Jordan De Goey also didn’t play, but Roughead said he would train tomorrow. While it appears unlikely he will play in the first rounds, Roughead said that had not been ruled out.
Aside from those injuries, and Mason Cox with a broken finger, Collingwood played close to its strongest team for most of the match.
“We were sort of treating this as almost a full dress rehearsal for our game next week, so making sure that we had the right plans in place for different personnel and getting the minutes into them that we needed to to set ourselves up to really be on the front foot going up to Sydney next week,” he said.
“We’re lucky to have Nick (Daicos who was dominant), but, I mean, we’re equally pleased with seeing Will Parker and Ed Allan come on late in the game and maximise their opportunity.”
Richmond assistant Chris Newman said he was pleased with the pressure and endeavour regardless of the scoreboard.
“I think we had some really positive signs in terms of system. Some of the numbers would indicate that we had enough forward entries. Our transition looks relatively strong. We had around 29 front-half turnovers, which is a good indication of some pressure in there,” Newman said.
He praised the game of young players Sam Banks, Luke Trainor and Harry Armstrong. “Sam Banks was one that that really played a strong role for us at half-back and on the wing. Trainor came onto the ground really late in the game and I thought he really showed something. I think he ended up with around four intercept possessions for a young kid, and showed some real dash and poise with the football.
Sam Banks was praised for his role at half-back.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
“Ross is another one that sort of rolled through the midfield and ended up sort of impacting the game. Who else have I got? Armstrong, although didn’t impact the scoreboard, usually competed really strong.”
What you need to know
Collingwood recruits – Dan Houston, Harry Perryman and Membrey – couldn’t get near the ball last week, but all looked very good in their win over Richmond. The Magpie newbies had the sort of impact they brought them in for.
Membrey booted two goals in the first term, one from a smothered kick forward to him from Perryman, and a third goal was kicked by the hoof of Houston sheep-dogging around Bobby Hill to accept a handball and sink a long goal from outside 50 in the trademark way that will sadden Port fans.
Dan Houston found plenty of the ball.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Houston off half-back with Josh Daicos moving back there gave Collingwood the sort of aggressive adventurous running and intelligent kicking that gave them the potency they had running out of defence in their premiership year. Isaac Quaynor rejoined that daring surge running in a way he had moved away from last year.
Richmond’s take-out is they were more competitive early than the scoreboard said. They have the senior players to help carry the younger players through. Jake Blight took a few really good grabs in defence and looks like he could develop into a senior player but – and we will get sick of saying and hearing this at Richmond this year – he is physically developing and will take time.
Draftee Luke Trainer came on late and moved into the right positions to find enough of the ball in a short time. Rhyan Mansell’s fly for a mark and goal early in the second term had Shai Bolton vibes about it. He is not Bolton, but he might play that role. Tyler Sonsie had a couple of moments.
Richmond were without Tom Lynch and asked Armstrong – taken at pick 23 last year – to have a crack as a key forward and he took one nice grab, but the left footer failed to convert. Jacob Bauer out-marking Darcy Moore in the first quarter offered the Tigers something to ponder with him. Young tall Tom Sims came on in the third quarter and was manned by Darcy Moore for his first taste.
Tim Taranto handballs under pressure.Credit: Getty Images
Key Players
Nick Daicos. Seriously. It’s February. If they gave Brownlow votes he would get 3. He had it 15 times in the first quarter alone and was just devastating with his run through the middle. If any part of Daicos’s game is underrated it’s his leg speed – he is seriously quick.
Dan McStay. Effectively a tantalising but missing piece since he came to the club he is fit and looked good, jumping and taking marks. With Cox out with a finger injury, the Magpies will continue with McStay as second ruck and use Membrey and Brodie Mihocek as talls. It’s not without risk to use McStay, not long off an ACL injury, as a second ruck.
Jacob Hopper was good for Richmond and Jack Ross will get a lot of time on the ball. Jayden Short was good and offered Richmond the same sort of half-back delivery as Houston and Daicos for Collingwood.
Darcy Cameron tussles for position against Harry Armstrong. Credit: Getty Images
EXPERTS VIEW
What did we learn? Everything and nothing. We knew Richmond would struggle and they did. We thought Collingwood would be better and win easily and they did.
Put aside the opposition for a moment, Collingwood’s ball movement looked like it did when it was punishing in 2023 this time with Daicos, Houston, and Quaynor running through the middle.
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The surprise was Scott Pendlebury, who was on the ground virtually the entire match, ditto Sidebottom. Collingwood went with close to their best team and held back Ed Allan until the last quarter when the game was done. But he still had double-figure touches and suggested he might have been given a look earlier.
Richmond held most of their young draftees back until late so there wasn’t a lot of opportunities to judge them. Prestia, Lynch, Balta back in the team will make a significant impact.
WHAT’S NEXT
For Collingwood, it’s GWS in opening round and a much bigger test.
For the Tigers, it’s the Blues at the MCG in round one in what will be a blockbuster crowd if not a contest.
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