Pies prevail over Roosters.

Collingwood edged out North Ballarat by twelve points in a close affair at Victoria Park in round one of the Peter Jackson VFL season. The Pies were wasteful in front of goal and appeared in control for most of the day seeing off a late charge from the Roosters in the last quarter winning 11.19.85 to 11.7.73.

Played in warm conditions the margin hovered around the two to three goal mark all game, however, had Collingwood kicked straight early, the match could well have been over by half-time. 

The Roosters struggled for marking options on the forward line. Skipper Michael Searl tried his best to provide a target while former Richmond small forward, Robin Nahas, was lively with two first-half goals.

 Collingwood were strengthened by several AFL senior players including Alex Fasolo, who started as a running half-back, and Marty Clarke, both of whom provided dash out of defence. They received able assistance from Nick Riddle and Lachie Keeffe, who handled anything in the air.

 Around the ground Pie’s big men Ben Hudson and Quentin Lynch made life difficult for Roosters debutant, American Eric Wallace. Wallace had twenty-eight hit-outs but had to contest hard in the air around the ground against his two experienced counterparts.

 At the main break Collingwood led by fifteen points. North Ballarat made little in-roads into the Pies lead in the third term as the likes of Ben Kennedy, Josh Thomas and former Western Australian, Jonathon Marsh, all impressed for the Pies.

 Nahas left the field for the Roosters during the quarter with a shin injury shortly after booting his third. At three-quarter-time the Pies remained seemingly in control although the difference was only fourteen points.

 North Ballarat lifted in the final term and at one stage hit the lead when Nick Couch snapped his second goal mid-way through the quarter. Fasolo was moved deep into the forward line for the Pies with immediate effect, goaling after marking at the twenty-minute mark to put Collingwood back in front.

 A few minutes later small man Lachlan Ferguson put in his claim for an early goal of the year contender. He dodged and weaved his way around a couple of Rooster defenders close to goal to boot his second for the game, sealing the win for Collingwood in front of a small but vocal black and white army.

 For Collingwood Kennedy, Ferguson and Caolan Mooney all kicked two goals while for the Roosters Nahas booted three and Couch two. Kennedy (25 disposals), Fasolo (17) and Thomas (23) were among the Pie’s best and for North Ballarat, defenders Max Warren (32) and Joel Tippett tried hard as did midfielder Liam Anthony.

 The Pies travel to North Port in round two to meet Port Melbourne while North Ballarat faces another difficult battle against Essendon at Windy Hill.