Here’s Angus Fontaine’s match report:
We’ve got a compelling contest lined up for next week. The two most dominant teams of the year, the two that won in the first week of the finals, have won their prelims and will meet for the premiership cup. We’ll see you then.
Sydney will play Geelong in the Grand Final
What an extraordinary finish. Sydney charged out early, and the extent of that lead ended up being the thing that saved them. They essentially didn’t let Collingwood play football through the first half. But the Magpies started getting things on their own terms through the second half, and especially the final quarter. It wasn’t polished, it wasn’t clean, but they kept finding a way through. Suddenly, three goals in a row in quick time, and a chance to snatch the win. Sydney go through elated, Collingwood go home flat, but we’ve seen a fine contest.
4th quarter, 0 minutes remaining: Sydney 14.11 (95) to Collingwood 14.9 (94) That last 50 seconds will be replayed many times. A couple of ball-ups inside Collingwood’s 50. So many desperate attempts to get a clear shot at goal. So many closed down by the Swans’ defensive efforts. Finally the ball bounces near the goalsquare, and is wrestled into the goalpost with four seconds to go. That means a point for Collingwood, possession for Sydney, and this match will be decided, like the last prelim at the SCG, by one point in favour of the home team.
4th quarter, 1 minutes remaining: Sydney 14.11 (95) to Collingwood 14.8 (93) A Collingwood point gets added to the score, then the Swans get out. Down the wing. Huge mark by Franklin on the wing buys them some time. Then another by Hickey at half-forward. But the Pies win it in defence, rush it through the middle, kick it forward.
4th quarter, 2 minutes remaining: Sydney 14.11 (95) to Collingwood 14.8 (92) Three points the difference! Sidebottom has been throwing himself into the contest like a wrecking ball, often lacking the finesse to be effective in this quarter, but his desperate, violent kick from the pocket somehow soars high but between the posts.
4th quarter, 4 minutes remaining: Sydney 14.11 (95) to Collingwood 13.8 (86) And another! Moore spoils Buddy at half-back. Pendlebury hands it over the top to Daicos the Younger. Raking cross-field kick into the 50, Hoskin-Elliott drops the mark that he should take, but butters up to grab the crumb, turn back inboard, steady and kick a goal on the run! Four minutes, nine points the difference.
4th quarter, 11 minutes remaining: Sydney 14.11 (95) to Collingwood 12.8 (80) Still the Magpies hang in there! Nick Daicos kicks a torpedo inside 50. Ginnivan loses the attempted mark. Swans clear. Ball comes back. Mihocek marks at the top of the goalsquare and kicks it. Margin is 15 points.
4th quarter, 9 minutes remaining: Sydney 14.10 (94) to Collingwood 11.8 (74) Goal for Sydney! Papley has had some generosity from the umpires tonight. Ball inside 50, and Papley shoves Moore in the back with both hands. Starts to mark the ball but has it spoiled by Quaynor. Grabs the rebound and tries to claim a mark. Then the umpire gives him a free kick for a brush of Quaynor’s arm above Papley’s shoulder. Yeesh. Margin back to 20.
4th quarter, 11 minutes remaining: Sydney 13.10 (88) to Collingwood 11.8 (74) Brilliant running attack on the ball from McCreery, sprints between the arcs, dodges opponents and pumps the ball forward. But Kreuger on the end of it misses his running shot at goal!
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4th quarter, 12 minutes remaining: Sydney 13.10 (88) to Collingwood 11.7 (73) Suddenly Darcy Moore is prominent, attacking loose balls, playing on, driving it forward. The ball gets locked inside Collingwood’s forward line. Finally Josh Daicos misses to the narrow side from deep in the pocket, on the run.
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4th quarter, 15 minutes remaining: Sydney 13.10 (88) to Collingwood 11.6 (72) Sydney survive those first couple of minutes with Collingwood throwing everything at them. The Pies are playing with full-throttle attack, but a lack of polish. Turnovers, missed passes, but they keep smashing into the contest. Eventually they break through. Mihocek battles at ground level on the half-forward flank to deny Sydney possession. Nick Daicos gets it inside 50. Bianco kicks the running goal! That makes it 16 points.
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4th quarter, 18 minutes remaining: Sydney 13.10 (88) to Collingwood 10.6 (66) First clearance to the Magpies, out wide. Kick inside 50, Sidebottom the unlikely aerialist who soars for a mark, but fumbles as he hits the ground. Also crashes into Ginnivan’s shoulder and leaves his young teammate sore. A minute later though, Nick Daicos kicks long from half-back and Sidebottom marks on the 50, one-handed, backpedalling. Can’t goal from 60 out though.
