• Swans v Collingwood Match Report

    Sydney Swans vs. Collingwood Magpies Match Report
    7.10pm June 25, ANZ Stadium

    Now I?m probably one of the more optimistic Swans supporters and tip the Swans every week but even I didn?t have the greatest hopes for the Swans against Collingwood. The Swans went into this match with three changes to the team that was thrashed by Carlton ? Bevan, White and Everitt recalled for Mumford (suspension), Jetta (dropped) and Johnson (injury). The Pies got Swan back, fresh from his Arizona jaunt and Thomas from suspension. Richards was a late withdrawal with Johnston called up for his second game, as the Swans aimed to arrest a nine game losing streak against the reigning premiers.

    It was an ominous start as Bolton combined with Thomas to give Jack a heavy knock which forced him from the field with serious doubts over whether he would return. Both teams started quickly and it seemed it was going to be the usual Swans/Collingwood affair when Swan strolled in to an open goal for the Pies? first. Jack returned and the Swans reacted strongly with goals to O?Keefe, White and Jack putting the Swans 11 points up half way through the first quarter. But the Pies showed their class to hit back and kick the last three goals of the term to take an eight point lead in to the break.

    The second quarter was all Collingwood as Cloke started to dominate Grundy. With LRT back in defence for the first time in a year and Richards and Johnson out, the Swans persisted with Grundy. Jack reinjured his ankle and had to be subbed off with Everitt injected in to the forward line. Thomas, Davis and Dawes all missed gettable goals to turn what could have been a Collingwood rort in to a contest. Dawes finally got Collingwood?s first in the 17th minute but a McVeigh goal kept the Swans within three goals at half time.

    Collingwood finally hit the scoreboard after half time to open up a five goal lead that started to look ominous. But the Swans fought back and Seaby and Kennedy were a formidable combination in the middle with Goodes and Bolton goaling in quick succession. The Swans? midfield started to look on top and with the help of some uncharacteristic skill errors from the Pies; the Swans booted five of the six goals of the quarter to trail by just nine at three-quarter time.

    Goodes and McVeigh kicked the first two of the quarter to put the Swans in front for the first time since the first quarter and the 38-thousand strong crowd started to believe. A brain fade from Kennelly gifted Wellingham a goal and Collingwood the lead, which they never relinquished. Cloke, with his sixth for the night, sealed the win for the Pies before a Goodes goal brought the final margin back to six points.

    The Swans did nearly everything right ? Seaby was superb, O?Keefe brilliant at the clearances and McVeigh made Davis accountable at half forward. The Swans had to come out and make a statement following the Carlton game and that they did, with relentless pressure and attack all night. In the end, the class of Collingwood won out but the Swans probably took more from the match and showed that they have the capabilities to mix it with the top four. A close loss like this could set the Swans up for the back half of the season ? although only if they continue this form on Saturday against Adelaide ? But I?m always optimistic!

    MATCH DETAILS

    Sydney Swans 4.3 5.5 11.6 14.9 (93)
    Collingwood 5.5 7.10 11.15 13.21 (99)

    GOALS
    Sydney Swans: McVeigh 4, Goodes 3, O'Keefe 2, Bolton 2, Jack, White, Mattner
    Collingwood: Cloke 6, Pendlebury, Blair, Ball, Wellingham, Sidebottom, Dawes, Swan

    BEST
    Sydney Swans: Goodes, Bolton, O'Keefe, McVeigh, McGlynn, Mattner
    Collingwood: Cloke, Pendlebury, Swan, Dawes, Reid, O'Brien

    INJURIES
    Sydney Swans: Richards (ankle), replaced in selected side by Lewis Johnston. Jack (ankle), White (hamstring)
    Collingwood: Didak (ankle)

    SUBSTITUTES
    Sydney Swans: Kieran Jack replaced by Andrejs Everitt in the second quarter
    Collingwood: Alan Didak replaced by John McCarthy in the third quarter

    Reports: Nil

    Umpires: Farmer, Rosebury, Mollison

    Official crowd: 38,053 at ANZ Stadium, Sydney
    Comments 4 Comments
    1. ScottH's Avatar
      ScottH -
      Great stuff Alison.
      Thanks.
    1. dimelb's Avatar
      dimelb -
      Odd - I enjoyed a losing game, now have enjoyed reading about it! Thanks Alison.
    1. Big Al's Avatar
      Big Al -
      Terrific stuff Alison.

      Thanks.
    1. Lucky Knickers's Avatar
      Lucky Knickers -
      Great report Alison. I certainly felt exactly the same as you going into the gam
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