Collingwood has ended Essendon’s slim finals hopes with a 17-point win at Victoria Park on Saturday.
In a scrappy affair, the experience of Luke Ball in the middle and continued development of Brodie Grundy in the ruck saw the Magpies home, 11.16 82 to Essendon 9.11 65 as Holly Mason reports.
Collingwood supporters were treated to a possible glimpse of the future with potential father/son selection Darcy Moore playing as the 23rd player for Collingwood. Starting in defense, it did not take long for Moore to get into the game, showing his dash from half back and attack on the football early.
Without captain Jack Hellier in the side, who missed his first match this season due to a calf injury, Collingwood still had plenty of talent with the likes of Paul Seedsman and Quinten Lynch returning from injury to bolster the VFL Magpies.
It was a confident start by Essendon to the game, with its season on the line as Shaun Edwards scored the first goal of the match two minutes in.
Trailing by three points at quarter time, it did not take long for Collingwood to wrestle the advantage its way, as Corey Gault and Brodie Grundy helping Collingwood take control of the game.
Essendon’s Tom Bellchambers scored an impressive goal 10 minutes into the term to even up the scores, but a goal to Collingwood’s Jacob Williams late in the term gave the home side a nine point lead at half time.
A six goal to three third term broke open the game for Collingwood, as Grundy and Patrick Karnezis started to impact the game in the middle. Caolan Mooney helped the home side to a 24-point lead midway through the term with his second goal of the quarter, and the finals hopes of the Bombers started to slip away.
When Grundy kicked his third goal for the game Collingwood had jumped out to a 34-point lead, but a goal to Kieran Ellis right on three quarter time saw the margin sit at 28 points going into the final term.
Despite dominating the play early in the final term, keeping the home side goalless, Essendon were unable to impact the scoreboard adding just the two goals in the final quarter suffering a season ending 17-point defeat.
Going into the game Collingwood coach Dale Tapping knew Essendon had everything to play for.
“We knew the game against Essendon was going to be a tough one as they have their heart set on making the final eight and this was an important game for them,” Tapping said.
“We were lucky to have a few great players down from the AFL which certainly helped us out.”
“There was definitely a lot we needed to improve on in the first half which fortunately we did in the second half.”
The only negative for the day for Collingwood was a hamstring injury to Jonathon Marsh.
“He has done some serious damage, he is certainly going to be difficult to replace on the field- he is just 18 and it is his first season and he makes a huge difference out there,” Tapping said.
The result sees Collingwood likely to finish in a similar position to last year, making the finals in the bottom half of the eight.
“I think we will finish 5th or 6th, much the same as last year,” Tapping said.
“We are certainly happy to be making the finals again- that’s what its all about.”
Collingwood will aim to end the season for another finals contender this weekend when they face Geelong at Simonds Stadium, while Essendon will host Richmond in the curtain raiser game to the AFL International Cup match between India and Pakistan.
Last Modified on 12/08/2014 16:31