Collingwood’s cheeky tactics prevail over Giants at MCG in thrashing

Collingwood resorted to some strange tactics in their win over the Giants at the MCG, but it ended up working in a show of force.

Nathan Murphy pulls down the shorts of the Giants' Aaron Cadman.

Collingwood resorted into some of the stranger tactics seen this season in their 18.12 (120) to 7.13 (55) win over the GWS Giants, with defender Nathan Murphy taking to pulling down the shorts of gun Giants rookie Aaron Cadman late in the second quarter.

With the Magpies well and truly in control and leading 57-26 with just under three minutes left in the half, the ball spilled towards the wing and Murphy went to tackle the former Giants number one overall pick, holding onto him as he carried the ball over the boundary line.

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Pushed down by Cadman and lying underneath the 19-year-old, Murphy saw an opportunity to ruffle the rookie’s feathers, and took it by pulling down his shorts.

A taken-aback Cadman pushed back with a retaliatory blow to Murphy’s chest, and in the process gave away a free kick, setting up the Magpies for another push forward.

Nathan Murphy pulls down the shorts of the Giants' Aaron Cadman at the MCG. Photo: Fox Footy

Social media was divided over the move, despite its obvious comedic value.

One Twitter user said: “Pulling down an 18 year old’s pants for no good reason is just grubby.”

“Gets a free kick out of it too. Shocking look.”

Another fan said she loved the way Collingwood play, but “cannot stand” Murphy.

“Constantly antagonising people, then he ends up getting a push or a shove and then the other player gets a penalty. Time to fine instigators,” she said.

Another fan, however, called it an “all time stooge”, while football writer Lenny Phillips made light of it.

“More like Aaron Dac-man,” Phillips said.

didn’t think dacking was still a thing..

#AFL #AFLPiesGiantspic.twitter.com/rdmAuYL6Y9

— SuperCoach IQ (@SuperCoachIQ) May 14, 2023

Regardless of what fans thought of the move, it clearly didn’t have a negative effect on the Pies, who kept the contest in control the entire game with a clinical performance that showed their claim to being the best team in the competition.

Mason Cox stood out for Collingwood as the best afield, while Bobby Hill kicked a masterful goal at the start of the first quarter to kickstart the scoring.

Goals were shared around the Collingwood forward line in a performance likened to the Harlem Globetrotters by Fox Footy’s Dwayne Russell.

The win takes the Magpies top of the ladder and a game clear of second-placed St Kilda, while the Giants continue to languish in football purgatory, falling to 15th.

Originally published as Collingwood’s cheeky tactics prevail over Giants at MCG in thrashing