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Swans boss says SCG crowd record could be broken today
Sydney chairman Andrew Pridham says tickets have been impossible to find for today’s Swans v Collingwood preliminary final and the crowd could break the all-time attendance record for the celebrated ground.
The Age and Sydney Morning Herald reported earlier this week fans had been warned about scam tickets as some desperate supporters paid $500 or more for a chance to get to the game.
Pridham told 3AW today the crowd was expected to top 48,000.
‘These are the hardest games to win’: Pendlebury
By Roy Ward
Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury has seen it all in AFL football and he believes winning a preliminary final is the hardest game to win.
Pendlebury said he knew the Magpies had the talent to improve this year given they had played in four of the last five finals series before struggling last season.
Scott Pendlebury.Credit:AFL Photos
He also said that he hadn’t thought of the potential of playing in the grand final next Saturday as trying to win today’s match in Sydney was all they could worry about.
“I haven’t thought about it. I know what’s on the line for next week but, yeah, I feel like in my career, these are the hardest games to win,” Pendlebury told Channel Seven pre-game.
“You worry about next week if we can take care of today.”
Pendlebury said he couldn’t say much to the young stars in his side who were experiencing finals for the first time.
“One of the things is you can’t explain it to them until they taste it,” Pendlebury said.
“After the Geelong game, those young guys were like, “Oh, my god, this is amazing. We’re so glad we get an opportunity”.
“There were a few things in their own performance they weren’t happy with it but they’ve got to experience it.
“This is a third final for a lot of guys and they’re much better for that experience.”
Medical subs named
Neither side has made any late changes so far and the medical subs have been named with Braeden Campbell (Swans) and Nathan Kreuger (Magpies) filling those roles.
From heart of the Collingwood fan bus
By Najma Sambul
I’ve been embedded in the Collingwood fan bus to report on how they’re preparing for Saturday’s match against the Swans.
As soon as I get to Southern Cross station just before the departure time of 1am, I’m surprised by a range of Pies supporters.
It’s a sea of black and white, from the classic older cheer squad devotees to raucous young blokes and women.
“Up the Pies!” they yell at me enthusiastically as they mistake me for one of them. I am wearing a black and white outfit after all (unintentional).
The bus ride is loud, and most of the chanting begins at the back of the bus from the younger cohort.
“Sydney won’t know what’s hit it!” shouts 27-year-old tradie Joey Taleb.
Taleb has closed his mechanic shop for the trip and has placed $1000 on his team to bring home a win.
“Ooooo Jordan De Goey”, and the drawn out “Collingwooood” are repeated back to back for the first hour of the bus ride with the occasional “DAICOS!” breaking it up.
There’s no doubt De Goey’s presence has given them confidence going into their do-or-die match in Sydney.
Towards the middle and the front of the bus is the quieter group, who responsibly packed pillows and blankets for the chilly temperatures in the bus.
Among them is Jodie Wilcock who flew from Kalgoorlie, in WA, to Melbourne just to be with her tribe on the Collingwood fan bus.
“Returning home after the 2018 grand final with a plane full of West Coast supporters … that was gut-wrenching,” she says.
Long-time cheer squad member Brooke Batty sits with her 13-year-old daughter Kendra, and they’re chatting about their trip to Taronga Zoo before game starts, something that’s become a bit of a tradition over the years.
“When we went to Adelaide in 2018 [for the game] we went and saw pandas because where else are you going to see them?” Batty explains.
At 3.30am things quieten down and most of the supporters begin to get some sleep, as there’s still close to eight hours or so to travel.
As daylight breaks, we are all woken by a voice yelling “Go the Pies!” and chanting the Freddy Kreuger taunt “One … two … Freddy’s coming for you.”
The bus comes alive with energy and chatter as soon as we cross the NSW border and mark the halfway point. Cars with Collingwood scarves hanging out the windows beep as they overtake the bus, further adding to the excitement.
“Geelong we are coming for ya!” someone yells.
They begin to call the match in their favour already. It’s clear a win and a spot in the grand final is the only thing on their minds.
Collingwood president and fans delayed as Sydney-bound flight turns around
By Lachlan Abbott
A big day for some of the Magpies’ biggest supporters has started poorly, with a Sydney-bound Qantas flight carrying club president Jeff Browne forced to turn around minutes after departing.
A Qantas spokesperson confirmed Melbourne to Sydney flight QF436 was forced to land shortly after take-off at 11.20am today due to an unusual smell in the cabin.
Collingwood president Jeff Browne.
Browne, who is in the midst of his first year as Magpies president, was onboard the flight – which had already departed 20 minutes behind schedule – with several Collingwood supporters.
Qantas said the passengers would be accommodated on the next available flights to Sydney.
Browne is now on his way to the SCG and is expected to make it in time for the first bounce, although he may miss most of the pre-game build-up.
The original flight, QF436, is now expected to land at 3.43pm, but some passengers were transferred to an earlier flight.
Watch: Jake Niall previews the preliminary finals
Good afternoon
G’day everyone. It’s Roy Ward here and I’ll be tapping the keys on our live blog as Sydney and Collingwood face off for a spot in next Saturday’s AFL Grand Final.
Plane issues appear to have disrupted some fans travel schedules today but the buses carrying scores of Magpies’ faithful to Sydney appear to have arrived well before first bounce.
On the field, both sides will have seen Geelong romped into the grand final with a thumping win over Brisbane at the MCG last night.
First bounce is set for 4.45pm AEST and we will have all the major moments and post-game reactions on the blog today.
Please enjoy the afternoon to come.
