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Collingwood snatch victory from jaws of defeat against Carlton, but not without controversy

Collingwood’s guns lifted when they needed to inspire another win, but a massive discrepancy in one department has enraged Blues fans. PLUS why Brendon Bolton isn’t being positive and Bucks proud of Pies’ want.

Collingwood's Jordan De Goey is mobbed after a superb final-term soccer goal. Pic: Michael Klein.
Collingwood's Jordan De Goey is mobbed after a superb final-term soccer goal. Pic: Michael Klein.

Put it down as another coulda, shoulda, woulda for Carlton.

And this was another notch on the belt for Collingwood.

For all the Blues’ what-ifs, the facts are that as the Magpie class rose to the surface in the last frantic 10 minutes, Carlton couldn’t handle the big moments.

STATS, SUPERCOACH: PIES v BLUES

MICK MALTHOUSE: WHAT’S HAPPENED TO RICHMOND?

The Blues led by 11 points at the 20-minute mark of the last term, powered by lion-hearted skipper Patrick Cripps, who was irresistible.

SCROLL DOWN TO READ WHAT THE COACHES SAID

But Collingwood’s collective power saw them slam on the last five goals of the game from the last 10 inside 50s.

Game over. Pies by 19 points and another one gets away from Brendon Bolton.

A Carlton side Cripps “guaranteed” would respond from last week’s horror show against North Melbourne did that.

Cripps had a blinder. His 35 possessions (19 contested) included seven tackles, 13 clearances and a goal. But a Pies outfit missing Taylor Adams and Dayne Beams still had too much depth, class and quality when it mattered most.

Steele Sidebottom, Brodie Grundy and Scott Pendlebury ensured it was a case of the Usual Suspects, but Callum Brown also bobbed up with one of the better games of his young career.

Patrick Cripps was enormous for the Blues, but his side came up short. Pic: Michael Klein.
Patrick Cripps was enormous for the Blues, but his side came up short. Pic: Michael Klein.

FREE KICKS

Firstly, there is nothing in the rule book that says both sides should get a similar amount of free kicks.

But still, the imbalance of the count would enrage the navy blue fraternity.

It was a massive discrepancy. It was Collingwood 24, Carlton 8 and more about the frees Carlton didn’t get than the one’s Collingwood did.

Adam Treloar lifted when he was needed. Pic: Getty Images
Adam Treloar lifted when he was needed. Pic: Getty Images

TRELOAR’S FOURTH

The very good players deliver when it matters most.

Adam Treloar was anonymous at half-time and so-so at three-quarter time, but then lifted enormously when his side most needed it in the last quarter.

The midfielder had 13 disposals and a goal in the last half hour to finish with 34, six clearances and seven inside 50s.

Mitch McGovern celebrates a goal in the final term as the Blues briefly looked home. Pic: Michael Klein.
Mitch McGovern celebrates a goal in the final term as the Blues briefly looked home. Pic: Michael Klein.

RUPERT WILLS

Had not played since Burke and Wills were around.

This was Wills’ first game since Round 18, 2017 — 657 days — due to injury and you have to admire the determination to get back.

He was thrown right in at the deep end too, sent to mind Patrick Cripps in the middle.

While the Blues skipper started slowly, he had 17 touches by half time to Wills’ four.

After the young Pie was relieved of the job, Cripps went berserk in the third term with nine possessions, seven clearances and seven tackles.

Brody Mihocek kicked a goal. Pic: Michael Klein.
Brody Mihocek kicked a goal. Pic: Michael Klein.
Paddy Dow continued his progression for the Blues. Pic: Michael Klein.
Paddy Dow continued his progression for the Blues. Pic: Michael Klein.

ROCK THE CASBOULT

If Levi Casboult has played full-back before we put our hands up and admit we missed it.

But Liam Jones’ absence with concussion was the catalyst for Brendon Bolton to stiffen up the Carlton back line with the big forward-ruck.

Casboult had the job on Ben Reid and while he had his awkward moments early, grew into the role. Reid was quiet and goalless.

Collingwood's Jordan De Goey is mobbed after a superb final-term soccer goal. Pic: Michael Klein.
Collingwood's Jordan De Goey is mobbed after a superb final-term soccer goal. Pic: Michael Klein.

COLLINGWOOD 2.1 5.6 9.9 16.10 (106)

CARLTON 1.4 5.6 10.8 13.9 (87)

Goals: Collingwood: B Grundy 2 C Brown 2 J de Goey 2 J Stephenson 2 T Phillips 2 W Hoskin-Elliott 2 A Treloar B Mihocek J Crisp J Thomas

Carlton: M McGovern 3 C Curnow 2 D Cuningham 2 H McKay 2 J Silvagni M Gibbons M Murphy P Cripps

Best: Collingwood: Grundy, Treloar, Sidebottom, Phillips, Pendlebury, Brown, De Goey

Carlton: Cripps, Murphy, Marchbank, E Curnow, C Curnow, Cunningham, Dow

Official Crowd: 69,289 at MCG

SAM EDMUND’S VOTES:

3 — Patrick Cripps (Carl)

2 — Brodie Grundy (Coll)

1 — Adam Treloar (Coll)

BUCKLEY: WE WANTED TO WIN MORE

Elated Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has praised the Magpies’ sheer want to win late against Carlton at the MCG.

