Its off to Eithad we go. Or I go.
Wow. where did the last 6 months go? Footy is back already! All that "I''m going to watch the grand final 100 times on DVD over summer, yeah, never did happen. Its been a long hot summer (hardly) and now we are under the cover of etihad stadium...except the roof is actually open, strange. I think this is one of the first AFL games I've been to when the roof is open. The place is chaotic to say the least, and I haven't ventured to this stadium since two faithful nights in early December of last year. The queue for subway almost resembles the U2 general admission line up about 6 hours before the show, okay a slight over exaggeration, I'm bloody starving!
I'm pretty confident the Pies will get up today. But its round 1 and its always a little tricky to predict. Port have now officially a new coach, and 2011 is a whole new year. Pre Match, I'm tipping the Pies by 4-5 goals. Leon Davis is a late scratching (this does not effect my tip) whom has been battling an illness all week, and is replaced in the side by Brent Mcaffer. Last time Davis missed a game, we managed to smah the saints in the first week of October. Maybe that's some sort of weird omen. New Year, new story, lets see how we go!
Port hold the Pies down for the first couple of minutes in the opening term. Before Blair and Jolly convert a couple of goals. Almost as quick as Collingwood jumped to an early lead, Port Adelaide have pegged things back, and the game is again all square. Harry O looks like he's still on summer holidays for the first 20 minutes, before he pounces on a terrible kickin from the Power, and scores a long bomb goal from on the 50, trademark Harry O! Heath Shaw takes a great mark running back with the flight, to which the crowd applauds loudly. Port are holding strong early on though. Its not till late in the term when the pies break away with a decent lead. Dane Swan converts from an on the run goal and the Pies take a 3 goal lead into quarter time. 6.1 aint bad kicking compared with last year!
The first twenty or so minutes of the third term were much like the opening 3-4 minutes of the opening stanza. However this time the Power are able to capitalize. Port Adelaide manage to score 6 goals to 1. The magpies defence was very undisciplined, gave away some silly free kicks and leaked a couple of goals. My mum interrupts me at this point. She offers me some jam doughnuts. I knew she was at the game, but she has come down from her seat on level two, unannounced. We talk a little about the game, how Taz is playing (she's glad he's back, I'm still not sold) I tell her Harry O has his mind back in Brazil on holidays and better bring it to the game against the Kangaroos next week. Arrangements to get home are made, and then unmade. Meanwhile, while all this chatter is going on Port Adelaide are attempting a comeback. Westoff boots truly, he's been accurate all day. All of a sudden 24 minutes into the third term the Power are only 16 points behind. Enter Andrew Krakouer who sells a bit of candy, then kicks a snap shot come drop punt come banana goal that seems to reignite the pies. Dawes converts from directly infront, Beams from on the run, Cloke again with a set shot on about a 45 degree angle. Just as they managed to do in the NAB cup final when challenged, the Pies have steadied, the upset of this very young season as been put on hold. While Harry O is still on vacation, the pies lead 114-72 at three-quarter time.
The final term is played out in more of the style of the second quarter. Collingwood largely dominate possession. and put a big impact onto the scoreboard (more accurate kicking included!) Simon Buckley (ah its good to be saying "Bucks!" again at the footy) takes the cake for goal of the quarter with a big goal from just inside the center square. The game was already lost, but the small amount of traveling Port supporters stay till the bitter end. Pies fans who have basically written off our team as "Duds" for twenty minutes in the third term, are back on the bandwagon (heck even the umpires were getting praise, momentarily.) Big H (Harry O'Brien) has had a pretty average game (if you can't tell) he fumbled alot and I guess it is only round 1, he is not alone over the course of the weekend. Krakouer has had a fantastic cameo appearance is the first official magpie to be subbed off in AFL history. Brent Mcaffer strolls onto the ground and scores a goal, less than a minute after he has been on. I can see the term 'super-sub' being used a lot this season.
FINAL SCORE:
Collingwood 24.11.155
Port Power 12.8.80
A disappointing turn out, considering this match was the only game on in Melbounre for the day. 35,700 or thereabouts. I guess with an interstate team with a small fanbase didn't help much, however with the Pies having 60,000+ members, I would have thought there would have easily been 40,000 turn up.
Votes:
1. Blair - "The little man!" - 3 goals, a lot of good stuff from him.
2. Swan - plenty of touches as always, the guy sitting next to me's supercoach captain, and also 3 goals
3. Dawes - had a great game, 4 goals and a few good marks. Good presence up forward.
Moving forward to next week. I'm never confident against North Melbourne. Worse thing, is a coupe of my mates are coming with me (whom are North fans) and I don't think the Pies have ever won when they have come.
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