Pies get the job done against enemy
COLLINGWOOD have scrapped their way into the top four with a hard-fought 20point win over injury-hit Carlton at the MCG.
The Blues led by a point midway through the third quarter, but couldn’t hold off the Pies, who ground out a 11.13 (79) to 9.5 (59) win in front of 53,706 fans yesterday.
Scott Pendlebury starred in Collingwood’s fifth win in a row with 29 possessions and a goal, with Steele Sidebottom (31 disposals) and Tom Phillips (28) also influential.
In his 299th AFL game, Carlton veteran Kade Simpson (31) was typically polished across half-back.
Patrick Cripps (29 touches and three goals) was a bull at the stoppages and Charlie Curnow (19) pulled down two stunning marks and kicked three goals. It was a brave effort from Carlton a week after they were held goalless in a demoralising first half by Fremantle. The Blues played with two fit players on the bench in the second half after losing Lachie Plowman (knee) and Matthew Kreuzer (ankle) to injury. Those losses came after Levi Casboult suffered a broken finger just before the first bounce.