Collingwood: Tonight's the entrée, get ready for the main course, Collingwood 2011
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Hero
Hard to go past Heath Shaw, considering he won the Michael Tuck medal for best on ground … but I will. Dale Thomas, who has notably grown up in the past 12 months and cut most of the surplus over-antics from his game, showed enormous composure to kick a hugely important goal at the 15-minute mark of the final quarter. The booming set shot from just inside 50m put the Pies nine points clear and gave them the impetus they needed to claim the game.
Goat
Chris Tarrant just couldn't get going for the Pies and was clearly being outclassed by Michael Hurley. By midway through the final term, he was also clearly embarrassed by the towelling from the young Bomber, who is 10 years his junior.
Frustrations boiled over and Tarrant let fly with an errant karate style move to David Zaharakis, who was quickly handed a free kick on the Bombers' attacking arc. Zaharakis passed to Hurley, who kicked the goal that put the Bombers within three points, and Tarrant was left to hang his head.
By numbers
1 - Mark Williams' possession count when he was subbed off for David Hille shortly before half-time.
9 - the number of possessions Leon Davis had in the first quarter. All were disposed of by foot.
41 - how many times James Hird said "really pleased" post game when asked about anything to do with the Bombers' pre-season.
The decision
An interesting passage of play evolved in the third quarter when the Collingwood interchange steward decided to curl up and take a nap.
The Pies were penalised twice in one minute for interchange infringements, which handed the Bombers two 50m penalties - one of which resulted in a goal to Zaharakis. Mick Malthouse later revealed the first infringement - and the one that influenced the six-pointer - was a mistake on the emergency umpire's part, which is likely to be discussed further this week.
Lost in commentary
Channel 7's Dennis Cometti on the Dale Thomas tackle on Brent Stanton in the first quarter that saw the two players roll, tumble and lock together for an extended period: "Like two lobsters during mating season."
The moment they'll replay
The moment the Magpies, captained by Scott Pendlebury in the absence of Nick Maxwell, held another piece of silverware high in the air and streamers of silver foil shot around them and across the pristine Etihad Stadium turf.
The moment they should replay … at the Academy Awards
Thomas, who had so brilliantly showed off his newly acquired maturity all night, put up his hand for an Oscar in the third quarter when he collided with Stewart Crameri on the wing.
Thomas' head planted solidly with Crameri's midriff but the contact wasn't anywhere near worthy of the dramatic head snap and backwards fly the Pie implemented that drew jeers from nearby Essendon supporters. The closest umpire, however, was convinced and handed Thomas the ball. Bravo.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
