Well that was all we needed, a getaway, a road trip to WA, home to The Pinnacles and the quokka – one of which is the most underwhelming tourist attraction since the Museum of Historically Signficant Stationery (MoHSS) and the other is a cute furry animal.
For the record, I picked this – and the margin, just have a look at last week’s article. There is nothing sweeter that a one point win over grumpy Eagles fans.
A visit to the Optus Stadium is fearful for most and for an under powered stuttering Collingwood, it looked like it could get ugly. Eagles are firing, two power talls backed by up and comer Oscar Allen and more quality small forwards than representative Auskick team. Add to that losing Darcy Moore in the first quarter and our work was cut out. Then you’ve got six quality backs against bargain basement Brodie and Cox on the (chopping) block.
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The first quarter was exhilarating with many calling it the best quarter of the year, six goals each, lead changes and quality ball use. I nearly went home at quarter time happy and my heart would have thanked me because I wasn’t ready for what was about to happen. The Eagles pulled ahead by eighteen points early in the third quarter and then just stopped, confonted by enormous hunger from the Pies the Eagles could only muster a single behind for the rest of the game and that was with two minutes to go. Anwyay, you all saw the game, at least once.
Brody Mihocek kicked four on a number of opponents, none of whom gave him enough respect. Mason Cox kicked three. Cox who was so close to being dropped but I maintain he is good for balance. Would Mihocek have kicked four if McGovern and Barrass didn’t have a seven foot American to worry about? It’s a rhetorical question.
The under performing mids also stood up. Grundy had his work cut out but Pendles, Sidebum and Ads all worked their asses off to ensure we had first use of the ball and drowned the Eagles in inside 50s in the last quarter. While the one point margin indicates that the boys stole it, the second half KPIs showed we dominated in all areas and probably should have won by more.
Another road trip this week up to fortress GWS, where literally hundreds of AFL subsidised GWS fans will make life hard for the Pies. GWS were unconvincing against Richmond. They have only one power forward so the loss of Moore may not be so severely felt, although with three of the first picked backs out in Moore, Howe and Langdon, it will start to show. It looks like Moneybags gets a run this week. It also looks like we will lose Pendles but Adams comes back in but it will be tough first up for Adams after such a long break. I’m hesitant to tip another Pies win but it’s looking more positive than couple of weeks ago.
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