Pies pip Swans by 8 points in AFL thriller
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Collingwood made an emphatic statement about their AFL premiership credentials on Saturday night, downing ladder-leaders Sydney by eight points in a thrilling match worthy of September billing.
The Magpies were routinely challenged in a scrappy clash played under finals-like pressure, but held sway in a dramatic final quarter to win 12.6 (78) to 9.16 (70) at ANZ Stadium.
Sydney held a 17-point lead, the largest margin of the game, halfway through the third term and then had countless chances to regain the advantage in the final quarter.
Lewis Jetta, Ben McGlynn, Tony Armstrong, Josh Kennedy and Adam Goodes all missed shots in the fourth term, with Goodes having a forgettable night on the whole.
The Magpies’ win, achieved largely without star wingman Dale Thomas who was substituted early in the second quarter with a leg injury, extended Collingwood’s winning streak against Sydney to 11 matches.
It also laid the platform for a thrilling end to the season, with the Magpies, Swans and Adelaide all on 60 points and tussling for top spot on the ladder.
Fittingly it was best-on-ground Dayne Beams who kicked the sealer in the dying stages.
As predicted by Swans coach John Longmire on Friday, Beams took up the slack left by star midfielder Dane Swan, who copped a club-imposed two-game ban for drinking.
While Beams’ influence was quelled somewhat by Kieren Jack, who was shifted onto him after halftime, he still finished the game with impressive numbers – 34 disposals, 11 clearances and three goals.
In a match where both sides struggled to create goals or much free space, Swans on-baller Kennedy worked the stoppages in Brett Kirk-like fashion.
Kennedy had a game-high 40 possessions, eight tackles and nine clearances.
Thomas’s injury was worked on for the duration of quarter-time, he returned to the field in the second term but was still restricted.
It meant coach Nathan Buckley had to turn to veteran goal-sneak Alan Didak earlier than expected.
Didak, who returned for his first AFL game since sustaining a groin injury while playing against Melbourne on June 11, showed his spark was still there with the last goal of the first half.
Swans utility Lewis Roberts-Thomson was involved in a heated wrestle with former teammate Darren Jolly in the second term, while Collingwood spearhead Chris Dawes could face sanction after hurling his mouth guard in anger at Swans defender Alex Johnson.
The Swans were inaccurate in front of goal and guilty of turning the ball over far too often in a low-scoring game played in front of a crowd of 45,827 – Sydney’s biggest since 2008.
The match was marred by windy conditions, best typified by the fact Sydney’s banner collapsed before 100-gamer McGlynn could run through.
© AAP 2013
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- AFL, Collingwood Magpies, Dane Swan, Sydney Swans
August 12th 2012 @ 9:23am
Anthony said | August 12th 2012 @ 9:23am | Report comment
I was at the game. Fantastic win by the Pies. Must have been 10,000 C/wood supporters there. Nothing in this morning’s Telegraph about it! I notice the TV news commented that 10,000 NRL supporters “braved” Sydney’s awful weather to go to the SFS………45,000 at Olympic Stadium included 10,000 C/wood supporters who braved Sydney’s weather & supporters
August 12th 2012 @ 9:52am
Danny said | August 12th 2012 @ 9:52am | Report comment
Sydney’s weather was a lot different between the SFS on the coast and at ANZ 25kms inland. The league fans also didn’t get the free and extensive public transport network that the AFL fans got.
August 12th 2012 @ 6:53pm
Anthony said | August 12th 2012 @ 6:53pm | Report comment
25km inland……….I must have gone to the wrong stadium!
What an excuse to say that the SFS crowd was affected by the weather. I sat in the rain at Homebush – but it was nice in central Sydney when I left for the game. Surely the weather would only affect the attendance after the game started? Unless NRL supporters are that fickle?
Perhaps a better comparison would be the crowd at Homebush today – a nice sunny Winter’s day in Sydney. 19,870 rocked up.
August 12th 2012 @ 8:59pm
yewonk said | August 12th 2012 @ 8:59pm | Report comment
“the weather was nice in central sydney” and to think if you walked 200 meters from the stadium you can find yourself in greater western sydney.
August 12th 2012 @ 10:03am
Nathan of Perth said | August 12th 2012 @ 10:03am | Report comment
10,000 is a good away crowd! One of the very nicest things about Subiaco (at least with the Eagles) is that there is no way we’d allow that many Collingwood supporters near the joint!
Frustrating to see the Swans go down like that – apart from Friday night and the feel good vibes on the GC-GWS games, not many of the results have gone the way I’ve wanted!
August 12th 2012 @ 10:18am
Matt_S said | August 12th 2012 @ 10:18am | Report comment
Excuse me Anthony but the weather swept right into the Eastern Suburbs. The weather was relatively tame around homebush and beyond. We got a torrential pour around Allianz and it ruined a 25,000 plus crowd for a lower of the table clash.
The late finish would not have been condusive to the papers reporting of the game for the AFL.
August 12th 2012 @ 11:44am
Michael/Brisbane said | August 12th 2012 @ 11:44am | Report comment
25 000? That’s be the day.