The Pies banged on five unanswered goals in 12 minutes to erase an 11-point deficit in front of a crowd of 69,289.

“When you get that far in it’s not about talent anymore,” Buckley said.

“It’s not necessarily about structure and about set-ups, it’s about who wants to win most and it was us.”

Buckley lamented blown opportunities in the first half, the Pies unable to capitalise on possession and forward 50 entries.

“There was elements in that first three quarters that was not up to scratch for us,” Buckley said.

Nathan Buckley lays down the law at 3/4 time. Pic: Michael Klein
Nathan Buckley lays down the law at 3/4 time. Pic: Michael Klein

“Carlton were doing a lot of things right. They came with great intensity ... stoppage was a concern.

“They got through the front of stoppage and we, like nearly every other side, found it pretty hard to control No.9 (Cripps) but ultimately it was the players’ willingness to stick to their guns and understand they could improve their contribution and it all clicked and came together in that last 15 minutes.”

It almost went awry midway through the term when Tom Phillips coughed up a double 50m penalty for failing to clear the protected area while arguing with the umpire.

“I saw it happening,” Buckley said.

“But there was only one bloke (Phillips) that didn’t see it happening, the bloke that needed to.

“It could’ve been telling, it was a tight game, there was marginal things that occurred on both sides that could’ve gone either way.”

Buckley said Mason Cox (ankle) was a chance to return next Saturday against St Kilda, with wingman James Aish also in the mix.

But the Pies could be without Chris Mayne (concussion) after the utility failed to return after an accidental kick to the head late in the third quarter.

— Gilbert Gardiner

BOLTON: I’M NOT INTO THE POSITIVES RIGHT NOW

Carlton coach Brendon Bolton says he “feels the emotion” of Blues supporters after another brave performance counted for nought.

Carlton led premiership fancy Collingwood by 11 points with less than 10 minutes to go, but cracked under the Pies’ pressure, conceded the last five goals.

Asked about the impressive cohesion shown by his key forwards, Bolton hesitated.

“Is the timing right to talk about all the positivity right now?” Bolton said.

“Because we’ve just lost, we’re annoyed with it, there’s heaps going right, but there’s some moments like the second half of the last quarter that are giving my moral compass — it’s saying to me: ‘Don’t answer the positivity right now.

“I’m just feeling the emotion of our supporters right now. There’s an element after a game, we as a club really hurt and then we get determined to go again.”

The Blues rooms were a mixture of encouragement over the progress and irritation over the lack of reward.

The Blues have now lost five matches by 19 points or less, including two by less than a goal.

In a presentation under the MCG, Patrick Cripps was awarded the Richard Pratt Medal.

“The boys are frustrated. It’s one that got away,” Cripps told the Blues faithful.

“The ladder doesn’t reflect where we are at as a group.”

Brendon Bolton wasn’t biting on the lopsided free-kick count. Pic: AAP
Brendon Bolton wasn’t biting on the lopsided free-kick count. Pic: AAP

Bolton said it was a matter of his young side learning to “do it for longer” and not a lopsided free-kick count of 24-8 in Collingwood’s favour that he refused to buy into.

“I’m not going into any space around umpiring. This caper is so hard to play and harder, I think, to umpire,” Bolton said.

“We want people involved in our game, to umpire and be involved in all levels and to love that role, so I’m in total support of umpiring.

“They’ll get it right and wrong at times, but a senior coach commenting on it, I don’t think it does any favours for people wanting to be umpires in the future and we’ve got to understand they’re human.”

Bolton was delighted with Cripps (35 disposals — 19 contested — seven tackles, 13 clearances and a goal), but said his side was “moving beyond just Crippa now”.

He praised Levi Casboult’s role, along with Caleb Marchbank and Lachie Plowman, in a defence missing Sam Docherty, Liam Jones, Kade Simpson and Nic Newman, and was encouraged by Liam Stocker’s display.

“I think there were nine or 10 lead changes in that game. We went toe-to-toe with a heavyweight club that’s going pretty well at the moment,” he said.

“Then six minutes to go I think the pressure of their midfield got on top. There were too many entries, and then we made some mistakes on the way out. Probably a little bit overzealous at times and they got outside of us and kicked a couple.

“Right now I’m not going to say a heap (to the players) because they’re all pretty emotive. They’ve given their heart and soul for three quarters and 20 minutes and then fell away late.”

- Sam Edmund

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/collingwood-snatch-victory-from-jaw-of-defeat-against-carlton-but-not-without-controversy/news-story/48d39ea872cc6922275cc028ed69536e