Round 20 – Richmond v Collingwood
Three in a Row?
Four weeks ago if you had even suggested that Richmond would be playing for three straight wins and Collingwood were trying to avoid three straight losses at the MCG today, I would have accused you living in some alternative universe. But blow me down with a straw, the impossible dream is alive and, suddenly, quite possible.
Already I can hear the sceptics say the Tigers only beat the Bombers and the Weagles. I know, but I would remind them all this team was expected to go the whole season winless. On the other hand, the Pies have been beaten by the Suns and the Dockers, with the reason being training loads or some other like rubbish excuse, but the July Minor Premiers now face the prospect of dropping three in a row and falling from the top position on the ladder.
Collingwood SHOULD win this match, but there is a real interest as to how long the young Tigers can stick with their more polished and experienced opponents.
It would be impressive if the Tigers can be within three goals of the Pies at the last change.
Memorandum to Collingwood: Hawthorn 24 points, Bulldogs 93 points, Giants 44 points, Suns 66 points (over the Lions), Dockers 49 points, Geelong 101points and the Crows 98 points, have all staked their claims this weekend with impressive wins, so it’s over to you Collingwood.
The Game
‘Whatcha gona do brothers?’
Tigers: 02:01:13 / 04:04:28 / 07:05:47 / 08:09:57 were defeated by the
Pies: 03:03:21 / 07:06:48 / 12:10:82 / 13:15:93
Goals:
Tigers: Green 2, Hatton 2, Tresize 1, Sims 1, Balta 1, Faull 1,
Pies: N Daicos 3, Mihocek 2, Membrey 2, Hoskin-Elliott 2, McStay 1, Shultz 1, Elliott 1, Houston 1,
Best:
Tigers: Vlastuin, Sonsie, Brown, Broad, Hopper, Short, Trainor
Pies: N Daicos, J Daicos, Mitchell, Quaynor, Cameron, Maynard, Long
Late Changes
Tigers: Tim Tarranto replaced by Jasper Alger (sub)
Pies: Scott Pendlebury replaced by Oleg Markov (sub)
A couple of Good, Ordinary Players (Jack Dyer)
I tried to have a bet with anybody who would listen that I could do this review without mentioning Nick and Josh, but I was snookered as the two brothers amassed 72 possessions between them.
For the record, Nick had a lazy 42 possessions, while Josh racked up 30 possessions running through the centre from half back.
Both are extraordinarily good players, but to a neutral supporter, the rise in pitch and tone when either one of them goes near the ball by the sycophantic commentators (all of you) is way over the top.
Against a team that was expected to lose every match this year, it would have been expected that Nick and Josh would have at least 60 plus possessions for this game between them, and they did.
If I was awarding Brownlow votes for this match they would be:
3 votes – Nick Vlastuin
2 votes – Nick Daicos
1 vote – Tyler Sonsie
Collingwood’s Kryptonite – Last Quarters
At three quarter time, I raised the question whether the last quarter more of a test for the Pies, than the gallant Tigers, as Collingwood had failed to catch the Suns in Round 18 and the Dockers overran the Pies last round.
Collingwood held a healthy 35-point lead at the last change after breaking the will of the Tigers during the third quarter. It seriously looked like “how far” the Magpies, but come the final siren they had only increased their advantage over the Tigers by a solitary point.
A six-goal win is usually a good win under most circumstances, but for the Pies, they again fell away late in the last quarter, and if the young Tigers had held their nerve a bit better in front of goal, then the margin would have been closer to four goals.
In a round that saw all the teams in contention (except Brisbane) stamp their credentials for September glory, this win by Collingwood was probably to the most underwhelming.
What was once Collingwood’s true strength (last quarters) appears to be the most obvious exposed flaw for Fly McRae and his men to work on before the start of their September campaign.
How Collingwood Broke (Restrained) Richmond
For nearly three-quarters, the Tigers backline, led by Nick Vlastuin, Nathan Broad, Tom Brown, with help from Kamdyn McIntosh and Jayden Short kept the Tigers within a manageable margin, until the class of the Pies turned it on for a stellar and match winning ten minutes.
A bad turnover in the Tigers front half saw the Pies rebound with Will Hoskin-Elliott punishing them with an against-the-flow goal.
For the first half of the third quarter Richmond outplayed Collingwood, but their inexperience cost them dearly, and for all their dominance they couldn’t translate that effort into scores.
Cfedit to the Collingwood defence, but the Tigers did manage to hit something with their forward shots. Unfortuntely, it was usually their foot.
The Hoskin-Elliott goal was followed by freak goals to Nick Daicos and Lachie Schultz, and then the cherry on top was added by a Jamie Elliott special, who had been well held by Broad all game.
A late goal by Taj Hotton brought the margin back to 35-points at the last change, but the damage was already done.
Collingwood had done enough to repress the Tigers coming into the last quarter, and it looked like Collingwood could run away with it.
