MATCH REPORT
Collingwood vs Carlton: Match Review - Johnson#26
Editor's Note: On behalf on Nick's Collingwood Page, I would like to say thank you to Johnson#26 for all the hard work that has been put into the site this year. It is appreciated so much, that it is hard to put into words how grateful we are. Thanks J26!
Review:
The season from hell's final chapter was written tonight as Carlton came from behind to defeat a sluggish Collingwood. Despite leading almost all night, the Pies lost the lead late in the thrid term, and never regained it. The loss now sees Collingwood finish off the season on a very disappoint note, with only eight wins to their credit. The Blues had a much happier season, where they won the points on ten occasions. The Magpies can only look towards next season, as they can now contemplate life with a quiet September.
The first quarter began with Collingwood hitting the Blues with everything, and ending the term with a 13 point lead. Chris Tarrant scored the first one in the goalsquare after some good work from Lonie up the field. Leon Davis then cashed in on some good work again from Tarrant to see the Pies out to an early two goal break. But the Blues struck back, with Koudafiedies scoring their first, before Whitnall nabbed one to level the scores. The Magpies soon slipped back to their early season form, of chipping the ball around and not making any progress. Jason Cloke marked a clever Scott Burns kick to keep the Pies out of the Blues reach, while Tarrant scored his second. The Magpies had skipped out to a thirteen quarter time lead, with Buckley - with nine possessions and Licuria with eight the main standouts. The danger man from the last time they met - Justin Davies loomed large all quarter, but couldn't put his stmp on the game.
The second quarter saw Collingwood keep out of the Blues reach - but the gap was closed, as the Blues pressed forward at every oppotunity. Tarrant and Davis continued their goal scoring feats, as the Pies attempted many a time to break the shackles but were brought back by the Blues every time they skipped away. Davis, Tarrant and Andrew Williams - who performed his best game for the season - all goaled to keep the Pies in good nick. Williams showed courage as he marked strongly and goaled, as well as some other tough efforts. Brodie Holland also goal, with a nice crumb off the pack resalting in a goal. But Carlton kept coming back, with Houlahan, Fevola and Whitnall strarting to warm, up. Nick Stevens was a constant threat all evening, with his ball use a feature. Jordan Bannister had tightned up on Buckley, and it showed as Buckley's influence was limited. Collingwood again led by only two goals at the main break.
Carlton finally overran the Pies in a tence thrid quarter, there they kept coming and coming at the Magpies until it all became too much. The dam walls burst when Brendan Fevola - who had been kept in check by James Clement for most of the night - broke free to stroll in and nail the goal to take the Blues to the lead. Jarrad Waite also joined in the fun, with another freakish goal to extend the lead. Brodie Holland did an excillent job on Scott Camporarle, but Nick Stevens continued to run off Licuria, who had given the Maggies good service in the middle. Tarrant had goalscoring oppotunities as did Lonie, but only Didak was a major target up in attack, scoring a nice running goal. A key figure in the Carlton comeback was Josh Fraser's absence. Fraser liped form the field in the second term with a calf injury, but battled on to come back for the tence final term. Ben Johnson, in his 100th match, gavce a away a free and a fifty meter penalty to Davies, to give the Blues a nice buffer. Tristan Walker's terrific final effort in the closing stages of the quarter was a highlight, as it kept the Blues within four points at the final change.
Both sides gave it everything in the final quarter for season 2004. It was end to end stuff, with neither side nor coach giving an inch. The Blues had the early break away, with Stevens, Davies, Fevola and later on Scotland all goaling to sting the Magpies into action. One of the main problems for the Pies was their tendancy to hadball to each other looking to switch the play, rather then kick it long. Chris Tarrant had several goalscoring oppotunities, but hooked both shots, keeping Carlton to a handy lead. Andrew Williams, who was playing for his footballing life, gave it everything in a final quarter bid to see his Magpies over the line. A couraous mark and goal resalted in the Magpies getting within reach of the spirited Blues unit. After Scotland goaled to extenmd the lead to what was thought to be a match winning one, Tarrant was rewarded a free kick within range of the big sticks, after many frees had gone the way of the Blues all night. Tarrant converted, scoring his fifth goal for the night, seeing the Magpies down by only one behind. The final minute was a tence and tough one, with the Pie shaving an early oppotunity to score, but they again handballed it around, diminishing their chances. Carlton held onto the lead, and the victory - which was a monet to saver against the old enamy. They can now look forward to 2005 with great optumism, while Collingwood can only pinder over the season from hell - in which after two losing Grand Finals, missed out on the final eight. Licuria with 35 touches and Woewodin were the best all tight, whgile Tarrant equalled his best goal haul for the season - equalling his five goal effort against the Crows.
Player Review:
Leon Davis: 6/10 - A good solid four quarter effort from Leon, who worked hard all night. Showed some spark and played his role well. Good evening.
Shane Woewodin: 8/10 - Couragous, hard running performance from Woey, who won the ball well all night. Stood up in the clinches and really made an effort.
Ryan Lonie: 6/10 - Very good all night. He has finally shown some of his 2001 form where he took the competiton by storm, and is well on the way to regainig his best form.
Alan Didak: 1.5/10 - Very quiet end to the season for Dids.
Nathan Buckley: 7/10 - Very good all ngiht. Won nine first term touches before Banniter put the clamps on him. Should be pleased with his night - in which he spent the game in the midfield.
Brodie Holland: 5.5/10 - Coninued his fierce rivalry with Camporealre and nullifyed him well. Solid effort, as well as a nice running goal.
James Clement: 6.5/10 - Work has hard as ever and used the ball well. Fevola broke away from him late to seal the victory.
Shane O'Bree: 4/10 - Won a bit of the ball but didn't use it. Has an interesting few months coming up.
Richard Cole: 5/10 - Good effort all night, but was a little loose at times.
Scott Burns: 6.5/10 - Very good night. Work hard and scored a great running goal in the last. Set the example.
Paul Licuria: 9/10 - Best game fo0r the season for Licca. 35 possessions and a good job on Stevens mean best on ground. Wares his heart on his sleeve and the loss is not his fault.
Andrew Williams: 5.5/10 - Fought bravely and couragously all ngiht as the thrid tall forward. Marked well and goaled on occasions. Maybe he has saved his career from the chop, and could be that missing link that broke when Nick Davis left the club.
Chris Tarrant: 7/10 - Great effort by Tazza. He could have scored eight goals if not for inaccurate kicking. Marked well, led well and played like a star should. Good match.
Rhyce Shaw: 1/10 - It is unfair to judge him like that but spent too much time on the pine to get a fair run.
Tarkyn Lockyer: 3/10 - Quiet night for Tarkyn.
Josh Fraser: 6/10 - Worked hard but couldn't get into the game. Inury did not help but didn't stop battling.
Ben Johnson: 5/10 - Solid service in his 100th game. Ran hard and got out of trouble on occasions, but his anger boiled over.
Mark McGough: 1/10 - It is unfair to judge him like that but spent too much time on the pine to get a fair run.
Jason Cloke: 5/10 - Took some nice marks and did well in defence, but found life a struggle as a forward.
Dane Swan: 3.5/10 - Solid early but faded.
Tristan Walker: 5/10 - Good effort from Tex, who ends his season on a positive note, and will be akey in our future.
Julian Rowe: 2/10 - Very good early before mysteriously benched.