The Tackle: Nathan Buckley proving his credentials taking Collingwood back into the top eight
THERE is a strong argument Nathan Buckley has done a terrific job with what he has available at Collingwood, writes Mark Robinson.
Mark Robinson
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COLLINGWOOD’S season hangs by a thread.
Who knows if they can do any damage if they make September, yet Sunday night at the MCG told us coach Nathan Buckley has rediscovered in his team the intensity so embarrassingly lost against Essendon in Round 17.
Talent and experience are their Achilles, but effort is once again their foundation.
The six-point win gave Collingwood eighth spot on the ladder.
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Unlike others who believe Buckley’s coaching is up for examination, there is a strong argument Buckley has done a terrific job with the team he has available.
It is further underlined in light of Dermott Brereton’s column in the Sunday Herald Sun, where he suggested Collingwood was in trouble in every area of the ground.
If that’s the case, then Buckley’s 10-8 win-loss record, which has Collingwood equal with Essendon, Gold Coast and North Melbourne, is testament to Buckley’s ability to plan and motivate a patched-up and developing team.
If eighth spot, or seventh or ninth this season is the low point in Buckley’s rebuild, then the Magpies are well-placed for seasons ahead.
Port Adelaide’s stuttering late season form clearly is a concern.
It is always asked if clubs have worked out opposition clubs, and the way Collingwood was able to marginally shut down Port from the back half and through the middle, the points have to go to Buckley.
So much quieter on my feed tonight! Suppose that happens when we perform. Keep supporting our boys. Plenty to come. #sidebyside
— Nathan Buckley (@ncb_cfc) August 3, 2014
Worse for Port Adelaide is that when the whips were cracking in the final quarter, it was the Magpies who stood firmest.
Dayne Beams, Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom and Travis Cloke will be credited as the match-winners, but they were more than those four leaders.
Lachie Keeffe made errors at the back yet he and Jack Frost were strong, Tyson Goldsack returned as a contributor, as did Tom Langdon, and in the middle Sam Dwyer (24 touches) and Taylor Adams (28) kept working.
Port threatened several times, and headed Collingwood after the Pies controlled much of the first half.
That would please Buckley the most. Overturning momentum, kicking ahead, and then attacking the final quarter like it was a final. Little things got Collingwood over the line. Pressure form the likes of Macaffer and Blair in the final quarter, intercept marks from the likes of Langdon, and of course, Cloke was huge.
Jesse White just might be a ruckman more than he is a forward and if White was looking for any guidance, he could do worse than look at Brisbane’s Stefan Martin for inspiration.
The Pies won the contested ball and tackles and won inside 50s.
Against some higher-ranked teams, the Pies will likely struggle. But, as said, these kinds of wins are the foundation for which to build.
It wasn’t a classic match.
Mistakes killed both teams, often when they tried to move the ball through the middle of the ground.
In the end, Beams, who was best afield, and Sidebottom’s smarts were critical to the victory.
Port potentially had the match-winner in Hamish Hartlett in the third quarter, when he kicked three goals, but similar to Port’s season, the momentum could not be sustained.
If we learnt anything at the weekend, it is yet again defence wins football games.
The Swans smothered the Bombers on Friday night, Melbourne and Brisbane smothered each other at Etihad yesterday before the Lions throttled them in the final quarter, and in Tasmania the Hawks were absolute in their demolition of the Western Bulldogs.
The Hawks, missing Sam Mitchell who withdrew before the game because of injury, kept the Dogs to 0.4 in the second quarter and 1.2 in the final quarter. That’s 1.6 in effectively 60 minutes of footy.
The learning experience continues for Brendan McCartney’s men, while the Hawks, in what is a truly remarkable performance, sit on top of the ladder after 19 rounds.
It was bitterly cold at Aurora Stadium and bitterly bright at Etihad Stadium.
We’re flogging a dead horse here, yet it’s ridiculous and if AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan wants to further satisfy players and fans, he should declare next year the Year of the Roof.
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THE TACKLE II: NOTHING TIGERISH ABOUT CHEAP HITS
THE TACKLE III: ROBBO’S LIKES AND DISLIKES
Originally published as The Tackle: Nathan Buckley proving his credentials taking Collingwood back into the top eight
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