It's A Grand Old Flag: [FFX]

[OffCutters]

Thats great mate, glad you didnt decide to stop the story, one of the best good luck mate, hope your Dees win this one

 

[punterpupnroy]

Damn,

I will be away tomorrow, and the whole week.

Shame I won't be able to read ya match wrap.

Good on you for continuing though.

I know how it feels when your computer decides to chuck a spaz and you spent all that time writing it up. Then having the sinking feeling of knowing you have to do it all over again.

That's why it is a good idea to do your write up in Word. And save it constantly, so if on the odd occasion your computer does chuck a spaz, it is no problemo.

:cool:

 

[blake]

Saturday, 29 March, 1:10PM​

Hello and welcome to the MCG where we have a big clash between the Demons and the Magpies today. It looks like it's going to be a cracker of a game - both teams won in round 1, with the Demons beating the Kangaroos, and the Magpies thumping the Crows. We are all set for a very good game, and let's review the conditions quickly.

It's 16 degrees Celsius down at ground level, and there is a light breeze blowing which should favour the left side of the ground. There's a patchy sky today but there doesn't seem to be any rain on the horizon which is good. There is a crowd of 28,657 people here today - a bit small considering Collingwood's fanbase, but it's a reasonable one for this early in the season.

So, we have reasonable conditions for football, and it's looking set to be an exciting game. For the Magpies, Ben Reid is coming in for Prestigiacomo who has been dropped after a poor round, and Melbourne have made no changes to their squad. Next week, with the return of exciting prospect Austin Wonaeamirri, there might be a few changes in the Melbourne squad, but we'll have to wait and see.

An interesting contest today should be the Dale Thomas vs Kyle Cheney battle. Thomas was superb last week for the Magpies, and there might be some doubts over Cheney's ability to hold Thomas well. Dane Swan vs Cameron Bruce should also be a huge clash, with both players picking up 38 possessions last week in their respective team's victory.

Down to the ground, the Magpies have won the toss and they will be kicking to the left of screen. Let's head down to the ground, where the umpires are just about ready to commence play.

1ST QUARTER

The Magpies had the first chance through Anthony Corrie, as he marked it 39 metres out on a slight angle. He made no mistake in kicking it straight through the goals, and the Magpies were off to a flying start, scoring just 90 seconds into the game. The Demons would need to rebound now after their poor start.

Melbourne weren't getting much of the football early, and Collingwood had another chance just two minutes later. Josh Fraser took a good chest mark from a beautiful searing pass from Dale Thomas and again slotted it straight through the middle, with the shot never in doubt. Melbourne were already two goals down and looking in deep trouble.

Melbourne early had struggled to move it into their forward 50, and Collingwood took advantage with another great play, with former Lion Anthony Corrie again involved. Corrie took the mark 45 metres out, and at first, his kick looked like it was going away to the far side. However, the ball swung back with the wind and Corrie just had his second, with the Magpies three up early through set shots.

Melbourne quickly rebounded this time though, as Russell Robertson put his stamp on the game with an exciting bit of individual play. Robertson found the ball on the 50, ran for 10 metres and then snapped a lovely bouncing goal which just made it through as the Demons countered Collingwood's goal just a minute before.

The test now was if Melbourne could keep going, or if Collingwood would run them over. It didn't seem to be going positively for Melbourne though, as Collingwood quickly reapplied the pressure with some tough tackling. Eventually, they worked it into their forward 50 again, where Medhurst found something out of nothing, crumbing a pack and snapping a great goal from 30 metres. Collingwood now led by three goals witth the Demons struggling again.

Melbourne weren't going to say die just yet, however. An excellent tap down from ruckman Jamar from a boundary throw-in freed up Brad Green, who ran into some space and slotted a beautiful goal for the Demons. Green had a reputation of one of the best finishers in the game and he made no mistake there for Melbourne, slotting the goal to get them back into the match again, at the half-way mark of the first quarter.

The Magpies had two more chances, both through Travis Cloke, but it seemed he was having a poor day, as both shots sprayed wildly off the boot, going through for behinds. Still, it was the Magpies leading by 14 points and despite Melbourne's two goals, it was still them controlling the match.

