When two tribes go to war

by MICHAEL STEVENS

THE first weeks of the finals have shown that tribalism has transcended the past and a new breed of tribalism has hit the national stage.

Gone are the some of the old hacks and in come the new breed with each state represented in the finals series.

The Fremantle tribe was joyous in its minor success and over excited when it counted. The Adelaide tribes got to the finals and were arrogant in their defence of their home ground rights. But in the end if you learn to drive in Adelaide you should be made to sit for your license again when it comes to driving in peak hour anywhere near Wellington Parade East Melbourne.

Adelaide followed Carlton's lead and tried to buy a premiership by recruiting old classics with engine problems and players with little petrol in the tank.

Port Adelaide was, in the end, not as good as everyone thought they were but the supporters need to be congratulated for their stoicism after another absolutely failed final series. Speed kills if you're driving in heavy traffic and Port hit the wall far too early for anyone except Collingwood supporters on Saturday.

The Essendon tribe was crafty and hard as always but pretending if it thought it was a serious chance.

The West Coast tribe (if you can call it that) were silent in defeat.

The Sydney tribe has the potential to take over if we are not careful but in the end were not quite up to it just yet. Their knowledge of the game is improving and they even booed the umpire at the right time once or twice the other night. Playing at two different stadia which are completely different in shape cannot help their chances and they will be much more potent once they move from the cricket ground permanently.

The Brisbane tribe is tired but gets to compete in familiar territory next week.

The Collingwood tribe as usual is the biggest of them all. Against Brisbane in the semi final more than 60,000 Collingwood supporters and interested observers saw a tough game of football where one team had greater stamina and a little more finishing power than the other. The force of the crowd which in the first half irked the umpires and in the second half wore them down demonstrated the capability of home ground advantage. Against Port Adelaide there were more than 70,000 Collingwood supporters and this time it was the opposition players who wilted under the pressure of the noise.

After the gruelling contests of the last couple of weeks it is easy to assume that this Collingwood team is not only a team of even contributors. This is a team that likes the big time. This is a team that will get better with every challenge. This team has options for every position, every circumstance.

The only problem with that argument is that nothing has been proved yet. Like everyone else Collingwood is only as good as its next game.

Collingwood was lucky to snag the number two spot and not have to play Brisbane in Queensland. Collingwood earned the right to a week's rest. Collingwood was too good for Port. Brisbane are sore if not injured, but gallant at every contest. Collingwood still has to win one more game if they want to be premiers in 2003. And it may need to have an option for every circumstance given the pending tribunal hearing.

However.

Michael Malthouse's move of Didak from the bench in the last quarter against Brisbane in the second semi was pedantically instructive. It resulted in an immediate mark to Didak who passed it to Woewodin for a diving catch. Didak sprinted outside of Woey, collected the pass, sprinted to the 50 meter line, and kicked a long goal. The next goal by Didak was even more didactic. On Channel 7, Sheedy spoke of Hart and Ian Stewart to illustrate how a left footer kicks goals from that position. Once again, Didak had been given time on the bench for a good part of the game and was influential in the deciding last quarter. Others too have been rested on the bench for long periods to keep them fresh.

The lesson for all is that Collingwood has depth and its forward line has players who know how to kick goals.

With Betheras, McGough, Freeborn, Williams, McKee, Walker and Molloy as back up and fit, the pressure is on the selectors to choose the right options. At least one of those players is very lucky and will probably be included in the final. The structure of Collingwood's forward line may have to be different next week but the opportunity is there to be different, to throw in something unusual and perhaps a little creative flair might just surprise the opposition. Collingwood has the coach to be daring. He may need to be.

The Collingwood tribe is cautious - not negative, cautious. And so it should be. As shown by Didak's influence in the last quarter against Brisbane and Rocca's unfortunate push in the match against Port, a team is as good as each of its players in each separate circumstance. The individual day, the individual moment, will influence the mindset and determine the result in any given match. Yesterday's achievements mean nothing. Luck will be important but so will commitment, courage, strength, speed, ball skill, the will power of the tribe and the mental strength of its warriors.

Despite the invasion of the first timers who get tickets courtesy of sponsors' money the Collingwood tribe will be there in force. The Collingwood tribe will be loud. Win, lose or draw the Collingwood tribe is extant and by virtue of being the third youngest list in the league will be back next year, bigger, better and faster.

But there is still one more match in 2003 and as was sung by Eddie goes to Collingwood or some band with a similar sounding name: "When two tribes go to war there is only one tribe that can score".

Go the Pies

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