Rocca Boots Magpies Home

Sun Herald

Sunday March 23, 2008

By Sam Lienert

COLLINGWOOD 3.3 7.6 10.10 16.15 (111)

FREMANTLE 3.1 7.2 10.4 13.7 (85)

A SIX-GOAL haul to star Collingwood forward Anthony Rocca capped a 16.15 (111) to 13.7 (85) AFL win over Fremantle at the MCG yesterday.

In a closely fought match, the Magpies trailed by eight points entering time-on in the third term, before kicking the final two goals of that quarter, then the opening three of the last term to pull away.

Rocca booted three in the final quarter to help seal the match, pumping his fist to the crowd after slotting through the first from a difficult angle.

His next, the third goal of the quarter, was a clever snap after new Collingwood ruckman Cameron Wood dispossessed Fremantle's Aaron Sandilands with a strong tackle.

It put the home side up by 24 points and while the Dockers' Luke McPharlin replied minutes later, Rocca responded by marking strongly to kick his sixth and seal the match.

Small forwards Alan Didak (three goals) and Leon Davis (two goals) were among the Magpies' best.

Davis also did some good work in the midfield, while Didak showed his class in setting up several other goals for teammates.

Collingwood would also have been delighted with the performance of first-gamer Nathan Brown, who lined up on Fremantle superstar Matthew Pavlich.

The key defensive positions had been seen as a weakness for the Magpies, after James Clement's retirement and with Simon Prestigiacomo out injured, but Brown kept Pavlich to just one goal.

Former Collingwood forward Chris Tarrant was also kept very quiet by Magpies veteran Shane Wakelin. The negative for Collingwood was a shoulder injury to forward Sean Rusling late in the first half, after a heavy collision with Fremantle's Antoni Grover.

Comment An impressive start for the Pies, star Collingwood forward Anthony Rocca leading the way with six goals. Fremantle showed signs they will improve on their 11th position from last season.

Goals - Collingwood A Rocca 6, A Didak 3, L Davis 2, D Thomas 2, T Cloke, T Lockyer, P Medhurst. Fremantle L McPharlin 3, S McManus 2, P Bell, M Carr, R Crowley, J Farmer, D Headland, M Johnson, D Mundy, M Pavlich.

Best - CollingwoodA Rocca, A Didak, D Swan, H Shaw, L Davis, R Shaw.

Fremantle L McPharlin, D Mundy, P Bell, D Headland, A Sandilands, M Pavlich. Reports: Nil. Crowd: 45,383 at MCG.

AFL ROUND 1

THURSDAY GAMES

RICHMOND 17.7 (109) beat CARLTON 11.13 (79)

GEELONG 15.15 (105) beat PT ADELAIDE 14.12 (96)

COMING UP

W BULLDOGS v ADELAIDE (Telstra Dome today, 1.10pm)

HAWTHORN v MELBOURNE (MCG, today, 4.40pm)

KANGAROOS v ESSENDON (Telstra Dome, tomorrow, 2.10pm)

© 2008 Sun Herald

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