Watch Scott Pendlebury discuss the win at the Westpac Centre after the game
Faced with an 11-point deficit and five minutes remaining on the clock on Saturday afternoon at the MCG, a resilient Collingwood side maintained its focus and resolve against Melbourne to eventually walk away with the important four points.
In 2009 a younger and less experienced Magpie line-up were handed two close losses early in the season (four-point loss to Adelaide in round one and five-point loss to Essendon in round five), which could (or should) have ended in Collingwood’s favour.
Those types of losses coupled with a fourth-straight finals campaign and another pre-season adds a wealth of experience to the next wave of Magpie stars including Dayne Beams (27 possessions on Saturday), Sharrod Wellingham (24 possessions) and Steele Sidebottom (game-saving spoil).
.jpg){kind=small}
Watch the team sing the song after the one-point win
Vice-captain Scott Pendlebury attributed the Pies’ ability to keep their focus on the win to a higher level of maturity.
“Late in the game when we were down by 11 points we could have accepted it but we didn’t and we charged ahead to get the four points,” Pendlebury told CTV at the Westpac Centre after the win.
“It was a hard fought win. A sign of maturity from the club.
“Ideally we wouldn’t want to be in that position again. We just made too many mistakes with our structure. To get the four points all the boys were wrapped.”
Vote for the BOG in the win
After a pedestrian round one performance by Pendlebury’s standards, the 21-year-old was dominant in the midfield against the Demons with 23 possessions (nine contested), nine tackles (career-high) and used the ball with 78% efficiency.
“It’s always good to get involved. I was bit disappointed last week with my game. I made a focus on hitting some bodies and getting a few tackles. The little things to get into the game.”
To continue its winning streak, Collingwood must now take on St Kilda, a side which smashed North Melbourne by 104-points on Sunday to climb to the top of the league ladder.
“It’s going to be an exciting contest. At the start of the year if they said you would be 2-0 and playing St Kilda next week we would take that.”
