1st Elimination Final: Adelaide vs. Collingwood

First quarter thoughts

Bizarre first term. Brilliant opening, fantastic tackling and pressure from the Pies. Leon Davis and Josh Fraser were magnificent. Fraser's call was sensational, possibly his finest moment as a Magpie. Inspirational to see him so pumped. The game took a turn about 10 minutes in. Collingwood gave away a remarkable amount of free kicks. I've never seen so many given away in such a period of time. Rhyce Shaw was a disgrace. Dagger of a goal from Tyson Edwards

3.10 - In the space of 1 minute Rhyce Shaw gave away a goal and turned the ball over twice. Goals to Johncock and McLeod has the score Pies 28 Crows 26. Both goals can be attributed to Rhyce Shaw. Shades of the 03 Grand Final.
3.13 - Collingwood rattled.
3.15 - Andrew McLeod is killing us. Who is on him!?
3.16 - Free kicks are a joke. Rutten just elbowed McCarthy in the head, nothing paid. Stevens marks in the goal square, and Adelaide lead 34-28. Got to withstand this pressure.
3.18 - Dale Thomas starting to get into the game.
3.19 - Absolute joke. Edwards just BLATANTLY got McCarthy high, both knew it was a free kick. Umpire waved play on. Amazing.
3.20 - I have never ever seen anything like this. Collingwood vs. Adelaide + Umpires. This is actually incredible.
3.24 - Great passage from Adelaide leads to a goal. 41-30. WOW. WOW. WOW. Collingwood just got a free kick. Thank you jesus. But nevertheless Dane Swan kicks it straight to the opposition.
Order is restored.
3.27 - Massive goal from Maxwell. Fantastic leadership, beautiful kick from outside 50. Adelaide 42 Collingwood 36. Needed that one.
3.28 - Of course Adelaide respond with one of their own through Stevens' third. Goal out of nothing. 48-36.
3.30 - Dumb play from Collingwood defenders leads to Stevens' fourth. This match is a nightmare. 54-36.
3.32 - Yet another Adelaide goal, this is extraordinary. Umpires blatant bias early in the quarter killed Collingwood's momentum. 60-36.
3.36 - Good passage of play. Dane Swan lining up for an easy goal. Gotta kick this...
3.36 - And he does. For all of Adelaide's dominance it's still only a three goal game in the second term, in perfect conditions. Collingwood have to remain steady for the rest of the quarter, then come out strong in the second half.
3.37 - SWAN AGAIN! Medhurst does well on the back of a Marty Clarke clearance, Swan gets the spills and goals! Game on again! Adelaide 60 Collingwood 48.

4.09 - Remarkable start to the quarter. Fantastic goals from Maxwell and Anthony, McLeod answered, and Cloke answered again. Scores tied. 66-66.
4.11 - DAWES! Great mark. And... slots it! Pies lead! Dawes' second, and that's 72-66! Incredible match.
4.14 - 50m to Cloke (again), got to slot this Travis. Huge kick for the match...
4.18 - Moran error, saves Collingwood. Phew. And Dane Swan lining up for goal. 35m out fair angle. Right footers pocket... misses. 73-66.
4.20 - GOAL! Great work from Clarke, Medhurst and Shaw goals. 79-66! Go Pies!
4.21 - SHOCKING UMPIRING DECISION! BUT IT GOES COLLINGWOOD'S WAY! Davis to line up from 35 out directly in front. Shocking decision. Clear handball out but caleld holding the ball. HIT THE POST! 80-66. Missed opportunity there.
4.23 - Well done Dale Thomas, sets up an opportunity for Lockeyer. Has to kick this. Has to.
4.24 - GOAL! Lockeyer goals and the Pies lead 86-66! Incredible match. From 60-36 down the Pies lead 86-66!
4.26 - Travis having a shocker, but Rhyce Shaw is lifting.
4.28 - Well done from Travis to adjust a kick for Marty Clarke, but Clarke misses what should have been a goal. Hope these don't come back to haunt the Pies.
4.29 - It sure does. Bassett lining up 20m out directly in front... Goal. That hurts the Pies. 87-73. You just know this one's going to come down to the final seconds.
4.31 - YESSS YESSSS YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!! DALE THOMAS GOALS FROM NOWHERE AT THE SIREN! OUTSIDE 50! Pies lead 93-73 at three quarter time. Crows come home with the scoring end though, this game is not over by any means.

Massive last quarter ahead obviously. Thomas' goal gives the Pies the edge going in, but still anyone's match. Travis needs to lift.

4.39 - Shocking decision leads to another goal. Maric was holding the ball for about 7 seconds, nothing called, leads to Stevens' 5th goal. 93-79, we knew it wouldn't be easy.
4.41 - Swan and Davis both fuck up. 94-79.
4.42 - Shit. Moran lining up for what should be an easy goal. Stevens sets it up again.
4.43 - Missed! Let-off for Collingwood. 94-80.
4.44 - Thompson clearance, Gill lines up now... And he hits it. Fuck. 94-86. Pies need a steadier.
4.46 - And there it is! Anthony reads it off a pack, runs into an open goal and makes no mistake. That was huge. 100-86.
4.47 - Brilliant courage from Dale Thomas! Great mark!
4.49 - Cloke beaten again. Fuck.
4.51 - FUCK! Stevens kicks another goal. This is ridiculous. Shaw overran the ball and Stevens kicks what.. his 6th? 100-92. 50/50 game at this point you'd say, maybe give the slight edge to Adelaide.
4.52 - Travis drops an uncontested mark. Oh dear. Medhurst lining up on the boundary though. Big kick... CHIPS SHORT AND MARK TO COOK! Got to nail this one. 15 out directly in front. Biggest kick of his life...
4.53 - OH MY GOD. HE MISSED. THAT WAS SHOCKING.
4.55 - Medhurst and Thomas superb. Sets up just as easy a short for Dawes. Come on... HE DOES IT! GOAL! That's big. Phew. 107-93. Three goals for Dawes today, he's been excellent. Medhurst starting to have a ripper game. Dale Thomas best player in the fourth term.
4.57 - Pendles has been very good. Dawes does very well and Clarke has a difficult shot on goal now. Possibly to win the match, but I won't go that far. Would make it very difficult though... HELLO DIFFICULT! Clarke goals. Huge goal. 113-93.
5.00 - As the clock strokes five, Medhurst has the chance to ice the game... GOT IT! GAME OVER! Pies will play next week! 119-93.
5.04 - Game winding down now... Crows fans leaving.
5.05 - John Anthony really is amazing. He kicks his 3rd, and that's 24.3 for the season. Amazing. 125-94.
5.07 - Adelaide just dying out there. Two best players, Thompson and McLeod kick it out on the full with zero pressure on them.
5.08 - OVER! Ugly, bizarre match, but somehow Collingwood come away with the win. Nerve-racking final term, but the Pies dominated the second half and generally were the better team.

