Sport

An exhibition of AFL proportions

08/03/2022

AFL in Morwell 2022 — Snags: Jack Ginnivan nails a set shot. photograph liam durkin

LIAM DURKIN

FOOTBALL

By LIAM DURKIN

LOCAL footy fans were treated to AFL action in Morwell last Friday, as Hawthorn and Collingwood came to the Valley for a practice match.

The Hawks and Magpies played a six-quarter game that saw both sides bring a surplus

of players to have a run on the Morwell Recreation Reserve.

There was a strong Gippsland lineage to the day, with a number of Hawthorn and Collingwood players and officials having ties to the area.

Former Morwell Football-Netball Club player Changkuoth Jiath returned to his old club, although he did not take part in the match due to a PCL injury, while Morwell premiership goalsneak Mannon Johnston took to a field he played on many times before, only this time as Collingwood’s runner.

Some other Gippsland connections were seen in the form of Magpies captain and games record holder Scott Pendlebury, who forged part of his football journey playing on the Morwell Recreation Reserve for Gippsland Power – including their premiership in 2005.

It was also a slight homecoming for Hawthorn players Jai Newcombe (Poowong) and Jai Serong (Warragul), as it was for Drouin-raised Clinton Proctor, now senior coach of the Hawks VFL affiliate Box Hill.

Space: Josh Ward moves the ball forward. photograph liam durkin

A healthy crowd came to Morwell for the match, which was put on free of charge, with a gold coin donation appreciated to support the CWA Central Group.

Both teams had no shortage of star players present, with Pendlebury adding to a Collingwood line-up that included Steele Sidebottom and Brodie Grundy.

Hawthorn had Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell, captain Ben McEvoy and highly touted midfielder Jaeger O’Meara all playing.

Notable absences in the black and white were Jordan De Goey, Jordan Roughhead and Jeremy Howe, while the Hawks were without Chad Wingard, Jarman Impey and Jiath.

The game itself was nothing to ride home about, as it became clear relatively early in the piece the purpose of the match was to get players conditioned for the real season due to

begin in a matter of weeks.

Those watching with any knowledge of football could tell the game was glorified match simulation, with players given more space than they usually would when premiership points are at stake, and some experimentation seeing players trialled in a variety of positions.

McEvoy hardly spent any time in the ruck, while opposing skipper Pendlebury played loose across half-back.

Having signalled his desire to coach post-playing days, Pendlebury was often seen directing traffic for players further up the ground.

With the Magpies in a rebuilding phase under new coach Craig McRae, it would not be at all surprising if Pendlebury takes on a similar role to what Luke Hodge did in his final days at the Brisbane Lions playing as a mentor to some of the Collingwood up-and-comers.

Collingwood’s efficiency going inside 50 saw them skip to a 13.2 (80) to 3.8 (26) lead at

half-time.

Pies livewire Jamie Elliott kicked five goals in the first three quarters, and fans caught their first glimpse of prized recruit Nick Daicos.

Spectators also saw Collingwood ruckman Mason Cox make quite the impression, sporting a new pair of sporting goggles for the first time.

Cox has been permitted to wear the goggles due to complications wearing contacts following a variety of eye operations.

On debut: Morwell was the first place Collingwood ruckman Mason Cox wore specially designed spectacles during a match. Cox had been granted permission to wear the glasses, which he reportedly found more comfortable than contacts, following several recent eye surgeries. photograph liam durkin

Although their lead was substantial, the scoreboard served no great purpose as Collingwood put its entire senior team on ice at half-time.

The second half turned into a dull exhibition of VFL players running around in chilly

conditions trying to impress.

By the end of the fourth quarter most of the crowd had dissipated, and by the sixth quarter,

there wasn’t even proper umpires officiating the match.

Just like country footy, no one seemed to pay much attention to the twos, who just like countless reserves players across Gippsland on a Saturday, had the end of their game umpired by club umpires from Hawthorn and Collingwood respectively.

With the scoreboard of no significance at this point, the ‘match’ actually ended in a draw after Hawthorn levelled scores at 141-all with 20 seconds remaining.

While only a handful of people braved the elements to watch the seconds, for all we know the next big name in AFL football might well have been out there.

As they say “you have to start somewhere”.