By Peter Ryan
Collingwood have a firm hold on top spot but have selection headaches looming ahead of a tough run of matches that starts with the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night.
The Pies, who have just completed a heavy training load, could be without Lachie Sullivan after he suffered a PCL injury in the 36-point win over Richmond on Sunday. But they will welcome back Scott Pendlebury, who was a late withdrawal after being slow to recover from a knock at training during the week.
The timing of Jordan De Goey’s return is yet to be determined after he played 70 per cent of game time in the VFL, while Tom Mitchell pressed his case for a midfield spot with a composed performance and Ned Long had 23 touches and laid six tackles.
Premiership coach Craig McRae admitted he can’t fit everyone in the midfield and some hard calls awaited him leading into finals.
“I can’t [fit them all in]. They won’t all play barring injury and illness,” McRae said, before checking himself.
“It’s too early. There is still four or five games to go.”
One midfielder who holds Collingwood’s fortunes in his hands is star Nick Daicos. When he is in the mood he was on Sunday, all such discussion becomes superfluous.
Nick Daicos shows his opponent a clean pair of heels.Credit: AFL Photos
He not only separated the two teams, he was on a different plane to the other 45 players who took the ground.
Daicos’ third goal, kicked in the third quarter, signalled the end of a strong Richmond resistance. He already had 31 touches, a dozen score involvements and the third goal meant he had kicked a major in each quarter. McRae said it was the highest rated game of any player for the year.
He finished the match with 42 disposals, falling just one short of his career-best 43. He also recorded 884 metres gained.
The statistics didn’t tell even part of the tale of his dominance, however. He was as clean as a new oven and always found a teammate with his disposal. He also played across half-back as well as deep forward and in the midfield, his versatility part of his development.
“That is a year full of planning somewhat and then finding out what the game needs and what we need,” McRae said.
Without Pendlebury, he became the heart-settler for Magpie fans when the Tigers moved within eight points early in the second half.
Rotating off half-back with his brother Josh, he arched his back, ran this way and that, and kicked left and right to open up avenues to goal and eventually the Magpies took control.
They kicked five unanswered goals to reassert their dominance over the Tigers – the best of the non-contenders at the moment – in the third quarter.
McRae said the Pies had reset their goals to finish on top but their focus was on what was immediately in front of them. “We are in the qualifying phase still. I keep saying to the players ‘stay here, stay here’. Everyone wants to take us further with forecasts and ladder predictors. You can’t live in that space,” he said. “We are defending the ground really well ... keeping the teams to low scores which will serve us well come the right time.”
Despite losing Tim Taranto to a calf injury before the match, Richmond still had significant experience sprinkled through the line-up. Coach Adem Yze said they took a no-risk policy with Taranto and he was heartened by the midfield’s ability to step up in his absence.
He admitted he toyed with the idea of tagging Daicos but decided the team was not ready for the complications that might arise to their game plan if that happened. “We are in a position now where we’re trying to just keep everything simple for our players,” Yze said.
Noah Balta’s return meant they had seven premiership players in the team, plus the experienced Jacob Hopper and Jack Ross, to complement the exciting glimpses Taj Hotton, Steely Green and Tyler Sonsie provided. Yze hoped Josh Smillie might return via the VFL next week and was hopeful Josh Gibcus would play AFL before season’s end after a promising build-up in the VFL.
Nick Vlastuin and Nathan Broad have been excellent this season but Vlastuin was better than that on Sunday with his exceptional intercept game on display.
Maurice Rioli’s two chase down tackles were also worth the price of admission. He caught Steele Sidebottom and Mitchell – admittedly not footballers boasting Usain Bolt-like traits – like he was a hyena stalking tame impalas.
But there were good signs for the Magpies with Tim Membrey their best forward, Isaac Quaynor continuing his great form and importantly Dan Houston working his way into the game during the third quarter culminating in a goal in the final quarter.
Mitchell also won 25 touches in the middle and continues to challenge Ned Long for that in-and-under position although with De Goey, Pendlebury, Bobby Hill, Billy Frampton and Jeremy Howe still to return half a dozen players are under pressure to keep their spot.
The Magpies remain on top of the ladder with a massive match against the Brisbane Lions at the MCG next week while the Tigers continue to win respect for their commitment to the task.