Dale Thomas was outstanding in a shift to defence. Picture: George Salpigtidis
IN the cruel world that is footy, adversity always welcomes opportunity.
For Collingwood, it is: Out Alan Toovey. In: Dale Thomas.
The popular Toovey was replaced by the ever popular Thomas on a back flank, and it's a move which is could end up a permanent adoption.
Thomas perhaps wasn't best afield in Collingwood's sluggish 33-point victory at Etihad last night, but he was damned close.
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Scott Pendlebury and Thomas were the class for the Pies, and Nick Riewoldt clearly was the inspiration for St Kilda, with support from Jack Stevens (10 clearances) and Leigh Montagna.
Thomas finished with 34 touches and eight marks, playing on a combination of resting midfielders and no-one.Round 6: Collingwood v St. Kilda at Etihad Stadium , Docklands May 3rd 2013 Melbourne, Heath Shaw battles with Stephen Milne Picture: Salpigtidis George Source:
He might not get it so easy again, in particular his want for the one-two running out of defence, but it worked well enough that coach Nathan Buckley will unquestionably go again with the move against Fremantle at Subiaco.
The final score was 15.13 (103) to 11.11 (77).
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In a bruising game, the Saints never allowed the Pies to escape, and the Pies couldn't do enough to shrug the Saints.
The highest margin between the two teams was at the finals siren, and at the 20th minute of the final quarter, the Saints were still a chance to win.
The Saints defensive measures in the first two quarters had a notable impact, and only at the end did the game really open up.
Former coach Ross Lyon is long gone, but the game style employed was so Ross Lyon.
Coach Scott Watters had four players under five games (Ross, Wright, Saunders and Murdoch), a relative newbie in Jack Newnes and lost Lenny Hayes in the warm-up, but Watters was able to conjure belief in an accountable, defensively sound game plan.
It hounded the Pies into stationary footy, and plenty of backwards kicks.
Round 6: Collingwood v St. Kilda at Etihad Stadium , Docklands May 3rd 2013 Melbourne, Leigh Montagna out of the middle Picture: Salpigtidis George Source:
The Pies had Heath Shaw, Thomas, Marty Clarke, and Tyson Goldsack in the back half - three of the team's speedier players - but they weren't allowed to do too much damage.
Thomas had 19 at the break, Shaw 18, Goldsack 12 and Clarke 12, but the numbers did not lend themselves to Magpies dominating.
The reality was they won the ball in the back half, but weren't allowed to dominate between the arcs.
The PIes had 23 inside 50s for 5.5 against St Kilda's 19 inside 50s for 5.7.
In the second quarter, behinds to Cloke, Quinten Lynch and Josh Thomas hurt whatever advantage Collingwood had hoped for after having the upper hand.
The initial break came at the start of the third quarter, when the Pies through Blair and Pendlebury, kicked the first two goals and three of the next five, but again the Saints hung tough. David Armitage kicked a goal just before the final break, to make the difference just two goals.
The Saints, gallant last week against the Swans, once again were gallant. The problem is gallantry can give you a semi-satisfied feeling of giving effort, but it doesn't give you the four points.
Nick Dal Santo has emerged as a problem child. Watters leaned on him during the week to lead, and Brent McCaffer leant on him for most of last night. Tagged out of the game again, Dal Santo had nine touches to three quarter-time, five of which were ineffective.
He would finish with 16 touches and two clearances to McCaffer's 16 and six inside 50s.
As his career meanders along, Riewoldt's doesn't appear to be slipping.
Dominant against Sydney last week, Riewoldt last night threatened Collingwood's hopes with a powerful last quarter, which included two goals in two minutes. He narowly missed a third a minute later, which allowed Collingwood to take the initiative.
But it was vintage from the skipper, and he finished with four goals and 11 marks.
At the death, Travis Cloke twice won free kicks against Rhys Stanley, who was caught on the wrong side running towards goal, and twice Cloke goaled.
Justin Koschitzke, meanwhile, had an ordinary night.
At halftime, he had three touches, five hit-outs, two marks and one elbow.
The elbow was his most memorable moment. The off-the-ball hit on Jamie Elliott will likely see him suspended. It remains to be seen if he gets back into a team, which is beginning its transition.
Votes
3. Dale Thomas
2. Scott Pendlebury
1. Nick Riewoldt.
Robbo's Best:
Collingwood: Thomas, Pendlebury, Shaw, McCaffer, O'Brien, Swan, Jolly
St Kilda: Riewoldt, Steven, Montagna, Roberton, Armitage.
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