When Two Tribes Go To War
Remembering the Alamo
There has been so much that SP 433 hype and hoopla prior to this Round 11 clash between the Magpies and Eagles at the MCG, it is to be hoped the actual game itself has not been forgotten.
The Pies and the Eagles are by far the two most powerful clubs in the AFL, and there is a feeling this game has the potential to be a ‘sliding doors’ moment for both clubs.
The West Coast Eaglets are on the rise, albeit doing the traditional three/two shuffle, three steps forward followed by two steps backwards.
Willem Duursma and Harley Reid, while still in their professional infancy, remind this writer of the once revered Eagles dynamic duo of Chris Judd and Ben Cousins.
Duursma the younger is all class, and in his freshman year he has already demonstrated his superior brilliance which has the Eagles faithful up and about.
If Willem Duursma has the Eagles fans up and about, then the prospect of the Duursma and Reid combination has them salivating, much like Pavlov’s dog.
While the Eagles Batman and Robin combo is exciting, they are not alone as there is a nice group of young players slowly establishing their places in the Eagles team. Reuben Ginbey (he is already a star), Brady Hough, Ryan Maric, Hamish Davis, Jobe Shanahan, Malakai Champion, Tyler Brockman, Archer Reid all show promise, and it is good to see the brains trust out west are pumping as many games into these kids as is possible.
On the other hand, Collingwood are nursing a number of well-credentialed senior citizens who will not be part of the Pies next run at a Premiership. The ageing vets all still have important roles to play this season, acting as the ‘masters apprentices’ to the next generation of players slowly being introduced into the senior team.
Both Collingwood and West Coast are having transitional seasons, with the young Eaglets learning to fly, while the Pies are attempting to rebuild a team on the run without necessarily bottoming out.
Since the Covid era the West Coast have been terrible, while the Pies have soared, winning a Premiership along the way, however, for the first time since 2019 this Collingwood versus West Coast has some real meaning in the larger scheme of things.
The transitional Pies are taking on an Eagles team on the way up, and this should make for a fascinating game of football, as the two most wealthy and powerful clubs go head-to-head.
Remember the Dom Sheed.
Apparently, this is a Pretty Special Game
I know I am forgetting something important, something of real significance, but what could it be?
Is it Dan Houston playing his 200th game?
Is it the ‘Miracle Kid’, Harley Reid playing his 50th game?
While Houston’s 200th game is significant and worth celebrating, as is Harley’s 50th, neither achievement is that extraordinary that it transcends the game itself, so what am I missing?
Oh, now I remember.
The ageless Scott Pendlebury is lining for his 433rd game, breaking the all-time record of Boomer Harvey – a record they said would never be broken.
There has been so much hype about Pendlebury’s record breaking game that a lot (nearly all) of neutral supporters have just switched off, but not Fox Footy, and especially not the throngs of Pie supporters who will venture to the MCG eager to see Pendlebury run under the banner.
By any reasoning, Pendlebury’s achievement is worth celebrating, and we at The Mongrel Punt, without drowning in sentimental raptures of euphoria, congratulate him on his record-breaking achievement.
Chapeau Scott.
Amongst all the accolades that have come Pendlebury’s way, two in particular stand out. The Greater City of Geelong (I know there is some weird agreement in place) and Tourism Tasmanian have both eaten humble pie by congratulating Scott on reaching 433 games; while admiring in his twenty odd seasons he never had to travel to Sleepy Hollow, and/or the Apple Isle.
As a former Captain of Collingwood, with a couple of Premierships and being a five-time Copeland Trophy winner, Scott Pendlebury was already legend even before his historic breaking record game. This is really just a cherry on top of his amazing career.
To Scott Pendlebury, Dan Houston and Reid of the Harley variety, congratulations on your milestones.
Now, back to the football.
Does all the Hoopla surrounding Scott Pendlebury’s record breaking game affect the Pies to such an extent the Eagles pull off one of the greatest upsets of all time? And if they do, who will be the new Dom Sheed?
Also, congratulations to Boundary Umpire Burrows on his 450 games of running the outer.
What a Great Advertisement of Australian Rules Football
Forget all the hype around Scott Pendlebury’s 433rd for a minute, and in spite of his record, both the Pies and the Eagles came ready to play, and while this game won’t go down as a classic, it will go down as one the great games of the year.
