By Luke Mason
A five goal to nil first quarter helped pave the way for a 50-point Collingwood victory over the Werribee Tigers at Visy Park on Sunday afternoon, keeping their finals flame a’ flickering only a month out from September.
It was the work of rover Jarryd Blair and wingman Sharrod Wellingham that gave the Pies the impetus all afternoon, having the better of Werribee's skipper Dominic Gleeson (celebrating his 100th VFL match) and Rob Castello. Key forward Nathan Thompson was lively in attack in the early going, but failed to make the most of his opportunities, booting two goals and four behinds. He was manned by developing Collingwood big man Lachlan Keefe, who would certainly have benefited from the experience on one of the VFL's most dangerous forwards.
The Magpies began with purpose, and looked the better side from the outset, with Nathan Brown providing a strong foil for key forward Anthony Rocca, allowing Chris Bryan to shoulder the bulk of the rucking duties. Rocca was stood by the North Melbourne listed Alan Obst, and managed two goals for the afternoon, both of which came in the final quarter.
Werribee found it difficult to penetrate Collingwood's half back line, which was built upon the run and dash of Martin Clarke and Anthony Corrie, while Brent Macaffer continued to prove that he is not merely a one-trick pony as a half forward in the mould of Paul Medhurst, instigating a number of forward thrusts from defence.
The second quarter continued in much the same vein as the previous half hour, although the Tigers did rally with two goals, both to Thompson, and provided the Pies with a stronger contest around the stoppages. But it wasn't enough to halt the Magpies charge, with the home side leading by 37-points when both sides retreated to the rooms.
Both sides contributed to a poor third term, with much of the play located between the two fifty-metre lines as the sting went out of the contest momentarily. The result was only one goal apiece for the quarter, allowing the Pies to hold a 38-point lead at the final change.
Although Werribee opened the last quarter with some verve and urgency, the class of Collingwood soon prevailed, as John McCarthy, on the rebound after a wretched run with injury, Danny Stanley and Luke Rounds helped push the side deep into attack time and time again. Rocca also managed to find some touch, slotting two majors to cap off another step in his quest to return to the senior side, the second of which sealed the deal for his Magpies, who ran out 50-point victors.
The loss all but rules Werribee out of finals calculations for 2009, but before the curtains are drawn, they return to Chirnside Park to host the Coburg Tigers on Sunday afternoon, while Collingwood will look to claim the prized scalp of Williamstown en route to September when they travel to Burbank Oval on the same afternoon.
Collingwood: 5.5, 8.7, 9.10, 13.14 (92)
Werribee: 0.3, 2.6, 3.8, 5.12 (42)
Goals – Collingwood: Brown 2, McCarthy 2, Rocca 2, Rounds, Sidebottom, Bennell, Sheahan, Bryan, Blight, Stanley.
Werribee: Thompson 2, Lunardi, Bongetti, Kennedy.
Best – Collingwood: Wellingham, Brown, Bryan, Rocca, Barham, Corrie, Reid, Sidebottom.
Werribee: Howard, Obst, Barlow, Gleeson, Castello, Rockefeller.
Reports: Nil.
At Visy Park.
Last Modified on 09/08/2009 22:42