Travis Cloke was given another chance to get back into the match, however, through a free from Colin Garland. He took the ball from 41 metres out and nailed the goal, getting on the scoresheet through a lucky free-kick. Still, a goal was a goal, and the Demons were in further trouble now. The FFX Stats Checker revealed that despite Melbourne having more disposals they were simply turning it over far too easily and wasting possessions, where as Collingwood were playing it through the corridor and moving it quickly.

Melbourne's woes weren't over yet, though, as big forward Rocca took a nice mark from close in to goals. Rocca was still only a shadow of his former player, but he managed to convert the six-pointer, giving the Magpies a very comfortable lead with the first quarter still having 6 minutes to play.

Travis Cloke was now finding some form for Collingwood as he scored yet another goal. Six out of Collingwood's goals had come from set shots, which was indicating their midfielders were finding their forwards superbly, whilst both of Melbourne's goals had come from regular play. Melbourne were now really struggling as Collingwood raised their intensity further, and it wasn't long before Heath Shaw strolled into an empty goal square to kick Collingwood's eighth goal, kicking it high into the crowd. Travis Cloke and Anthony Corrie were both now having superb games, with two goals each and Cloke winning 11 possessions alongside Corrie's 9.

Travis Cloke takes a simple chest mark on the lead to kick his second​

Shane O'Bree could've made the margin bigger with just 11 seconds remaining, but his shot was hurried and just missed, scraping through for a point. It was still a dominant display by the Magpies though for the first quarter, and they were looking set to pile 200 on the Demons at the rate they were going.

Quarter Time:
Collingwood 8.5.53
Melbourne 2.0.12

Collingwood
Goalkickers: Travis Cloke 2, Anthony Corrie 2, Josh Fraser 1, Anthony Rocca 1, Paul Medhurst 1, Heath Shaw 1
Top Possessions: Cloke 14, Corrie 10, Didak 9, Swan 8

Player Watch: Former Brisbane player Anthony Corrie is tearing up the game, with multiple scoring assists and two goals to his name. He is playing superbly on the forward flank, giving support to his teammates and kicking goals when needed. He also has ten possessions and that reflects how hard he has been working. A superb quarter there from Corrie.

Anthony Corrie has been dominant, kicking two goals and providing quite a few scoring assists for the Mapgies.​

Melbourne
Goalkickers: Russell Robertson 1, Brad Green 1
Top Possessions: Bruce 11, Rivers 10, Green 9, Frawley 9, Bate 9

Player Watch: Again, Cameron Bruce is fighting tirelessly for the Demons. He is working hard in the middle and is moving it around nicely, proving to be the link man for the Demons. He has two centre clearances so far, and he is fighting hard for the ball. Bruce has eleven possessions and his work through the middle hasn't been un-noticed, but some of his teammates just aren't helping him out.

Missing In Action: Colin Sylvia and Aaron Davey, despite both playing the full quarter, have yet to touch the ball. They are two of Melbourne's key players and when they have no possessions the Demons are also going to struggle. Brock McLean has also touched the ball just twice in an unimpressive start.

Colin Sylvia still hasn't touched the ball, despite playing all 20 minutes in the first quarter.​

 

[Covvy]

Not a very good start at all from you boys.

 

[OffCutters]

You guys are in trouble, you really need to stop Collingwood`s forward line ( Cloke,Corrie,Didak) nice start.

 

[blake]

Game Day, 2nd Quarter​

Well, let's get back to the ground as the second quarter is about to begin. Collingwood have run rampant early, running all over Melbourne. The Demons simply don't have the class and skill to match Collingwood, and this looks like it could turn out to be an ugly finish for them if the rest of the match is played in similar fashion. Melbourne need to get back in this match desperately.

2ND QUARTER

Before the play even started, Jared Rivers was put on report after starting a fight with Anthony Corrie. It seemed Rivers had had enough, and decided to attempt to intimidate Corrie with a shove and a push, which eventually ended in Rivers throwing a punch. The umpire caught it all though, and as the brawl continued, Rivers was put on report. Eventually it settled down, much to the disappointment of the fans, and the play started.

