In a highly anticipated Victorian Wheelchair Football League (VWFL) Grand Final rematch for the Championship Division, the Collingwood Wheelchair Magpies fell short against a polished Richmond outfit, but there were plenty of learnings in the hard-fought contest.
The Magpies were missing some key players with Anthony Perito, Martyn Ford and Brad Axford all unavailable for selection, but the team made the most of their opportunities to experiment with rotation.
Last year’s club leading goal scorer Patrick McKay was faced with a new challenge in the centre. Selflessly, McKay battled from start to finish, and he didn’t make it an easy task for one of the league’s best rucks in Teisha Shadwell.
Meanwhile, Defender Arnold Razon was given the opportunity to show off his versatility up forward and proved to be a constant threat to the Tigers defence, finishing the game with two goals.
Captain Ben Jankovski (four goals) also contributed to the team’s competitive spirit, making sure to make the most of every opportunity in the forward line.
Defender Josh Christian faced with arguably the toughest challenge on the court, coming up against Richmond’s tough two forwards.
Christian was relentless, and his communication directing his teammates with options to move the ball forward was outstanding.
Despite missing a raft of tall players, Andrew Paddle’s Championship side were strong in defeat, with their refusal to let the game slip against the reigning premiers without a fight.
The Magpies complete Round 3 sitting second on the VWFL Championship ladder and will be ready to respond in a fortnight’s time against Essendon.
Meanwhile, the reigning premiers of the Victorian Wheelchair Football League's Community Division overcame the Tigers by two points in a thrilling Grand Final rematch.
The Pies were put to the test but came out on top with a gritty performance, sealing the result through a clutch moment from Kaine Sinclair late in the final term.
With the game in the balance, it was Sinclair who stood up when it mattered most.
After working tirelessly all day, he found space in a dangerous position thanks to a sharp pass from crowd-favourite Michael Telban, slotting the sealer in the dying stages of the game.
Defender Alex McKay was rock-solid and provided constant support on the rebound. Her discipline and poise were critical in keeping the Tigers’ attack at bay.
Jack Elliott was rewarded for his hard work with a new role in the centre stoppages, using his body work and vision to free up teammates and create space in the forward line.
The Pies complete Round 3 sitting third on the VWFL Community Division ladder, despite being undefeated so far this season.
They will take plenty of confidence from this win, with strong individual performances and a united team effort pointing to more success ahead.
Find out more on the Collingwood Community website.
VWFL - Championship Division
COLLINGWOOD 9.5 (59)
RICHMOND 17.9 (111)
Richmond def. Collingwood by 52 points.
GOALS:
COLLINGWOOD: Ben Jankovski (4), Arnold Razon (2), Sam Maraldo (2), Will Crooks (1).
RICHMOND: Angelo Mavroudis (8), Chris Kotsanas (7), Shannan Sykes (2).
VWFL - Community Division
COLLINGWOOD 5.9 (39)
RICHMOND 5.7 (37)
Collingwood def. Richmond by 2 points.
GOALS:
COLLINGWOOD: Michael Telban (4), Kaine Sinclair (1).
RICHMOND: Bryant Parsons (2), Corin Murphy (1).
The Victorian Wheelchair Football League (VWFL) provides Victorians with a physical disability the opportunity to play in a competitive and adaptive version of Australian Rules football.
The VWFL is comprised of two divisions: the Championship Division and the Community Division.
