Newsletter

Pies pass Kangas to keep hopes going for the final

You can always count on Scott Pendlebury.

MAGPIES v KANGAS Full game coverage and statistics

When his team from Collingwood struggled Monday night to shift into gear against an equally headstrong North Melbourne, the club’s talisman skipper sensed the moment and decided to do it himself.

Out of sheer willpower and through his trademark class, Pendlebury led a climb in the second half on the many occasions he found the footy that resulted in a hard-earned 30-point Magpies win.

Pendlebury had eleven exits and one goal in the third quarter alone, which stabilized the ship with its composure in competition when Collingwood turned away from a gallant North Melbourne and won 10.5 (65) to 5.5 (35).

Collingwood skipper Scott Pendlebury in action during the 13th round against North Melbourne. Image: Getty Images / AFL Photos

He ended the night with 28 strokes backed by Taylor Adams (31 departures, one goal) and Steele Sidebottom (23 departures, one goal) in a Magpies midfield that eventually defeated the younger Kangaroos.

While the victory was by no means convincing, it was important. The result lifts Collingwood to seventh place in the rankings with only four games left, creating a valuable buffer for two games between themselves and ninth-placed Melbourne.

THE LADDER Where is your team based?

As for North Melbourne, its season was effective long ago. And while Jed Anderson (30 departures, nine approvals) took care of physicality and resilience throughout the night, hopes of an unlikely surprise after the break faded.

The Kangaroos had threatened to boilover a competition start, but were unable to halt Pendlebury’s dominance after the main break, as the prospect of a fourth win of the season escaped them.

Kanga’s youngster shows true toughness
North Melbourne has a beauty in Jack Mahony. The little striker, who shared exciting glimpses of his potential during his first season at AFL, came off the field in the first quarter after a tough duel from Levi Greenwood with a sore shoulder. After returning in the second term, Mahony stepped straight into a physical groundball competition with Taylor Adams. If that wasn’t the brave guts, the fact that he showed up with football to score a goal from Bailey Scott was further evidence of his talent and tenacity. Mahony played the game with heavy oars.

Pies get around great Americans
It wasn’t the easiest season for Collingwood’s great man Mason Cox. In fact, it hadn’t been the easiest game for him on Monday night. But his Pies teammates really enjoyed his job. By the final stages of the first half, Cox had finally found space within 50 and transformed on the scoreboard with his first kick of the game. It resulted in a lovely celebration with his Collingwood teammates, with almost everyone bullying Pie Cox to congratulate him. It was the Americans’ first senior game in six weeks that addressed both form and fitness issues throughout the season. A late attack on a cheeky Jy Simpkin who tried to round the 211 cm forward made him even more popular with Pies believers.

Pies are finally finding a spread on the scoreboard

It was the question that has been asking itself all year long at Collingwood: Why is it so difficult for the Pies to score? In 10 out of 12 games before the clash on Monday night, the Pies had scored less than the AFL average of 62 points. A first quarter in which only one major out of eleven emerged in the 1950s would not have eased Nathan Buckley’s worries either. But when Collingwood managed to break the shackles after the break, it was the Goalkicker spread that delighted the Magpies coach the most. Rather than relying on one primary goal, Collingwood had nine different goalscorers and found a number of options with players like Trey Ruscoe and Flynn Appleby. While it wasn’t always convincing, it was promising.

COLLINGWOOD 1.2 4.3 8.3 10.5 (65)
NORTH MELBOURNE 2.1 3.4 5.5 5.5 (35)

GATES
Collingwood: Ruscoe 2, Thomas, Daicos, Cox, Appleby, Adams, Pendlebury, Sidebottom, Hoskin-Elliott
North Melbourne: Dumont, Hosie, Scott, Simpkin, Charles

BEST
Collingwood:
Pendlebury, Adams, Maynard, Moore, Sidebottom, Mayne, Daicos
North Melbourne: Anderson, Higgins, Simpkin, McDonald, Dumont

INJURIES
Collingwood:
zero
North Melbourne: Mahony (shoulder)

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Trending