Australian Football

Match Report

Collingwood's victory over GWS at the MCG was anything but unexpected but the manner of the win was a great surprise to many, not least Magpies' fans themselves. Coming off a shock first-ever loss to Gold Coast a week earlier, Nathan Buckley's team was expected to make short work of a Giants team that has not won a match for the entire 2013 season.

But the fans reckoned without the sustained efforts of the entire GWS playing outfit overall and the superstar efforts in particular of up-and-coming GWS full forward Jeremy Cameron. Cameron was magnificent, kicking seven of the 10 goals the Giants managed up until three quarter time. With Collingwood only scoring only nine of their own in that period, the difference between the two sides was only two points when the last quarter began.

It was in that final quarter that Collingwood finally clicked into gear, kicking six goals while not allowing the Giants to score any more of their own. The final margin of footy points was perhaps a little bit flattering to the Magpies and certainly not a fair reflection of the Giants effort.

Cameron has been a revelation this season. He has kicked 50 goals and he sits equal-third with Jack Riewoldt on the AFL goal-kicking table, behind only Josh Kennedy of West Coast and Hawthorn's Jarryd Roughead who have both kicked 54. It's a remarkable effort for a player whose team has not won a match.

Collingwood's win was enough for it to maintain seventh place on the ladder, behind sixth-placed Richmond by percentage only. The Magpies can keep their slim top four hopes alive with a win over Essendon in next Sunday's twilight match at the MCG. The Giants, meanwhile, will have probably their best chance to "break their duck" when they host the poorly performing Demons at the Sydney Showground next Saturday.

GOALS
Collingwood: Cloke, Swan, Sidebottom 3; Reid 2; Beams, O'Brien, Elliott, Witts
GWS: Cameron 7; Scully, Smith, Shiel

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Collingwood: Swan, Sidebottom, Beams, Shaw, Pendlebury, Grundy
GWS: Cameron, Shiel, Ward, Adams, Hampton

BEST - SPORTAL.COM.AU
Collingwood: Swan, Beams, Sidebottom, Shaw, Witts
GWS: Cameron, Ward, Greene, Whiley, Hampton, Shiel, Bruce

INJURIES
Collingwood: Reid (ankle)
GWS: Mohr (concussion), Hoskin-Elliott (concussion), Kennedy (concussion)

SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Jamie Elliott replaced Ben Kennedy in the third quarter.
GWS: Adam Kennedy replaced Tim Mohr at quarter-time.

UMPIRES: Fila, Armstrong, Ryan

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Anthony Hudson, Dermott Brereton, Tony Shaw, David King