For the Swans to win they would need to lock down on as many of the Magpies prime movers for as long as possible, while at the same time look to expose some of the younger inexperienced Collingwood players. Good idea in theory, but I don’t think the Swans could have anticipated such impressive performances from many of Collingwood’s unsung heroes.
FOUR QUARTERS
Q1: Collingwood 2.3 (15) v Sydney 0.4 (4)
The Swans went ultra defensive from the start. Brett Kirk went to Scott Pendelbury; Kieren Jack, fresh from a Gary Ablett lesson a week ago, locked on to Leon Davis; Nick Smith had the big job of quelling Alan Didak, former Magpie Rhyce Shaw lined up on good mate Dane Swan. Marty Mattner ran with Dale Thomas, Paul Bevan shadowed Tarkyn Lockyer and Heath Grundy had first crack at Travis Cloke.
With so many run-with roles there were very few open passages of play. It was one on one football all over the ground.
The Swans lost the quarter by 11 points but I suspect coach Paul Roos would have been pleased, considering they won more of the ball (15 more possessions), were generating more run from behind (17 more handball receives), took seven more marks and gathered 16 more uncontested possessions.
Q2: Collingwood 5.9 (39) v Sydney 4.6 (30)
Collingwood began to force the Swans wide, making them go back and kick over the mark. As a result the Swans became static in their ball movement, allowing the Pies to apply more pressure and force a number of costly turnovers.
The Pies won the important statistics: 12 more disposals; seven more contested possessions; 13 clearances to six. although they lost the hit-outs 13 to five. And they pushed the ball inside 50 fourteen times to nine, which netted goals from Cloke, Brad Dick and Josh Fraser.
The Swans responded with four goals of their own. Smith on Didak was punching above his weight division. Bevan pushed forward to put pressure back on to his direct opponent Lockyer. Goodes was everywhere and Jared Moore registered a major.
Q3: Collingwood 10.13 (73) v Sydney 6.7 (43)
One of Collingwood's real strengths this year has been the group’s ability to pick up the slack when needed to help out their stars. The Swans had done a terrific job restricting the likes of Davis, Didak, Swan and Pendlebury but they couldn’t stop the growing influence of Dayne Beams through the midfield. Jack Anthony found his radar up forward, journeyman Leigh Brown continued to show his versatility by nullifying Jesse White and there were some good signs that Paul Medhurst was also regaining his touch.
The Pies took control on the on the scoreboard because of some great work further up the ground, dominating the centre clearances 6-1.
The Swans lost Moore, and the further the game went the more impact this was having on their rotations.
Goodes was continuing to cause headaches, gathering another five possessions and a goal. The Swans should make a big play for another elite midfield player at season's end because it’s not possible for Adam Goodes to carry the load for an entire team.
Q4: Collingwood 13.19 (97) v Sydney 8.8 (56)
The Pies had the game comfortably in their control by the last change and if not for a wasteful final term the margin could have been bigger.
Beams was again busy, Brown seemed to be loose, Lockyer was well held by Bevan, and even skipper Nick Maxwell picked up some late possessions.
Goodes will figure when the votes for this match are read out on Brownlow Medal Night with another superb individual performance.
To win by 41 points as well as having their four best players well held in Swan, Davis, Didak and Pendlebury simply underlines the evenness of the Magpies and their reliance on the team as opposed to the individual.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
