How much of a sporting contest is decided between the ears? Today’s game will go down as a fascinating case study in such debates.
Had this been the Queen’s Birthday clash at the SCG we were all anticipating, would Collingwood have controlled the contest for three quarters, pulling off their best win since last year’s Elimination Final? We’ll never know.
Playing for Nathan Buckley one last time, his Magpies sent the club legend off with one last victory.
The Pies were the better team after quarter time, with the top-of-the-table Demons never matching their intensity.
Melbourne attempted a late fightback, but left themselves with too much to do as Collingwood defended for their lives.
Here’s everything you need to know!
The Talking Point: Does Melbourne have an issue against the lower sides?
For the third time in the last few months, the Demons have come up against a bottom four side and have been found wanting.
If not for a second half fight back against North Melbourne in Round 7, they would have lost all three of those games.
Had you been living under a rock since the end of the 2020 season, you would have had no idea that Melbourne was the premiership favourites and that Collingwood was a bottom four side.
They similarly played down to their opponents against Adelaide, losing that game in a thriller.
Melbourne has proven their premiership credentials against the likes of Richmond, Brisbane and the Bulldogs, but if they keep slipping up in the games they should win, they may just slip from the top of the tree.
The Moment: Jordan De Goey to face MRO scrutiny
Gerard Whateley believes Collingwood star Jordan De Goey will face a week on the sidelines for this bump on Melbourne’s Clayton Oliver.
Oliver was rocked by the hit, but did get up and take his kick.
Whateley told AFL Nation that De Goey would “sit out the bye week and then another week after that”.
Watch the incident below:
Jordan De Goey will face MRO scrutiny after this incident with Demon Clayton Oliver.
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) June 14, 2021
📝 BLOG: https://t.co/dSIl2dZYPv
🔢 MATCH CENTRE: https://t.co/kvLFFouz93
📺 WATCH #AFLDeesPies on @kayosports: https://t.co/STVjNi4HY1 pic.twitter.com/KKcpBKQg9b
What’s next?
Both teams enter their byes. Collingwood will prepare for Robert Harvey to take over as senior coach, while the Demons have time to catch their breath after a blistering start to the season.
FULL SCORE
Melbourne: 2.2, 4.4, 8.6, 9.9. (63)
Collingwood: 1.4, 6.8, 8.11, 11.14. (80)
GOALS
Melbourne: Jackson 2, Oliver, Neal-Bullen, Fritsch, Gawn, Harmes, Langdon, Petracca
Collingwood: Cameron 4, Mihocek 3, McCreery, Hoskin-Elliott, Pendlebury, Sidebottom
BEST
Melbourne: Jackson, Salem, Petracca, Gawn, Oliver, Harmes
Collingwood: De Goey, Cameron, Maynard, Pendlebury, Mihocek, Hoskin-Elliott
INJURIES
Melbourne: Nil
Collingwood: Murphy (cork)
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