The Royal Sampler
20 May 2008, 18:37
VFL report: Scorps sting Pies
Luke Mason, VFL reporter 7:34 PM Mon 19 May, 2008
http://mm.afl.com.au/Portals/0/collingwood_article_images/080519_RyanCookVFL246.jpgRyan Cook battled hard for Collingwood's VFL team at Casey Fields on Saturday
A determined performance in trying conditions was not enough for Collingwood to overcome the third-placed Casey Scorpions side in round eight of the VFL at Casey Fields on Saturday afternoon.
Steady rain, a stiff breeze and an ice-cold day, on which the mercury failed to tip into double figures, meant that the match never reached any real heights from a skills point of view, and a strong finish by the home side meant the Scorpions ran out 10.11 (71) to 3.10 (28) winners.
The conditions also explain the fact that the two sides had only seven goals between them at three quarter time, however the level of commitment from both teams was high for the majority of the day. It was Casey who was able to hold on longest, running away with the match in the final 10 minutes in ramming on five goals to one, with crumbing forward Chris Dunne sneaking under the Magpies guard, booting three majors.
Although the Pies were able to manage only the three majors, there were plenty of positives for Gavin Brown’s men, who appeared a genuine chance at winning the match midway through the final term despite kicking into the breeze.
In the absence of Chris Bryan, who was promoted to the senior side due to Josh Fraser’s knee injury, ruckman Justin Crow was superb, holding the fort for much of the day, and winning 14 possessions. Shannon Cox (21 disposals, four tackles) was solid across half back, while onballers Ryan Cook (20 touches, five tackles, five inside 50s), Danny Nicholls (16 disposals, seven tackles) and Danny Stanley (16 possessions, four inside 50s) were busy onball.
On a day which did not suit the key forwards, Collingwood lynchpins Ben Reid and Chris Dawes continued to present and work their way up the field, though they were unable to convert their hard work into the goals they and their team needed.
The challenge presented by the conditions was underlined by Casey’s inability to score throughout the entire first quarter, having defeated the Northern Bullants the previous week by 118 points. The Pies, having won the toss with thanks to skipper of the day, former Scorpion captain Nigel Carmody, managed the only goal of the term, coming in the form of a Stanley snap from close range, Collingwood leading at the first break by nine points.
With the breeze at their backs, the second quarter allowed Casey the opportunity to creep back into the match, outscoring the Magpies with four goals to the solitary Collingwood behind, taking, all things considered, a healthy three goal lead into the major break, Crow and Nicholls the only men in black and white to make a true impression during a term in which much of the play was in the home side’s half of the ground.
The third term loomed as pivotal for Collingwood’s fortunes as, aided by the wind and a chance to catch their breath, inroads were needed in order to truly threaten to bring the four points back to the Lexus Centre.
And for the most part, the Pies hung tough, but managed only the one major, off the boot of Dawes midway through the quarter, which was countered by Andrew McQualter at the other end, the Pies conceding Casey a 20-point break at the final change. It wasn’t as if the Magpies had their opportunities, a lack of efficiency when heading into attack proving their ultimate downfall.
Yet in the early stages of the last quarter, Collingwood appeared every chance of winning, winning the majority of the ball around the stoppages courtesy of Crow’s work around the ground in feeding his onballers, Ben Reid dragging his side within 14-points halfway through the term with a much deserved goal from 40 metres out.
But that was the closest they got, the Scorpions piling on five unanswered majors, with St Kilda ruckman Ben McEvoy chipping in with two to tie in with Dunne’s three, Casey running out 43-point winners.
Magpies coach Gavin Brown was pleased with his team’s efforts for three quarters, but was again irked by the side’s inability to close out a match.
“For three and a half quarters we worked pretty hard but it was really just the last 10 or 12 minutes that was the problem, so that was disappointing, but we were good for three and a half quarters.
"They had a big win last week so the fact that we held with them was pleasing, as they are obviously quality opposition. We had a bad one the week before, so it was good to come out and fight it out.
“They were tough conditions, a bit windy obviously and slippery at the end. We did (change the way we coached), as it forced us to change from quarter to quarter, with the wind, obviously in the last quarter we went against it, but yeah we did have to change the way we played so I thought the players did that and went really well, the effort was there for the most part, except for that last little bit.”
Brown pointed out the work of Crow in the ruck, whilst reminding Magpies fans that the 10th draft choice Chris Egan is still lurking at the second level.
“(In terms of development) Egan’s still got a fair way to go, and we know he’s got the ability, but with Eags, it’s all a matter of effort now, we’ve got to get an effort from him. When he gives that effort, he’s a good player, but when he doesn’t, he’s not.
“Crow’s got a big lion heart, he has, and he played very well, he was fantastic, Crowy, we’re really impressed and pleased with him. You know what get from him, he’s a good player at this level, and he’s been really good for us.”
The Magpies were without the injured John McCarthy (calf) and Brodie Holland (achilles).
Collingwood 1.3, 1.4, 2.6, 3.10 (28)
Casey Scorpions 0.0, 4.4, 5.8, 10.11 (71)
Goals – Collingwood: Dawes Reid Stanley
Casey Scorpions: Dunne 3 McEvoy 2, McQualter, Allen, Steven, Fiora, Rix
Best – Collingwood: Crow, Nicholls, Cox, Cook, Frost, Reid, Dawes.