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Three-quarter time: Sydney 13.10 (88) to Collingwood 10.5 (65)
Isaac Heeney marks a barely-15-metre snap from the boundary with 13 seconds left in the quarter, and kicks after the siren. Misses to the right. One quarter to go, the Swans lead by 23. The Pies have been the fourth-quarter comeback specialists. It should be too hard against a team this good, but… maybe?
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3rd quarter, 2 minutes remaining: Sydney 13.9 (87) to Collingwood 10.5 (65) A couple of fierce minutes, as Collingwood attack the goalface but Sydney defend ferociously. They’re so good at this, the Swans. Keep their cool under pressure, close down the ball-carrier each time almost before he receives it.
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3rd quarter, 5 minutes remaining: Sydney 13.9 (87) to Collingwood 10.5 (65) Another snap shot from Josh Daicos, this one missing, and then another 50 penalty is paid at the kick-in, against McCreery. The Swans maraud forward but Papley loses the ball, and for the first time in living memory, the Magpie surge down the field works. Possession to possession, Pendlebury finding Ginnivan on the lead 45 metres out, kicking from the 50 superbly to send it home! It’s 22 points the difference.
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3rd quarter, 8 minutes remaining: Sydney 13.9 (87) to Collingwood 9.4 (58) Mason Cox has been subbed out of the game, Nathan Kreuger is in. Booming kick from Mihocek nearly rolls through an empty forward 50 for a goal, but trickles towards the boundary with the bounce. Still, Collingwood get the goal: passed to Josh Daicos from the throw-in, and the other brother kicks one too. The margin still within five goals.
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3rd quarter, 11 minutes remaining: Sydney 13.8 (86) to Collingwood 8.3 (51) Horrible for Darcy Moore! He’s had a dire night, has barely touched the ball. Finally takes a contested mark, against Franklin on the wing. Sees Jeremy Howe in the centre square. Kicks across to him. And while the ball hangs there, Justin McInerney runs up, taps it off Howe’s fingertips, runs away with it, through an empty forward line to kick a goal.
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3rd quarter, 12 minutes remaining: Sydney 12.8 (80) to Collingwood 8.3 (51) Nick Daicos comes to the party, as Collingwood get their own dodgy 50-metre penalty after the one against them earlier. Free kick paid for holding the ball, but it comes loose and the Swans thump it down the wing, because they can’t hear the whistle in front of their big home crowd. Daicos gets brought to about 30 metres out on an angle and kicks the goal.
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3rd quarter, 14 minutes remaining: Sydney 12.8 (80) to Collingwood 7.3 (45) The accuracy that kept Collingwood in the game has gone, three missed shots in a row. The latest is Elliott, marking about 30 from goal after Crisp gets a free kick in the centre square.
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3rd quarter, 17 minutes remaining: Sydney 12.8 (80) to Collingwood 7.2 (44) Down the other end, Robbie Fox misses a set shot for Sydney. But the Pies can’t clear defence from the kick-in, with McCartin marking outside 50 and thumping it back in. Logan McDonald is there, top of the square, marking and goaling with his first disposal of the match. Six goals the difference now.
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3rd quarter, 19 minutes remaining: Sydney 11.7 (73) to Collingwood 7.2 (44) Good for the Magpies initially, in that Pendlebury wins possession from the bounce, Daicos runs up to receive a handball at the edge of the centre square, and kicks nicely for Cameron to mark inside 50. But the ruckman misses his shot at goal.
About to get underway for the second half. Swans by 30. Jason Dunstall looks like he’s freezing sitting at the outdoor punditry table.
Half time: Sydney 11.7 (73) to Collingwood 7.1 (43)
Sydney flexing some muscle through that quarter. Some Pies have been invisible after being recently prolific: Josh and Nick Daicos, Pendlebury in that second quarter, Darcy Moore from defence. Sydney have been too strong in attack, denying Collingwood the chance to set up from defence.
2nd quarter, 1 minute remaining: Sydney 11.7 (73) to Collingwood 7.1 (43) The first miss of the night for Collingwood, as Elliott marks at 50 and plays on for a running shot at goal. Pendlebury was busy in the first quarter but has had the clamps applied since. Cox can’t mark in the forward pocket. Time ticks down. Quaynor gets a free kick after the siren for a tackle on Franklin, but it’s paid 70 metres from goal and he doesn’t have that kind of torpedo in him. In the end he runs off his line to get the distance, misses the lot, and has the kick ruled out anyway for playing on.
2nd quarter, 4 minutes remaining: Sydney 11.7 (73) to Collingwood 7.0 (42) At last, Sydney’s dominance around the ground starts to show on the scoreboard. Another centre square win sends a quick kick forward, and Heeney marks and goals. That makes three goals directly from the centre bounce for the Swans.
