Australian Football

Match Report

Collingwood recorded a sensational win against the previously undefeated Geelong in a thrilling match in front of nearly 67,000 fans at the MCG on Saturday night. The Pies outplayed Geelong for much of the first two quarters, and took a 26-point lead into half time. But the Cats, as they have done on numerous occasions in 2013 mounted a challenge in the third quarter and scored eight goals to two to take a 13-point lead into the last term. But the Magpies played a fine last quarter, levelling the scores midway through before a late goals to Andrew Krakouer sealed a memorable six-point win.

The Pies dominated the opening term, and their first-change lead of 18 points could have been much greater if not for a several gettable shots being missed. Nevertheless, goals to Steele Sidebottom, Scott Pendlebury, Sam Dwyer, Krakouer and Jamie Elliott gave Collingwood five for the term. Trent West, Tom Hawkins and Steven Motlop kicked goals to keep the Cats in touch at quarter time.

A more dour phase ensued in the second term, but Collingwood still managed to kick four goals for the quarter, keeping the Cats to just two and maintaining control of the match at the long break.

The crowd expected a Geelong comeback in the third quarter and the Cats, with their ability to score heavily in a short space of time, did not disappoint. Jimmy Bartel opened proceedings with a mark and goals from a boundary line at the three-minute mark and, although this was answered by Elliott five minutes later, the Cats piled on another seven for the remainder of the term through Allen Christensen (two), Andrew Mackie, Tom Hawkins, James Podsiadly (two) and Steven Motlop. In the face of the onslaught Collingwood could manage no more than a goal to Paul Seedsman and the Cats appeared headed for victory when the final quarter began.

It was the Pies, however, that drew first blood in the last quarter, a goal to Dwyer reducing the margin to seven and giving the Collingwood fans renewed hope. Tom Hawkins replied to restore a 13-point lead for Geelong at the five-minute mark but Andrew Krakouer had the Magpies within a goal when he converted a free kick at the 14-minute mark. Two minutes later Jamie Elliott kicked his third and scores were level.

The last 10 minutes of the match were a arm wrestle but a mark to Andrew Krakouer between the goal and point post allowed him to kick a "banana" goal and give Collingwood a memorable six-point win.

Pendlebury and Harry O'Brien were fine players for Collingwood, while Mathew Stokes was excellent for the Cats.

The Magpies face another tough test on Friday when they take on reigning premiers Sydney but the win against Geelong will see them head into that encounter full of confidence. Geelong will head to Football Park to take on Port Adelaide in a bid to return to the winners' list.

GOALS
Collingwood: Dwyer, Elliott, Krakouer 3; Pendlebury 2; Sidebottom, Lynch, Cloke, Seedsman
Geelong: Hawkins 4; Bartel, Christensen, Motlop, Podsiadly 2; West, Mackie

BEST - THE AGE
Collingwood: O'Brien, Pendlebury, Dwyer, Krakouer, Elliott, Swan, Seedsman
Geelong: Enright, Stokes, Mackie, Taylor, Corey, Hawkins.

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Collingwood: Pendlebury, O'Brien, Cloke, Sidebottom, Elliott, Dwyer
Geelong: Stokes, Hawkins, Mackie, Motlop, Bartel,Corey, Enright

COACHES' COMMENTS
Nathan Buckley (Coll): Tonight we had just that one quarter where we gave up basically half of our opposition's score in 30 minutes of footy. It nearly did us in again but we were able to stick to the task and stay to script. We really worked our way back into it. It was a courageous last quarter.

Chris Scott (Geel): It's a reflection of the inconsistency we've had through the season. Our attitude to this game needs to be the same as it would have been if we had have won by six points. The unfortunately reality of the moment is that we're not playing well enough, consistently enough. Our first half was as poor as I've seen us play this year.

INJURIES
Collingwood: Nil
Geelong: Smedts (ankle), Johnson (calf) replaced in selection side by Caddy

SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Ben Kennedy replaced Jarrod Witts at three quarter time
Geelong: Josh Hunt replaced Billie Smedts in the second quarter

REPORTS
Collingwood: Darren Jolly (rough conduct) on Mathew Stokes
Geelong: Nil

UMPIRES: Chamberlain, McInerney, Mollison