Melbourne, despite a quarter-time rev up from coach Blake, failed to deliver as Collingwood kicked the first goal of the second quarter through none other than Travis Cloke, who had turned a poor start into a brilliant match. The Dees quickly rebounded though with Paul Johnson booting their third of the game, thanks to a superb bit of play with a quick clearance. The margin was still 41 points though and Melbourne needed to get back in the match.

The Demons struck the next blow however, with Jack Watts kicking a great goal from a stoppage. He found the handball, ran into some space and snapped a goal from close to the boundary. It was a brilliant effort from the young player, and it was an encouraging sign for Melbourne. Jack Watts had hardly been on the ground at all, but he had made a big impact now upon entering.

Suddenly, the Demons were applying all the pressure. Collingwood didn't have the same flow now as opposed to the first quarter, and the backmen of the Demons had lifted their intensity.

Again, the Demons worked it forward and Russell Robertson almost kicked his second goal, but his rushed kick was tapped over on the line as it failed to make the distance. It looked promising now for Melbourne though, and they consistently rebounded the ball from the centre-line back into their forward 50.

Finally, a goal came for Melbourne, this time it was through missing player Aaron Davey. Davey had hardly seen the ball, but when it came his way, he made good use of it, using his left boot to slice open the goals with a beautiful shot. However, Davey's goal brought the spark that Collingwood needed and they quickly rebounded, bringing the ball into their forward 50 to score through a nice shot from Medhurst, close in to the goals.

All of Melbourne's hard work was suddenly erased as Collingwood started on their goal spree, with Shane O'Bree finding the big sticks just thirty seconds later. Dale Thomas won the ball out of the middle, speared it to half forward, and O'Bree stepped around a lacklustre looking defence to nail the goal from a long way out. The margin was back to 38 points now and coach Blake did not look pleased from his box.

With 8 minutes remaining, Collingwood further sunk the Demons through key player Anthony Corrie. Corrie received the ball on the half-forward line and decided to have a pop, which sailed through. Corrie was having a cracker today and with his third goal, the Demons looked out of it.

Melbourne were getting plenty of the ball but were just moving it around poorly - using short handpasses and short kicks which weren't getting them anywhere. Collingwood were playing it long and through the corridor which was definitely working to their advantage today. Melbourne were fighting hard for the ball, but their poor skills resulted in turnovers and Collingwood made no mistakes in scoring from those turnovers.

Scott Pendlebury was having a solid game but he too soon put his impact on the game, winning the ball 30 metres out from a short pass and electing to play on, to kick the goal. The Magpies now relaxed as their lead extended further, and it looked like the Demons would be copping the exact same treatment that was given to Adelaide last week.

Scott Pendlebury steadies himself before going back to kick the goal​

As the clock ticked down towards the half-time break, Melbourne finally were given a chance. Jack Watts received the ball from just metres away, but he lost balance as he kicked it thanks to Harry O'Brien laying a tackle and the ball skewed away for a point. Nathan Jones had another chance through a free-kick from just 19 metres out on a tough angle, but his snap shot rebounded straight off the woodwork, summing up the disappointing half for the Demons. Nothing was going Melbourne's way and that was summed up by Collingwood's massive lead at half-time.

The two ruckmen contest for the ball, as the match unfolds​

Half Time:
Collingwood 13.8.86
Melbourne 5.5.35

Collingwood
Goalkickers: Travis Cloke 3, Anthony Corrie 3, Paul Medhurst 2, Josh Fraser 1, Heath Shaw 1, Shane O'Bree 1, Scott Pendlebury 1, Anhtony Rocca 1
Top Possessions: Cloke 20, Pendlebury 16, Didak 15, Corrie 14

Player Watch: Travis Cloke is now stamping his authority on his game after a superb half of football. The tall forward picked up 20 disposals through the forward line and slotted three goals for the first half. The midfielders now seem to be looking for Cloke every time they enter the forward 50, and it is paying off. The big man is working hard through the forward line, and has assisted his teammates with a few good handpasses inside the forward 50 to set up more goals.