A couple of early set shot misses by Noah Balta and Ryan Mansell highlighted the class difference between the two teams, and when Dan Houston steadied the Pies with a goal, it was basically lights out for the Tigers, but this young Richmond team has plenty of pluck.
Jonty Faull, who had crashed packs all day and looks like he has a huge future, was rewarded with a goal to keep the Tigers thereabouts.
With fifteen minutes left on the clock, Faull’s goal was the last goal for the match.
Collingwood held on for a nice six-goal win, while the Tigers can hold their heads high as they were only beaten by a ten-minute burst in the third quarter by one of the best teams in the competition.
Sidenote: Richmond kicked seven behinds from set shots out of their nine behinds, and it cost them dearly, but that is what inexperienced teams do. It is definitely something to work on over the summer.
(What a finish at Marvel by Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.)
Collingwood’s Forward Line
Collingwood’s forward line is only missing Bobby Hill, who is set to return, and possibly Jordan De Goey, so what is the Pies best forward setup?
Jamie Elliott picks himself, as the other small (who can play tall) with Bobby Hill. Daniel McStay fits the bill as the mobile forward who can play deep as well as going up the field to have an impact.
Brodie Mihocek, while not in the same form as years past, has done enough to be the key deep forward, which leaves quite a few spots open.
One of Lachie Schultz and Will Hoskin-Elliott will make way for Bobby Hill, which is harsh as both are in good form, but with Lipinski and Allan going deep into the forward line from the wings and impacting the scoreboard, it is hard to make a case for the inclusion of both.
Compounding the fight for all places on the wing or as an impact forward is the return of Beau McCreery, and conundrum of what to do with Jordan De Goey.
McCreery is a walk-up start who has the flexibility to play in a number of positions, while Jordan De Goey, a once automatic selection, is in a pack with the aforementioned players vying for the same spots.
What about Tim Membrey?
Tim Membrey is an innocuous forward who may get limited possessions, but he can score goals, especially in tight situations. I liken the recruitment of Tim Membrey to Melbourne’s recruitment of Ben Brown.
A friend of mine who is a diehard supporter Demon supporter questioned the value of Ben Brown when he was first recruited to the Dees, to wit I pointed out to him his goal scoring record in finals with North Melbourne was superb. Brown repaid the Demon’s faith by kicking three goals in the 2021 Grand Final.
Tim Membrey is the Pies’ best option for the third or fourth forward option who will impact the scoreboard come September.
Collingwood have a riches of forward and midfield talent, and it will be interesting to see what set up the Pies take into September.
The Pies forward line, and the many possible permutations is the point of difference McRae does take into September. They’re just so difficult to cover for the enture game.
The Kids Are Alright
The most pleasing aspect of the senior Tiger players this year has been their resolve to lead by example and bring the kids along with them.
Richmond have discovered a couple of rippers in Taj Hotton and Jonty Faull. Big marking key forwards like Faull are the most wanted quantity in any team. With the undersized Hotton able to clunk grabs, as well, both he and Faull will both be excitement machines. Young tall Thomas Sims, at just under two metres tall, is being well tutored by Toby Nankervis in the ruck craft and look to him to come of age in seasons 2027/28.
I’ve already mentioned Sims, Hotton and Faull, but add to that list the impressive Steely Green and Luke Trainor, as well as some game time being given to players like Jasper Alger and the Tiger’s future is looking bright.
A rung up from the newbies there is noticeable improvement in players like Tyler Sonsie, Sam Banks, James Tresize and Maurice Rioli this year as Adam Yze who has shown confidence in them as he pumps games into this group of players.
Note Worthy
Issac Quaynor is an extremely talented defensive player who clunks marks way above his pay grade. Early in the season it looked like his form had tapered off, but the longer the season goes on the better he is getting.
Tom Mitchell had 29 possessions in this game with a deposal efficiency of 86 percent, yet he rarely gets the same time airtime as the dynamic duo. Mitchell is the silent, salient assassin in the Pies midfield, who often gets off the chain unnoticed.
Jacob Hopper slips quietly under the radar, and he is a beauty, with the only flaw being he can butcher the ball on occasions.
Tom Brown plays like he has been in the competition for ten years with his poise and decision making, but he is a newbie with under 50 games. If he continues to follow the lead of Vlastuin and Broad he has a very healthy future in the game.
Should Nick Vlastuin be in the AA squad? Nick Vlastuin is having a great year both as a player and as a leader of men. At the very least he should make the expanded AA squad. The 17 intercepts he collected in this one didn’t damage his chances, at all.
Next Week
In a game that might shape the overall composition of the top four this year, Collingwood take on the Brisbane Lions at the MCG. This is a huge game for both teams.
Life doesn’t any easier for the Tigers as they travel to the Gold Coast to take on the irrepressible Suns. Hopefully, the weather is good, and you all have a good catch up with Dimma.
