Notion of ‘Side by Side’ lost on some Magpie’s supporters

Following an interview with Melbourne radio station 3AW after last weekend’s embarrassing capitulation to the Tigers, Collingwood Captain Scott Pendlebury was subjected to some venomous and vitriolic attacks on social media.

This tasteless vitriol was also repeated ad nauseam in the comments sections of various media websites who published either match reports, or articles on the fallout of the interview itself.

Although one expects this kind of inane commentary from supporters of other clubs, amazingly (or perhaps not), the majority came from people who supposedly support the Magpies.

Calls for Pendlebury to be sacked, not just as Captain, but from the side altogether. Others questioned his commitment, and some quite special individuals, his ability to even play the game.

Of course many of these requests and statements of never a truer fact, were filled with all manner of descriptive language unfit for general publication, emphasising the importance of the writer’s message.

So what did the Collingwood Skipper do to deserve such a reaction?

He admitted to a radio station that he had never played in a game before with such little meaning, as the Magpies were no longer any chance of making finals.

What. How dare he! Collingwood had just been smashed by the Tigers, of all teams. As Captain, Pendlebury needs to be setting the right example. Why, he should be so upset by such a loss he should be punching holes through dressing room walls while weeping uncontrollably.

I mean who does he think he is? Just because he is a five time All Australian who happens to have won three club best and fairest awards, three runners up and a third, as well as being a Norm Smith Medallist in a premiership year and having played over 200 games. That does not give him the right to be truthful.

Collingwood Captain Scott Pendlebury

Yes that’s it, sack him, or if not that at least strip him of the captaincy. I would suggest whoever the new coach is going to be – because Nathan Buckley certainly won’t be there next year – can select a new skipper.

That’s right folks, Bucks is gonskies. At least according to those in the know. Bloke can’t coach, and will never be involved in a premiership. Fact is, these intellectual giants state, is that Nathan Buckley has pretty much single handedly decimated the Collingwood Football Club.

All those premiership stars gone, and look what Collingwood have got to show for it. Taylor Adams, Jack Crisp, Brodie Grundy, Tom Langdon and Marley Williams. What a bunch of no hopers.

Makes no difference they were all selected in the 2015 AFL Players Association’s 22AFL22 squad, or that the Magpies have the second most representatives in the side behind GWS, they’re still hopeless.

That also goes for Alex Fasolo, Jarryd Blair, Jamie Elliott and a host of others.

Although luckily for the four top ten draft picks selected over the last two years in Darcy Moore, Jordan De Goey, Matt Scharenberg and Nathan Freeman, they haven’t played enough senior games yet to gauge whether they should be sacked or not. Although there have been quiet rumblings about one or two of them.

It goes on and on, and does so every time the Magpies have a big loss, or heaven forbid a few honourable ones followed by a form slump.

It’s no wonder Collingwood supporters are so reviled by those of other clubs. Fact is we deserve it.

Yes that is correct. I am one myself, I’m sometimes sorry to say, and have been for a very long time.

Not sorry that I support the Magpies, but sorry that such a vocal and ignorant minority tarnish the rest of us with their tainted brush.

Sorry that I have to cringe looking at ‘my fellow supporters’ almost falling over the fence from the weight of the froth flying out of their toothless mouths while they wildly gesticulate and excessively abuse any Tiger’s player within ranting range.

Sorry that Dustin Martin has to pay a $2000 fine, when instead he and his team mates should be commended for showing such restraint.

Sorry that when someone asks me who I support I feel a caveat of, ‘but don’t hold that against me’, is in order.

Sorry that our coach and our captain have to put up with this sort of crap from our own so called supporters – and particularly sorry that I even feel the need to write this article.

I realise that there are supporters like these at all clubs, however it seems that Collingwood has quite a few more than any other.

Even James Hird, who was coach of a club involved in one of the biggest controversies in living memory seemingly had more support from Bomber fans than Nathan Buckley has had from sections of the Magpie Army. And I dare say Collingwood are in a far healthier position than that of the Bombers.

I do not expect every Magpie supporter to agree with every decision or move the club makes. I also have no problem with it being questioned on social media or through other channels. Nor do I think they should not be able to boo opposition players – as long as it is done with even a minimum of decorum.

Unlike the obviously socially challenged Used Tampon Tea Bag who tweeted on the Magpies Twitter page that Ben Sinclair ought to have been pack raped by the other players after Saturday’s game.

Collingwood’s motto is ‘Side by Side’. However it is unfortunate that the notion appears to have been lost on many of their supporters.

