VFL report: Zebras down Pies

[Dave The Man]

Sandringham recorded a 30-point triumph over Collingwood in a low-scoring encounter in front of an impressive crowd at the Trevor Barker Beach Road Oval on Sunday afternoon.

The third-placed Zebras proved too experienced for the Magpies in the round nine encounter, winning 11.13 (79) to 6.13 (49).

Collingwood was, however, without a number of their key senior players, namely Paul Licuria, Tyson Goldsack and the injured Ryan Lonie, as well as Ben Reid, Shannon Cox and Ryan Cook, who were all listed as emergencies for the senior side’s clash with Melbourne on the following day.

With this in mind, despite booting only six goals, Gavin Brown and his coaching staff will have returned to the Lexus Centre with plenty of positives, namely the efforts of midfielders Sam Iles (34 possessions, two goals) and Danny Stanley (32 touches, five tackles), whilst defender Kris Pendlebury (28 disposals), older brother of Scott, was prolific in defence, his second efforts and ability to apply pressure a highlight.

Justin Crow was again one of the side’s most consistent players, shifted onto Melbourne’s dangerous rookie listed Trent Zomer in the second term, restricting him to only the solitary major after the quarter time break. First year onballer John McCarthy (19 possessions, five tackles) was again busy at the stoppages, as well as providing some run through the midfield.

Alan Toovey (shoulder) and Luke Casey-Leigh (groin) both made their returns from injury, while Tim Walsh returned to the side in the absence of Reid.

The major injury concern for the Woods centered on Jaxson Barham, who lay motionless on the turf after what appeared to be a heavy collision in the early minutes of the opening quarter. The 19-year-old suffered concussion, and was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.

Collingwood trailed the home side by 19-points at the first break, though they managed to work their way back into the contest following the five minute pause in which Barham was stretchered from the field. In the minutes preceding Barham’s injury, the Zebras had piled on two quick goals, through Mark Jamar and Addam Maric, and continued to drive into attack with menace; however the temporary respite served as a positive for the Pies, who began the task of working their way back into the match, thanks largely to their one-percenters. Iles led the way, winning a holding the ball free kick within range and goaling, a goal which was followed late in the term by first-gamer Tilly Yahman, who snapped his first in an opportunistic fashion, ending the term with the momentum of the game again in the balance.

The four goals scored in the second quarter were evenly split between the two sides, Sandringham leading the Magpies by only 16-points at the long break. With the play becoming far less free-flowing, and the ball spending more time in midfield stoppages, it appeared as if the Zebras were to take the honours when Demon pair Chris Johnson and Matthew Whelan both goaled within minutes of each other, though Iles’ second within minutes of the siren kept his side in the hunt.

When 150-gamer Nigel Carmody capitalised on his side’s swift ball movement from defence to attack in the opening stages of the third term, the Pies drew within two straight kicks, however it was as close as they were to get for the rest of the afternoon, both side’s haunted by inaccurate kicking in front of goal, the Zebras booting 4.8 to Collingwood’s 2.6 in the second half.

Though the margin was a gettable 27-points at the three quarter time huddle, the Zebras made all the running in the final term, running out a comfortable 30-point victor. Key defender John Anthony was released from the shackles of the backline in the final term when trialled in attack, booting the side’s only goal for the term, as well as having a hand in a number of forward forays.

After struggling in the final term in recent weeks, Brown was satisfied with his team’s ability to sustain their intensity for the duration of the match.

“It was pleasing (to play four quarters) after a few weeks of not quite getting it right, but in the second half the endeavour was there, so while we lost by 30-points, we did finish off the game fairly strongly.”

“The younger players stood up; we were very young out there, but they were good. To their credit, their effort was there, and they tried to get it right.”

Brown highlighted the efforts of the side’s most consistent performers.

“Both Iles and McCarthy were very pleasing, both won plenty of the ball, as did Danny Stanley. (Kris) Pendlebury was also good, Jack Anthony worked hard, and I thought Justin Crow was again very good down back on Trent Zomer. McCarthy’s not far away (from senior selection), there are a few areas of his game he’ll need to keep working on, but no he isn’t far away, and I’m sure he’ll be close to getting a run later in the season. Wood was much better two weeks ago (against Werribee). He wasn’t quite himself today, but he did show form in patches.”

The Magpies face off with the Northern Bullants for the second time this season at Princes Park next Saturday afternoon at 2pm, and will be out to avenge their 51-point loss to their rivals when they last met in round three.

Collingwood: 2.1, 4.7, 5.8, 6.13 (49)
Sandringham: 5.2, 7.5, 9.11, 11.13 (79)
Goals – Collingwood: Iles 2, McCarthy, Carmody, Yayman, Anthony.
Sandringham: Zomer 3, Maric 2, Liddell 2, Jamar, C.Johnson, Whelan, Poyas.
Best – Collingwood: Iles, Stanley, Pendlebury, McCarthy, Crow.
Sandringham: Jamar, Valenti, C. Johnson, Martin, Crowe, Whelan.

Reports: Nicholls (Collingwood) and Valenti (Sandringham) for wrestling in the first quarter.

2008 collingwoodfc.com.au VFL MVP Award
* A total of 10 votes can be allocated each match
Round 9 votes
2 - Iles, Stanley
1 - Pendlebury, McCarthy, Crow

Progressive
7. Cox, Nicholls, Iles
5. Stanley, Crow
4. Wellingham, Macaffer, Cook
3: Toovey, Bryan, Anthony, McCarthy
2: Walsh, Frost, Lonie
1: Carmody, Clarke, Holland, Licuria, Jurrah, Reid, Dyas, Pendlebury

Intresting to Hear that Wood was a Bit off

Link Here

 

[shawthing09]

Really really encouraging to see J-Mac in the best again this week. Hopefully he continues to develop nicely in the VFL. If he continues in this way I'd love to see him given a taste of the big time sooner rather then later. I have a feeling that players who spend ages in the VFL developing without some AFL exposure struggle to make the leap to the ones, especially midfielders.

 

[beez]

Shock horror we lost again