Collingwood coach Craig McRae told his players the number on their back was less relevant than their connection with teammates before they outmuscled Sydney to maintain their perfect record at Gather Round.
Although missing Jordan DeGoey, Lachie Schultz and Dan Houston, the Magpies were too strong in the contest.
The Magpies’ Ned Long was strong in the contest.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Ned Long played the best game of his career to assist the tagged Nick Daicos as the Magpies dominated centre clearance scoring three goals from the source and winning the territory battle.
On the rare occasions after quarter-time that Sydney were able to move the ball from the back half, Darcy Moore continued his recent renaissance, playing much tighter defensively and trusting his teammates to rebound ground balls if he could not mark.
Sydney have reasons for their struggles with their medicare card on display more often than most teams early this season. Errol Gulden, Tom Papley and Callum Mills are the biggest names of the eight players missing from last year’s grand final.
It should have given the Magpies confidence they could defeat Sydney especially with nine wins from their last nine appearances at the Adelaide Oval. McRae was not so sure, which was why he rated the win very highly.
“We came tonight thinking this was going to be a hard game,” McRae said.
After the first break they began building the pressure to a level Sydney got nowhere near to matching. They were simply better and stronger for longer to win comfortably by 31 points.
Their defensive structure held up well as they stifled Sydney’s ball movement and ability to change the angles to slice their way through the centre.
Like a python, they began to strangle their prey with the Swans unable to match the Magpies pressure and intensity. Sydney began to force the issue and made mistakes which led to Collingwood scores. Occasionally they would open the Magpies up, but it was rare.
Darcy Moore and Joel Amartey compete for possession.Credit: AFL Photos
The ball either lived in Collingwood’s forward half or was repelled by an intercept mark or spoil, a dominance accentuated when Joel Amartey hurt his hamstring just before half-time. The injury will be scanned.
McRae praised Long’s elevation to the midfield. “We believe in him enormously… he’s going to be hard to stop,” he said.
As the Magpies pressed home their advantage during the third quarter, Sydney moved Tom McCartin forward in a desperate attempt to win a contest inside 50, but it made no difference.
Collingwood did it without Nick Daicos making as much of an impact as usual with James Jordon arriving, as expected, with his clamps in hand. The superstar still worked hard to finish with 34 disposals and McRae noted he laid nine tackles.
Brayden Maynard and Beau McCreery played their best games for the season while Steele Sidebottom and Darcy Cameron continued their outstanding early season form. The coach revealed the Magpies end of season review noted that the senior citizens on the team had not had enough minutes allocated in their schedule to work on their craft, so they doubled down on that aspect of the game.
In the end – having won their past six matches at Adelaide Oval by a goal or less – they won comfortably, having 29 scores from just 55 inside 50 entries. By contrast Sydney ran into dead ends and one way streets as though they were tourists driving around harbour town. The Swans only managed 18 scoring shots from their 56 entries and their season is hanging by a thread as they wait for reinforcements.
Collingwood head to Brisbane to take on the Lions on Thursday night in good shape as they prepare to celebrate Jamie Elliott’s 200th match – who was subbed off to safeguard him for the occasion – while the Swans play Port Adelaide in a preliminary final rematch that sees both sides in strife.
McRae reinforced post-game the message he delivered pre-game.
“It’s how you fit in and it’s the system and the spirit we play with. We look really well-connected and we want to take great pride in that,” McRae said.
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.
