COLLINGWOOD senior player Marty Clarke dominated as the Pies defeated a gallant Frankston by 22 points in hellish conditions at Victoria Park on Sunday, as Samantha Landy reports.
On a rainy day where wild weather restricted combatants on both sides from having much influence, the Irishman collected 31 touches, booted two goals and managed to have a presence across the ground.
Collingwood coach Tarkyn Lockyer praised Clarke, who was dropped from the Pies AFL side this week to make way for fellow Irishman Caolan Mooney, post-match. He said Clarke had “absolutely” put his hand up for a return to the seniors next weekend.
“For a senior player coming back, he played like a senior player,” Lockyer said. “I thought his intensity was terrific. His ability to take the game on, his ball use and decision making were excellent.
“On top of that his direction, his leadership was really good. I was really pleased with the way he went about it.”
Clarke was a shining light in an otherwise rough and rugged game.
The Pies dominated the first term, with the ball rarely leaving the home side’s half. They accordingly clocked up eight scoring shots to one, but would have led by much more than 12 points at the first change had their shots been more accurate.
Collingwood booted two goals six in the first quarter, the first going to Kirk Ugle at the six minute mark and the second to Jarrod Witts 60 seconds later. It took 23 minutes for the Dolphins to get on the board, with stellar forward Khan Haretuku booting Frankston’s only major (and only score) for the first term.
The Dolphins hit back in the second quarter, narrowing the margin to just four points.
Both sides struggled to get clean possession and move the ball cleanly as the rain started to pour and the mercury dipped to just 7C. The Pies mustered only one goal, thanks to Marty Clarke, and three behinds. Their lead blew out to 19 points before Frankston clocked up two quick majors, Kyle Martin dribbling the first home and Luke Clark snapping the second around his body.
The game opened up in the third term as the rain let up, with both sides finding some run through the corridor.
The Pies drew first blood for the quarter through ruckman Cameron Wood. Clarke drilled his second soon after before Ricky Ferraro and Trent Stubbs also goaled to extend Collingwood’s lead to 28 points. Fumble-ridden Frankston managed to score its only goal for the term after the siren courtesy of Martin, bringing the margin back to 22 points.
This margin would be the same a quarter later, with the teams each booting three goals four in the final term.
Frankston squandered some early chances to reduce the Pies’ lead, beginning the quarter with four straight behinds. The Dolphins’ inaccuracy really hurt when Collingwood’s Josh Thomas and Ferraro piled on the next two majors, boosting the margin to a match high 30 points.
But Simon Goosey’s boys weren’t done with yet, drilling the next three goals through Haretuku, Shaun Marusic and Leigh Kitchin, the latter coming courtesy of a 50 metre penalty, to trail by 14 points.
But it was too little too late. Collingwood sealed its victory with a goal to Cathcart as the sun finally began to shine.
Lockyer named Clarke, Paul Seedman (26 possessions), Paul Cribbin (18) and Ricky Ferraro (two goals) among the Pies’ best, but admitted it was “a tough day to stand out”. Tom Young (28 possessions), Lachlan Wallace (19) and skipper Kris Pendlebury (24 touches in full back) also starred.
The Collingwood coach commended his side’s intensity throughout the match.
“I thought for three quarters we were really good,” he said. “We started the game really well, (in the) second quarter we probably dropped away a little bit; lost a bit of our structure, and then the second half I thought was much better.
“From an intensity point of view...I was really happy with the way they went about it. Across the board our attack and tackling was really good.
Lockyer said he was particularly pleased with his players’ ability to hit back when Frankston pushed them.
“I thought with probably ten minutes to go the game wasn't over,” he said. “They kicked those two quick ones and got back to 14 points or something like that.
“I suppose that's a real credit to them, they just kept coming at us, even after the first quarter. We dominated the first quarter and they came back and obviously challenged.
“Look, it was a pleasing win.”
Kyle Martin and Luke Potts starred in the midfield for the Dolphins, the former booting two crucial goals and the latter having an influence throughout the match.
State player Haretuku booted two goals while Dylan Van Unen, Warwick Miller and Jack Irving were also among the best.
AFL player Chris Tarrant was a late withdrawal for Collingwood, pulled out with general soreness after being named at full forward. Lockyer said he should be right to return next week in the AFL against Carlton or in the VFL against the Williamstown at Burbank Oval next Sunday.
Frankston will face fellow cellar dwellers the Northern Blues at home on Sunday.
Last Modified on 03/07/2012 09:33