Round 4 - Northern Blues vs Collingwood at Preston City Oval

[MagpieBat]

Full Time.

Blues 13.13.91
Collingwood 14.16.100

GOALS - Phillips 3, Wyatt 3, Crocker 2, Collopy 2, Wills, Hellier, Alessi, Cloke

Phew!

Over to you!

[RudeBoy]

who were our best players?

[On the March]

Well done MB - Cloke back for sure!

[Collingwood Crackerjack]

Just wondering if you think Crocker is due for a call up to the seniors MB?

Sounds like he had another good game

[3rd degree]

thanks Mr Bat , who was our best ! any sign of John Anthony's hair piece?

[RudeBoy]

Your report was terrific as usual Mr Bat. Much appreciated.

[qldmagpie67]

MB thank you once again for a insightful report and updates much appreciated
Who were the standouts ?

[roar]

Bummer, had to work today. Thanks for the call, MB.

[stui magpie]

A couple of observations from me, I watched the game (first 3 quarters) from the wing near the interchange.

The umpiring was shit. The hands in the back rule obviously isn't being applied anymore and it was clear that Cloke must've run over at least one of the umpires dogs or rooted his missus or both because it seemed like they could do anything to him they wanted but if he farted in the general vicinity of a Bloos player it was a free kick. At one point I turned to the bloke I was with and quipped that the umpires were obviously colourblind, they thought the Northern Blues were wearing Hawthorn Jumpers

(Free kick Hawthorn)

Cloke I thought worked hard all day without a lot of luck but the effort was there. He was getting a bit frustrated by the manhandling and no frees but I recon he has to forget that, ignore the infringements and just go at the ball.

I really liked the look of Rupert Wills. Seemed to be basically utility size, could almost play as a slightly undersized key forward in a pinch but it's his work ethic when the ball is in his vicinity that struck me. This kid is a bull. He just charges into the contest, lays tackles, wrestles the ball away from opponents and then charges out the other side with the ball shrugging off tackles on the way. Gets in good positions and while not incredibly quick has some toe when he pushes it and has a thumping kick. Me likey.

White played well I thought, he was doing a Reid and controlling the backline and at one point it looked like the Bloos were actually playing a defensive forward on him.

Sier did a few nice things, needs to get involved more, little bit reactive but shows some quality.

Interesting as most of the coaching staff seemed to have gone to Perth, Witts was acting as line coach for the midfield and was very serious about it, talking closely with the players, pointing and giving instructions at the 1/4 time break.

White seemed to have a similar role with the backline as after the notional line coach (who I think was Scharenberg) finished his talking, Jesse took over and was doing all the talking prior to Tapping calling them in to the team huddle.

Overall, not a bad performance by the boys, nice ground (first time I've been there, it's actually not that far from home) but it's an absolute prick getting parking around there.

[Dave The Man]

Just got there.

Loved Crockers game BOG for me

[Dave The Man]

[RudeBoy]

[roar]

What's the word on Marsh? He's not listed on the injury list...

[stui magpie]

Don't recall seeing a lot of phillips, noticed Crocker a bit, kept thinking the kid wearing Heaters jumper is doing OK.

[Dave The Man]

Who was #25 for Preston?

He be getting a Very Long Holiday after Cheap Shot on Crocker in last Qtr