Five goals from Magpie spearhead Anthony Rocca has helped Collingwood to a tight nine point win over Fremantle at the MCG on Friday night.
Rocca’s heroics, coupled with four goals to live wire Leon Davis, helped the Magpies take the lead midway through the third term to set up a 15.13 (103) to 13.16 (94) victory.
Fremantle was best served up forward by Matthew Pavlich who booted four goals amongst his 25 possessions and 13 marks but had a rare night of inaccuracy with seven behinds. The Fremantle Captain had the better of direct opponent Harry O’Brien throughout the night, as did Chris Tarrant over Simon Prestigiacomo. In his first match against his former team, Tarrant worked hard up the ground to end the match with 27 possessions and 12 marks in another solid performance.
Paul Hasleby worked well with a dominant Aaron Sandilands to end the first term with 14 possessions. His link up role and calm disposal in tight congestion held him in good stead throughout the match, helping him finish with 34 possessions for the match in a tireless performance through the midfield.
Sandilands again stamped himself as one of the competitions premier ruckmen with a resounding 31 hit outs for the match to compliment his 11 possessions and timely goal early in the fourth term.
Roger Hayden was again reliable in defence, while Brett Peake and Scott Thornton showed they were quickly adjusting to life back in the Fremantle side with both players providing solid run when changed off the bench.
Fremantle opened the match with an inspired first term. Pavlich set the tempo in the forward 50 with several contested marks and was assisted by unlikely goal sneak David Mundy who kicked two for the term. The visitors booted three of the opening four goals to help stretch their early lead to 13 points.
Collingwood reduced the deficit to five points at the main break but would finish off the match without key defender Heath Shaw who left the field in the second term after sustaining a thigh cork.
Dale Thomas was moved out of defence and thrown forward to provide another small option. He had the chance on two occasions to give his side the lead heading into the break, but wasted two chances including one directly in front 25m out on the run late in the term.
After kicking two superb second quarter goals on the run, Ryan Crowley found his number in the umpire’s book when he caught Prestigiacomo high on the forward flank.
Collingwood gained the ascendency midway through the third term after opening the quarter with the first three majors. Rocca kicked his third while Dane Swan, who had a quiet first half by his standards, stepped up through the midfield to supply his forwards well.
Trailing by 13 points at the start of the final term, Fremantle rallied through goals to Sandilands and Pavlich to bring the margin back to a goal on two occasions. But when Rocca kicked truly to record his fourth and fifth majors and Fremantle responded with behinds at the other end, the Magpies held on for the win.
COLLINGWOOD: 3.5, 7.7, 12.12, 15.13 (103)
FREMANTLE: 5.3, 8.6, 10.11, 13.16 (94)
GOALS: Collingwood: Rocca 5, Davis 4, Swan 2, T. Cloke, Didak, Johnson, Maxwell
Fremantle: Pavlich 4, Crowley 2, Mundy 2, Bell, J. Carr, Headland, McManus, Sandilands
BEST: Fremantle: Hasleby, Pavlich, Tarrant, Sandilands, J.Carr, McManus,
CHANGES: Campbell (Fremantle) replaced in selected side by Webster
UMPIRES: McBurney, James, Avon
CROWD: 44,480 at the MCG