Melbourne
Goalkickers: Russell Robertson 1, Brad Green 1, Jack Watts 1, Paul Johnson 1, Aaron Davey 1
Top Possessions: Bruce 21, Jones 18, Green 16, Rivers 15, Bate 13

Player Watch: Nathan Jones is working hard through the middle alongside his midfield partner Cameron Bruce. The two have racked up 39 disposals between them so far at halftime and they are fighting hard for their team. Nathan Jones has been superb, with 6 clearances, the most out of any player in the match. He has 18 disposals and is tackling hard, trying to fight for the ball. Jones hasn't been benched once yet, and it is evident why - he is one of his side's main ball winners and he has to keep up that form.

Nathan Jones sets off for a run​

Missing In Action: Brock McLean still has just two touches to half-time, after not finding the ball once in the second quarter. He is really struggling right now, and needs to get back into the game. He has been on for most of the game but is not having any impact whatsoever for his team.

 

[OffCutters]

wtf, Cloke is in career-best form, Bruce and Jones are keeping the dees together, playing very well.

 

[blake]

Game Day, 3rd Quarter​

With Collingwood leading by 51 points at half-time, this match appears to be over for the struggling Demons. If they can salvage anything out of this, it will be a huge win. It is important the young Demons don't stop trying, and coach Blake has stressed that they just need to keep fighting and working hard for the ball and rewards will come.

3RD QUARTER

Blake's words at half-time seemed to work, as the Demons got off to a fine start, kicking a goal just two minutes into the half, with missing star Brock McLean finding his feet to snap a nice goal. McLean seemed to be everywhere, winning the ball just two minutes later to hit a great pass to Morton. Cale Morton was on an extremely tough angle, but the Demons were rejuvenated, and Morton curled around a beautiful banana which sailed through the goals. Melbourne had kicked two immediately to start off the second half and they were looking a far better side.

Melbourne's morale was high now and they were starting to work as a team. It wasn't long before they kicked a third straight goal to start off the half, thanks to Colin Syvia finding the sticks from 40 metres out. Some of the players now had to be thinking about Melbourne's 50 point come from behind victory at halftime against Fremantle last year, but the job was nowhere near done yet. Still, the signs were positive for the young Dees and they were looking sharp.

There was one man in their way though - Anthony Corrie. He received a slightly dubious free-kick, but made no mistake, scoring a great goal from a very tough angle, 36 metres out. It was a beautiful shot and Melbourne would've been disappointed to concede one after starting so confidently.

Melbourne were keen to keep the pressure on Collingwood, however, and despite their slight lapse in concentration they quickly rebounded, with a brilliant bit of team play allowing Brock McLean to take a shot from the goal square. They were working extremely hard, and it was paying off immensely now, as the margin was reduced once more to just 31 points.

Brock McLean fights for the ball​

The umpires seemed to be against Melbourne though, as Collingwood received free-kick after free-kick. The crowd grew more and more angry at the poor umpiring and the roars when Dale Thomas was handed two free kicks in the space of a minute was deafening. The free-kick count was only 19-13, but many of the Demons' free kicks had been from out on the full kicks.

Collingwood get another soft free-kick after this incident​

Collingwood managed to hold play up though to halt the adrenaline rush of Melbourne, and Travis Cloke soon settled the nerves, slotting a cool goal to calm the match down, with Collingwood increasing their lead further. Melbourne's spirit was dropping, largely thanks to a few shocking decisions, and Collingwood were starting to regain their composure. Anthony Rocca was given another incredibly soft free-kick but he failed to make it count, kicking poorly for a behind, when his side dearly needed a goal.

Melbourne were given another chance, through Colin Sylvia, but he kicked poorly and it just scraped through for a point, a disappointing result. It was a crucial shot that could've got Melbourne back into the game, but it wasn't to be and with Collingwood leading by 35 points they seemed comfortably in control.

Colin Garland was fighting hard for the Demons though, and he had been superb so far for Melbourne in the third quarter. He was working extraordinarily hard through the backline but it was all going to waste as Collingwood scored another goal through crumbing forward Alan Didak. Garland's work showed in the statistics, however, showing his incredible 10 rebound fifties. It was useless, though, as Collingwood's skills eventually sunk the Demons. Despite Melbourne's promising start to the second half, Collingwood had shut the door back on them, and it looked set to be the Magpies leading by 7 goals going into the final term.

