Port Melbourne have notched up their twelfth win of the season, with a tantalising eight goal to one final term stirring the Boroughs’ to a hardly fought victory against a brave Collingwood side. Brendan Lucas reports.
For the first three quarters, Collingwood were positioned well to cause the upset of the season against an undefeated Port side, but Port's bigger bodies and endurance proved the key to unraveling the young Pies.
However, Port’s day didn’t start as planned, as they suffered a blow midway through the first to Tristan Francis who received head high collision after ducking low in a tackle, needing to be stretchered off.
Throughout the opening term it appeared the Pies had the ability to match it around the ground. Collingwood’s defence proved steady in the first, with John Ceglar, Tyson Goldsack, and Tom Young providing contests and enabling smooth rebounding transitions from defence to the forward line.
Seven minutes into the second term, the Boroughs’ put their slow start behind them, as Dean Galea slotted his second of the game with a strong mark in the square. This was shortly followed up by two quick goals in succession to Josh Scipione and Ryan McMahon to give Port a 17-point lead.
Two goals late in the quarter to the Pies kept them alive, as a check side along the ground from youngster Jye Bolton gave them a spark heading into the main break, chasing a 10-point deficit.
Shane Valenti and Ryan Mcmahon led the way for the Borough throughout the day, with 27 and 26 possessions respectively, causing headaches for the young Pies midfield.
Goals became scarce in the second half, but it was Kirk Ugle who gave the Pies the start they needed, as he put through his third to bring the lead back to six-points.
Although, it was in the Pies attempt to replicate Port’s class this season where things started to come undone, as a misfired handball from Pies defender Tom Young in the back half led to an easy third goal to Port’s Ryan McMahon late in the third.
With one goal separating both sides at the last change, and Port with only 21 fit players, both Port coach Gary Ayres and Pies’ coach Tarkyn Lockyer were fired up and urging their players to finish the game strongly and make the most of their opportunities.
It only took three minutes for Ayres’ side to start to play the way they have done all season, as they peppered the goals for the quarter. The Pies remained scoreless until the 19-minute mark of the last quarter with a behind.
Port showed all the class in the last overrunning a valiant Pies outfit. Two late goals to Port’s Patrick Rose who kicked his first, followed by Ryan McMahon’s fourth in a near best on ground performance put the Pies to the sword, as Port ran out to a convincing 48-point win.
After the game Gary Ayres seemed pleased with his sides’ ability to finish the game, but lamented intensity and decision-making during key periods of the game. He praised Collingwood’s work rate for three quarters and their ability to sustain their pressure.
“They were very good at pressing and closing us down a little bit, and then what they were able to do is roll out of their defence very well,” he said.
“Collingwood played like a side that was going out there to play the game. I felt we pressured ourselves at times with a lack of work rate, a lack of effort, and a lack of options leading up. But once we actually structured that together then we ended up kicking eight goals to one in the last quarter.”
“That [game] says a lot about Collingwood’s confidence, but in saying that, you don’t want to be leaving it to the last quarter all the time, you just won’t be able to continually do that.”
Last Modified on 11/07/2011 14:37