A DOMINANT Collingwood enjoyed positives far more than simply a runaway 46-point AFLW win against St Kilda on Saturday afternoon.
The Magpies, who endured their first loss of the season last round, rebounded with purpose to post the 8.11 (59) to 2.1 (13) victory at Victoria Park and stay in contention for top spot on the ladder.
Not only did the Pies post their highest ever score and biggest winning margin, co-captain and key on-baller Bri Davey bounce back to top form with 23 possessions. And they eased experienced defender Ash Brazill through a solid comeback to prepare her for a finals campaign.
Brazill gathered confidence as the contest progressed in her first game since recovering from a serious knee injury more than 12 months ago and she finished with nine touches as part of a rock-steady backline.
Davey, Britt Bonnici (29 disposals) and Jaimee Lambert (21) controlled the midfield battles, Chloe Molloy (two goals) and Aleisha Newman (three) finished off efficiently and Stacey Livingstone led a well-organised backline.
But they were all overshadowed by a brilliant display across half-back by Ruby Schleicher who compiled an impressive 23 possessions. Schleicher complemented her five timely intercept marks with hard tackling and run out of the backline to regularly turn defence into attack.
St Kilda midfielder Georgia Patrikios strived valiantly to match the rampaging Magpies, finishing with 29 touches and six tackles, but she had few teammates who could equal the opposition’s intensity.
Collingwood asserted authority early by applying scoreboard pressure after the lively Newman booted two goals in as many minutes for a flying start. And she added another in the last quarter after failing to score a goal in the first seven rounds.
Monopoly of the ball by the home side was evident by the lopsided uncontested disposal count of 75-28 by halftime.
The Saints tried to exploit the Magpies defence with an ultra-tall set-up. But the Pies pressure on the ball-carrier and control around the packs rarely allowed key targets Caitlin Greiser and Kate Shierlaw to contest one-out with opponents Livingstone and Schleicher in clear space.
(C) AAP 2021
COLLINGWOOD 3.3 4.6 6.6 8.11 (59)
ST KILDA 1.0 1.1 1.1 2.1 (13)
Goals: Collingwood: A Newman 3 C Molloy 2 J Lambert J Lin S Norder. St Kilda: J Matin J Vogt.
Umpires: Andrew Mitchell, Peter Bailes, Sam Bridges.
Official Crowd: 2,228 at Victoria Park.