Despite surrounded by five Demons, Didak manages to find space and kick a goal​

It was a promising quarter for the Demons, but in the end they only outscored Collingwood by 9 points for the term, giving the Magpies an unbeatable lead going into the last quarter.

Three Quarter Time:
Collingwood 16.10.106
Melbourne 9.10.64

Collingwood
Goalkickers: Anthony Corrie 4, Travis Cloke 4, Paul Medhurst 2, Josh Fraser 1, Heath Shaw 1, Shane O'Bree 1, Alan Didak 1, Scott Pendlebury 1, Anthony Rocca 1
Top Possessions: Cloke 26, Didak 23, Pendlebury 22, Corrie 16, Swan 16

Player Watch: Travis Cloke is still proving to be the key player in Collingwood's attack. He worked tirelessly again, racking up 26 disposals, and he helped out his teammates whenever he could. His workrate is showing, with Cloke picking up a staggering 12 marks - almost double the next closest player, and kicking 4.2. He is proving to be a pivotal player here for the Magpies, and his work is not going unnoticed by his teammates.

Melbourne
Goalkickers: Brock McLean 2, Jack Watts 1, Cale Morton 1, Colin Sylvia 1, Russell Robertson 1, Brad Green 1, Aaron Davey 1, Paul Johnson 1
Top Possessions: Bruce 32, Jones 27, Bate 21, Green 20, Garland 19

Player Watch: Cameron Bruce is still not saying die, fighting hard to earn 32 possessions after just three quarters of play. He has the most disposals on ground by a long way, and is looking set to stay near the top of the disposals leaderboard after this round. Bruce has 22 kicks and 8 marks, showing how hard he has worked around the ground to pick up the ball. He is kicking long most of the time, which is what Melbourne needs, and he is giving his team the drive they need to stay in the match. However, his side looks to be doomed and it will be unlikely Bruce will continue his superb form for the last quarter when his side has already been beaten.

blake added 1 Minutes and 17 Seconds later...

Game Day, 4th Quarter​

We return to the MCG now, and with Collingwood leading by a comfortable 7 goals going into the final break, there doesn't seem to be much hope for Melbourne. They will need a miracle to win and it certainly seems very unlikely they can snatch anything from here. Many of the disappointed Demon fans have left the ground already after being disgraced with their team's performance, but I for one certainly think that is a bit harsh considering the lack of experience. Anyhow, let's head back down to the ground.

4TH QUARTER

Collingwood got off to a good start with Travis Cloke receiving another free-kick from scoring range, just 20 seconds into the quarter. Thankfully for Melbourne he missed his shot which allowed them to rebound back into the middle. Collingwood were not giving Melbourne anything though which became clear after a few fierce tackles. After yet another turnover from the Dees, Collingwood worked it inside their forward 50 and popping up again was none other than Anthony Corrie. He made no mistake with his set shot, and went back to kick his fifth.

With the Magpies having the match sealed, Pendlebury decided to have a shot from 55. However, it turned out to be a useless bit of play as his long torpedo went sailing out of the bounds by a good 10 metres, prompting jeers and whistles from the Demons fans who finally had something to smile about. The Demons had been lucky though in that regard - Collingwood had had 5 shots on goal already in the last quarter to nil, but had only converted one for a goal.

The pain didn't stop for Melbourne though. It seemed that Travis Cloke had already decided that anything Corrie could do, he could do better, as he found the ball from a quick handpass from Cox to boot his fifth from directly in front. Pendlebury was there again straight from the centre bounce to deliver it to Medhurst, and when he went back to kick his goal suddenly Collingwood had booted 2 goals in just 45 seconds. It was Demon Demolition here for the Pies as they shrugged off the helpless Melbourne efforts.

Paul Medhurst says 'thank you very much' after kicking his third​

With 12 minutes remaining Melbourne still hadn't managed to kick a goal, although Davey had kicked a point for them. They just weren't looking confident and this poor finish to the game would not please the spectators or the coach.

