Collingwood's Darren Jolly and Dayne Beams celebrate a goal during the AFL Round 19 match between the Geelong Cats and the Collingwood Magpies at the MCG, Melbourne.
Collingwood’s bid for a breakthrough AFL premiership gained more momentum through a 22-point win over Geelong in the table-topping game at the MCG on Saturday night.
The Magpies looked to have blown a chance to get one over the Cats when they surrendered a 28-point lead during the second term and went into half-time a point down.
But Collingwood mounted their own comeback in the third quarter by kicking the last four goals to reverse a 12-point deficit.
They then held firm in the last to post a 14.23 (107) to 12.13 (85) win, before 84,401 fans.
Midfielder Alan Didak played a superb game for the Magpies, while youngster Dayne Beams booted three goals.
The win was Collingwood’s seventh in succession and put them a game-and-a-half clear of the Cats, meaning they are all but assured of securing the minor premiership.
A win over the reigning premiers – their first in four attempts – will fuel the belief of Magpies fans that this could be the year they end their 20-year flag drought.
Collingwood established an early lead through a ferocious attack on the ball and dominated the game for three quarters, although they again squandered a series of chances in front of goal.
The Pies kept Geelong under constant pressure, although the Cats broke free for a devastating six-goal burst in the second term, when Travis Varcoe kick-started his side.
Joel Corey’s goal from a 50-metre penalty gave Geelong the lead at half-time and the Cats opened a buffer when Varcoe set up Mathew Stokes for a goal early in the third quarter.
A shocking goal-umpiring decision denied Geelong’s Shannon Byrnes a goal in the third term, as the umpire ruled the goalsneak had overstepped the line before he kicked the ball, when he clearly had not.
Geelong overcame that blow to open a 12-point lead, but Ben Johnson breathed life into Collingwood with a goal on the run.
Travis Cloke overcame his yips of late to dob an important set shot soon after and when Didak passed brilliantly to Dale Thomas in the goalsquare the Magpies were on their way to a 15th win for the season.
Both sides lost defenders to injury, as Magpie Ben Reid suffered an ankle injury early, while Cats star Matthew Scarlett hobbled off late in the game.
Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse said the win was even better given the early loss of Reid, but sensed his team had more improvement.
“Players shouldered responsibility and in many respects dared to win,” Malthouse said.
“There were a few areas today we learn about, that we hopefully get better (in), others that we can say that we’ve got reasonably right we don’t have to dramatically change things.
“That’s the great thing about it, that we’re not satisfied.”
Geelong coach Mark Thompson said there was little to like about the Cats’ performance.
“The scoreboard flattered the way we played because we were totally out-played by a very good opposition,” he said.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve been beaten so badly at contested ball.”
Colingwood won 144 contested disposals to Geelong’s 102.
Thompson felt the decision on Byrnes’ kick had no bearing on the result.
He said Scarlett had copped a kick to the shin and Harry Taylor hurt a shoulder, but was hopeful both could play the Western Bulldogs next weekend.
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