Collingwood’s system has never passed a greater test than Saturday night’s 45-point victory over North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.
The Magpies had lost 1032 games of experience – resting Darcy Moore (181 games) and Steele Sidebottom (341) before having to deal with the late withdrawals of Scott Pendlebury (412) and Bobby Hill (98) in the hours before match.
To make matters worse, rugged defender Brayden Maynard was subbed out of the contest during the first quarter because of a persistent plantia fascia complaint.
It was easy to understand why the Magpies appeared to be undermanned in the first half, trailing the lower-ranked Kangaroos by three points at the long break.
But Collingwood then kicked 3.8 in an attacking third quarter and 8.1 in a rampaging final term on the back of some Nick Daicos brilliance and some Jamie Elliott magic.
Understandably, Magpies coach Craig McRae said the win was a testament to their depth.
“We got information this afternoon that Pendles was not well with gastro and just wasn’t going to be able to get up,” he said.
“I won’t go into Bobby’s stuff (Hill withdrew for personal reasons), because that’s really quite personal, and not for me to talk about, but we thank the AFL for their understanding (in allowing the late change).
“This happens one in a thousand. I don’t remember the last time we had a late withdrawal.
“So to be able to think on our feet a little bit, and get things where we needed to be, was another pleasing part of the game because some guys weren’t even playing up until, you know, an hour before the game.”
The Collingwood coach said Oleg Markov answered his SOS phone call while shopping at Bunnings on Saturday afternoon.
“I had a chat to Ollie and said, ‘We might need you mate. We got a few things happening.’ And he goes, ‘Yep, whatever you need coach’,” McRae said.
“It’s great to have guys like him that just want to come in and are all for the team, do their job and play their part.”
Hidden among the carnage of Collingwood’s pre-game selection headaches was the fact that match-winner Elliott, who booted five goals, had troubles of his own during the week.
“Funnily enough, he was sick all week. He didn’t train until Thursday, which is
another credit to him,” McRae said.
North Melbourne sensed an opportunity. In a keepings-off approach, they lead the half-time disposal count 208 to 151, the kick count 145 to 79, and had taken 71 marks to Collingwood’s 27.
Jy Simpkin had the better of Nick Daicos, Tristan Xerri was on top of Darcy Cameron and Caleb Daniel racked up disposals off half-back.
Then we went down a familiar path. The Magpies needed a spark, Daicos lit the match.
He more than doubled his possession count from 10 to 21 in the third term. He finished with 38 for the match after running rampant in the final term.
Elliott lifted the Collingwood forwards with two of his five goals in the third quarter.
Despite the singular heroics, even Kangaroos coach Alastair Clarkson conceded it was all about the system.
“They had a lot of their important players out of their side, which is testament to them as a club in terms of the way they play their system and their game plan,” Clarkson said.
“They’ve got good depth, but the depth is all about playing their roles and knowing their system, and they do that particularly well.
“There’s parts of that where we say to ourselves, ‘Well, irrespective of the personnel that they had, what we’re playing against was Collingwood’s system tonight and we’re good enough to be in the contest until three-quarter-time’.”
When asked about the prospect of being thrown off their game by losing so much experience in the lead up to the game, McRae said it was all about opportunity.
“At some stage in our life we’re going to be without these incredible players, and it gives opportunity to Ed Allan (24 disposals), and opportunities to Wil Parker and Crispy through the midfield and Ned Long (15 score involvements) and these others,” McRae said.
“It’s a pretty impressive rehab group we’ve got at the moment, and most of them will be available next week, which is exciting.”
McRae praised the efforts of defender Billy Frampton to help thwart North Melbourne in the opening half of the game.