Casey Scorpions: Jones, Garrubba, McEvoy, Howard, Panozza, Steven
Luke Mason, VFL reporter 7:34 PM Mon 19 May, 2008
http://mm.afl.com.au/Portals/0/collingwood_article_images/080519_RyanCookVFL246.jpgRyan Cook battled hard for Collingwood's VFL team at Casey Fields on Saturday
A determined performance in trying conditions was not enough for Collingwood to overcome the third-placed Casey Scorpions side in round eight of the VFL at Casey Fields on Saturday afternoon.
Steady rain, a stiff breeze and an ice-cold day, on which the mercury failed to tip into double figures, meant that the match never reached any real heights from a skills point of view, and a strong finish by the home side meant the Scorpions ran out 10.11 (71) to 3.10 (28) winners.
The conditions also explain the fact that the two sides had only seven goals between them at three quarter time, however the level of commitment from both teams was high for the majority of the day. It was Casey who was able to hold on longest, running away with the match in the final 10 minutes in ramming on five goals to one, with crumbing forward Chris Dunne sneaking under the Magpies guard, booting three majors.
Although the Pies were able to manage only the three majors, there were plenty of positives for Gavin Brown’s men, who appeared a genuine chance at winning the match midway through the final term despite kicking into the breeze.
In the absence of Chris Bryan, who was promoted to the senior side due to Josh Fraser’s knee injury, ruckman Justin Crow was superb, holding the fort for much of the day, and winning 14 possessions. Shannon Cox (21 disposals, four tackles) was solid across half back, while onballers Ryan Cook (20 touches, five tackles, five inside 50s), Danny Nicholls (16 disposals, seven tackles) and Danny Stanley (16 possessions, four inside 50s) were busy onball.
On a day which did not suit the key forwards, Collingwood lynchpins Ben Reid and Chris Dawes continued to present and work their way up the field, though they were unable to convert their hard work into the goals they and their team needed.
The challenge presented by the conditions was underlined by Casey’s inability to score throughout the entire first quarter, having defeated the Northern Bullants the previous week by 118 points. The Pies, having won the toss with thanks to skipper of the day, former Scorpion captain Nigel Carmody, managed the only goal of the term, coming in the form of a Stanley snap from close range, Collingwood leading at the first break by nine points.
With the breeze at their backs, the second quarter allowed Casey the opportunity to creep back into the match, outscoring the Magpies with four goals to the solitary Collingwood behind, taking, all things considered, a healthy three goal lead into the major break, Crow and Nicholls the only men in black and white to make a true impression during a term in which much of the play was in the home side’s half of the ground.
The third term loomed as pivotal for Collingwood’s fortunes as, aided by the wind and a chance to catch their breath, inroads were needed in order to truly threaten to bring the four points back to the Lexus Centre.
And for the most part, the Pies hung tough, but managed only the one major, off the boot of Dawes midway through the quarter, which was countered by Andrew McQualter at the other end, the Pies conceding Casey a 20-point break at the final change. It wasn’t as if the Magpies had their opportunities, a lack of efficiency when heading into attack proving their ultimate downfall.
Yet in the early stages of the last quarter, Collingwood appeared every chance of winning, winning the majority of the ball around the stoppages courtesy of Crow’s work around the ground in feeding his onballers, Ben Reid dragging his side within 14-points halfway through the term with a much deserved goal from 40 metres out.
But that was the closest they got, the Scorpions piling on five unanswered majors, with St Kilda ruckman Ben McEvoy chipping in with two to tie in with Dunne’s three, Casey running out 43-point winners.
Magpies coach Gavin Brown was pleased with his team’s efforts for three quarters, but was again irked by the side’s inability to close out a match.
“For three and a half quarters we worked pretty hard but it was really just the last 10 or 12 minutes that was the problem, so that was disappointing, but we were good for three and a half quarters.
"They had a big win last week so the fact that we held with them was pleasing, as they are obviously quality opposition. We had a bad one the week before, so it was good to come out and fight it out.
“They were tough conditions, a bit windy obviously and slippery at the end. We did (change the way we coached), as it forced us to change from quarter to quarter, with the wind, obviously in the last quarter we went against it, but yeah we did have to change the way we played so I thought the players did that and went really well, the effort was there for the most part, except for that last little bit.”
Brown pointed out the work of Crow in the ruck, whilst reminding Magpies fans that the 10th draft choice Chris Egan is still lurking at the second level.
“(In terms of development) Egan’s still got a fair way to go, and we know he’s got the ability, but with Eags, it’s all a matter of effort now, we’ve got to get an effort from him. When he gives that effort, he’s a good player, but when he doesn’t, he’s not.
“Crow’s got a big lion heart, he has, and he played very well, he was fantastic, Crowy, we’re really impressed and pleased with him. You know what get from him, he’s a good player at this level, and he’s been really good for us.”
The Magpies were without the injured John McCarthy (calf) and Brodie Holland (achilles).
Collingwood 1.3, 1.4, 2.6, 3.10 (28)
Casey Scorpions 0.0, 4.4, 5.8, 10.11 (71)
Goals – Collingwood: Dawes Reid Stanley
Casey Scorpions: Dunne 3 McEvoy 2, McQualter, Allen, Steven, Fiora, Rix
Best – Collingwood: Crow, Nicholls, Cox, Cook, Frost, Reid, Dawes.
Casey Scorpions: Jones, Garrubba, McEvoy, Howard, Panozza, Steven