From the Northern Stand: R19

Posted in From the Northern Stand tagged Round Review by Permanence

Going into this match I was quietly confident after pushing Geelong to the final siren last week. This contest was huge and the media in Adelaide were all over it with the Pies in town. But the Nathan Bock omission on the Friday really would test our depth in defense.

The first quarter was a bit of an arm wrestle. We controlled the ball most of the quarter but the Pies defense was resolute, often pushing waves of numbers into the defensive 50. The flood is nothing new in football these days and it was very frustrating to watch us look clueless on how to move the ball forward and constantly went long to Tippett and Burton.

The second quarter we started looking really dangerous and getting on top of the game. I thought for the first half Dane Swan had been well shut down, and their stars were having little influence on the game. The only danger was we were not hurting them on the scoreboard and let them off going into the half time break 3.10 but lucky Collingwood were not much better at 3.7

The third started so promising once the tri colours kicked the first two majors, the low scoring shackles looked to be released and a couple more goals could blow the game open. However, this was never to be the case, old Silver Fox Mick Malthouse tweeked the game plan to perfection during the main break and all of the sudden Swan and Didak looked to have been released from their tags. Pies streamed forward in numbers to capitalize on our turnovers and quality finishes such as Davis and Anthony made no mistake in front of goals and in a blink of an eye the Pies had slammed on 5 goals in a row and would go into the last break 6 points up.

It seemed the fourth would carry on where the third left and the Pies kicked the next goal and looked to run away with it but dead eye dick Porpoise ensured it would be a close finish. However for much of the quarter Collingwood looked to have the game in control and a crucial Nick Maxwell spoil in the middle of the ground caught us on the turnover which lead to a pies goal and with 3 minutes left it called an end to the contest.

Still not assured a spot in the 8 next weeks match vs Hawks has now become pivotal. All of the sudden we have a few injury concerns to key players like Bock, Mackay and Burton so the boys will have to lift to cover these injuries. Hawthorn still have a glimmer of hope of playing in September thanks to Ports loss to Freo so they will come out fierce at the footy.

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...