Frankston has leapt to within touching distance of the top four after overrunning a star-studded Collingwood outfit by 36 points at a packed Kinetic Stadium on Saturday night.
It was an electric atmosphere under the lights in Frankston, with an incredible 5,561 supporters filling the stands as both teams sought to close the gap on the double chance with a month of football remaining in the home-and-away season.
Despite the Magpies having the better of the Dolphins in the opening period, Jackson Kornberg’s side responded in a big way, kicking 11 goals to two across the middle two quarters to blow the contest wide open on their way to the 16.10 (106) to 10.10 (70) result.
The win now sees Frankston sitting in 5th position on the ladder, just below the 4th-placed GWS GIANTS on percentage.
It took a while for either side to break the deadlock in the first quarter until Harrison Jones got out the back and slotted the opener after 14 minutes of play.
Collingwood’s AFL-listed stars showed their class early, with Ash Johnson and Bobby Hill hitting the scoreboard, with the latter kicking the final two goals of the term to open up a 16-point lead for the visitors at the first break.
A freekick and a 50-metre penalty gave George Grey and the Dolphins the first of the second quarter, before Matt Johnson dribbled through a remarkable goal from the boundary after fighting hard to work off his opponent as Frankston closed within a kick.
Corey Ellison put the home side back in front with his first, while Nick Burke snapped through another to extend the lead.
The Pies responded quickly with a steadier but a second for Jones from a tight angle, and Tom Murphy’s long bomb had the Dolphins’ lead sitting at 15 points at the main break.
The goals continued to pile on for Frankston early in the second half, with Bailey Lambert splitting the middle from a tough set shot. Johnson made no mistake to get his second of the night after taking a strong one-on-one mark inside 50, bringing up his 100th VFL goal.
Jones got his third and, soon after, Ellison got his second after taking the ball out of the ruck and sending it through the big sticks to get the margin out to 41 points.
Collingwood broke the run of six unanswered Frankston majors with one of their own, before Ellison capped off a great team goal, in which the spearhead showed his work rate after being involved multiple times in the build-up play, as the Dolphins held a handy 44-point advantage at the final change.
It was effectively goal-for-goal in the final term as both sides combined for nine goals, with Frankston kicking four and Collingwood kicking five of their own in the quarter. Alec McComb soccered through an early goal to make it a 50-point game, while the Pies swiftly responded.
Jones got his fourth after hanging onto another good mark inside 50, before the visitors kicked two in a row.
Ellison joined his forward counterpart by also kicking his fourth of the contest, as the Pies followed it up with another major. McComb got his second of the quarter from range late in the piece, with a post-siren Magpies goal cementing the 16.10 (106) to 10.10 (70) scoreline.
Tom Blamires continued his hot vein of form with a best afield performance, accumulating a whopping 44 disposals (15 contested) to go along with six tackles, four clearances and four inside 50s as he demonstrated his ability to impact the contest with his inside and outside game.
It now marks four straight games that Blamires has tallied 30 or more disposals, with Saturday night’s outing marking his first 40+ disposal game at VFL level.
Tom Murphy was superb on the night, finishing with one goal, 28 touches (12 contested), four clearances and five inside 50s, with Lachie Riley (20 disposals, six clearances, six tackles) and Darby Hipwell (19 disposals, seven clearances) also strong contributors in the middle.
Jackson Voss (25 disposals, four clearances, 10 rebound 50s) put in a great showing, as did Ollie Moran (23 disposals, seven intercept possessions and four marks).
Blake O’Leary finished with 24 disposals (14 contested), three clearances and seven intercept possessions in yet another positive performance. Corey Ellison and Harrison Jones both led the Frankston scoring, kicking four apiece. Along with their four majors, Ellison finished with 10 disposals and four tackles (three inside 50) while Jones tallied seven disposals and six tackles.
Alec McComb put in arguably his best display at VFL level, slotting two goals to go along with 22 disposals and three clearances.
The Frankston defensive group stood tall all night, with Josh Smith (seven), Taine Barlow (11), Tyson Milne (nine), Joe Lloyd (seven)and Ollie Moran (seven)all having seven or more intercept possessions each as they stifled the Magpies’ impact going forward.
The Dolphins will now turn their attention to Saturday night, where they will face Carlton at Kinetic Stadium in another must-win encounter. The first bounce is scheduled for 7:10 PM (AEST).
FRANKSTON 1.1 7.4 12.9 16.10 (106)
COLLINGWOOD 3.5 4.7 5.7 10.10 (70)
GOALS
Ellison 4, Jones 4, McComb 2, Johnson 2, Grey, Burke, Lambert, Murphy
BEST
Blamires, Murphy, Voss, Riley, B. O’Leary, Ellison
