Australian Football

Match Report

Collingwood has given notice to all and sundry that it could yet be a force to be reckoned with come September with an impressive upset win over Sydney at Stadium Australia on Saturday night. The Magpies overcame a fast start from Sydney, which kicked the first four goals of the match, to finish runaway winners by 29 points.

Stadium Australia has been a happy hunting ground for Collingwood over the years. The Magpies have played 12 matches at the venue against Sydney, winning nine of those. The win saw them consolidate fifth place on the ladder and a place in the top four, though unlikely, is still within the realms of possibility.

For Sydney the loss meant a slip back to third place on the ladder, which could spell the difference between a home gamde and an away match when the first week of the finals comes along.

Scott Pendlebury was the chief architect of the Pies' win, gathering the ball 35 times and kicking one goal. while Dane Swan (31 disposals) and Dayne Beams (32 possessions) were also key contributors. For Sydney, Kurt Tippett provided what was virtually a one-man forward line, kicking six of the Swans' 10 goals. Jared McVeigh (35 touches) and Dan Hannebery (21 disposals) were also very good for Sydney.

Collingwood faces three tough opponents to round out its home and away season. The Magpies take on Hawthorn at the MCG this Friday night, West Coast at the same venue next Friday, and will finish with a Sunday afternoon match against North Melbourne.

Sydney, looking to return to a place in the top two, will play St Kilda at home next Sunday, Geelong at Kardinia Park in round 22, and Hawthorn at Stadium Australia in the last round of the season.

GOALS
Sydney: Tippett 6; Shaw, Jack, Bolton, Kennedy
Collingwood: Elliott 3; Reid, Sidebottom, Thomas, Cloke 2; O'Brien, Pendlebury, Grundy

BEST - SMH.COM.AU
Sydney: McVeigh, Tippett, Hannebery, Malceski, Bird, Jack
Collingwood: Pendlebury, Beams, Swan, O'Brien, Williams, Ball

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Sydney: Tippett, O'Keefe, McVeigh, Mumford, Richards, Hannebery
Collingwood: Pendlebury, Swan, Elliott, Beams, Sidebottom, Thomas

SUBSTITUTES
Sydney: Ben McGlynn replaced by Brandon Jack at three-quarter-time.
Collingwood: Nathan Brown replaced by Sam Dwyer in the third quarter.

UMPIRES: Dalgleish, Stevic, Nicholls

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Brian Taylor, Luke Darcy, Matthew Richardson, Cameron Ling