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Collingwood’s VFL team has given the club plenty of reason for optimism with a 90-point thumping of the Bendigo Bombers at Princes Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Magpies led from the outset, beginning the match with purpose and conviction, traits which continued from the first siren ‘til the end of play, recording their fourth victory of the season 20.16 (136) to 6.10 (46).

Success proved to be the light at the end of a dismal weekend for the Pies, with the senior side going down to Essendon by 48-points a day prior, though in posting a 15-goal victory, a number of the VFL representatives pressed their claims for a senior berth next week.

Key forward Chris Dawes (19 possessions, 12 marks) was nothing short of superb in attack, leading his opponents to a merry dance, running relentlessly for his marks, as well as booting three goals, and setting up numerous others with clever tap ons and use of his body in a contest. On a day in which conditions did not suit the taller players, Dawes’ abilities stood out like a beacon in the winter gloom.

Danny Stanley (18 kicks, 16 handballs, six tackles) was again prolific in the centre, setting the tone for the afternoon’s demolition his ball-winning and a number of bone-crunching tackles, his fitness far superior to anything the Bombers could muster. He was well supported by Paul Licuria (27 touches, three goals) and Sam Iles (20 kicks, 11 handballs, six tackles), while John McCarthy rotated between the midfield and half forward, where he snagged four majors to go with 22 possessions, with two goals in the first term and two in the last.

The good performances kept on coming, with Jaxson Barham (17 disposals, seven tackles) putting in one of his best four-quarter efforts for the season on a wing, running hard, putting his body over the ball, and acting as a vital link between half back and half forward, carrying the ball through the lines in the slippery conditions.

Experienced duo (Ryan Lonie 24 touches) and Josh Fraser (19 possessions) did not put a foot wrong, ensuring Mick Malthouse and his assistants will be forced to think long and hard about senior selection this week. Lonie spent the majority of his afternoon in the centre and across his customary wing position, booting one major and having a hand in numerous others, while Fraser began his day in attack, before teaching Essendon youngster Tom Bellchambers a thing or two about ruckwork around the ground later in the day.

Collingwood’s number one ruckman appeared to move with more freedom than he did a fortnight prior against North Ballarat, with his coach Gavin Brown positive of his chances of a return to the senior side to tackle Hawthorn on Friday.

“He was good, he played in the ruck today, as opposed to last week when he was solely up forward, and I thought he was pretty good. He was able to do some centre-bounce work which showed that he was right to go.” Brown said post-match.

“I think he’s ready to go, I think he showed that today, it’s now just up to selection.”

Brodie Holland made his long-awaited return from his achilles trouble, and was seemingly unhindered by the tendon which has sidelined him in various patches since mid-2006. He played about half the game, rotating through the midfield and attack, finishing with 20 possessions and two goals.

Ryan Cook (27 possessions), Nigel Carmody (22 touches) and Chris Egan (20 disposals) all found plenty of the ball and made significant contributions on the day.

Bendigo began the match with the opening goal, through Grant Weekes (who booted five of his side’s six for the afternoon), before the Magpies slipped into gear, only inaccurate kicking for goal costing them a lead far greater than the 20-point buffer they posted at quarter time.

McCarthy twice stood his ground with courage in attack and was rewarded with two goals, while Dawes and Fraser also converted full points. They were treated to endless supply from Stanley, Licuria and Iles in the midfield, who used the slippery conditions to their advantage, moving the ball forward relentlessly, as well as applying pressure when the Bombers attempted to shift the Sherrin out of defence.

Collingwood began the second term as they ended the first, their willingness to lock the ball inside fifty and ability to stick to a team-oriented brand of football paving the way for another three goals, with their defence holding Bendigo scoreless for the quarter.

Fraser allowed fellow ruckman Justin Crow the opportunity to chip into the goal scoring action, cleverly weighting a pass into space, with Crow muddying his jumper in taking the diving mark. It mattered little, converting full points, the Pies, through Licuria and Chris Egan (both assisted by Dawes’ presence of mind) heading to the cricketer’s rooms with a well-earned 39-point lead.

