Richmond charges into fourth spot at the expense of Collingwood after emphatic win at the MCG
Richmond has snatched a top-four spot that looked to be lock for Collingwood a month ago as Dusty Martin and Tom Lynch led a rampaging Tigers to their fifth straight win.
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You can put a line through Collingwood.
A top-four spot looked a certainty for a long time, but now it appears it’ll be flat out surviving past week one of a cutthroat elimination final.
The Magpies surrendered fourth spot to a rampaging Richmond side that will not leave the comforts of the MCG for the remainder of the home-and-away season.
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They’re the form side of the competition, the Tigers, and well and truly on the march to September.
It is very hard to see them relinquishing the double chance.
In fact, you could argue they’re the premiership favourites.
The force has awakened at Punt Rd with strong shades of 2017 that are all but impossible to ignore.
They’ve won five in a row, and set up Friday night’s 14.14 (98) to 9.12 (66) mauling with nine consecutive goals after Magpie Adam Treloar booted the first goal of the match.
At the Magpies, meanwhile, there is barely a pulse.
A season that promised so much is quickly going down the gurgler.
Last September they ambushed the Tigers in the preliminary final, and a week later they were less than two minutes away from holding up the premiership cup.
On Friday night’s showing — and their efforts over the past six weeks or even longer — there is next to no chance of them avenging that heartbreak this year.
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DUSTY ON THE CHARGE
It is hard not to think back to 2017 watching this Tigers time right now.
Just watching a rejuvenated Dustin Martin bursting through the middle of the MCG and kicking goals on the run would be enough to bring the memories flood back.
That was what he did, gaining 38 possessions and kicking two goals in a best on ground performance.
And then there’s midfielder Dion Prestia.
He was already enjoying his best season to date before his huge showing.
The midfielder had 21 disposals to halftime and finished with 35 disposals.
It is crucial for Richmond his good form continues, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding skipper Trent Cotchin’s hamstring.
He shows no signs of slowing down.
Neither does Bachar Houli, who starred with 31 touches in his 200th game.
WHAT’S GONE WRONG?
Collingwood 1990 premiership player Mick McGuane wrote in Friday’s Herald Sun the Magpies had to rediscover their brand and quickly.
But even that is difficult because, as McGuane wrote, it’s not even identifiable right now and we’ve seen it only in glimpses.
It used to have its pressure brand, but that has fallen by the wayside.
There’s also a lot of Magpies out of form at the same time.
“They’ve been smashed around the middle of the ground. At the moment they’re a long way off,” former star Chris Judd said on Triple M.
How Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley now responds will be fascinating.
Will he back himself to rejuvenate this group and get them to keep working on the things they do well, or does he throw the magnets on the board around in an attempt to revive this season?
MORE INJURIES
It was perfect conditions for Magpies hard-at-it midfielder Taylor Adams.
That is why many Magpie supporters would have rolled their eyes and cursed under their breaths when news broke that Adams was a late withdrawal with hamstring soreness.
He was replaced by Ben Crocker, which resulted in many Collingwood people questioning whether Rupert Wills would have been a better option in the soggy conditions.
The Adams injury continues a wretched run of injuries for the Magpies, which has been come an annual theme for Buckley.
They also lost defender Jordan Roughead (concussion) during the game.
What Buckley would no doubt give for just one year without a lengthy injury list.
SCOREBOARD
COLLINGWOOD 1.2 3.6 5.10 9.12 (66)
RICHMOND 5.4 9.7 11.12 14.14 (98)
GOALS
Collingwood: Mihocek 2, Pendlebury 2, Crocker, De Goey, Elliott, Thomas, Treloar
Richmond: Lynch 5, Lambert 2, Martin 2, Bolton, Chol, Riewoldt, Soldo, Stack
BEST
Collingwood: De Goey, Treloar, Grundy, Crisp, Howe
Richmond: Lynch, Martin, Vlastuin, Bolton, Grimes, Bolton, Prestia
INJURIES
Collingwood: Adams (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Crocker, Roughead (concussion)
Richmond: Cotchin (hamstring)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stephens, Nicholls, Mollison
Official crowd: 78,722 at the MCG
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