2nd quarter, 5 minutes remaining: Sydney 10.7 (67) to Collingwood 7.0 (42) Shortly afterwards, Chad Warner misses a set shot inside 50. No chance for Papley to miss though after he’s paid a 50 metre penalty from half forward. I’m not sure what that was for. Papley was held after spoiling a mark, and the ball was knocked away, but that was by three Collingwood players trying to make a contest.
2nd quarter, 7 minutes remaining: Sydney 9.6 (60) to Collingwood 7.0 (42) Another one for McCreery, similar to the first. This one starts with Cox winning a free kick in the ruck at half back for a hold. The ball comes to Josh Daicos, a long cross-field kick finds Hoskin-Elliott at half forward, then he chips over the top. McCreery kicks a very similar goal to his first. Pies hanging in.
2nd quarter, 10 minutes remaining: Sydney 9.5 (59) to Collingwood 6.0 (36) Another for the Swans! Throw-in inside 50. Cox punches towards the line. Mills picks it up, bombs it across the goals. Franklin helps bring it to ground, and Rowbottom runs through traffic to grab the loose ball and kick it through.
2nd quarter, 12 minutes remaining: Sydney 8.5 (53) to Collingwood 6.0 (36) This time Sydney don’t miss. Franklin bags his second, closing to within four goals of Jason Dunstall’s tally of 78 in finals. Another quick clearance, with Hickey taking the ball out of the ruck and banging it forward to Franklin to mark 45 from goal.
2nd quarter, 13 minutes remaining: Sydney 7.5 (47) to Collingwood 6.0 (36) Another miss for Sydney, as Tom Papley’s snap doesn’t go the right way off the boot. Then Blakey shows he has learned nothing, giving away another block free kick, this time at half-forward for the Swans. Crisp goes to Ginnivan at half forward, then a lovely chip for McCreery in space. His set shot from 40 out sails through. The Pies still haven’t missed, while if the Swans had kicked straight they could just about have finished this.
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2nd quarter, 15 minutes remaining: Sydney 7.4 (46) to Collingwood 5.0 (30) Punch and counter, as Darcy Cameron gets another for the Pies. Blakey blocks him out of a marking contest in the forward pocket, and the ruckman kicks truly. Accuracy is helping Collingwood stay in touch.
2nd quarter, 19 minutes remaining: Sydney 7.3 (45) to Collingwood 4.0 (24) Follow that with 9 seconds for the Swans to have Franklin mark straight in front, after getting the centre clearance on their terms. This time he kicks truly.
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2nd quarter, 19 minutes remaining: Sydney 6.2 (38) to Collingwood 4.0 (24) Huge start for Collingwood! Only 17 seconds into the quarter, a goal comes. Mason Cox was influential again, punching the centre clearance away, following up to pick up the ball off his shoelaces, flicking a handball wide for another handball inside 50, finding Elliott who snaps truly.
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Quarter time: Sydney 6.3 (39) to Collingwood 3.0 (18)
Franklin marks on a long lead just before the siren, which blows as he runs in to shoot from 40 metres out, but he hits his shot right. One behind, and a let-off for Collingwood. They got mugged by Sydney early, four goals on the board before the Pies had scored, and while the Pies put on three quickly once they had caught their breath, Sydney still has the breathing space.
1st quarter, 1 minute remaining: Sydney 6.2 (38) to Collingwood 3.0 (18) Straightforward for Sydney, after Sam Reid marks a long ball in the forward pocket. Tall player, floating into the forward line without a direct opponent, claims one in the pack. Kicks around the corner on his right foot and sneaks it in, near post.
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1st quarter, 2 minutes remaining: Sydney 5.2 (32) to Collingwood 3.0 (18) Eight seconds for the Collingwood reply! Jack Crisp roves the centre tap, runs to the edge of the centre square, and unloads a long kick that skids through.
1st quarter, 2 minutes remaining: Sydney 5.2 (32) to Collingwood 2.0 (12) Freak goal for Chad Warner! After a series of crunching Collingwood bumps and tackles to deny shots at goal in the forward pocket. Warner gets a snap away from 40 metres out, looking for Franklin close to goal. The ball bounces over his head, then skips on from its point and zips between the posts.
1st quarter, 3 minutes remaining: Sydney 4.2 (26) to Collingwood 2.0 (12) A blown chance by Collingwood, after McCreery receives a handball in space on the wing, has room to run a long way and kick long to Johnson on his own in the pocket. But the kick swings away late, and beats Johnson to the boundary line. Mason Cox follows up with another strong effort, this time a tackle on the swing, spilling the ball free and allowing a pass to Jamie Elliott in the pocket. He’s got his dancing boots on, and kicks the goal.
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1st quarter, 6 minutes remaining: Sydney 4.2 (26) to Collingwood 1.0 (6) There’s one for the Pies! It starts with a long kick towards 50 that lets Mason Cox get a clear run and jump at the ball. He marks well, turns and kicks into the pocket. Cameron, the other big ruckman, can’t mark, but Will Hoskin-Elliott takes it off hands and snaps it through from a tight angle in the right pocket.
