Magpie fans must have shuddered at the opening bounce when they saw Isaac Quaynor lining up on star Cat Jeremy Cameron.
Surely this was a mismatch that would cost them dearly? After all, Quaynor was giving away 16cm in height and Cameron is a goalkicking machine.
Jamie Elliott blows a kiss to the Magpies fans after his first goal.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
The scoring opened accordingly, with the Cats banging on three quick goals in the opening five minutes off the back of centre-square dominance. But it was Shannon Neale, with two, and Shaun Mannagh who nailed the majors for Geelong.
Surprisingly, Cameron did not have a disposal across the opening term.
From the early onslaught, the Magpies were able to clamp down at the centre square, ramp up the pressure to force Geelong into turnovers and then push the ball forward so quickly on the rebound that their small forwards were able to catch out the Cats’ defence.
Joe Richards, Patrick Lipinski and Will Hoskin-Elliott were able to capitalise to kick goals for Collingwood.
And then comeback kid Jamie Elliott lifted the Magpies crowd with one of the goals of the year, slotting a beautiful major from the boundary line to put the Pies ahead at the first break.
It remains to be seen whether Cameron can start using his height to any advantage.
Source Agencies
