Despite coming up short this time Collingwood can beat Richmond in September, writes Mick Malthouse

IT WAS judgment day for Collingwood. While they ultimately came up short, the Magpies showed why they can reverse the result in September, writes Mick Malthouse.

Callum Brown celebrates a Collingwood goal.

It was judgment day for Collingwood.

How much had they learnt from their 43-point loss to Richmond in Round 6?

The evidence until this game was that Richmond had maintained its rage, and Collingwood had made giant strides, faltering only against second-top side West Coast.

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With multiple changes to both teams, more for Collingwood, my interest was in how the structures had changed, if at all.

Collingwood was brave earlier in the season and coming off the Anzac Day game, which would have no doubt contributed to the three-quarter-time 11-point deficit blowing out in the final term.

But to me the upside is always what you learn as a losing side. The Pies have certainly tightened up defensively and have become less predictable in the forward line.

Dejected Collingwood players after the loss to Richmond.

They also have arguably the best, or close to the best, ruck and midfield combination in the competition. So where was this going to place them in the game?

It is a shame that Jordan de Goey was out, because he has been the form player of the competition and would have added to the Pies chances of winning.

But the players who did come in - Taylor Adams, Darcy Moore, and Brody Mihocek, among others - were vitally important to the dynamics of the team.

The Tigers, with less injuries, made fewer changes, and their structure hasn’t changed because it has worked beautifully for them all year.

As per usual Richmond didn’t necessarily have more possessions than its opponent early on, but it had a better efficiency rate, caused generally by its high intensity pressure, particularly around the ball and in its forward line.

Collingwood’s efficiency by quarter time was only 68 per cent compared to 75 per cent, and yet three players; Steele Sidebottom (12 possessions) Adams (11) and Scott Pendlebury (11) all dominated possession.

Steele Sidebottom tackles Trent Cotchin.

The engine room of the Tigers - Dustin Martin (3) Dion Prestia (6) and Trent Cotchin (6) -were short of touch, but as a collective Richmond is less reliant on its superstars.

Mihocek kept Alex Rance busy with a goal early in the second term, and further influenced the scoreline with a brilliant bit of play to get the ball to Will Hoskin-Elliott for a goal before the main break.

Darcy Moore had his good moments on Jack Riewoldt with outstanding discipline, destroying anything in the air, but he is still learning the art of playing deep defence and became too aggressive in his positioning allowing Riewoldt to get in behind him for his second goal.

It was Collingwood’s contested possession rate (they had 14 more up to half-time,) that got them well back in the game, dominating the stoppages when Toby Nankervis was off the ground.

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Richmond paid the penalty for not having a second ruckman, as a Mason Cox free kick from a ruck infringement put the Pies back to within a kick late in the second term.

Levi Greenwood wore Martin like a shadow, doing a terrific job, and clearly got under his skin when the Brownlow Medallist gave away a 50m penalty and almost gave up the Tigers’ slim lead heading into the break.

Martin got his payback one-on-one in the goalsquare with Greenwood, for a mark and goal and the half-time lead.

There was real evidence of fatigue from both sides at half time, as it became obvious this was a true September rehearsal.

Brodie Grundy weaves through traffic.

Collingwood’s first-half match-ups were brilliant, taking full toll in the ruck.

In the third term, Brodie Grundy and Cox stepped up another notch, smashing Richmond in the stoppages every time Nankervis had a rest, allowing Collingwood to dominate territory and possession.

By three-quarter-time the Pies had the top six possession getters. Remarkably, the top three for Richmond were backline players.

There was little sign of Cotchin, Martin and Kane Lambert, with only Prestia having any influence.

It was a credit to Richmond that it could maintain its lead. It was certainly a credit to Collingwood to keep coming.

The Pies were tested with the loss of two key backs, Jeremy Howe in the first term with concussion and Matthew Scharenberg late with a knee injury.

It would be a tragedy if he has re-injured his ACL as he has been outstanding since coming back off multiple reconstructions, and will be a big hole to fill.

But the Tigers finished off the game playing as they have played all year, with high-pressure football and Collingwood in the end found it too hard to go with them.

Even though the Pies had the top six possession winners, as a whole they weren’t able to break down the team of Richmond.

Once again, the Tigers were able to motor away from an opposition in the last quarter, with 25 less team possessions, but 10 more inside 50s for the game.

It’s hard to argue a case for a Tigers’ player to be in the best three, but maybe that is why Richmond is on top and Collingwood is now three games behind.

The Pies had dominant players, but too few contributors at the most psychological moments of the match.

There is capacity for both sides to learn from this contest. Richmond needs a second ruck come forward, or a forward come ruck. Against a two-ruck team they are highly vulnerable and the side that can exploit this vulnerability is Collingwood.

De Goey will return. If Adam Treloar can get back too, he will further punish the Tigers at the stoppages.

In the end Round 19 mirrored Round 6, with a dominant last quarter by the Tigers being the difference.

However, the Pies will take confidence from Saturday’s performance that they can reverse the result in the future.

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