A star studded Collingwood team has destroyed Sandringham to keep their finals dreams alive. The 60-point win puts them back in the eight with one game remaining, as Nick Ciantar reports.
Darren Jolly, Ben Hudson, Alan Didak and a returning Dale Thomas headlined the star studded lineup at Trevor Barker Beach Oval. Hudson and promising Pies’ forward Jackson Paine kicked four goals each and ruckman Jolly returned to his best form by dismantling the young Sandingham ruckmen.
But Dale Thomas (4 disposals) sent a scare through the Collingwood camp by coming off the ground in the second quarter. He reportedly received a hit to his troublesome right ankle and did not play again in the match. Collingwood coach Dale Tapping told Collingwood’s Twitter account that Thomas was withdrawn “for precautionary reasons”.
Collingwood had the first seven scoring shots of the match and led by 27 points before Sandringham’s Adam Cockie registered the home sides’ first score - a behind.
Didak (34 disposals, 9 marks, 1 goal, 5 behinds) began at half back and was matched up on Peter Shakallis before being later switched onto young Zebra Daniel Maitland. His passing was elite and his experience helped the Pies move the ball to their tall forwards quickly.
Hudson was causing havoc for the young Sandringham defence in the first quarter, kicking three goals. Jolly, Hudson and Jarrod Witts were rotating in the ruck and they were a handful for inexperienced Sandringham ruckmen Lewis Pierce, Hamish Shepheard and Oscar Persson.
The Pies were matching up well across the ground and their experience was too much to handle for Sandringham. Their disposals and precision passing cut through the Zebras’ defence, with Paul Seedsman (25 disposals, 5 marks) and Kyle Martin (22 disposals, 4 marks, 3 goals) causing most damage.
Sandringham only managed one goal in the first quarter from young midfielder James Munro and the Pies led by 28 points. The Pies continued to pressurise the Zebras in the second term but Zebras defender Sam Dunell (14 disposals, 3 goals) was pushed forward and kicked three crucial goals.
But the Pies’ big men were too much for Sandringham.
Jolly was arguably the best player on the ground, finishing with 23 disposals and six marks. He dismantled Pearce in the ruck, but the young Zebra did manage to win critical hitouts.
Collingwood’s victory was summed up in the second term when Ben Kennedy outran two Zebras defenders, handpassed to Caolan Mooney who goaled.
Sandringham tried to mix-it-up in the second half, by moving Beau Maister, Dunell and Beau Dowler into defence. Shepheard and Jordan Staley were moved into the forward line but the tactical changes were ineffective.
Paine was just as his name suggests for the Zebras, kicking three goals in the last term after leading well throughout the match to help his team to a 60-point win.
For Collingwood, half back Jordan Russell (24 disposals) was able to pin-point his forwards and Kennedy (30 disposals) was a class above his opponent Trent Dennis-Lane.
The Zebras were led by Adam Cockie (23 disposals, 7 tackles) and his grunt tried to lift the Zebras in the midfield. Munro had 15 disposals and one goal in the first half, before tiring and finishing with 23.
Collingwood hosts Werribee in a must-win game in the final round next Saturday, while Sandringham finishes their season against Frankston at home.
Photo: Dave Savell
Last Modified on 18/08/2013 21:15