Pies Alive And Kicking After Putting The Boot Into Crows
Sun Herald
Sunday September 7, 2008
COLLINGWOOD 19.11 125
ADELAIDE 14.10 94COLLINGWOOD proved their September credentials beyond doubt yesterday in a storming 31-point victory over Adelaide in an elimination final full of twists. The young Magpies started brilliantly to lead by 13 points at quarter-time but had to pull back a 24-point gap in the second term before breaking away to win 19.11 (125) to 14.10 (94) in front of a non-plussed crowd of 37,685. They will face the loser of today's qualifying final between Geelong and St Kilda and will enter that match full of belief in their ability to cope under pressure. Collingwood will be strengthened by the fact they made do without injured captain Scott Burns and Anthony Rocca plus suspended duo Heath Shaw and Alan Didak. "Not everyone is able to, after they have played finals football, say 'I played OK'," Magpies coach Mick Malthouse said. "Our playing group know without a shadow of doubt [that they can]." Small forward Paul Medhurst was sublime for the visitors, receiving plenty of assistance from Scott Pendlebury, Nick Maxwell, Shane O'Bree and the mercurial Dale Thomas.Unheralded pair Chris Dawes and John Anthony each kicked three goals for the Pies. By contrast Adelaide, despite shading the visitors for experience, were set on their collective backsides. Scott Stevens (six goals) played out of his skin for the Crows, while Andrew McLeod, Nathan Bock and Robert Shirley also worked hard. "Apart from probably the second quarter we weren't able to assert ourselves...I thought they were pretty dominant for three quarters," coach Neil Craig admitted. On a pristine afternoon, Adelaide had to be wary of Collingwood's ability to spring out of the gates away from home. They were fortunate to be as close as 13 points at the break and needed Tyson Edwards's surgical post-siren set shot from a pocket to get there. Adelaide began to win more of the ball by getting McLeod more involved in the play, and up forward, Stevens had the quarter of his life, firing through three goals to make it four for the half. Kicking with the breeze in third quarter and winning the ball conclusively out of the middle, Winning the ball as conclusively out of the middle as it is possible to do, Collingwood fired countless attacks into a punch-drunk Crows defence. COLLINGWOOD 4.3 7.6 14.9 19.11 (125) beat ADELAIDE 2.2 9.6 11.7 14.10 (94). Goals: Collingwood - J Anthony 3, C Dawes 3, D Swan 2, N Maxwell 2, P Medhurst, M Clarke, S Cox, L Davis, D Thomas, R Shaw, T Lockyer, J Fraser, T Cloke. Adelaide: S Stevens 6, A McLeod 2, N Bassett, T Edwards, D Mackay, G Johncock, I Maric, N Gill.
© 2008 Sun Herald
