understudy
8 Jun 2004, 12:32
Shaw was excellent. Moved on to West Coast matchwinner Chris Judd at quarter-time, Shaw kept the Eagle to 16 touches in three quarters while gathering 16 of his own.
In anyone's language, 16-all in a Shaw-Judd shootout is a win for the former. It's even more meritorious considering Judd was in scintillating form.
He racked up 11 touches on Matthew Lokan in the first term in such devastating fashion that you had to wonder if Lokan had forgotten he was supposed to be in a run-with role.
Shaw's effort, which combined discipline with creativity in the midfield, was his best of the season.
Perhaps now he can forget about that moment in the GF when he slipped, lost the ball and watched Alastair Lynch pick it up and kick a goal.
Magpies coach Mick Malthouse, for one, would be delighted. He has consistently reinforced his faith in Shaw and last night he would have felt vindicated. And proud.
And for two Magpies battling their own demons, last night's victory might prove that significant moment when their torment passes into memory.
Rhyce Shaw, the subject of much public ridicule, has seemingly battled to live down the memory of one embarrassing mistake on Grand Final day last year.
Cameron Cloke has carried a different stigma.
Last Monday it was revealed he was high-tailing it down the Eastern Freeway at 144km.
Despite his happy-go-lucky demeanour on the field, be assured the spotlight off it shone big and bright on Cloke. Remember, this could be a $600,000 balls-up.
Last night, however, it appeared Shaw and Cloke didn't have a worry in the world as they were instrumental in Collingwood's continued mid-season resurgence.
The Magpies are now four wins from 11 games. With only another seven victories needed to make the eight, and 10 to knock on the door of the four, the next 11 rounds look as tantalising as the first 11.
Love or hate 'em, the Pies on the march are good for football.
Cloke's performance was of the highest order. Just 19, he could've been full of self pity, but his enthusiasm was first rate.
When Anthony Rocca went down with an ankle injury in the second quarter, Malthouse sent Cloke to centre half-forward.
It was a brave move – akin to his deployment of Shaw on Judd – and a successful one. Cloke's two goals in the third quarter helped derail the Eagles.
He only had 10 possessions and five marks, but he also has provided a bit of grunt.
Last week he riled several Kangaroos, and he showed again last night that he doesn't mind trading bumps with the opposition.
Another bloke who has battled demons for almost 18 months played a rip-snorter.
Cameron Cloke's older brother Jason has taken criticism for so long, it's a wonder he's still playing. But he showed last night, indeed in the past month, the bad times are behind him.
Fittingly, he had the ball when the final siren sounded and booted it to high heaven. Like most of his kicks, it was a tumbling, mongrel punt that found nobody.
That's why winning doesn't solve everything.
Shaw thing to purge demons
05 June 2004 Herald Sun
Mark Robinson
In anyone's language, 16-all in a Shaw-Judd shootout is a win for the former. It's even more meritorious considering Judd was in scintillating form.
He racked up 11 touches on Matthew Lokan in the first term in such devastating fashion that you had to wonder if Lokan had forgotten he was supposed to be in a run-with role.
Shaw's effort, which combined discipline with creativity in the midfield, was his best of the season.
Perhaps now he can forget about that moment in the GF when he slipped, lost the ball and watched Alastair Lynch pick it up and kick a goal.
Magpies coach Mick Malthouse, for one, would be delighted. He has consistently reinforced his faith in Shaw and last night he would have felt vindicated. And proud.
And for two Magpies battling their own demons, last night's victory might prove that significant moment when their torment passes into memory.
Rhyce Shaw, the subject of much public ridicule, has seemingly battled to live down the memory of one embarrassing mistake on Grand Final day last year.
Cameron Cloke has carried a different stigma.
Last Monday it was revealed he was high-tailing it down the Eastern Freeway at 144km.
Despite his happy-go-lucky demeanour on the field, be assured the spotlight off it shone big and bright on Cloke. Remember, this could be a $600,000 balls-up.
Last night, however, it appeared Shaw and Cloke didn't have a worry in the world as they were instrumental in Collingwood's continued mid-season resurgence.
The Magpies are now four wins from 11 games. With only another seven victories needed to make the eight, and 10 to knock on the door of the four, the next 11 rounds look as tantalising as the first 11.
Love or hate 'em, the Pies on the march are good for football.
Cloke's performance was of the highest order. Just 19, he could've been full of self pity, but his enthusiasm was first rate.
When Anthony Rocca went down with an ankle injury in the second quarter, Malthouse sent Cloke to centre half-forward.
It was a brave move – akin to his deployment of Shaw on Judd – and a successful one. Cloke's two goals in the third quarter helped derail the Eagles.
He only had 10 possessions and five marks, but he also has provided a bit of grunt.
Last week he riled several Kangaroos, and he showed again last night that he doesn't mind trading bumps with the opposition.
Another bloke who has battled demons for almost 18 months played a rip-snorter.
Cameron Cloke's older brother Jason has taken criticism for so long, it's a wonder he's still playing. But he showed last night, indeed in the past month, the bad times are behind him.
Fittingly, he had the ball when the final siren sounded and booted it to high heaven. Like most of his kicks, it was a tumbling, mongrel punt that found nobody.
That's why winning doesn't solve everything.
Shaw thing to purge demons
05 June 2004 Herald Sun
Mark Robinson