Just when Collingwood was threatening to blow a promising start to the season and become irrelevant in 2019, they find a way to beat the reigning premiers on the road.
The Magpies turned around a two-game losing streak and an 18-point deficit against West Coast to win a thriller by one point at Optus Stadium and return to second spot on the ladder.
Eagle Nic Naitanui soars over Brodie Grundy at Optus Stadium.Credit:AAP
Trailing by 16 points at the final change, the Magpies dominated the final term after they had struggled to kick goals in the second and third terms.
But when Ben Crocker kicked a point with seven minutes remaining, it was the irst time the Pies had led since the opening term.
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They held on to win 11.12 (78) to 12.5 (77), keeping West Coast to just one behind from the 11-minute mark of the third term to the final siren.
BRIGHT OPENING
Both teams kicked six goals in the opening quarter, the first coming from the boot of Jack Darling within a minute of the start. Collingwood hadnt even touched the ball.
But the Pies got going and traded blows with the reigning premiers.
Eagles small forward Jarrod Cameron kicked three goals in seven minutes midway through the term.
Magpie Talls Mason Cox and Brody Mihocek kicked two apiece, both from marks.
The lead changed six times during the first term. Darlings second goal, kicked just before the siren, left the Eagles with a two-point lead.
A BIT OF A STRETCH
Both sides were left with three players on the bench in that first quarter because of injuries that will need to covered for several weeks.
The Eagles lost forward Jamie Cripps 20 minutes into the first term with a groin injury. He went straight to the rooms.
Cripps has been a crucial player in attack for the Eagles, kicking 23 goals this season. His injury makes the emergence of Cameron even more important.
Collingwood lost in-form defender Darcy Moore five minutes later with a hamstring injury. It would be a cruel blow for Moore if the injury is serious, as hes been battling similar issues for some time. It would be also a massive blow for the Magpies. They arent blessed with a stable of tall defenders.
While Eagles star Josh Kennedy was kept quiet by Jordan Roughead, Oscar Allen, Darling and Tom Hickey all had their moments in attack.
SLIDING DOORS
Both teams were without seven players from the teams that fought out the 2018 grand final.
The Magpies were short 889 games of experience, with Tyson Goldsack, Travis Varcoe, Jeremy Howe and Taylor Adams making up most of that. They have added only 367 games of experience, with Isaac Quaynor playing just his second game and John Noble making his debut in Perth.
The Eagles were without 775 games of experience from that premiershiRead More – Source
Just when Collingwood was threatening to blow a promising start to the season and become irrelevant in 2019, they find a way to beat the reigning premiers on the road.
The Magpies turned around a two-game losing streak and an 18-point deficit against West Coast to win a thriller by one point at Optus Stadium and return to second spot on the ladder.
Eagle Nic Naitanui soars over Brodie Grundy at Optus Stadium.Credit:AAP
Trailing by 16 points at the final change, the Magpies dominated the final term after they had struggled to kick goals in the second and third terms.
But when Ben Crocker kicked a point with seven minutes remaining, it was the irst time the Pies had led since the opening term.
Advertisement
They held on to win 11.12 (78) to 12.5 (77), keeping West Coast to just one behind from the 11-minute mark of the third term to the final siren.
BRIGHT OPENING
Both teams kicked six goals in the opening quarter, the first coming from the boot of Jack Darling within a minute of the start. Collingwood hadnt even touched the ball.
But the Pies got going and traded blows with the reigning premiers.
Eagles small forward Jarrod Cameron kicked three goals in seven minutes midway through the term.
Magpie Talls Mason Cox and Brody Mihocek kicked two apiece, both from marks.
The lead changed six times during the first term. Darlings second goal, kicked just before the siren, left the Eagles with a two-point lead.
A BIT OF A STRETCH
Both sides were left with three players on the bench in that first quarter because of injuries that will need to covered for several weeks.
The Eagles lost forward Jamie Cripps 20 minutes into the first term with a groin injury. He went straight to the rooms.
Cripps has been a crucial player in attack for the Eagles, kicking 23 goals this season. His injury makes the emergence of Cameron even more important.
Collingwood lost in-form defender Darcy Moore five minutes later with a hamstring injury. It would be a cruel blow for Moore if the injury is serious, as hes been battling similar issues for some time. It would be also a massive blow for the Magpies. They arent blessed with a stable of tall defenders.
While Eagles star Josh Kennedy was kept quiet by Jordan Roughead, Oscar Allen, Darling and Tom Hickey all had their moments in attack.
SLIDING DOORS
Both teams were without seven players from the teams that fought out the 2018 grand final.
The Magpies were short 889 games of experience, with Tyson Goldsack, Travis Varcoe, Jeremy Howe and Taylor Adams making up most of that. They have added only 367 games of experience, with Isaac Quaynor playing just his second game and John Noble making his debut in Perth.
The Eagles were without 775 games of experience from that premiershiRead More – Source
