The past few weeks haven’t been the kindest for one Steve Johnson of the Greater Western Sydney Giants. Nor have they been easy days for Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley. Both champions of the game have been struggling to find consistency in their current AFL footballing lives. Johnson has all been written off by the pundits with constant replays of him arguing with fellow team mates, not finishing his usual brilliant work and so on. Whilst the coaching days of Nathan Buckley have been tipped to be over very shortly. Both of those narratives were severely challenged during Saturday’s game at the Sydney Showgrounds. In an absolute thriller, Steve Johnson of the GWS Giants with less than 50 seconds remaining, crumbed a ball off a contested pack and kicked the winning goal to defeat a very gallant Collingwood by 3 points. Johnson screamed with delight as his spittle and raw emotion was let loose in wild celebrations. He was firmly embraced by fellow forward in Jeremy Cameron who last week was seen strongly arguing with him. It’s amazing how one kick and a week can make such a difference. For Nathan Buckley it was a cruel ending to a game his side had played so well and almost did enough to win. Buckley despite the loss, as coach, looked a lot safer and deserving of continuing support from the Collingwood faithful.
It was an enthralling contest with both sides committed to the football. Photo: Jodie Newell
The background to the game was one of raw emotion, as one of the AFL greats and former Collingwood premiership player in Lou Richards had passed away during the week. The Magpies had plenty of incentive and motivation to play well.The Giants were coming off an irritating loss against a rising St-Kilda. It was a game the Giants should have won but didn’t due to over-use of the football and constant pressure from the Saints. The Giants needed to respond during this game and they did.
Side by Side. The Collingwood players run through a Lou Richards commemorative banner. Photo: Jodie Newell
It was Collingwood who took a hold of the game in the first quarter. Despite two early goals from Cameron and Josh Kelly, the Giants found themselves on the back foot as the Magpies produced a successful attacking brand of football. If you look at my rough sketch (below) of where the goals were kicked for the Pies, it was just inside the 50 metre arc where the goal scoring damage was done. Jamie Elliot was unbelievably strong against Heath Shaw in being able to out mark the tough defender. Jarryd Blair was also making the best of his opportunities as he booted 2 goals for the term. Throw in two handy snaps at goal from Brodie Grundy and a Peter Daicos like effort from Steele Sidebottom (which saw his shot trickle and thread through the goals from the tightest of boundary angles) and the Collingwood side were up by 26 points at the first change. Collingwood delivered unimpeded supply up forward and it was an interesting tactic chosen by coach Buckley. It was very successful as it forced Heath Shaw out of his usual “sweeper” role and he was forced to defend a one on one contest against the likes of Jamie Elliot, who despite his size, showed enormous marking strength and was a potent target up front.
Rough sketch of the goals scored during 1st quarter. The Pies made inroads at the top of the 50 metre arc.
The second term began well for the Giants as Jeremy Cameron kicked 3 goals in 9 minutes of football and his efforts brought his team back into the game. Steele Sidebottom also booted two goals for Collingwood to answer the Giants challenge and the game was turning into a very entertaining arm wrestle with Collingwood holding a very slender 1 point margin at the major break. Collingwood had lost their first quarter intensity as they only laid 16 tackles for the quarter and this let the Giants back into the game. Josh Kelly was unbelievable around the ground. He seems to be getting better with each game as he racked up 36 possessions for the match. The usual suspects in Dylan Shiel, Tom Scully and Devon Smith all had plenty of the footy. Giants on-baller Lachie Whitfield was simply sensational. Considering that this was his first AFL game for season 2017 and without any reserve football, made it all the more amazing. He showed no signs of lack of match condition or rustiness in the skill department. He spent 91% of the time on the ground and had a disposable efficiency rating of some 88%. remarkable numbers all things considered.
