Travis Cloke's five-goal haul inspired Collingwood to an 86-point thrashing of a helpless St Kilda on Friday night.
Alex Fasolo celebrates one of his four goals. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia
SMASHED by Fremantle in Round 1, there was a worry that by the time Collingwood next played at Etihad Stadium — against St Kilda in Round 11 — its season would be over.
Dale Thomas, Heath Shaw, Darren Jolly and Alan Didak were gone and the new-look team looked fundamentally flawed against Ross Lyon's Docker machine.
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Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley admits Steele Sidebottom faces a nervous wait after he was reported for a high hit on St Kidla's Maverick Weller which left the Saints defender concussed.
Sydney, Geelong, Richmond, North Melbourne, Essendon and Carlton — all from last year's top 10 — lay in wait between rounds two and seven and it was hard to see how Nathan Buckley's men would be favoured to win any of those games.
Then, having emerged from its first nine outings with a 6-3 record, a different worry: that Collingwood's comparatively easy run of St Kilda, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs from rounds 11 to 13 could lull its players in to a false sense of security.
Dayne Beams finished with 33 disposals. Source: News Corp Australia
The unavailability of Nathan Brown (shoulder) and Luke Ball (calf) and late withdrawals of Dane Swan (heel) and Brodie Grundy (back) did little to ease concerns that the Pies could be a little vulnerable last night.
The sight of Nick Maxwell trudging off with a right calf injury inside the first 15 minutes didn't help either, nor did Steele Sidebottom's nonsensical jump in to Maverick Weller which resulted in what could be the quickest-ever report in AFL history — seven seconds.
Despite close attention from Jack Frost, Nick Riewoldt kicked three goals. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia
It was an unattractive start by any measure.
The Pies had seven clearances to two and 15 inside 50s to five, yet when Farren Ray snapped a goal in the 20th minute the plucky rather than classy Saints led by 11 points.
But then the unbackable favourites finally started to get some reward.
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley addresses the press following his side's dominant performance against St Kilda.
Jesse White marked on the lead from a Sidebottom pass and kicked truly from 55m.
Within seven minutes Collingwood had three more through small forwards Josh Thomas (twice), Jarryd Blair and Alex Fasolo (twice) and suddenly the scoreboard was starting to reflect its overall dominance.
Cloke took 12 marks. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia
After scoring one goal from their first 15 inside 50s the Magpies kicked six straight from their next seven going in to quarter time.
Then, having added another two with the first two entries after the break — this time to keys Travis Cloke and White — the margin was 36 points and the game as good as over.
St Kilda coach Alan Richardson addresses the press following his side's 54-140 loss to Collingwood.
As strange as it sounds, Collingwood is flying under the radar in the race for the premiership.
Port Adelaide and Gold Coast are the fairytale stories, Hawthorn has its injuries, Sydney has Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett, Fremantle is intent on redemption and Geelong can never be counted out.
Importantly for Buckley, it is his lesser lights — many of whom did not play in the 2013 finals loss to Port — who continue to shine.
Scott Pendlebury finished with a classy 29 disposals. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia
Fasolo — wasn't he meant to be a defender? — kicked four goals in another impressive forward role.
White, with two, played the perfect foil for a vastly-improved Cloke who kicked a season-high five majors.
Tom Langdon added another 22 possessions to his standout debut season, Paul Seedsman,
Paul Seedsman was a late inclusion for Dane Swan. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia
Marley Williams and Clinton Young provided real dash from half back, Jack Frost didn't shirk his duties when confronted with Saints champ Nick Riewoldt, Taylor Adams was busy with 18 midfield touches and Josh Thomas (29 possessions and three goals) showed he could do the biz both in the middle and forward.
Maxwell is facing weeks on the sidelines with his calf injury, likewise Sidebottom who, considering Weller was subbed out of the game with concussion, will probably fall foul of the Match Review Panel given his tucked in elbow collected the Saint on the jaw.
Those two worries aside, Buckley would have left Docklands in a far better frame of mind than he did last time.
Four-quarter Pies thump helpless Saints
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Four-quarter Pies thump helpless Saints
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