The players anonymously nominated their bests and worsts of the first half of 2013 and the results are worth noting.
Best Win
Collingwood’s narrow six-point victory over the ladder leading Geelong in round eight won this category in a landslide. In fact, only two other games were nominated: the win over old enemy Carlton in round two and the physically taxing triumph against North Melbourne in the first game of the season.
View part one of collingwoodfc.com.au's player poll in which the Magpies nominate the player most likely to be leading the Copeland Trophy after 12 rounds.
Heading into the match under pressure due to their ugly loss against Fremantle seven days prior, the Magpies began well and moved out to a 26-point lead at half time. An eight goal third quarter by Geelong saw them turn 13-points ahead at the final change before the Pies rallied and squeaked over the line by six points.
Collingwood 15.12 (102) def. Geelong 14.12 (96) at the MCG
Goals – Dwyer 3, Krakouer 3, Elliott 3, Pendlebury 2
Disposals – Pendlebury 31, O’Brien 31, Swan 29, Dwyer 27
Worst Loss
All four of Collingwood’s losses this season have left a sour taste in supporters’ mouths (don’t they always?), but none stung the players more than the 27-point loss to the Dockers in Perth in round seven.
It was the overwhelming winner of the ‘worst loss’ category and most likely for the following two reasons:
1. Collingwood conceded a 32-point head start in the first quarter when it gave up 6.4 to its 1.2.
2. After Caolan Mooney capped off a fine half hour by putting Collingwood in front early in the final quarter, the Woods seemingly lost their way as the Dockers steadied and piled on the last five goals to run out 27-point victors.
Fremantle 15.10 (100) def. Collingwood 10.13 (73) at Patersons Stadium
Goals – Dwyer 2, Krakouer 2, Swan 2
Disposals – Sidebottom 33, J.Thomas 28, Swan 27, Dwyer 25, D.Thomas 25
Best Goal
Andrew Krakouer is just as much a favourite with his teammates as he is with the supporters. His crucial banana goal from the forward pocket against Geelong was voted goal of the year by the players. The only other goals to receive multiple votes were Ben Kennedy’s banana against Brisbane, Nathan Brown’s first goal in four years against Hawthorn and Jarrod Witts’ match winner in the VFL against the Northern Blues.
Watch Krakouer’s goal in the video above.
Best Mark
The winner of this category might come as a surprise to some. The 174cm Jarryd Blair’s mark against Essendon on ANZAC Day certainly stuck in the minds of his teammates who voted his mark the side’s best so far this year.
View part two of collingwoodfc.com.au's Player Poll in which the players nominate their most improved teammate of 2013.
Blair rose above Essendon captain Jobe Watson only 30m from goal during the opening quarter of Collingwood’s 46-point loss and was nominated for Mark of the Week.
Watch Blair’s mark now.
Other marks (or almost-marks) to be nominated include “any of Jamie Elliott’s attempted hangers” and “any of Travis Cloke’s 14 marks against Richmond”.
And we wonder which defender filed this answer when asked to choose his favourite mark of 2013 so far:
“Not important. Where’s ‘best spoil’???”
Best VFL Win
All the senior players keep a close watch on the way the club’s standalone VFL team performs each week. Its form has been one of the features of the year to date, winning six of its first 10 games, and its three-point cliff-hanger against the Northern Blues was the best of them according to the players.
It received almost half the votes, ahead of the narrow wins over Geelong and Essendon and the big win over North Ballarat in round one.
Watch Jarrod Witts kick the match winner in the VFL against the Northern Blues at Preston City Oval.
Worst Haircut
This was a tough contest. A total of seven players were nominated for their crazy or unconventional haircuts, but it was wingman Paul Seedsman who stood out.
His very fancy haircut came in at No. 1, just ahead of Caolan Mooney’s bowl cut and Tyson Goldsack’s ponytail (which was actually nominated by Goldsack himself).
Jamie Elliott copped some flak for his ‘One Direction’ style, as did Brodie Grundy, Tim Broomhead and Marley Williams.
Paul Seedsman's haircut was voted Collingwood's worst of 2013, closely followed by Caolan Mooney and Tyson Goldsack.
