The Pies scorched the turf through four shortened quarters of an intra-club match at Gosch’s Paddock on Friday morning, the mercury tipping 40 degrees as rotations ran at all-time highs and club medical staff kept wet towels and ice vests at the ready.
Almost all the Magpies’ list made an appearance in front of the healthy crowd who braved Melbourne’s heatwave.
Only the recovering Paul Medhurst (foot), Anthony Rocca (ankle), Sean Rusling (shoulder) and Kevin Dyas (hamstring) were unable to play due to injury, while Alan Didak was attending a wedding interstate.
The two teams, one wearing red jumpers and the others the traditional club strip, were coached by assistants Mark Neeld and Brad Scott, while senior coach Mick Malthouse kept an eagle eye on proceedings from the boundary line.
As was the case seven days ago, there was a lot to like from the Pies’ young list.
“We were [happy with the standard],” Neeld said after the hit-out, which went for well over an hour.
“I suppose today confirms some of our beliefs, that we think that we drafted pretty well probably over the last two years.
“We thought [Jaryd] Blair, [John] Bennell, [Dayne] Beams, [Steele] Sidebottom, these types of guys played really well.
“That confirmed our theory that going into the NAB Cup we’re probably going to have a mixture of mature players and young players.
“We’ve now played three scratch matches, so we’ve now got a fair idea of who’s in good nick and who we think can run out a game in the heat.”
The match got underway in temperatures around 36 degrees and, before the day started, the Pies were considering pulling the pin after three quarters should players not be coping with the extreme conditions.
Amazingly, Marty Clarke played the first half with a long-sleeve black jumper under his red vest – be it to ward off sunburn or really test his fitness, only the Irishman knows.
But he dispensed with it after the main break.
Despite the nearby iconic Nylex timeclock reading 40 degrees as players walked to the three-quarter time huddles, Collingwood forged on for a fourth term.
“We’ve got an extensive sports science department; that’s their area,” Neeld said of playing in the heat.
“The sports science boys gave it a big tick so we were right to go.”
Neeld said he was also buoyed by the contributions from Jack Anthony, Nathan Brown, Ryan Cook and former Kangaroo Leigh Brown.
After playing across half-forward last week, Brown was switched to a defensive role this week and enjoyed a good duel with Chris Dawes.
Travis Cloke also moved well in attack, booting four goals and showing no signs of the concussion suffered from his New Year’s Eve attack.
Neeld said Didak would definitely return for the NAB Cup clash against the Eagles, and that Rusling was also a chance should he train well this week.
There is also likely to be a lot of new faces in the Magpie outfit.
“The kids that get a game will deserve it based on their training and their performances in the trial games that we’ve had,” he said.
For each of the Pies’ four NAB series matches ahead of the home and away season, one of the Magpies’ assistants will take the reins of the senior side.
Neeld gets his chance in the Pies’ NAB Cup opener against the Eagles.
“I can’t wait to coach over in Perth,” he said.
“Mick won’t be in the box, he’ll be away but he won’t be too far away … if he’s got any advice I’m sure he’ll give it to me!”
