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Young Magpies come of age in quest for premiership

Julie Tullberg

by Julie Tullberg

09 Aug 05:45am

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Filed under: Afl, Collingwood, Sport, Video Technology

15 comments

Collingwood’s 22-point win over Geelong in its top-of-the-table blockbuster revealed that the young Magpies have come of age.

After beating Geelong, Collingwood players sing their victory song. Yes, they do have one. Pic: AAP

Like a fine wine, matured with care over time, the red-hot Magpies are playing with greater intensity, using their running brigade to boot a string of goals.

Earlier this year, I said Collingwood couldn’t win the premiership because they lacked goal-scoring power and big marking forwards.

While tall forward Travis Cloke chipped in with two goals against the Cats on Saturday night, it was Dayne Beams (three goals), Sharrod Wellingham (two) and Alan Didak (one) who were running rampant.

Mick Malthouse has only got so much talent (and talls) to work with but he has used the Pies’ running game to their advantage, using the fleet-footed runners to boost their goal-kicking while nullifying the Cats’ gun onballers.

There is no reason why the Pies can’t carry their super form into September’s finals series.

Meanwhile, the Cats would be spitting chips after Shannon Byrnes’ goal was ruled a behind in the third quarter in the MCG blockbuster.

If Byrnes’ kick was ruled a goal, the Cats would have had the breathing space of a two-goal lead.

In a Herald Sun SuperFooty poll, about 82 per cent of readers agree the AFL should consider video technology to stop goal umpiring mistakes.

The AFL needs to jump on board with effective video technology, adopting a slick system to assess questionable scoring decisions.

Video replays need to be trialled the next pre-season cup, so that unnecessary debacles are eliminated in the future.

It works for cricket and tennis. Video replays have been critical for the evolution of modern sport.

There may be a few seconds’ delay for AFL scoring decisions but I think it’s worth it because the hard-working players need a break in play. If it prevents fatigue – with a few seconds recovery – it’s a blessing in disguise.

The Cats could have won on Saturday night. A two-goal buffer is a psychological advantage and the game could have swung in the Cats’ favour.

Copping a bad decision is demoralising. Byrnes was shattered after the goal umpire ruled his goal as a behind.

The AFL needs to keep pace with modern sport, as we enter an era where technology allows greater accuracy over questionable decisions.

To the AFL: be brave and take the plunge. The fans want video replays – so how about trialling it?

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15 comments

Show oldest | newest first

    • Greg H says:

      09:14am | 09/08/10

      Malthouse has finally got his act together - about time! Dane Swan will win the Brownlow.

      Reply

    • Peter says:

      01:11pm | 09/08/10

      @ Greg, and if Collingwood win the flag, it’s already been decided that Malthouse is getting sacked. How a club can make a decision to get rid of a great coach with a great record for somebody who is probably overated and untried is beyond me…

      I wish Collingwood had Buckley as coach this year, at least we wouldn’t have to put up with the arrogant supporters..

      I have already decided i’m taking the week off work if Collingwood win the flag. There are too many Magpies supporters here and i don’t know if i can put up with it…

    • Video 4eva says:

      09:17am | 09/08/10

      The afl will be mad if they leave the scoring to the umpires. Gisgraceful!!!!!!! Hello, video is the only way.

      Reply

    • acker says:

      09:26am | 09/08/10

      They only beat the Dog’s when distrAktermanis was still acting as a leash to our side, next time the Magpie goes near the Dog it will be tortured and eaten.

      Reply

    • Wally is a king says:

      09:39am | 09/08/10

      Who cares about watching seagulls fighting over chips anyway - why not talk about how good the young Broncos are playing!!!!

      Reply

    • Davo from St Kilda says:

      10:51am | 09/08/10

      Who cares about thugby? more than 80,000 people turned up for this game - a crowd the NRL can only dream about. It must be nice going to a game of rugby and having a whole grandstand to yourself…

    • Carn the Cats says:

      09:56am | 09/08/10

      You forgot to mention that the Pies get Colliwobbles come September. Food for thought.

      Reply

    • Shane says:

      10:35am | 09/08/10

      Er, carn the cats - be careful about pointing fingers about September jitters. Geelong lost the 1989, 1992 and 1995 GFs before winning in 2007 & 2009. Oh and they lost in 2008 too. Surely you’re can’t believe Collingwood’s chances will be hurt by events years ago?

    • Shifter says:

      02:14pm | 09/08/10

      You missed ‘94 there as well Shane.

    • Lucas says:

      10:56am | 09/08/10

      Sorry but your previous post - which you admitted to - http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/why-collingwood-cant-win-it/ - shows clearly why you just go with the flow.

      Simply, if you’d watched the matches and make judgments not on the end scoreline but on the game play you would have noticed that in both matches against Geelong this year, a large slab of the game has been dominated by Collingwood, and the margins both times have flattered the Cats.

      It’s easy to make a call on Monday morning, but as a good journalist, you have to be better than this.  It just proved the first article was a knee-jerk reaction designed to generate a response.  Much like this one.  Fact is, any of the current top 4 can win, because they enter the finals series completely even.  No advantage whatsoever.

      I’m a Pies supporter, but I am full of realism built on the fact that it’s September where medals are given out, and where teams truly “come of age” (Essendon 1993, Adelaide 1997-98, Brisbane 2001).

      Reply

    • Julie Tullberg says:

      08:38pm | 09/08/10

      I’d like to make the point that August is often the month where there are many upsets. There were so many upsets on the weekend it was almost impossible tip more than four teams. I think Geelong was down on Saturday night for a number of reasons. You can’t be at your peak all the time. The Cats have proven that. The Cats are a proud team and they want to be there in September but it remains to be seen whether they can be a grand finalist. The Magpies are early favourites for the flag but the finals are a different ball game. My observation is that the Pies have matured beyond expectations, based on their early form. Early predictions are risky because of the many variables influencing a team’s performance. With that in mind,  I said the Pies couldn’t win the flag - in May. Maybe the Pies are peaking now. Time will tell, come September. Stay tuned.

    • Carl Palmer says:

      12:38pm | 09/08/10

      I hate to say it but they are looking the goods. Hopefully they have peaked early and get the big wobbles in September.

      As for video replays, I’m in favor provided it doesn’t interfere with the flow of the game in any way shape or form. The result has to be instantaneous. I’m not for the stupid hiatus that some sports have introduced into their game…. having to wait for a couple of blokes to replay the incident over and over again is just dumb for this game. You’ll end up having goal umps going to the video all of the time which is what other sports currently do. It is awful.

      A quick calculation - we have just completed round 19. Assuming that there are approx 400 scoring shots per round, that would calculate to approx 7500 scoring shots for the season and you want to introduce video for one or two incidents which may or may not have influenced the outcome of a game. Seems like an overreaction to me. Talk about using a sledge hammer to open a nut.

      Would anyone care to calculate the number of incorrect umpiring decisions per game? That may have a bigger impact on a result.

      Reply

    • C1 says:

      01:11pm | 09/08/10

      If they win - Eddie McGuire would be more insufferable than he normally is (if that is possible).

      Reply

    • Lauren says:

      03:36pm | 09/08/10

      Don’t jinx it!!!
      As my dad says, he knows every single crack in the road from the G to Richmond Station like the back of his hand due to walking out on GFs with his head down.

      But, last saturday night was definitely the highlight of the season so far!!!

      Reply

    • Grand Old Flag says:

      08:18pm | 09/08/10

      The season is open. Any top eight team can still win it. Hawthorn will make the eight. Bulldogs might play in the granny. So will Collingwood.

      Reply
 
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