1st quarter, 10 minutes remaining: Sydney 4.2 (26) to Collingwood 0.0 (0) Swans putting a lot of pressure on Collingwood whenever the Pies have possession, and it’s pressure by Reid on Noble, rushing from standing the mark after giving away a free kick, that forces a kick out on the full on Sydney’s half-back flank. The Swans by contrast are clean with disposal, and a long kick finds Papley on the 50 arc. His set shot goes a long way, straight through.
1st quarter, 13 minutes remaining: Sydney 3.1 (19) to Collingwood 0.0 (0) Heeney has been prominent early, but a kick slews off the outside of his boot as he tries to pump it inside 50. The Pies escape trouble for a time, but get back into trouble as Hickey gets a 50-metre penalty at half-back when the player on the mark doesn’t move back. Hickey bombs it to the goalsquare, Franklin brings it to ground, and Ryan Clarke is there front and centre to snap it home.
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1st quarter, 15 minutes remaining: Sydney 2.1 (13) to Collingwood 0.0 (0) Another for the Swans, after Collingwood falter. Brayden Maynard clatters Lance Franklin into the fence and gives him a serve as the Pies try to push forward, but twice they can’t find targets inside 50 and the ball slingshots back down the other end. Franklin has a key pass in that sequence, ending with a loose ball bouncing towards the goalsquare, and Dylan Stephens is there to soccer it home.
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1st quarter, 17 minutes remaining: Sydney 1.1 (7) to Collingwood 0.0 (0) Jack Ginnivan has the chance to answer for the Pies after getting his head yanked off in the left forward pocket, but his set shot from 45 out fades right and doesn’t make the distance.
1st quarter, 19 minutes remaining: Sydney 1.1 (7) to Collingwood 0.0 (0) Sydney get the first goal of the match, after quickly heading forward and scoring a behind. While trying to get out of defence, a free kick is called for a block outside 50. Everyone stops except for Isaac Heeney, and the umpire belatedly calls advantage and allows him to play on and kick a goal with no pressure on the shot. Questionable umpiring, taking so long to make that second call.
Noelene Timbery offers the Welcome to Country on behalf of the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council, to generous applause. Hugh Sheridan sings the anthem, the tenor resplendent in a shiny jacket of pastel green.
It’s also interesting that these are two teams with some bad recent premiership juju. Both Sydney and Collingwood have lost two grand finals in the last decade or so since their last flags. Both sets of supporters want to make up for those near misses.
Teams
Sydney Swans
Full-back: Paddy McCartin, Tom McCartin, Dane Rampe
Half-back: Oliver Florent, Robbie Fox, Jake Lloyd
Centre: Dylan Stephens, Callum Mills, Errol Gulden
Half-forward: Isaac Heeney, Sam Reid, Will Hayward
Full-forward: Tom Papley, Lance Franklin, Ryan Clarke
Ruck: Tom Hickey, James Rowbottom, Luke Parker
Bench: Nick Blakey, Chad Warner, Justin McInerney, Logan McDonald
Collingwood Magpies
Full-back: Scott Pendlebury, Darcy Moore, Nathan Murphy
Half-back: Nick Daicos, Jeremy Howe, Jack Crisp
Centre: Josh Daicos, Patrick Lipinski, Trent Bianco
Half-forward: Jamie Elliott, Darcy Cameron, Beau McCreery
Full-forward: Jordan De Goey, Brody Mihocek, Will Hoskin-Elliott
Ruck: Mason Cox, Brayden Maynard, Steele Sidebottom
Bench: Isaac Quaynor, John Noble, Jack Ginnivan, Ash Johnson
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We’ve got a couple of teams in hot form tonight. The Swans last lost a match in July, when Essendon got the better of them. The Pies have lost only twice in their last 15 matches. Those were the finals loss to Geelong and a loss to the Swans in round 22. That means that Collingwood’s hope of a premiership relies on reversing both of those results in consecutive weeks.
Hello, footy final enthusiasts. You’ve been well? Great. Now that we’re done with the preliminaries, let’s get to this preliminary. The Cats are in the grand final, and two birds will play off to meet them: the Magpies and Swans at the Sydney Cricket Ground. It’s a twilight game, so it will start in daylight and be dark for the second half. Bit weird, but we had the same when Geelong beat Brisbane last night.
What’s the story? Collingwood will be playing for three weeks in a row, having lost to Geelong in the first week of finals, then bounced back with a win over Fremantle. Sydney have had a week off, after beating last year’s premiers Melbourne in the first week. Perhaps the break will have Sydney rested and fresh, or perhaps the consecutive matches will have Collingwood hardened and ready. Everybody is wise after the event.
