Collingwoodfc.com.au runs through the numbers and facts of note to arise from the Magpies’ 62-point win over West Coast on Friday night.

Notable:
- Collingwood’s eight goals and three behinds marked its highest ever first quarter score in 43 games against the Eagles since 1987. It narrowly surpassed the Magpies’ 8.1 in the Qualifying Final at VFL Park in 1990.
- Not only was it Collingwood’s greatest ever first quarter against the Eagles, it was its best for the season (ahead of its 5.7 against Geelong in round eight). In fact, it was Collingwood’s best first quarter since it kicked 8.2 against the Cats in round 16 last year. The last time the Magpies managed more than 8.3 in an opening quarter was back in round four, 2011, when they beat Richmond by 71 points.
- The win continues the Pies’ winning run against the Coasters at the MCG. It was Collingwood’s eighth successive win against the Eagles at the home of football, with the run beginning with Brodie Holland’s eight goal performance in round two, 2002. The only time the Eagles have ever beaten the Magpies at the MCG was in round two, 1995, when they were fresh off their 1994 premiership triumph. The match was Nathan Buckley’s 25th for Collingwood and John Worsfold’s 158th for the Eagles. Other notable names to feature for the Magpies included Brett James, Brad Rowe, Shane Kerrison and Nick Hider, while the West Coast line-up comprised Fraser Gehrig, Chris Mainwaring and Guy McKenna.
- A fact that has quietly slipped beneath the cracks is that West Coast’s 5.9 (39) was Collingwood’s equal lowest score against all season (level with Melbourne in round 11). In fact, four of the Magpies’ seven lowest scores against for the season have been registered in the past five weeks – a sure sign that the Collingwood machine is beginning to fire on all cylinders.
- It’s high time that Josh Thomas received his dues. The 21-year-old banana bender had to wait patiently for his injured feet to heel during his first three years at the club but it has proven to be worth the wait for both player and club. In his 17th match, Thomas feasted on 35 possessions (19 kicks, 16 handballs), of which seven took the ball inside 50. He also won a career-high 27 uncontested possessions and notched four clearances (one behind Scott Pendlebury who led the way with five). Thomas’ 35 possessions easily outstripped his previous career-best of 28 against Fremantle in round seven. Importantly, he hit the scoreboard for the third week running after a four-week dry spell. Having featured in every match since round 10 and with a new two-year deal in his back pocket, it now appears that Thomas is a fixture in Collingwood’s best 22.

Cast your vote in this week’s Magpie Army Player of the Year Award now.


Player K H D M HO FF FA T G B
10. Scott Pendlebury1819375020500
24. Josh Thomas1916358002312
36. Dane Swan1618347000121
8. Harry O'Brien1317303000301
40. Paul Seedsman1614306010510
46. Marley Williams198277000400
39. Heath Shaw1313267011400
22. Steele Sidebottom169259000300
27. Ben Kennedy127193000111
14. Luke Ball108182012300
11. Jarryd Blair215171011500
6. Tyson Goldsack98175002200
23. Lachlan Keeffe79167011100
32. Travis Cloke1331610022031
4. Alan Didak87155010111
20. Ben Reid96153020041
21. Quinten Lynch78155400220
3. Brent Macaffer77144010600
5. Nick Maxwell77144110700
41. Sam Dwyer66125010300
16. Nathan Brown56117002300
35. Brodie Grundy561132302302

Key
K: Kicks, H: Handballs, D: Disposals, M: Marks, HO: Hitouts, FF: Free Kicks For, FA: Free Kicks Against, T: Tackles, G: Goals, B: Behinds.