Collingwood has reigned supreme in their King’s Birthday clash against Melbourne, a team fiercely vying to stay within striking distance of the top eight.
The 14.5 (89) to 6.15 (51) thrashing saw the Pies hold the lead from beginning to end, bouncing back to form off a three game slide, as an ever-growing injury list exacerbates their struggle to rebound from an 0-3 start to the season.
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Meanwhile, Melbourne has faltered, losing three of their last four games, including a dismal performance against Fremantle.
The tension reached a peak on the stroke of quarter-time when Christian Petracca took a heavy knock to the ribs from a flying Darcy Moore.
Petracca, clutching his side in agony, was escorted to the rooms at the break, with lingering doubts about his ability to continue. He was eventually taken to hospital in an ambulance.
“You can’t help but feel this is their season walking off (Petracca) of the ground here; he’s the reason they score, he’s the reason their forward 50 corrects,” David King said at the first break.
“The domino affect; the player that replaces him in the midfield or up forward is nowhere near that level … it’s pretty much Max Gawn or bust.”
The match began with Will Hoskin-Elliott kicking the opening goal inside the first minute, following a brilliant fend-off by Bobby Hill on Melbourne’s Kysaiah Pickett.
Finlay Macrae then doubled Collingwood’s lead, making a strong start with five disposals in the first ten minutes.
Melbourne’s captain Max Gawn and Pickett both hit the post in the first half of the opening term. The Demons continued to squander opportunities, but Nathan Kreuger marked his return to the scoreboard with his first goal since 2022, set up by a stellar mark from Hoskin-Elliott earlier in the play.
Fans were vocal at the MCG this afternoon, with Collingwood defender Brayden Maynard copping heat from Demons fans every time he got near the ball.
The last time the two sides clashed, Maynard was involved in a massive blow with Angus Brayshaw that eventually ended his footy career.“I’ve copped it a little bit, especially when I get the ball in hand,” Maynard said.
“I think we all do (feed off it) don’t we? We love when the fans get involved. It’s all a part of the game. If the fans don’t get involved, what’s the game?”
Fox Footy’s Leigh Montagna said the loss, coupled with the injury cloud Petracca is now under, was the last thing Melbourne needs after a decent start to the season.
“Melbourne has lost their edge. There’s certainly something missing with Melbourne at the moment,” he said.
Source Agencies
