Collingwood is surging under Nathan Buckley but Essendon’s Anzac Day was a debacle
ON a day of remembrance, this game is already forgotten. MARK ROBINSON writes while Collingwood continues to surge under Nathan Buckley, it’s hard to gauge the merit of their Anzac Day win over a sluggish Essendon.
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IF this was North Melbourne v St Kilda and not Collingwood v Essendon, the football world would demand a change of teams for Anzac Day next year.
That’s what happens when the occasion is let down by the footy, doesn’t it?
In a day of remembrance, this game is already forgotten.
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The Magpies won and they continue to surge under coach Nathan Buckley, but it’s difficult to determine the might of the win considering how inept the opposition was.
The Magpies, now 3-2 and in the eight, have found belief. At Round 5, who knows if it will last or not, but right now there’s more than a waft of positivity.
The Magpies have accrued speed. It’s easy to say that when they win so handsomely, but it seemed to stand out more on the expanses of the MCG.
Jaidyn Stephenson, Sam Murray, Tom Phillips, and Jordan de Goey have joined Travis Varcoe and Adam Treloar, among others, and when the contest is working and the groundballs are acquired, the Pies looked menacing on the outside.
They’ll need to be on again to get ahead of Richmond this weekend. But a win and belief becomes a habit.
Make no mistake, this was a debacle for the Bombers.
They kicked four goals in the first three quarters and such was their inability to move the ball, which was underscored by their propensity to slow kick their way around the defensive 50m, they were booed by sections of the crowd during the third quarter.
The frustration among the fans — who have witnessed three disappointing efforts in the first five weeks — was matched by the frustration among the playing group.
Brendon Goddard was front and square again. At half-time it was words — he’ll call them instructions — with a clearly annoyed David Zaharakis.
At three-quarter time, Goddard injected himself into the forward group and, again, there were words. You can’t be a mind-reader but by the looks on the faces of Goddard’s teammates, it seemed like, ‘yeah, whatever champ’.
It’s not uncommon for Goddard to display his emotions, but on days like the one the Bombers were having, when the team is being strangled by Collingwood’s defence and its own skill errors and ineptitude, public arguments suggest the on-field component of the club is a rabble.
They certainly played liked it.
They are not a good side because good sides don’t have savage fluctuations in performance as the Bombers have in the past three weeks.
They had more disposals than Collingwood (413-407), more clearances (34-25), but were smashed in the inside 50m count 58-41.
Unlike Collingwood’s willingness to run and desire to be creative and risky, Essendon was sluggish and boring.
They lacked flow and connection, were held up time and again by Collingwood’s willingness to defend, and were forced to kick backwards and sideways until the booing arrived.
Players are under scrutiny. Mark Baguley had a torrid first quarter. Make that a horrid first quarter. He was statless and had three goals kicked on him, the first by Jordan de Goey and the next two by Steele Sidebottom.
Questions about Joe Daniher’s output continue. He had 19 kicks and half were butchered and now that’s five poor games from five this year. That’s a slump.
Which is exactly what the Bombers are in. Or are they?
It might be the norm and the Port Adelaide win was the aberration because, really, who knows anything about Essendon.
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Originally published as Collingwood is surging under Nathan Buckley but Essendon’s Anzac Day was a debacle
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