For any AFL team that considers itself wildcard round material, Collingwood is the doorman. They’ll show the sides in footy’s middle classes exactly where they stand, where their soft spots are, and how far they have to go. For the best part of a decade and a half, Collingwood has been checking Carlton’s credentials and knocking them back. The Pies have beaten them 14 of the last 16 times they’ve met. Nine of those have come under Craig McRae. They’ve included spiflications, capitulations and abominations. They’ve included wayward shots after the siren and last-minute daggers to the heart. In almost every instance, the Blues have shot themselves in the foot to some degree. In almost every instance, Collingwood have forced them to line up for hours, denied them entry, and reminded them they’re not yet ready.
For a few weeks under Josh Fraser, Carlton looked capable of snaring a spot in the AFL’s latest construct. But they’ve met their match against the two clubs that have given them the most grief in recent years – first in the teeming rain against Hawthorn and then on Saturday against Collingwood, where they were defeated 14.6(90) to 10.9(69). Under Fraser, they’ve shed that sense of doom that hung over the club. But they needed this win more than any other under the new coach. And they weren’t quite up to it.
