Escape artist Harry Houdini extricated himself from many a mortal pickle during his illustrious career.
His breakout stunts were increasingly elaborate. One traffic-stopping crowd-pleaser was being dangled by his ankles from a crane while encased in a straitjacket. Another act had him manacled by handcuffs and leg-irons inside a nailed packing crate, which was then lowered into New York’s East River. The simplest was trying to claw his way to the surface after being buried six feet under, which nearly killed him.
The Magpies tried another escape act against the Suns, but couldn’t pull it off this time.Credit: AFL Photos
Houdini’s rather ghoulish appeal rested on the fact death was near certain if he failed. Such is the allure of the Collingwood Football Club under coach Craig McRae.
The Magpies are nothing if not value for money. But after escaping being buried alive by North Melbourne (metaphorically speaking, from 54 points down), they finally pushed their luck too far against Gold Coast on Saturday night.
McRae was left asking his side: how many times do you want to put yourselves in this position?
This season, Collingwood, like Houdini, have escalated the degree of difficulty of their stunts.
Since round two, they’ve maintained a near-unbeaten run despite an injury crisis that threatened to overwhelm them. So it was odd that, with Scott Pendlebury, Jordan De Goey and Brody Mihocek back in the team, the Pies looked tired against the Suns; at least for three quarters.
This time, even Nick Daicos – the most artful dodger of them all – couldn’t break them out. After hitting the front with four minutes to go, they finally ran out of oxygen.
And yet, improbably, the Pies are still well in the hunt for back-to-back premierships. They’re one of three teams (including Geelong and Port Adelaide) just half a game behind Fremantle, who are third on the ladder.
Whereas last year they were all about managing moments better than other teams, they’re not managing those moments as well now.
A ledger of eight wins, five losses and two draws with eight rounds to go is not the form line of a genuine contender.
They look more like a team that’s lost its aura, and is in danger of losing its grip.
Time Suns took a baby step
Before this season, Gold Coast unveiled their short- and long-term objectives. Turning their home ground into a fortress was one goal. Winning games at home, obviously, would bring the added benefit of more bums of seats and thus more revenue for the struggling project franchise.
The Suns were, once again, a force to be reckoned with at home.Credit: Getty Images
It’s well known that the Suns are yet to make a finals series after 13 years in the AFL, and also that they’re terrible away from home. But at least they’re fulfilling that pre-season pledge; unbeaten at People First Stadium in 2024 after 16 rounds. Eight wins keeps them in the hunt for that elusive maiden finals berth.
It would be remiss to let this round pass without acknowledging how good they were against Collingwood.
Last year, they were humiliated in a half of football on their home deck by the eventual premier. It was a result that ultimately cost former coach Stuart Dew his job. His replacement, Damien Hardwick, has this team walking much taller.
Of course, they won’t be taken seriously until they start winning games on the road.
They can take the footballing equivalent of a baby step this week by knocking over North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
North might be improving, but they remain on the bottom of the ladder. It’s time for the Suns to expand their football horizons.
Hawks are box office again
Like the Suns, Hawthorn sit outside the top eight, with eight wins and a significantly poorer percentage. But they may just be a more legitimate finals chance after smashing the Eagles by 61 points at Optus Stadium.
They’re a happy team at Hawthorn.Credit: AFL Photos
That’s five wins on the bounce. Their last loss was by a single point to Port Adelaide, when they prematurely closed shop and relinquished a 41-point lead.
No team would relish facing the Hawks in their current form.
The club’s revival is headlined by the emergence of Will Day and Dylan Moore as A-grade talents.
Hawthorn’s borderline irrelevance over the past few years has meant these players have crept up on the competition, and the public imagination. They’re now ready to capture it.
While far from a finished product, the Hawks have talent on all lines. The injection of Nick “The Wizard” Watson has increased their box-office appeal. The fact that Watson is just beginning his career only adds to his magnetism.
Jack Ginnivan, still barely 21, likewise, has real charisma – but he’s no show pony. He is a significantly improved footballer.
These are players you go to the football to watch – commercial commodities of the like Hawthorn have not had in abundance since their glory years under Alastair Clarkson. But under Clarkson’s former charge Sam Mitchell, they’re developing other qualities: discipline, hardness, a broadening leadership class.
Dockers are now the real deal
Speaking of discipline and hardness – and teams sneaking up on the competition – there was no better example at the weekend than Fremantle.
Logan McDonald’s kick after the siren against Fremantle.Credit: Fox Footy
There’s no more convincing way for a team to announce its credentials than to roll a runaway leader on their home deck, and that’s what Fremantle did to Sydney.
Yes, they had a bit of luck. Logan McDonald needed just a point to draw the game with a kick after the siren. Palpably stricken by nerves, the key forward’s shot fell short. But Fremantle fully deserved the win.
Their victory was marked by two features: the evenness of the team’s performance, and their midfield’s decisive win over the Swans’ crack centre-square unit.
No individual Docker produced numbers to jump off the stats page. Those obsessed with fantasy numbers would not have been wowed by the performance of Caleb Serong, Andrew Brayshaw or Luke Ryan, all capable of accumulating big numbers. But what mattered was that, collectively, the Dockers subdued Brodie Grundy, Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner and Errol Gulden.
That’s something no other team has managed to do all year, and it’s something other teams will be taking note of.
You could say the Swans were due a dip – but, still, Fremantle’s win was a reminder that nothing is set in stone once September arrives. And it also served notice that the Dockers are the real deal.
Hugh’s huge second half
Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan did something he said he would usually never do on Friday night.
The late, final and winning goal from Brisbane Lion Hugh McCluggage.Credit: Fox Footy
At half-time, after being torched in the second quarter by Melbourne, he put his midfield’s numbers up on a whiteboard, next to their opponents. It was an old-fashioned rev, and his players responded – none more so than Hugh McCluggage.
McCluggage has just signed a seven-year extension with the Lions, which will probably make him a one-club player.
On Friday, he showed why he deserved that kind of job security after an up-and-down year.
Held to nine possessions at half-time, his second half was the key to Brisbane beating the Demons.
Lions captain Lachie Neale is usually the player who receives most attention from the opposition. But it’s when McCluggage is really humming that the Lions look like a different, and much less predictable, team.
McCluggage isn’t quick. But he works angles, and finds options and space that other players don’t.
He also managed something he rarely has against Melbourne: slotting a set-shot goal, from a very difficult angle, to give the Lions the lead they managed to hold until the final siren.
A beautiful field kick, McCluggage has long struggled in front of the sticks. His delight and relief on being the one to drag his team over the line was evident.
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