Pagan’s first official game in charge of the Blues (he coached them in a practice game against the ATSIC All-Stars a fortnight ago) was a mixture of the good and the bad as the Blues at times both matched and were outclassed by last year’s beaten grand finalists.
However the final margin of 56 points – 4.16.16 (148) to 0.14.8 (92) – showed just how much work still lies ahead of Pagan as he attempts to revive last year’s wooden spooners from the lowest point in the club’s history.
Despite having the benefit of a month’s extra training than the Magpies plus last week’s game under their belts, the Blues were completely overwhelmed by Collingwood in both the vital opening minutes and the closing minutes of this first round pre-season clash.
But in between there were signs in between that the Blues will not be the easybeats in 2003 that they were last year.
However just 16 minutes into his long-awaited debut as Carlton coach – Pagan was facing his worst nightmare with the Magpies already five goals in front thanks to two successive “nine-pointers” from Jarrod Molloy and Alan Didak.
At that point it looked as though the Blues were going to suffer the kind of hiding that happened on such a regular basis in 2002.
But in stark contrast to most of the team’s insipid efforts last season – this time the Blues fought back showing obvious signs of a new spirit already injected into the club by dual Kangaroos’ premiership coach Pagan.
Indeed when Brendan Fevola, who was one player who struggled badly last year but looked revived under Pagan – booted three successive goals in the third term, the Blues were back within 13 points.
But the class of last year’s grand finalists told in the end as the Magpies took full advantage of the new rule of nine points for goals from outside 50 metres by booting four of them to make their winning margin appear slightly inflated.
However this was still a display of great merit from the Pies considering not only were they well behind the Blues in terms of preparation but were without their best player in Paul Licuria – who is still recovering from a knee injury.
But with ex-Melbourne Brownlow Medalist Shane Woewodin and former Eagle Andrew Williams both making impressive debuts – the Magpies showed they have no intentions of slipping back after last year’s stellar season.
Indeed the Magpies’ forward line looked even more awesome than it did last year with Didak in particular showing he is ready to become a top class AFL goalsneak.
The classy left-footer not only scored a nine pointer in the opening term but added another four goals while Scott Burns – a driving force in midfield all night - kicked two as did Chris Tarrant and Tarkyn Lockyer as the Blues were again exposed for a lack of height and class in defence.
However considering the Blues went into this game without Matthew Allan, Andrew McKay, Corey McKernan, Glen Manton and new recruit Mick Martyn – there is little doubt Carlton will be able to improve considerably on this performance.
And as for Collingwood, on this effort it would be a brave person who would tip against the Magpies again playing a big role in the finals in 2003.
The Magpies’ easy victory over Carlton completes the quarter-final line-up of the Wizard Cup with West Coast taking on Adelaide in Darwin, Melbourne meeting the Roos at Telstra Dome and Brisbane meeting Geelong in Cairns while Collingwood will now take on Hawthorn at the Telstra Dome next Sunday night.
CARLTON: 0.2.3, 0.5.5, 0.11.7, 0.14.8 (92)
COLLINGWOOD: 2.4.1, 2.8.6, 3.10.9, 4.16.16 (148)
Nine-point goals: Carlton: - Collingwood: Didak, Molloy, Lonie, Buckley.
Six-point goals: Carlton: Fevola 4, Camporeale 3, Hulme, Hickmott 2, Whitnall, Lappin, Houlihan. Collingwood: Didak 4, Burns, Lockyer, Tarrant 2, McKee, Davis, Fraser, Williams, Woewodin, McGough.
Best: Carlton: Hulme, Camporeale, McCormick, Fevola, Hickmott. Collingwood: Burns, Buckley, Didak, Lockyer., Clement, Woewodin
Umpires: TBA
Crowd: 20,893
Injuries: Carlton: - Collingwood: -
Reports: -
At Telstra Dome