For a few minutes there wasn't much action, as the tired players jostled for the ball. Collingwood were still dominating but at least Melbourne had restricted them on the scoreboard. Finally, with 7 minutes remaining, somehow the umpire pulled out a free-kick to pretty boy Scott Pendlebury who, after brushing the dirt off his knees and hands after his Oscar winning dive, got up and slotted the goal, showing no sign of injury just seconds after appearing to be dead.

Dane Swan after his teammate wins a free-kick​

The Demons managed to get it into their forward 50 after that, but it appeared that the official point bonanza had started as Melbourne sprayed three shots in a row, all easily kickable goals. They couldn't score a goal now to save their lives as Collingwood continued to run away with the match.

The match continued on with a rather boring finish to the last quarter, as both sides dropped their intensity levels. Melbourne weren't even going for the ball now, and Collingwood seemed just to be racking up possession football, handpassing it and kicking it around contently.

Finally, with 1:25 remaining on the clock, Cloke found the ball in the forward line. He had his chance to become the first player in the AFL this season to kick 6 in a game, but his shot unfortunately for him was offline.

Cloke in action taking a shot in goal​

Then, with just 50 seconds remaining, history was made, after Paul Johnson earned a free-kick. The whole ground erupted with loud applause and cheering, even the Collingwood fans who were getting a bit bored of their team winning 48 free kicks to nil. It didn't matter though as Collingwood finished off the game comfortable victors, in the end doubling Melbourne's score perfectly.

Paul Johnson's face says it all after he wins a free-kick​

Full Time:
Collingwood 8.5 13.8 16.10 20.16.136
Melbourne 2.0 5.5 9.10 9.14.68

Quarter by Quarter:
Collingwood 8.5 5.3 3.2 4.6
Melbourne 2.0 3.5 4.5 0.4

Collingwood
Goalkickers: Anthony Corrie 5, Travis Cloke 5, Paul Medhurst 3, Scott Pendlebury 2, Josh Fraser 1, Heath Shaw 1, Shane O'Bree 1, Alan Didak 1, Anthony Rocca 1

Top Possessions: Cloke 35, Didak 33, Pendlebury 31, Swan 23, Corrie 22
Top Marks: Cloke 15, Didak 12, Fraser 12, Swan 10
Top Tackles: Swan 5, Cox 4, Corrie 3, O'Bree 3, Cloke 3

Melbourne
Goalkickers: Brock McLean 2, Jack Watts 1, Cale Morton 1, Colin Sylvia 1, Russell Robertson 1, Brad Green 1, Aaron Davey 1, Paul Johnson 1

Top Possessions: Bruce 37, Jones 30, Garland 27, Green 24, Bate 23
Top Marks: Garland 11, Bruce 9, Morton 8, Bate 8
Top Tackles: Jamar 5, Green 4, Warnock 3, Davey 3, Jones 3

Points Scored
33: (COLL) Travis Cloke (5.3)
30: (COLL) Anthony Corrie (5.0)
19: (COLL) Paul Medhurst (3.1)
13: (COLL) Scott Pendlebury (2.1)
12: (MELB) Brock McLean (2.0)
8: (COLL) Shane O'Bree (1.2)
8: (COLL) Anthony Rocca (1.2)
8: (MELB) Aaron Davey (1.2)
7: (COLL) Josh Fraser (1.1)
7: (MELB) Jack Watts (1.1)
7: (MELB) Russell Robertson (1.1)
7: (MELB) Colin Sylvia (1.1)
6: (COLL) Heath Shaw (1.0)
6: (COLL) Alan Didak (1.0)
6: (MELB) Paul Johnson (1.0)
6: (MELB) Brad Green (1.0)
6: (MELB) Cale Morton (1.0)
2: (MELB) Matthew Bate (0.2)
1: (COLL) Tyson Goldsack (0.1)
1: (COLL) Ben Reid (0.1)
1: (MELB) Nathan Jones (0.1)
1: (MELB) Kyle Cheney (0.1)

Man of the Match: Travis Cloke picks up MOTM honours after a brilliant game from the tall forward. Cloke was everywhere, picking up 35 disposals and kicking 5.3 in a dominant affair. Travis Cloke picked up a staggering 15 marks around the ground and worked super hard all day, never taking his foot off the pedal. It was a great effort and he rightfully earns MOTM.

