Defensive pressure all important
During the week, with their premiership defence on the line, everything about Collingwood had been questioned, including their hardness. They responded by making defensive pressure the theme leading into this grand final re-match against the Lions, and it saved them. They weren’t in control for long periods of this game, and still made plenty of mistakes. But they were tougher, more desperate, and when the game was there to be won, once again they were better in the big moments. No one exemplified that more than Jamie Elliott, whose four goals, including two clutch last-quarter efforts, were complemented by a phenomenal workrate.
The Lions have big problems
Last week, it was the Magpies who were under the gun with three straight losses imperilling their premiership defence. Now, the heat comes on last year’s runners-up. The Lions have big problems. Losing their most creative ball user, Keidean Coleman, for the year was a shattering blow in round one; losing Tom Doedee to another ACL injury during the week – ahead of what was to be his first game for the club – was shattering. With Conor McKenna also nursing a hamstring injury, the Lions’ ball movement from halfback isn’t anything like the lethal weapon it was in 2023. Two losses at the Gabba, where they didn’t drop a single game last year, hurts even more.
Pendlebury’s rare mistake?
Scott Pendlebury is the epitome of a ball player – he’s never been suspended in his entire 386-game career – and for him to hit anyone, at any time off the ball is near unthinkable. So who knows what he was thinking when he gave Lachie Neale an old-style “tummy tap” behind play late in the third quarter? It was done with an open hand to the solar plexus, and while it’s unlikely to cross the impact threshold to warrant a week on the sidelines, it was certainly out of character and will raise eyebrows.