By Luke Mason
A well-drilled Collingwood outfit out ran their highly fancied Northern Bullants opponents to win by 50-points at Visy Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Magpies led at every change, but took until the third quarter to break the shackles. They booted four goals whilst keeping the Bullants goalless, before running away with the match in the final term, with six goals to the visitor’s three majors, which served as consolation prizes.
Midfielders Jarryd Blair, who had 25 possessions, and Tim Hunt were the key figures around the packs for Collingwood, with Hunt booting a career-high three goals, including one of the goals of the day, on the run from 50m out in the fourth quarter.
Also prominent for the Pies were forwards Chris Dawes (three goals) and Chris Bryan (two goals), who were often double teamed in attack. Dayne Beams made his debut in the VFL ranks, and looked right at home beneath the packs.
Meanwhile, the Bullants were led by the Carlton-listed Jordan Bannister and former Murray Bushranger Luke Morgan. Carlton recruit 18-year-old key forward Caleb Tiller fired with two early goals, before petering out, reflecting the fortunes of his side.
Collingwood started with purpose, booting the opening two goals of the match through a clever snap out of a pack by Hunt, and a Dawes set shot from the boundary. Although Tiller followed it up with his first, the Pies went to the huddle looking the better side.
The Bullants made all the running in the second term, but they had little to show for it on the scoreboard, with inaccuracy undoing all their fine work up field. They booted three goals and six behinds for the term, to Collingwood’s four straight majors, with the Pies leading by eight-points at halftime.
The third quarter is known to football followers as the premiership quarter, and so it proved on Saturday, with Collingwood slamming on another four goals, while keeping the Bullants goalless, extending their lead to 31-points at the final change. Although the quarter was error-laden, it was Collingwood who made the most of their opportunities, harassing the second-placed Bullants, before converting the majority of their opportunities. John McCarthy’s goal was one of the highlights of the day, for it was the result of a length of the field play, beginning with a strong grab by Toby Thoolen at full back, underscored by a two bounce run by Kevin Dyas, who looped the handball over to a vacant McCarthy who duly goaled.
Despite carrying a five-goal buffer into the final term, the Magpies couldn’t afford to lay down, in the knowledge that the Bullants had recorded some hefty victories in recent weeks. Although they added three goals for the quarter, their efforts were doubled by Collingwood, who slammed on six goals as Dawes, Daniel Frost and Chris Bryan enjoyed silver service in attack.
Collingwood’s 50-point win puts an exclamation mark on their early season performances, which have given them great hope of partaking in the September action. They face Port Melbourne at Visy Park next Sunday afternoon, while the Northern Bullants will look to regroup on Saturday, as they play host to top of the ladder Williamstown at Visy Park.
Collingwood: 2.3 6.3 10.5 16.8 (104)
Northern Bullants: 1.1 4.7 4.10 7.12 (54)
Goals – Collingwood: Dawes 3 Hunt 3 Beams 2 Frost 2 Bryan 2 Blair McCarthy Sheahan Macaffer
Northern Bullants: Tiller 2 Bentley Morgan Meese Hartlett Ellard
Best – Collingwood: Hunt Blair Colbert Beams Dyas Barham
Northern Bullants: Bannister Morgan Hartlett Iacobucci Bransgrove Grigg
At Visy Park
Last Modified on 01/06/2009 23:08