In the end, it was Collingwood’s ability to do the rights things from their mature aged players that got them over the line. Part of the Eagles’ learning process to come from this game will be how to make the correct decisions in the moments that matter.
Collingwood walk away from this match celebrating all things Scott Pendlebury, while the young Eaglets will be ruing their missed opportunities, they will leave the MCG knowing they are well on the way to relevancy again.
The performance by the Eagles, even in defeat, has placed the competition on notice that the club are no longer the easy beats of previous years and when they come, they will come with a rush.
The Turning Point
Collingwood got out to a game high 29-point lead during the third quarter, and it looked like party time, but the young Eagles steadied and brought the lead back to 11 at the last change, and it was game on. With just on five-minutes left on the clock it looked like the boilover might be on, as the margin was wilted down to a mere three-points, but a snap goal by Dan McStay and a typical Naicos goal steadied the Pies, however, when Jobe Shanahan marked and goaled with a couple minutes left, the Magpies were again forced into defending their slender lead with all their skill and guile.
In a ‘what if’ scenario, it would have been interesting if Jobe Shanahan kicked truly from 40 metres a minute or so after his previous goal.
Shanahan, like a lot of his mates, will be all the better for the experience of playing before 90,000 parochial Pies fans (with only 28 diehards in attendance to support the Eagles) in a game they could have stolen.
It was the little moments that separated these teams at the end of the day.
Scott Pendlebury – SP433
Like a lot of people, I have had my fun with the overkill surrounding Scott Pendlebury’s 433rd game from all and sundry in the AFL and the AFL media, but I have maintained the motto, blame the system and not the man.
On gameday I was very surprised to see all the Collingwood players wearing a gold number on their backs. Whoever within the Collingwood hierarchy thought this was a great idea, I dip my lid to you. It may be trivial, but it meant the players were running out as a team, supportive of their hero, but not elevating him above the team. This was one of the criticisms of the over-the-top celebrations – putting one above the many. The gold number solidarity brought that back to the team.
In game 433, Pendlebury finished the match with a respectable 20 disposals, including 13 handballs, and four rebounding acts from the Pies defensive half. It wasn’t his greatest game, but it didn’t need to be, and he was far from being disgraced.
In the dying minutes Pendlebury was leading the team on the field in the absence of the injured Darcy Moore, a role to which he is naturally suited. Sometimes the value of a player can best be summed up in a few minutes, and as the Eagles charged after the injury to Jamie Elliott, it was Scott Pendlebury who calmed the troops and then, like all good Generals, guided his team to victory.
Such a Pendlebury thing to do.
Who knows how long Pendlebury plays on for, and I hope he goes out his way, and not at the behest of others.
Chapeau SP 433.
Nick Daicos
Nick is a player who gets all the media attention and accolades, and as such the rest of the football world is probably a bit tired of how commentators like David King, Garry Lyon, Jack Reiwoldt and others sing his praises, even when he makes a mistake, but this should not distract from his sublime footballing skills and ability.
At halftime Nick was the difference between the two teams with 21 possessions, as he personally carved up the Eagles midfielders in an outstanding half of footy. This is where, as a writer/critic of the game I don’t allow myself to fall into the trap that he had a bad second half because he only had 13 possessions.
In the moments that really mattered in the second half, it was Nick who was the difference maker, and he was the one in the dying minutes who weaved a bit of magic with a game winning goal.
Nick Daicos, more affectionally known as Naicos, is one hell of a player and he was the difference between the two teams in the end. I truly hope Harley Reid looks at the last few minutes of this game and takes in some of the lessons he needs to learn to become a better footballer.
Cameron Darcy and Bailey Williams – a Man-o-Man tussle for the ages
In one of the all-time best head-to-head battles of modern game, reminiscent of the old Paul Vander Harr and Peter Knights matchups, the fight between Darcy Cameron and Bailey Williams for total dominance was epic, with a capital ‘E’.
In the Black and White corner, we have Darcy Cameron who finished the game with 28 possessions, six marks and 27 hit outs, while in the Blue and Gold corner, we have Bailey Williams with 20 possessions, a goal, three tackles, three contested marks and 28 hit outs setting up 12 centre clearances for his team.
Statistics aside, this game ebbed and flowed depending on which of the two Behemoths was in control of the stoppages, and purely by reason the Magpies won, the points go to Cameron by a smidgen.
