Bucks means a lot to this club

The scenes in the change rooms after the game reflected the emotion invested into this game from Collingwood.

With 3 of the Pies best players out with injury, in Taylor Adams, Brodie Grundy and Jeremy Howe, Collingwood rallied to take it to one of the best teams in the competition this season.

Leading the way once again, Scott Pendlebury put on a show for his coach. Pendlebury had 31 disposals, including a huge 20 contested possessions and a goal that was the eventual sealer.

An amazing effort from the entire group on Monday evening, what a fantastic way to send off a club champion like Nathan Buckley.

Magical Maynard dominates the Dees

Brayden Maynard was nothing short of fantastic against Melbourne. Lining up on the dangerous Bailey Fritsch, Maynard took it upon himself to bring the effort and intensity required to compete against the competition's elite.

The rebounding defender had an equal career-high 32 disposals to go with 13 marks and 661 meters gained.

Maynard was elite all day, the way he attacked the footy was mesmerising and unquestionably set the standard for his team mates as the Pies looked to put the heat on the Dees. His 9 intercept possessions were significant in preventing Melbourne from getting their hands on the football consistently. It was then his ability to damage the Dees with his disposal efficiency of 90% that helped set the Pies up going forward.

Tall forwards get on top

It’s been a quiet month for the Collingwood tall forwards, but against one of the competition’s best defensive duos in Steven May and Jake Lever, Darcy Cameron and Brody Mihocek spearheaded the Pies to victory.

Mihocek and Cameron have combined for just three goals in the last four matches but together slotted 7 goals on Monday evening.

Darcy Cameron’s marking capabilities up forward were on display at the SCG, kicking a career high 4 goals in what was one of his best games in the black and white. Cameron also provided a great chop out for Max Lynch in the ruck. At 204cm, Cameron’s height was an issue for the Dees as he led the Pies for contested marks with 3 for the match.

Brody Mihocek got off to a slow start on Monday evening, unable to convert his first two shots at goal. However, he worked into the game brilliantly through his effort and competitiveness, his presence always felt in the contest. Mihocek also played a massive role in preventing the likes of May and Lever from intercepting the ball in the air, a crucial aspect to Melbourne’s game plan.

Elliott releasing De Goey into the midfield

A narrative throughout the first half of the season has consistently been about where Jordan De Goey would play for Collingwood, and where he is the most damaging. One of the undervalued implications of Jamie Elliott’s injury in Round 2 was the inability for Elliott to balance the forward structure for the Pies when De Goey was released into the midfield.

Upon Elliott’s return, De Goey has been fantastic around the ground. Against Melbourne, De Goey had an equal career high 32 disposals to go with 6 clearances and crucially, 3 goal assists. Going forward of the contest, De Goey looked fast and destructive. Amassing 10 score involvements, 5 inside 50’s and 2 behinds himself, the dynamic De Goey rose to the occasion and showed that he can match it against the best midfielders in the competition.

Despite Elliott not putting his mark on the game through the scoreboard, his role in the team is significant in the way that it impacts the team’s structure and confidence.

Max Lynch doing it against the best

Back to back weeks of Max Lynch being given the huge task against the competition’s best ruckman. This week, Lynch went up against Max Gawn in what was a fantastic opportunity for Lynch to demonstrate his ability to compete at the highest level.

In just his 3rd AFL game, Lynch continues to impress with his work in the ruck. In fact, Lynch led the game for hit-outs with 23, 3 more than Gawn who finished with 20 for the match. There was a stage early in the 3rd quarter in which Lynch had over double the amount of hit-outs than the Demon’s champion.

As Gawn worked his way into the game late in the second half, Lynch’s lack of AFL experience and match fitness began to show. However, Lynch has been undeniably up to the standard of the senior level in the past two weeks.

Lynch finished with 15 disposals, 3 marks, 2 clearances and 1 goal assist from 83% game time.

With Brodie Grundy set to return after the bye, it begs the question as to whether or not Lynch can find a spot in the AFL side for the rest of the season on the back of his good form so far in 2021.