Blues Win The Game Pies Couldn't Lose

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday April 14, 2008

Peter Hanlon

Blues 17.9 (111) Magpies 13.10 (88)

AS ESSENDON discovered in the 1990 grand final - and will be reminded of by Collingwood evermore - someone eventually has to lose to the team that just can't win.

That Carlton's longest drought in more than a century has been broken over Collingwood's back is galling enough for the Magpies, but the nature of yesterday's performance did nothing to stem the black and white blood flow. They were never in it. Nine of their number failed to gather 10 touches for the day, a miserable lot that included Anthony Rocca, Leon Davis and Nathan Brown.

Too much fell to too few, and they did too little with it; Dane Swan had 18 kicks, yet only five of them found their target. This was a product of Carlton's near-total control over proceedings, which was never better illustrated than late in the third quarter, with the Magpies within four-goal nuisance territory. Ben Johnson had the ball at half-back for Collingwood, and there the Blues forced him to stay, covering every option at his disposal, knowing he is not blessed with a laser-like leg. The game paused, the seconds ticked away, the pressure valve released, and Johnson finally kicked long to Rocca, who was outnumbered three to one.

For the best part of a year the Blues have been tentative with ball in hand, but yesterday they built attacks with purpose, keeping possession while seeking a path to Brendan Fevola.

And the enigmatic one did not let them down. But as much as the long-silent roared the seven goals that flew sweetly from Fev's right boot, they were just as vocal in appreciation of a defence that performed like a sextet that whistles while it works every weekend, not one that hadn't known a good day at the office since June 9 last year.

Michael Jamison, Jarrad Waite, Bret Thornton and Paul Bower toiled tirelessly for each other. The Blues cleared out their 50 to isolate Fevola and Harry O'Brien, confident their man could win the one-out contests.

A four-goal margin in the third quarter seemed more like a hair's breadth. Two snappy Davis goals hinted that closing might be a problem, but a 14-touch quarter from Chris Judd steadied pulses, and two contrasting pieces of Fevola magic sealed it. Having slipped O'Brien in the evening sun for his sixth, and now with Brown for company, he turned his opponent on the Northern Stand boundary, didn't bother looking for inboard options, and speared a drop punt through off one step. Three minutes later, he put in the second and third efforts that are absent on his dark days, throwing himself into a pack and wrenching the ball free, dishing to Shaun Grigg, who grubbed through the sealer.

In Launceston, Hawthorn beat Adelaide 17.12 (114) to 10.10 (70), to celebrate 100-game milestones for Chance Bateman and Campbell Brown. At Subiaco Oval, Richmond stunned hosts Fremantle with a 20.17 (137) to 10.13 (73) boilover.

ROUND FIVE

FRIDAY

St Kilda v Essendon at Telstra Dome (7.40pm)

SATURDAY

Geelong v Sydney at Skilled Stadium (2.10pm)

Adelaide v Fremantle at AAMI Stadium (3.10pm)

Brisbane v Hawthorn at Gabba (7.10pm)

Collingwood v North Melbourne at MCG (7.10pm)

SUNDAY

Melbourne v Carlton at MCG (1.10pm)

Western Bulldogs v Richmond at Telstra Dome (2.10pm)

West Coast v Port Adelaide at Subiaco (4.40pm)

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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