That was true finals football. Ugly, intense, full of errors, and absolutely enthralling. Was great to see so many players step up today. Was interesting to see so many players play so well, and so many play so bad. We'll start off with the best...

8/10

Dale Thomas was best on ground in my eyes. He was the difference in the second half. His dash, clean disposal and courage around the ground gave Collingwood something they didn't have all game. Minimal impact in the first half, but in the second half he took over the game. Huge, huge goal on the third quarter siren.

Nick Maxwell came up huge for the Pies today, leading by example. Was solid in defence, and kicked two clutch goals for the Woods.

Paul Medhurst played very well gathering 14 disposals. He kicked 1 goal 3 behinds, although replays suggest 2.2 was his return. He had three goal assists, and if Ryan Cook could kick from 10m out directly in front it would have been four. He was a spark in the final term, and kicked the sealing goal.

7/10

Scott Pendlebury was rock solid all day. Pendles gathered 24 disposals and used the ball effectively all day. He was the most consistent player in the midfield.

Shane O'Bree surprised me today. I thought he was past it, but today he filled in admirably for Scott Burns, playing well as Collingwood's in and under guy. He finished with 24 disposals, a number of clearances, and a goal assist.

Dane Swan despite his heavy tag still managed to be Collingwood's number one possession getter once again, racking up 27. Didn't have a huge impact on the match, but picked up 9 marks, and kicked two vital goals before half time.

Marty Clarke provided run and stability from the back line for four quarters. The only thing holding him from a higher mark was the fact that he missed two genuine shots at goal. He did kick a huge goal in the last term though.

Harry O'Brien played his normal solid game, rarely being beaten one on one. Provided dash out of defence, hit his targets, and had one terrific play amidst a stoppage early on.

6/10

Maybe a bit of a harsh mark for Josh Fraser. Unfortunately after a great first quarter he faded, picking up the 16 disposals, and failing to assert himself in the ruck. The acting skipper led by example in the first term, playing brilliantly. Fraser has produced some highlights in his time at Collingwood. His intercept of a Brett Montgomery handball in a 2001 match against Port Adelaide to seal the match, the goal on Anzac Day 2002, and his performance in the 2002 grand final. But today we saw probably his finest moment. The gather, and 45m snap goal late in the first term, and then the reaction, gave me goosebumps. Inspirational from the Captain.

Like Fraser, Leon Davis had a fantastic opening term before fading into the background. He used the ball brilliantly (is this guy the best kick in the comp?) and picked up 20 disposals. Kicked one fantastic goal, but missed on three occasions. Can play better.

8 touches for John Anthony, but this kid makes every kick count, and that 24.3 stat for the season is really remarkable. At this point in time he's the best kick for goal in the whole competition.

After a weak match last week Chris Dawes played a fantastic game today. Had just the 8 touches, but used his body well and slotted 3 goals.

Tarkyn Lockeyer played more in defence than his usual role in the guts today, but he played well nonetheless. Took a number of marks in the defensive 50, and kicked a super clutch goal in the third term.

Chris Bryan rebounded from a shocker last week. Won 16 hitouts, played smarter footy, and drove the Pies forward on a number of occasions.

5/10

Tyson Goldsack did everything he's known for. Chased, tackled and hustled all day. The bringdown of Andrew McLeod in the first term was fantastic. The free kick against him for getting Edwards high at the end of that quarter was costly though.

John McCarthy was on the wrong end of some shocking umpiring decisions, but still played pretty hard. Limited impact, but did some good things.

Simon Prestigiacomo held his own in defence despite his injured shoulder. Would prefer to have Wakes in the team for next week though.

4/10

Ryan Cook was solid around the ground all day racking up the 21 disposals, but that shocking (SHOCKING!) miss in the last quarter takes off 2 marks immediately. That'll haunt him for a while.

Shannon Cox did some good things (has that Pendlebury quality of having all the time in the world when he gets the ball) but needs to get more of the ball.

3/10

Nathan Brown had his colours lowered today by Scott Stevens.

Rhyce Shaw had a nightmare of a first quarter. Stupid free kicks and turnovers. Redeemed himself a little with a nice goal and a better second half. Still though, a bad performance from the lesser Shaw.

2/10

Travis Cloke played his worst match as a magpie. Shanked an important set shot, was beaten one on one, and had zero presence on the field. Lowered his own colours today, more will be expected of him next week that's for sure.

Votes

8 - Dale Thomas (Coll)
8 - Scott Stevens (Adel)
8 - Paul Medhurst (Coll)
8 - Nick Maxwell (Coll)
7 - Shane O'Bree (Coll)