC 21 2nd Qtr - C 37/ WC 39 3rd Qtr - C 38/ WC 40 4th Qtr - C 38/ WC 16 !!??
Wilson
Roar Guru
I think the main problem is they have a good midfield. But there backline is not great and there forwardline is young and not experience. When trading they Focus on the midfielders more when they needed to look at the whole team across all positions
Jolly Roger
Guest
certainly agree with that last statement!
Mattician6x6
Guest
Always hard when its a favourite son of the club, does anyone truly think this current pies team was going to contest this year? I reckon they are about were they should be and the decline has been more by the flow the afl has created than coaching, also Gubby Allen is most at fault for the list strategy the pies took onto last trade period
Wilson
Roar Guru
It seems to be mixed some love him and think he can do no wrong and other think he is destroying the club they love. And there are those from other club supporters that want bucks to stay and keep the downward spiral of Collingwood
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Heaps of fans on their social media are big supporters of Buckley it seems. Dunno if it's just the win that's colouring their opinions, but he seems to have a lot of support ... for another week, I guess.
Wilson
Roar Guru
talking to a lot of Collingwood supporters they are not happy they won this week as they are want Buckley gone as they don't think that he is capable of getting them into finals
Jolly Roger
Guest
prefer mitchell over priddis! we need a running beast with skills? ((; the midfields been average forever..and now a second coach hasn't addressed the problem. he says no-one complains about Priddis when we win? I say imagine someone better than Priddis...is that so hard? an extractor who can run and has Mitchell's skills..(sounds like Dangerfield) how good is Rory Sloane?