But given the lack of rational thought that went into some comments on social media over the weekend it is hardly surprising that the concept goes over these people’s heads.

Suns host Pies in must win for both clubs

Gold Coast host Collingwood at Metricon Stadium on Saturday afternoon in a game which will go a long way in determining where the two sides sit in the premiership pecking order.

The Suns are currently sitting in eighth place, only one game clear of an emerging Adelaide. The Crows, who have a healthier percentage than Gold Coast, play GWS in a game they are expected to win, so a loss to the Pies could see the Suns drop out of the top eight.

For Collingwood, this is a must win if they hope to keep their slim chances of a final four spot alive. Although only sitting a game clear of the Suns, the Magpies are only one game adrift of fourth spot, so while a win would see them stay in touch with the top four, a loss could see them battling to stay in the eight.

Gold Coast come into this game having lost four of their last five, although that one win was against Geelong, while Collingwood have lost two of their last three, only just managing to get over an out of sorts Carlton last week. Indeed the Magpies have not been anywhere near their best since round 11, when they crushed St Kilda by 86 points.

In the corresponding game last year, a Gary Ablett inspired Suns defeated Collingwood for what was at the time, their biggest win. Ablett has averaged an amazing 47 possessions against the Magpies in the last three years, and Coach Nathan Buckley says they cannot allow that to continue.

“Gary Ablett Jr. is the best player in the competition,” Buckley said this week.

“I dare say if you can affect some of his possessions you’re going to be better off. He will be our number one target.”

Although Buckley is likely to send tagger Brent Macaffer to him this time around, he said that while Ablett may be their primary target, he was not their only concern.

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley is likely to send tagger Brent Macaffer to Gary Ablett this week

“He is one that we’ll consider, but he is just one of their mix who has troubled a lot of sides and will continue to trouble a lot of sides, so it is not going to be just that match-up that is going to be important for us.

“It’s how we handle our team footy versus the Suns’ team football and we need to do that better than they do to get the result.”

Gold Coach Guy McKenna meanwhile has urged his defenders to get in the face of Collingwood spearhead Travis Cloke at every opportunity. Cloke has admitted that dropped marks and missed goals early on in games can affect his confidence, and McKenna is hoping that a verbal barrage by his players, as well as a hostile crowd will put the power forward off his game.

“He reminds me a bit of Anthony Rocca”, McKenna said on Friday.

“He was almost the spiritual leader of Collingwood, and when Anthony Rocca played well, Collingwood played well”,

“If I was playing, I’d like to think I could (get in his head). Cloke’s got a new routine with his goal kicking which we’ll certainly remind him about — hoping it’s going well for him, when he’s having his first shot.”

Guy McKenna has told his players to get under Tavis Cloke’s skin in an attempt to put him off his game

Collingwood will be hoping the Sun’s tactics have the opposite effect, as they will be relying heavily on Cloke, given Jamie Elliot’s (Collingwood’s leading goal kicker), absence from the side this week with an hamstring injury.

Very little separates the two sides, either statistically or in ladder positions, so the result could hinge on the individual brilliance of one or two players on the day, and Cloke is certainly capable of being that individual.

Gold Coast (along with Port Adelaide), have been the surprise packets of the season, and their record at Metricon Stadium is becoming quite formidable. They have won five out of seven games there this season, including upset victories over both Hawthorn and Geelong.

The Magpies have travelled interstate twice this year, beating the Swans in Sydney, and losing to the Crows in Adelaide, while their record at Metricon stands at one win and one loss from two games.

The Suns have included Sean Lemmens and Aaron Hall in their side at the expense of Matt Shaw and Luke Russell, who have both been omitted. Collingwood welcome back Marley Williams, Brodie Grundy and Tom Langdon, but have lost Jamie Elliott and Luke Ball to injury, while Jessie White has been relegated to the VFL.

While Collingwood come into this match with a long injury list, the Suns are virtually at full strength. Given that, and their record at Metricon, as well as their victory over the Magpies in the corresponding game last year, they will go into the game confident of repeating last years’ result.

The Magpies on the other hand, will have been stung by the loss to the Suns last year, and will be keen to make amends. They will also be aware that if they can get over Gold Coast, they will have a raft of players coming back from injury over the next few weeks, and can use this game as a platform to make a charge for the top four over the latter part of the season.

While the game is of obvious import to the two clubs and their supporters, neutral footy fans can just enjoy watching the two best players in the competition, in Gary Ablett Jr and Scott Pendlebury run around on the same ground together.

Collingwood by 15