This was not so much Collingwood fighting back into the game as St Kilda asking them to come back into the game.
The Saints ball use which had been so clear-eyed in the first term became sloppy. The connection with the forwards was awry and Collingwood sweated on it.
The Magpies key players who had not done much in the first term – Josh Daicos, Scott Pendlebury – began to have more impact in the second term.
Jack Higgins had exploited his match up on Jeremy Howe, knowing the defender would fly for everything he chose to do the opposite and hunt for ground balls and he was tremendously effective.
St Kilda v Collingwood. Credit: Getty
Collingwood had begun with the sort of energy and drive you would expect of a side that has been in the headlights of scrutiny all week. Yet, St Kilda absorbed it and appeared for a quarter and a half as the side that figured they had more depth in their game than energy.
They were calm and absorbed Collingwood’s anger. The iffy decisions were going their way and despite not winning hit outs the ball was falling their way and clearances were with them, partly through the clever industry of Marcus Windhager around the pack and Wanganeen-Milera’s driving run from behind.
Darcy Moore is having a patchy night. The subject of criticism during the week he is playing with energy and endeavour and has intercept marked but he has also been a culprit for costly Collingwood turnovers for goals.
Reef McInnes offered Collingwood a bit of bite they have been lacking forward because he threatened at ground level and in the air. He found his goals from dirty balls.
St Kilda v Collingwood.Credit: Getty
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