Sidebottom sizzles in breakthrough Pie win

COLLINGWOOD has broken through for its first win of the AFL season, the Pies launching a stunning 10-goal blitz to defeat Carlton by 24 points.

The situation looked grim for Nathan Buckley’s men after the rampant Blues kicked the first three goals of last night’s game at the MCG.

But the resurgent Pies reeled off 10 unanswered goals to set up the 16.4 (100) to 11.10 (76) win in front of 68,548 fans.

Steele Sidebottom was outstanding with 35 possessions and three goals, while Josh Thomas led the way in attack with a career-high five goals.

Levi Casboult booted four majors and skipper Marc Murphy gathered 29 disposals for Carlton. The Blues are winless after the first three rounds.

Casboult kicked the Blues’ third goal 14 minutes into the first quarter, but they couldn’t manage another until the big forward added his second five minutes after halftime.

Will Hoskin-Elliott started the ball rolling for the Magpies with back-to-back goals, helping his side to a four-point lead at the first break. That margin blew out to 36 points at halftime, with Brodie Grundy (25 touches and 32 hitouts) important for the Pies.

Casboult fired Carlton back to life with three goals in the third term, but his side still trailed by 32 points at the break. The slim chances of a Blues revival were effectively snuffed out when Sidebottom dribbled through his third from a tight angle early in the last quarter.

Carlton’s cause wasn’t helped when defender Caleb Marchbank left the game with an ankle injury at halftime. DAMIEN Hardwick knows abuse is inevitable from fans — just stay out of his face.

The Richmond coach commented yesterday after an incident a week ago that came under AFL investigation.

Video footage showed Hardwick walking down the Adelaide Oval grandstand steps immediately after their loss to the Crows. A fan leant across and said something, prompting Hardwick to turn around, confront him and point the fan out to security.

“I like my personal space, and I’m happy [for fans] to do what you want and say what you want, but don’t come near me,” Hardwick said. “It’s more me protecting myself from myself, if that makes sense. You pay your money and you can say what you want, but if you encroach on my personal space, I’ll take an issue to that.”