Collingwood vs St.Kilda: Match Review
Collingwood slumped to their 6th straight defeat on Saturday night as St.Kilda ran away in the last quarter with a win by 47 points. Collingwood put up a good performance and stayed with the Saints all night until they crumbled under the weight of numbers in the last quarter.
After Tarrant scored his 1st to level the scores at 1 goal 1 all, the Saints zoomed to a 30 point lead at quarter time. Only Woewodin, Johnson and Richards being able to keep up with the top team, the Saints got numbers at the contest and were able to clear the ball up to their tall forwards time and time again. Matthew Lokan copped a heavy knock from Saints tough man Brent Guerra, which is sure to receive a lot of media exposure during the week.
In the 2nd quarter, the Saints consolidated their lead and at one stage seemed as if a ten goal win was on the cards until the Maggies came back with goals to Tarrant and a great crumbing goal to Mark McGough, who was sent to the bench by Mick Malthouse as soon as the ball was returned to the centre. Dane Swan had an opportunity to score the Magpies third in a row and put a scare into the Saints camp but sprayed it to the near side. Rocca and Johnson spent the quarter trying to lift the side but to no avail.
The 3rd quarter signalled a Collingwood revival with six goals. The only down side to the amount of goals score was the St.Kilda answer to almost every goal as they added 5 majors for the quarter. Tarrant, Didak, Rocca and Johnson were the goal scorers. Johnson’s goal sparked the side into action immediately at the start of the quarter and the goals rolled on after that. Alan Didak, hardly sighted for most of the night, sprung to prominence with a spectacular mark and then goal to put the Pies within 20 point. Shane Woewodin had the opportunity to put the Maggies within 3 goals but sprayed a kick out on the full, from which the Saints ran the ball to full forward for a goal which broke the Pies back to lead by 30 points at the brake.
In the last quarter, the Pies desperately needed a goal to kick start a last quarter victory but the 1st goal went to the saints, which effectively ended the Pies night. Chris Tarrant and Ben Johnson tried hard to keep the Pies in it but to no avail. In a sour end to the night, a coke bottle was thrown at Fraser Gherig and a Saints supporter charged through the middle of the ground before being ejected by ground staff. It was an improved performance by Collingwood, but much improvement is needed if they are to make any inroads into the 2004 season.
Player Review:
Leon Davis: 1/10 – Hardly sighted.
Shane Woewodin: 8/10 – Very good match, did his job well.
Ryan Lonie: 1/10 – Too many mistakes, low on confidence. Wrong match up on Koschitzkie. Williamstown beckons.
Alan Didak: 3/10 – Took a great mark in the 3rd quarter but that was the only notable aspect of his games.
James Clement: 6/10 – Did a good job on Gherig, even though Gherig kicked 5 goals.
Shane O’Bree: 5/10 – Got 20 possessions but wasn’t effective.
Richard Cole: 5/10 – Better than in previous weeks but much work to do.
Shane Wakelin: 3/10 – Spent the 1st quarter on the pine in a surprise move and didn’t do much when on.
Bo Nixon: 2/10 – Made a few mistakes but only his 3rd match. Nothing much to look into.
Paul Licuria: 6/10 – Tried hard and may have turned the corner.
Andrew Williams: 1.5/10 – Barely sighted.
Chris Tarrant: 8/10 – Played his heart out with 4 goals. Well played.
Guy Richards: 7/10 – Best match so far. Made a contest, marked well and showed great skill.
Anthony Rocca: 7/10 – Did a very good job and lead well.
Ben Johnson: 9/10 – BOG. Ran hard and never gave up. Kicked a great goal on the run at the start of the 3rd.
Mark McGough: 5/10 – Spent much time on the bench but when he was on used it well.
Ben Kinnear: 2/10 – Barely seen in his 50th game.
Matthew Lokan: 1/10 – Copped a heavy knock in the 1st minute which effectively ended his match.
Luke Mullins: 2/10 – Hardly sighted in only his 2nd match.
Jason Cloke: 3/10 – Had the job on Hamill and did ok.
Dane Swan: 4/10 – Not as good as in recent weeks but did his job effectively.
Collingwood vs St.Kilda: Match Review
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