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A final term fadout cost Collingwood dearly in its round 13 VFL match against Frankston on Sunday at Princes Park, with the Magpies going down by seven points after leading by 28 points at three-quarter time.

The Pies led from the early stages of the second term, and appeared set to record their fourth win of the season, but conceded eight goals in the final quarter and lost 16.9 (105) to 15.8 (98).

After the sides traded majors early in the final term, Frankston took hold of the game and converted their 28-point deficit into a 14-point advantage. With a tick over five minutes to play, Chris Egan’s third goal for the day drew his side back to within two straight kicks, but a desperate Dolphins outfit staved off their AFL-affiliated opponents to record their sixth win of the season.

Despite the loss, the Collingwood coaching staff would no doubt be content with their side’s efforts in the second and third quarters, which saw the Pies slam on 10 goals to three, controlling the tempo of the match with relative ease, with a number of their VFL-listed players again filling the breach for their absent AFL teammates.

With John Anthony promoted to the senior side to tackle Sydney the previous evening, it meant that the defence was to be stripped to its bare minimum. Fortunately, Simon Prestigiacomo returned to the side after missing the previous week’s victory over Box Hill, combining well with Kris Pendlebury (14 kicks, nine handballs, seven marks) and Tim Walsh (seven kicks, 11 handballs, three marks) in holding down the key defensive posts.

Danny Stanley was again prolific in the engine room, using the Sherrin 32 times and laying four tackles, using his upper-body strength to make light work of the stoppages and the centre breaks. He was well supported by Sam Iles and Paul Licuria (26 touches apiece), who provided forwards Brent Macaffer and Chris Egan with a number of opportunities in attack, the pair booting three goals apiece, their job made even tougher when Chris Dawes left the field late in the third quarter.

Frankston began the day full of the intent stand-alone sides appear to engender when they face an AFL-affiliated opponent. They made the most of their opportunities, breaking away to an early 14-point lead before the Magpies began to click into gear, the home side beginning to make waves late in the quarter through goals to Egan and Jaxson Barham, trimming the Frankston lead to 13-points at the first change.

The second quarter was one of Collingwood’s best for the season, seven goals to the Dolphins two opening up a handy 17-point buffer at the long break. Stanley opened the term with a wonderful roost from the boundary line on the wrong flank for a right footer, before Tobias Thoolen inked his first goal at VFL level into the record books minutes later, a goal born from a strong tackle inside the Pies attacking 50-metre arc.

Although Frankston, through Tory Dickson and Marcus Marigliani returned fire at the other end, it was Collingwood who had all the answers, two goals to the ever-accurate Macaffer and singles to John McCarthy and Daniel Frost keeping the Dolphins at bay. The run from defence generated by Shannon Cox and Ryan Cook was complimented by the work of ruckman Justin Crow, who often selflessly filled space in the Frankston attack.

Collingwood’s good form was not left in the change rooms at half time, continuing into the third quarter with goals to Pendlebury, Cox and Macaffer countered by only one Frankston major, creating what appeared to be an unassailable 28-point lead with a quarter to play. Cox’s goal, in particular, was one of the highlights of the afternoon, keeping his feet following a marking contest before snapping truly from an acute angle.

Unfortunately, the Woods were left flat footed by Frankston in the final term, early goals sparking the Dolphins – and the game – into life, that intangible yet critical factor, the momentum, running the way of the visitors in the last stanza, eight goals to two gifting Frankston the win, and breathing life into their finals aspirations.

The fact that the Pies appeared powerless to halt the Frankston flush was certainly a disappointment for coach Gavin Brown, who lamented his side’s inability to ice what appeared to be a certain four points.

“(We said to them) that we were really disappointed after we’ve had a couple of really good weeks in the two matches previous, but today we were in that position to win, but with eight goals to two in the last quarter…as I said, the last two weeks have been really good, but to fall back in the hole late was just disappointing,” Brown told collingwoodfc.com.au.

“We moved them around a fair bit, actually, we changed the structure of our forward line, we changed the midfield, we changed a number of positions, match ups and that, but they just wanted it more than us, simple as that.”

Brown was pleased with the efforts of Danny Stanley, and also made note of the efforts of Pendlebury, Macaffer and Thoolen.

“Stanners was probably (our best), he worked really hard, Crowy (Justin Crow) always has a go, there wasn’t much, really, which was pretty disappointing. Penders down back was ok, and he went into the middle but was quiet.

“Stanners was the only one to put his hand up, I reckon (pushing for selection). He worked hard and got a bit of the footy, and was hard at it. Macaffer kicked three goals, so I guess he held his head high, and was probably another one.”

“Toby (Thoolen)’s another one who had a bit of a stint in the ruck again today, so again he was ok both there and up forward, as a bit of a target, so the fact that he played well is another positive. It’s certainly the fact that he has a bit more confidence, and feels that he belongs and knows that he can play good footy at this level.”

The task doesn’t get much easier for the Pies, who are set to clash with the third-placed North Ballarat at Princes Park next Sunday afternoon at 2.00pm, however with competition for a place in the senior line up now hotting up in the race to September, the VFL representatives will want to leave their coaches in no doubt of their claims to a role on the biggest stage of all.

Collingwood: 3.3, 10.4, 13.7, 15.8 (98)
Frankston: 5.4, 7.5, 8.9, 16.9 (105)

Goals – Collingwood: Macaffer 3, Egan 3, Barham, Stanley, Thoolen, McCarthy, Yaman, Frost, Pendlebury, Cox, Licuria.
Frankston: Murray 3, Dickson 3, Berry 3, Morris 2, Winterton, Keeley, Marigliani, Barry, Lourey.

Best – Collingwood: Stanley, Crow, Macaffer, Licuria, Cook, Iles, Pendlebury, Cox.

2008 collingwoodfc.com.au VFL MVP Award
* A total of 10 votes can be allocated each match

Round 13 votes:
2 – Stanley
1 – Crow, Macaffer, Licuria

Progressive
11. Macaffer
9. Iles
8. Crow, Stanley
7. Cox, Nicholls
6. Anthony
5. Licuria
4. Wellingham, Cook, Frost, Dawes
3: Toovey, Bryan, McCarthy, Pendlebury
2: Walsh, Lonie
1: Carmody, Clarke, Holland, Jurrah, Reid, Dyas, Egan