The third quarter began brightly, with the Woodsmen piecing together their best 15-minutes of the day, goals to Holland from the boundary line, Brent Macaffer and Luke Casey-Leigh opening up and unassailable 57-point lead. Casey-Leigh’s was by far the best of the afternoon from a team perspective, his goal launched by Tyson Goldsack’s ability to turn defence into attack under fierce pressure, paving the way for a chain of handpasses to fall into the lap of the Sandringham product, who duly goaled.

However, Bendigo staged a mini-rally late in the quarter, with Weeks booting his side’s first two goals since quarter time, his goals bookending five miscued shots at goal, costing Adrian Hickmott’s men valuable momentum.

Their inability to convert was underscored by Holland, who marked and goaled minutes out from the siren from the boundary line, icing a fine return to football, sidelined since the senior side’s round five defeat at the hands of North Melbourne.

With the game now safely in their keeping, the Magpies went on a goal-scoring rampage, piling on nine goals to two to take out a 90-point victory. Macaffer began the avalanche with his second, followed by two each to Licuria, Dawes and McCarthy, with Lonie and Barham chipping in with goals of their own. Lonie, running into his best form for the season, was a key instigator in a number of his team’s attacking forays for the quarter, while Licuria’s much-vaunted fitness shone as others wilted.

Brown was understandably delighted with his side’s ability to piece together four excellent quarters.

“We were very pleased with that, absolutely, that’s what we expect – not 20 goals – but we expect that level of intensity and endeavour, and tackling pressure and intensity at the ball," Brown told collingwoodfc.com.au.

“I think we played the conditions really well, I don’t know whether they suited us, but we played them very well.

"At times, though, I do think that we overdid the handball a little bit, but we do need to get the ball in there, at times, a bit quicker, and a bit more direct, so we could have done that better, but generally speaking, we held our tackles, we were in first for the ball, so it was very good.

“(To kick 20 goals) was fantastic. Dawes was a real shining light, with his attack on the ball, and his marking, and the other stuff such as the defensive side to his game, which was really impressive. Stanley was other one, Johnny McCarthy was very good, there were a few of them there. Cooky was very good, Toovey was pretty good, I thought Macaffer was pretty good so there are probably half a dozen who you could throw a blanket over.

“No doubt there are opportunities there for them, I think a lot of them put their hands up. Ryan Lonie is another who played really well, Stanley, Dawesy, Johnny Mac, Sammy Iles and Toovey are probably the ones, and Josh obviously.”

Meanwhile, Brown was pleased with the return of Holland after his extended layoff, although on a sadder note, key defender Kris Pendlebury will miss the rest of the season with surgery on the same knee he aggravated during the pre-season.

“Brodie was good, in his first game back, he probably had about 60 per cent game time, and that’s what we wanted from him, he showed that he’ll be ok, because it’s his first game for a while.”

“Unfortunately Kris going in on Tuesday to get his knee operated on, which is disappointing, as he’s been fantastic for us."

Collingwood can enjoy the spoils of victory for the fourth time in 2008, before heading down the highway to Skilled Stadium to tackle Geelong on Saturday afternoon, the match to begin at 1.10pm and televised live on ABC TV.

Collingwood: 4.9, 7.12, 11.14, 20.16 (136)
Bendigo Bombers: 2.1, 2.3, 4.8, 6.10 (46)

Goals – Collingwood: McCarthy 4, Dawes 3, Licuria 3, Holland 2, Macaffer 2, Fraser, Lonie, Crow, Barham, Casey-Leigh.
Bendigo Bombers: Weekes 5, Bellchambers.

Best – Collingwood: Dawes, Stanley, McCarthy, Licuria, Lonie, Toovey, Barham, Fraser, Iles, Macaffer, Crow, Cook, Goldsack
Bendigo Bombers: Weekes, Hooker, Skipworth, Lovett, Magin, Hocking.


2008 collingwoodfc.com.au VFL MVP Award
* A total of 10 votes can be allocated each match
Round 15 votes:
3 – Dawes, Stanley
2 – McCarthy, Licuria
1 – Lonie, Toovey, Barham, Fraser

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