Australian Football

Match Report

Sydney's top-four chances remain very much alive after the Swans came from behind at three-quarter time to defeat Collingwood by 11 points at the SCG join Friday night. For the Magpies, the loss was yet another by a narrow margin in a match where they had plenty of opportunities to secure a win. The Pies kicked poorly, finishing with 10.16 with the third term being particularly frustrating. They kicked 4.7 for the quarter, missing several easy shots and that wayward kicking would later come back to bite them.

The match got off to a slow start, with only behinds being scored in the first nine minutes, before Josh Kennedy scored the first major of the Swans. Brandon Jack followed up with another two minutes later as Sydney began to get on top. The Swans added a further three behinds before Jarrad McVeigh kicked their third and it was not looking good foe Collingwood, already 20 points behind. But the Magpies turned things around in the last five minutes, with goals to Jamie Elliott and Travis Varcoe cutting the margin to just seven at the first break.

Jordan de Goey kicked Collingwood's third to start the second term and bring the margin back to one point at the five-minute mark, but Sam Reid responded for the Swans two minutes later. Travis Cloke, returning from a calf injury kicked his first at the 11-minute mark but Sydney again responded, this time through Goodes, a couple of minutes later. The Magpies had the better of the remainder of the quarter but could only convert that dominance into four behinds. Sydney managed one behind of its own in that period and led by five points at half time. 

After a behind in the first minute of the third term to Sydney's Dan Hannebery, Collingwood's Ben Reid received a free kick after a marking infringement, which he converted to level the scores at 57 apiece. Gary Rohan kicked a quick reply soon after but Collingwood then began to attack heavily. A behind to Cloke was followed by another to Steele Sidebottom before Darcy Moore finally kicked straight to put the Pies two points ahead. They added two further behinds before Marley Williams added another goal, taking Collingwood's lead to nine. Sydney kicked two of the next three to the margin to three points before the Pies added a further three behinds to Sydney's one - including misses to Sidebottom and Jack Crisp - to lead by five points at the last change of ends. 

Collingwood had yet another chance to goal at the start of the last quarter when Scott Pendlebury marked on a lead but his shot went wide, making the Magpies lead an even goal. Tom Mitchell goaled on the run shortly after to level the scores but Pendlebury made amends for his earlier miss with a snapped goal at the nine-minute mark to put the Pies a goal ahead once more. From there, though, Sydney got on top and a three-goal burst in seven minutes saw the Swans jump 12 points clear at the 18-minute mark. Crisp cut the margin back to one straight kick with a goal at the 23-minute mark but a strong mark and goal to Mike Pyke put the Swans 12 points ahead again at the 24-minute mark. Collingwood went forward several times after that but could not find a goal, Sydney hanging on to win by 11 points.

Best for the victors included Mitchell (41 disposals, eight tackles), Kennedy (34 possessions and nine marks) and Kieran Jack (30 touches, five tackles), while Collingwood's better players included Dane Swan (39 possessions, six marks) and Elliott (24 disposals, seven tackles).

The Swans remain equal on points with the fourth-placed Western Bulldogs and look to push their way back into the top four with a win over GWS at Sydney Showground next Saturday. Collingwood are 10 points behind eighth and virtually no chance of making this year's finals. The Magpies will play Richmond at the MCG on Saturday. 

GOALS
Sydney: Rohan, Goodes, Reid, B. Jack 2; Kennedy, McVeigh, Mitchell, Jetta, Pyke
Collingwood: Elliott, Varcoe, de Goey, Cloke, Reid, Moore, Williams, Swan, Pendlebury, Crisp

BEST - SMH.COM.AU
Sydney: Mitchell, Kennedy, Jack, McVeigh, Rohan, Hannebery
Collingwood: Swan, Sidebottom, Adams, Williams, Moore.

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Sydney: Mitchell, Kennedy, K. Jack, B. Jack, Cunningham, Rohan
Collingwood: Swan, Elliott, Pendlebury, Williams, Frost, Sidebottom

INJURIES 
Sydney: Laidler (hamstring), Parker (right leg)
Collingwood: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Sydney: Jeremy Laidler replaced by Jake Lloyd at half time.
Collingwood: Ben Reid replaced by Levi Greenwood in the final quarter.

REPORTS: Nathan Brown (Collingwood) for rough conduct against Luke Parker (Sydney Swans) in the second quarter.

UMPIRES: Margetts, Findlay, Ryan

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Bruce McAvaney, Dennis Cometti, Wayne Carey, Cameron Ling, Matthew Richardson