August 12th 2012 @ 6:54pm
Anthony said | August 12th 2012 @ 6:54pm | Report comment
So Sydney newspapers don’t report anything after 10.30pm? Oh, please!
August 13th 2012 @ 10:01am
Australian Rules said | August 13th 2012 @ 10:01am | Report comment
“The weather was relatively tame around homebush and beyond. ”
Yes the sideways rain on the opening siren was tame indeed.
But on a serious note, I thought was ANZ crowd was a bit disappointing – was expecting it to be 10-15k more. Maybe that relatively tame rain kep a few away.
August 13th 2012 @ 4:12pm
Australian Rules said | August 13th 2012 @ 4:12pm | Report comment
Also interesting are the ratings:
Friday night
AFL
WCE v Geel – 840k (7, Fox…7M excluded)
NRL
Sou v Man – 474k (9, Gem); and Mel v GC – 255k (9, Gem)
…making a total of 729k.
Saturday night
AFL
Syd v Coll – 735k (7, 7M, Fox)
NRL
Parr v Syd – 244k (Fox); WT v StG – 261k (Fox); and NQ v NZ – 166 (Fox)
…making a total of 671k.
In summary, 1 AFL game on Friday night had more viewers than 2 NRL games; and 1 AFL game on Sat night had more than 3 NRL games.
*regionals excluded for both codes.
For those interested…Saturday afternoon
GCS v GWS – 226k (7M, Fox)
August 14th 2012 @ 9:37am
clipper said | August 14th 2012 @ 9:37am | Report comment
AR – The first comparisson is fair enough, but you can’t compare three pay tv ratings to one FTA rating – they’re always going to be less. The interesting comparrison would be the Sydney AFL figures vs the Melbourne league figures.
August 14th 2012 @ 12:31pm
Australian Rules said | August 14th 2012 @ 12:31pm | Report comment
I agree with that – comparing Fox with FTA is obviously problematic, and the current NRL Broadcast deal is clearly inferior to the AFL deal.
But we can only look at the figures in front of us, and that’s what they currently are.
To address your point:
Syd v Coll (Sat night) had 55k on 7Mate in Sydney and 231k on Fox nationally.
Storm v GC (Fri night) had 10k on Gem in Melb (it was not broadcast on Fox).
August 14th 2012 @ 5:12pm
Jaceman said | August 14th 2012 @ 5:12pm | Report comment
I think there is little point looking at footy ratings during the Olympics though Saturday night was pretty much Olympic free??
August 14th 2012 @ 10:02am
Vodka jack said | August 14th 2012 @ 10:02am | Report comment
Matt S
Saints have the biggetst following in the NRL and Wests are 2 teams supporters who draw 18K to leichhardt so you always have an excuse. 7K at penrith is not a good look and that looked inflated…However Canada vrs Jamaica still pull them in…
August 12th 2012 @ 10:25am
Christo the Daddyo said | August 12th 2012 @ 10:25am | Report comment
The big question now will be – will the Sydney coaching staff have the balls to drop Adam Goodes? He is clearly being selected on reputation and not form at the moment. Sydney’s forward line includes A horribly out of form Goodes, Lewis Roberts-Thompson (who belongs in the backline) and Mike Pyke, who although greatly improved is certainly no star forward. There’s a lot resting on young Sam Reid’s shoulders when he returns from injury…
August 12th 2012 @ 11:00am
Strummer Jones said | August 12th 2012 @ 11:00am | Report comment
It is clear Goodes is still carrying an injury. His body strength in one-on-one contests is pretty poor at the moment and kicking is well off. I actually thought LRT did better than most. Richards and most of the other defenders did brilliantly all night. To me it was the usual suspects that don’t provide much in these tough games; Bird, McVeigh and possibly Malceski (agree he had a better game). All these guys are up to AFL standard, but in a team like Melb or Richmond. McVeigh took an eternity to get the ball to Jetta in the last quarter which probably cost us the match (Jetta would have run into goal rather than have a shot from 50 out) and he just can’t win the ball when challenged. Jack had a great game, but also missed a crucial goal in the 3rd when well clear of any Magpie players. Swans midfield didnt notice Jetta when he broke free in the centre on at least 2 occassions. What a waste and what a disappointment all round!!
August 12th 2012 @ 5:24pm
Stewie said | August 12th 2012 @ 5:24pm | Report comment
To be fair Goodesy has come of a rare break from the game. Mumford also played poorly when he came back from injury this year. Goodes has an onfield leadership and presence (ala GWS’s MacDonald’s onfield coaching role) that few can match, and his playing skills will improve throughout the rest of the season. Don’t drop him!
August 15th 2012 @ 12:45pm
Jaceman said | August 15th 2012 @ 12:45pm | Report comment
So the Swans ares truggling upfront so the solution is drop Goodes – he was double teamed often on Sat night. Sounds like a distracting comment from crowd numbers…
August 12th 2012 @ 10:26am
pope paul v11 said | August 12th 2012 @ 10:26am | Report comment
Also attended with a Collingwood mad daughter – top night, if not greatest game of footy ever. Collingwood supporters everywhere, They certainly add to the theatre.