Having said that, I would argue both of the big men will feature prominently at the end of the season when the votes for this game are tallied.
It was a ripping tussle, and one worthy to be played out in a Colosseum of 90,028 fans.
The new ruck rules have made for some compelling viewing between the big men this year, so well done to the AFL thinktank, you got this one right.
Jordan De Goey, Jack Crisp, Jeremy Howe and Steele Sidebottom
Liam Duggan and Baker, Elliott Yeo and Tim Kelly
The young guns from both clubs are going to get a decent mention, but with all the excitement surrounding the youth, the role the older generation of players have in their development is often underestimated.
In a year I thought the best of Jordan de Goey was showing signs of being a metre too slow for the game, he has taken stock and managed to alter his game style enough to constantly being one of the Pies best each week.
Jeremy Howe and Steele Sidebottom just keep on keeping on from one week to the next, and while they have both slowed a bit, their role in nurturing the next generation of up and comers to not only the game structure of the team, but also the culture of the club is invaluable.
Jack Crisp? Jack Crisp is that bloody consistent he rarely, if ever, gets the kudos he deserves. Whether it be the media talking heads, or opposition teams, Crisp just continually flies under the radar. At 32 years young, Jack is the embodiment of what it means to be a truly consistent talisman within a team structure.
Tim Kelly, I still shake my head every time I think about what your career could have been, but it is great to see your revival this season, especially the on-field leadership role you have taken onboard. As the form of the young Eagles team ebbs and flows this season, your role, like that of a few others, is vitally important to the continuing improvement of team this season.
The Eagles are a five goal better team every time Elliott Yeo is in the team. In his absence this season the Eagles have looked bedraggled, however, when Yeo is in form and on the field the Eagles are a totally different team. It’s as though the West Coast players want to play well when Yeo is in the team, which is a credit to the respect and trust they have in him.
The two Liams are the right choice of captains for the Eagles as they start the slow and often dangerous walk back up the ladder. Unlike the inspirational Elliott Yeo, both Baker and Duggan are the steady and, at times, hard-nosed leaders who strictly enforce the culture, standards and ethics by which the Eagles were once known for, and by which they demand they are known for not only in the future, but in the right here and the right now.
Often, the role of the master teaching the apprentice is overlooked, but right now, the lessons the Magpies and Eagles masters teach their younger charges the greater chance they will be the stars of tomorrow and more importantly, the greater the chance they will central ultimate team success.
Before I highlight some of the emerging talent, I must mention Tom Cole; a player I have never mentioned in any review I have authored for The Mongrel Punt, but in the heat of battle against the Pies he stood up at the right moments and played his part, including a spellbinding pass late in the game to one of his leading forwards – well played Tom.
Both Clubs have some Great Emerging Talent
In a game that was only separated by some of the older and wiser heads holding their nerves, some of the lesser-known players of both teams played some of the best football of their relatively short careers before 90,028 spectators.
I am going to start with Milan Murdock, a mature aged recruit who has been a revelation for the Eagles this season. While he is only nine games into his career, he plays the game with the maturity of player who has over 100 games to their credit. A bit like Riley Bice at the Swans, Milan is another mature aged recruit who has really taken the chance afforded him with some stellar stand out performances this year, including against the Pies.
Before today, I knew nothing whatsoever about Hamish Davis, however on the MCG in front of 28 Eagles fans, and 90,000 salivating Pies supporters, young Davis played the game of his life with 23 possessions, including seven contested possessions. It is always a pleasure witnessing the emergence of a young player.
If I knew nothing about Hamish Davis, I certainly knew less about Josh Lindsay, and like Davis he has left a lasting impression on me. Lindsay is one of a number of young Eaglets who will be the backbone of any future West Coast success. Lindsay’s efficiency with ball in hand is exemplary and almost everyone of his 20 possessions for the Eagles hit the intended target against the Pies.
It takes a fair bit of courage at coaching level to put the responsibility of distributing the footy from defence on such young shoulders, but it also demands maturity beyond young years to pull it off, and Lindsay is doing that in a role that others would flounder in.
It seems like Ryan Maric has been in the system forever given he already has 58 games under his belt, but he still a youngster on the rise and while Willem and Harley have stolen the show, young Ryan has slowly gone about his business establishing himself a regular and consistent performer in the Eagles senior team.