Melbourne Best and Fairest Voting
8: Cameron Bruce
7: Colin Garland
6: Nathan Jones
5: Matthew Bate
4: Brad Green
3: Russell Robertson
2: Jared Rivers
1: Brent Moloney

Match Statistics
Kicks: Collingwood 241-204 Melbourne
Handballs: Collingwood 118-129 Melbourne
Disposals: Collingwood 359-333 Melbourne
Marks: Collingwood 115-94 Melbourne
Goals: Collingwood 20-9 Melbourne
Points: Collingwood 16-14 Melbourne
Free Kicks: Collingwood 26-19 Melbourne
Hit Outs: Collingwood 32-27 Melbourne
Tackles: Collingwood 33-35 Melbourne
Inside 50s: Collingwood 60-38 Melbourne
Rebound 50s: Collingwood 26-33 Melbourne
Clearances: Collingwood 28-31 Melbourne
Clangers: Collingwood 36-45 Melbourne

 

[Roofrom50]

Remind me, to remind you that you need to recruit someone that is powerful enough to play full forward next year. It's rather embarrasing to have single goal kickers every weekend :P

Love the update though, but the Pies will run rampant in the last

 

[hedger_14]

Collingwood dominated and a comfortable win in the end. also how long until you will do the next battle of the strikers round.

 

[OffCutters]

Yeah, you really need a better FF, Robbo just isnt good enough TBH. You might have to get a tall key forward at the trades.
Perhaps Jack Watts can spend some time at the gym and in a couple of years be their FF.
Since i`m talking about Watts, he`s doing pretty well for you guys, good start to his AFL Career.

Btw, lol, 35 possies and 5 goals at CHF, Travis Cloke had the best game of his life


Btw, when will Liam Jurrah get a game

 

[blake]

Tuesday, 1 April, 2009​

Jared Rivers has been ruled out for 3 matches after an incident which occurred at the start of the second quarter in Collingwood's win over Melbourne. Rivers pushed Corrie around, before swinging a punch to start a brawl, and he will miss the next 3 matches for Melbourne.

The Demons successfully completed training today with no injuries, and it seems that Austin Wonaeamirri, who is returning to the side, will come in for the suspended Jared Rivers. Coach Blake is unsure if there will be any other changes to his team after the loss to Collingwood, but he admits it is possible.

"If they aren't performing, no player is really safe. I thought we had a really good game against the Kangaroos, and I thought we did try hard against Collingwood. We worked hard throughout the match but they were a better team than us and many of our players are lacking in the skill department, which showed in the amount of turnovers and clangers we committed. It definitely wasn't one of our better games, although I did think we worked hard. However, there may be a need for changes if I feel someone is not playing well enough and I haven't really considered the lineup as of yet."

In injury news, Eagle Eric McKenzie has been ruled out for 10 weeks after an injury to his left ac joint, and Brad Fisher will miss up to 4 weeks after straining his left calf. There were no other major injuries.

Here are the official FFX Ladder and Statistics after round 2.

Collingwood take out top spot after their 68-point flogging of Melbourne last Saturday

Fevola leads the goal-kicking charts with 8 from 2 games, whilst Brent Harvey averages 41 and a half disposals per game​

 

[OffCutters]

Geelong with no wins, quite hard to believe. *mumbles something about the ladder being rigged after seeing saints on 16th*

Harvey probably has 6 brownlow votes so far :

 

[Hooper]

LOL! Freo in a good spot, thats all I have to say.

Oh and this is a great story, so keep going.

 

[blake]

I'll say. The ladder is screwed up right now, it's almost in reverse. You have the currently bad teams like Richmond, Fremantle and West Coast (and Collingwood) up the top, and Geelong and St. Kilda on the bottom.

FFX is good and all but the teams could be a little bit more accurate. I think Richmond is rated the best team in the game right now.

Also, Kayne Pettifer is horrendously overrated in this game. In real life he's lucky to kick a goal a week, and in this game he kicks about 4 every game.