August 13th 2012 @ 8:08am
Anthony said | August 13th 2012 @ 8:08am | Report comment
PPv11 – 2 rows in front of me were 2 C/wood supporters dressed as nuns & 1 as a priest…….was that you??
August 13th 2012 @ 9:56am
Pope Paul VII said | August 13th 2012 @ 9:56am | Report comment
I was in the bank of seats to Collingwood cheer squad left, in front the LRT tiny but vocal cheer squad. Other yokels were the blokes imploring number 7 ( the ch.7 cameraman ) to do something!
August 13th 2012 @ 1:00pm
Pope Paul VII said | August 13th 2012 @ 1:00pm | Report comment
Good one Ant, sorry bit slow today, must be the effects of being too close to the woodies supporters
August 13th 2012 @ 5:15pm
Brewski said | August 13th 2012 @ 5:15pm | Report comment
Seriously, do you expect to his most Venerable Holy Father to sit with the common sign on garden variety clergy.
I have no doubt the blessed father was ensconsed in the Popemobile on level 6
August 12th 2012 @ 12:40pm
Lux said | August 12th 2012 @ 12:40pm | Report comment
Let us not fall into the trap of scoring points from crowd numbers – it’s completely unedifying, and in any case, it’s not a contest, and above all else, Australian Football is about the contest for the ball.
At the end of the day, the Swans vs pies game failed to reach 50k, as was widely expected, and that should be the focus for the AFL and AFL fans, whether other sports on the night are getting, 8k or 10k is of little interest. Other sports regularly get those sorts of crowds, it’s the norm for them, and they appear to be quite happy with that.
However, there is one thing that caught my eye, noticed it in yesterday’s paper, the crowd at Bluetongue stadium was exactly 16,000. What an amazing result, exactly 16,000 patrons have been recorded as going through the gates.
August 12th 2012 @ 12:57pm
Brewski said | August 12th 2012 @ 12:57pm | Report comment
Good post, could not give a stuff how many fans a RL match draws, but on the Swans Collingwood crowd, i would imagine that a good night weather wise would have drawn another 10 to 15K.
Watched the game, and for mine it was only a good game because it was tight, both teams hugged the boundary and took very few risks, much prefer Geelongs up the middle style or Hawthorns kicking game.
Please bring open running football back.
August 14th 2012 @ 9:59am
Vodka jack said | August 14th 2012 @ 9:59am | Report comment
Bluetongue was nearly full and it shows that regional NRL be it Newcastle, townsvillw, CC or Wollongong is where real RL strength lies.
August 12th 2012 @ 1:20pm
TW said | August 12th 2012 @ 1:20pm | Report comment
In the crucial last quarter the Swannies turned the ball over about 6 times to the Magpies mostly due to inerrant kicking. However lots of pressure was being imposed by both sides in this quarter.
Goodes is definitely off his game – Good players kick the goal he missed.
August 12th 2012 @ 1:34pm
checkside said | August 12th 2012 @ 1:34pm | Report comment
Goodes latest lay off due to injury and obvious struggle back to form could be the beginning of the end of a great career. He isn’t a young pup and combined with the frustration it might be worth considering dropping him. Bloody brave call as it may be a slump and he could regain form to save the day for the Swannies. Your call coach.
August 12th 2012 @ 7:50pm
Winston said | August 12th 2012 @ 7:50pm | Report comment
Goodes was bad, but he wasn’t the only one. The usual suspects – Hannebery, Johnson, Grundy, Bird – did their dumb things time and time again. I agree with Strummer Jones that LRT did better than most. I don’t think LRT was ever in the 50 to mark the ball, but to just provide a contest. There was this passage of play though where he provided a contest, then Mumford went into try and pick the ball up, and then handballed to Mike Pyke. My question is more where the heck were Jetta, Jack, Hannebery, Bird etc when LRT dropped that mark? If Mummy can go in to rove the ball, surely it would be much better having those smaller types. Time and time again they lost structure inside 50 and had no proper crummers around the tall guys.
August 12th 2012 @ 11:21pm
pope paul v11 said | August 12th 2012 @ 11:21pm | Report comment
Brewski is right in that it was an odd boundary ( deliberate ! ) hugging affair, both sides rarely committing to a thrust through the middle. Both sides defensive. LRT did a fine job and has his own fan club. Someone’s gotta tell Mike Pyke it’s alright to go himself. Swans had a few quiet players, made a trillion errors and missed a few gettables. Collies also missed a couple of sitters. Poor old Tarrant still a shocker. Still think Swannies can pulll it off as all top 8 emminently beatable although if North can down Collies next week I”ll be joining in the chorus officially rather than with misgiuded faith as usual.
August 13th 2012 @ 1:43am
Stewie said | August 13th 2012 @ 1:43am | Report comment
Something else to consider. Sydney’s poor accuracy is partially due to the 6 rushed behinds, accentuating the high pressure that was there the whole game. And 7 of Collingwood’s 12 goals came directly from Swans turnovers. That means that for whatever reasons we lost on the weekend, we can most certainly fix them. I have hope. Far out, it was a top game though.