Collingwood have found a real diamond in the rough with mature aged 2025 midseason recruit Roan Steele. What impressed most about Steele against the Eagles was his ability to will himself into the game even though he wasn’t having the best of days. The two goals Steele kicked were crunch goals, and he demonstrated he wasn’t afraid to be front and centre when the heat was on.
Young William Hayes, who shows a lot of promise was ruled out by concussion I believe (correct me if I wrong), and as such it was hard to get a read on his game given his limited time on the field. Injury aside, Hayes is among a number of young Pies who are knocking down the door at Collingwood to be given their chance.
Edward Allen’s career is heading in the right direction at the Pies, and in time with more games under his belt he will be a mainstay of Collingwood teams in years to come. Charlie West is probably a year behind where Ed Allen is at, and it will be interesting to see how his career develops in the future.
The Willem and Harley Show
While Duursma and Reid were not amongst the absolute best for the Eagles, such is their desire for the contest they both always presented as the Eagles player/s most likely to break the game open against the Pies.
All players make mistakes on any given weekend, but the elite players on the rise make high class errors as they bite off more than they can chew at this stage of their career, and yes, I am referring to Harley Reid.
While some of Reid’s failed attempts to do the impossible may incur the ire of the Eagles faithful, the coaching staff and his teammates, they should be seen as necessary learning experiences for the star. Harley had a good game against the Pies, but it could have been a great game if he didn’t attempt to take on the entire Collingwood defence on his own.
HB Meyers has told me on more than one occasion, words to the effect, that Harley was probably always the strongest kid on the playground, but he is discovering in the AFL competition that his school yard antics don’t always cut the mustard.
To Harley’s credit, he is willing to make a few mistakes by taking on the contest rather than sitting back and playing it safe, and for that he should be praised, not criticised.
At some point Harley will grow into the player we all know he is capable of being.
Willem Duursma has made an immediate impact this season, and already he is showing the football public at large why he was the Number One draft pick last season. Willem is all class with the ball in hand, and he reminds me so much of Chris Judd, possibly with better overhead ability. A scary thought..
A 17-possession game by Willem at the MCG in front of 90,000 ferals hurling abuse at him from the start to the finish of the match is a mighty effort in only his eleventh game in the big time.
The Willem kid is a STAR.
Others
After an interrupted start to the season, it was good to see Beau McCreery tearing up the wing in this encounter. The man is built like a Bison, yet he can run like a Gazelle, and at his best he can change the course of a game in five minutes.
Isaac Quaynor is the Mr Consistency of the Pies team, and once again against the Eagles he held firm up back, while generating forward run. Isaac will play his 150th game in the near future, and while it won’t match SP 433 celebrations, I reckon it will be well celebrated internally by his teammates and coaches.
Last season’s number one pick from the Mid-Season Draft, Tom McCarthy, is a bloody ripper who is really enjoying his chance in the big league. Tom McCarthy, a hard bodied player in mid 20’s, is exactly the type of the West Coast require as they blood their youngsters from being boys to men.
Reuben Ginbey is the quintessential Eagles defender of glory years past, never taking a backward step and always being up for the fight. Reuben is not as thuggish as suggested, but I reckon many forwards hearts have skipped a couple of beats when they realise they are playing on him. Ginbey was a bit like Harley in this match, as he made a few mistakes trying to take on too much, but he was still amongst the Eagles best.
Injuries to Darcy Moore and Jamie Elliott
A near perfect day for Collingwood was soured by what looked like long-term injuries to Darcy Moore (hamstring) and Jame Elliott (knee), as well as William Hayes being benched for nearly the entirety of the game under the concussion protocols.
Both Moore and Elliott are essential players within the structure of the Collingwood team, with Moore being the sweeping back with a licence to run, while Elliott is one of the better crunch time forwards in the game’s history.
The Pies will be sweating on scan results for their star duo but given the body language of both men it doesn’t bode well.
Next Week
Next week Collingwood are forced to travel to Marvel Stadium as hosts of the Western Bulldogs in a must game for both teams, while the Eagles will be allowed a peaceful Sunday afternoon as they host the troubled Bombers.
Finally, buy HB Meyers a coffee, he reviews four games every weekend, and he ensures at least a couple of articles are published each day. Fearless Leader is a bloody ripper.
