Richmond v Collingwood: much has changed in a year The Australian
March 30, 2017
Greg Denham
Senior Sports Writer
MelbourneAt the corresponding time last year, the pre-game discussion before Richmond played Collingwood centred on how many goals Travis Cloke needed to kick for the Magpies to open their account in 2016.
Well, the new Bulldog booted just one goal from nine touches after missing two easy set shots, and the Pies still won, albeit by just one point after trailing by 17 deep into time on.
The result was sealed with four seconds left on the clock by Brodie Grundy from close range after he somehow became loose and took possession in a frantic pack.
But the real damage for Collingwood was done by a personal-best six-goal performance from Alex Fasolo, who booted two in time on in the final quarter to rob Richmond of winning their first two rounds of the season for the first time since 2005.
After being oh so close to a confidence-boosting start to the year, that narrow defeat was the start of a six-match losing streak that had the Tigers out of play early as a finals chance.
One year on and the day after Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley pondered how it was possible to limit the brilliance of Richmond star Dustin Martin, his Tigers teammate and key defender David Astbury remembered Fasolo, who will again need to lead the way in the absence of Jamie Elliott.
“We’re going to be up against it this week, as we are all weeks,” Astbury said yesterday.
“Players, particularly like Alex Fasolo, he was in awesome form last week so it’s important we get on top of him early. “They’re a formidable team, particularly in their midfield, so we’re going to be well-challenged, but I think our boys are up to it.”
Fasolo was impressive last week with three goals in a pretty ordinary Collingwood forward line that lacked pace before their gallant 14-point loss to the Western Bulldogs.
The Pies opened the season with a top-heavy forward structure of Jesse White, Mason Cox and Darcy Moore, but of the trio, only White managed to kick a goal. They remained in the contest for a long time due to an outstanding midfield, including multiple goal kickers Scott Pendlebury and Steel Sidebottom.
Cox was last night omitted, with Collingwood recalling smaller runners Tim Broomhead, who has not played since round seven last year, and James Aish, a late withdrawal last week.
Richmond made three changes, including Ben Lennon, Jayden Short and Kane Lambert at the expense of Taylor Hunt, Kamdyn McIntosh and Sam Lloyd.
Astbury hinted that defender-turned-midfielder Nick Vlastuin was versatile enough to run with one of the Pies midfielder stars — Pendlebury, Sidebottom, Taylor Adams or Adam Treloar.
“That’s the beauty of Nick, he’s a well-rounded footballer, he can spend time forward, in the midfield or definitely he’s been effective when used in the back six,” Astbury said. “He’s someone who, if we get in strife back there, we can definitely stick him in the back six and he will always do a job.”
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-v-collingwood-much-has-changed-in-a-year/news-story/ae2b782b9150c78b6836238264276b6a
