Tom Hayes
SALE’S Scott Pendlebury and Yarram’s Josh Dunkley went head-to-head at the Gabba last Thursday night to get the Easter weekend of football underway with the Grand Final rematch.
Surprisingly, both sides – Collingwood and Brisbane – who featured in last year’s Grand Final, went into the Round 3 clash without a win next to their name.
Heading into the game, Brisbane lost its opening two games to Carlton, at the Gabba, and Fremantle at Perth’s Optus Stadium.
On the other side of the coin was Collingwood, who lost its opening three games and was staring down the barrel of an 0-4 start.
The Magpies came into the game with a point to prove, and perhaps more to lose as the reigning premier.
They looked like the premiership-winning Magpies they were from the very beginning, unleashing unrelenting pressure on Brisbane all over the field, not giving them an inch when it mattered.
The first stages of the opening stanza were quite contested, and Brisbane kept themselves in it at stages, but a late flurry at the end of the first quarter saw the Magpies kick away to a four-goal lead.
But, there appeared to be what looked a scoring end, as the Magpies found the next 30 minutes quite difficult.
In fact, so difficult that they didn’t register a single score in the second term. It was the first time under coach Craig McRae that the Magpies went scoreless in a quarter of football.
In the meantime, Brisbane used their home ground to advantage.
The Lions registered nine scoring shots for 4.5 (29) to pinch the lead at halftime, going into the break with their tails wagging.
Once again, another momentum swing found Collingwood’s favour, and the Magpies were putting themselves in the box seat to win.
Collingwood kicked five goals to one in the third term to set up a 20-point buffer going into the final quarter.
Assuming the consistent swings, it was fair to say that Brisbane were still in the game by all means. But the resilience of Collingwood that they displayed throughout 2023 shone large at the Gabba.
In a high-scoring final quarter, both sides kicked 4.2 (26), which evidently didn’t help out the Lions on the scoreboard, as Collingwood grabbed their first win of the season, defeating Brisbane 14.8 (92) to 10.12 (72).
On the winning side was Pendlebury, the smooth operator collected 21 disposals in game number 387, along with five tackles – a stat line many Collingwood players impressed in.
Dunkley was admirable in the Lions’ defeat, amassing 26 touches, taking five marks, laying six tackles and having four clearances.
Brisbane now starts the year with a 0-3 record, and will hope to avoid going 0-4 when they face North Melbourne in Gather Round.
Collingwood should use their form to their advantage in Adelaide next week when they take on Hawthorn.
Pendlebury escaped suspension when he was questioned on an open-hand hit to Brisbane’s Lachie Neale in the third quarter.
The strike was graded as intentional, low impact, body impact, drawing a $3750 fine ($2500 with an early plea), keeping his record clean.
MAFFRA’S Sam Berry was dropped from the Adelaide Crows’ side for their clash with Fremantle at Optus Stadium.
The Crows lost, starting the season without a win after three games.
He may be a chance to come back into the side and add some tackling flair, when Adelaide host Melbourne to begin Gather Round on Thursday, April 4.