Jeremy Cameron about to slot one of his 6 goals for the match against Collingwood. Photo: Jodie Newell
For Collingwood Brodie Grundy rucked tirelessly winning 41 hit outs against the combined rucks of Shane Mumford and Rory Lobb of the Giants. Collingwood’s Jeremy Howe in defense also stopped many Giants advances and was the Pies best player on the ground gaining some 26 possessions. Former Giant in Taylor Adams also made a welcome return “home” with 30 possessions.
Steele Sidebottom (with ball) had 24 disposals for the game and kicked 4 goals for the Magpies. Photo: Jodie Newell
Both sides fought hard for all quarters of the game. It looked like the Pies might hang on in a tight finish when Ben Reid goaled at the 11 minute mark of the term for a slender 5 point lead. Yet GWS forward Jonathon Patton took the lead from the Pies with an absolute clutch goal in the right hand side pocket of the Sydney city end of the ground. Lining up from the boundary and on a tight angle, Patton slotted home a beautifully taken set shot at goal. GWS were up by a couple of points. Yet two minutes later Brayden Maynard kicked truly and Collingwood regained the lead. In a mad final minutes both teams surged forward with no result. Yet in the final 50 seconds the Giants were somehow able to force the ball forward. Nathan Wilson slammed the ball deep into the forward zone for the Giants where Steve Johnson crumbed the ball in absolute text book fashion to run unimpeded into an open goal and seal the four premiership points. The Giants win was all the more courageous due to the fact that they had two players injured in Aidan Corr and Sam Reid who both had concussions and played no further part in the game. For Collingwood it was their first ever loss against the Giants and were that close to winning again. It was a very gallant effort by the Pies and full kudos to coach Nathan Buckley for coming up with a pretty good game plan.
A Big, Big sound in the GWS Giants sheds after their thrilling 3 point win over Collingwood. Photo: Jodie Newell
Post match, Leon Cameron was obviously delighted with Steve Johnson’s goal, but said it was a week by week proposition for him and for his team to continue to play smart footy and remain committed at working hard at the contest. Cameron was also pleased in how his side covered with the loss of two players during the game via concussion. The injury bad news continued for the GWS when it was revealed gun midfielder in Stephen Coniglio suffered a nasty ankle injury and will miss some 10 weeks of football.
Coach Cameron. Happy to win, but more work needs to be done. Photo: Jodie Newell
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley was clearly disappointed, but whilst admitting there were positives to be drawn from the game, it still meant his team had lost and that they would have to keep on working hard if the wanted to win games of football.
Hard to swallow. Magpies coach Nathan Buckley disappointed at the loss against the GWS Giants. Photo: Jodie Newell
The Greater Western Sydney Giants face another team who lost by less than a kick last week in the Richmond Tigers at the Sydney Showgrounds on Saturday evening. Collingwood return home to Melbourne to face Hawthorn on Saturday afternoon at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. On the AFL ladder, the Giants are currently in second place at 6 wins and 2 losses, whilst Collingwood are 17th with 2 wins and 6 losses.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 2.2 8.5 12.8 15.12 (102)
COLLINGWOOD 6.4 8.6 12.7 15.9 (99)
GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Cameron 6, Patton 2, Lobb 2, Johnson 2, Kelly, Lloyd, Mumford
Collingwood: Elliott 3, Sidebottom 3, Maynard 2, Blair 2, Grundy, Hoskin-Elliott, Crisp, De Goey, Reid
BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Kelly, Cameron, Johnson
Collingwood: Howe, Adams, Elliot
INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: Aidan Corr (concussion), Sam Reid (concussion), Stephen Coniglio (ankle)
Collingwood: –
Reports: No reports
Umpires: Chris Donlon, Ray Chamberlain, Nathan Williamson
VERDICT: The umpires did a reasonable job yet again considering the two games we have seen in the past couple of week. “Razor” Ray Chamberlain is always good value to watch and adjudicate. Again didn’t walk away thinking the umps spoiled the game. Another good effort.
Official crowd: 11,360 at Sydney Showgrounds Homebush (Spotless Stadium)
