It's Business As Usual For Cats

GEELONG's stunning 86-point loss to Collingwood was only the second time the premier had tasted defeat in 29 games, but the warning bells were ringing weeks ago.

Magnificent, But Now Pies Have To Keep It Up

Watching Collingwood take on Geelong last week, it was like the tape of last year's preliminary final had clicked into a fifth quarter.

Geelong Can't Afford To Let Scarlett Stray

GEELONG will learn soon whether the Friday night massacre was just the long-postponed dip it had to have, or a portent of increased vulnerability. To most observers, the outcome said more about Collingwood.

Collingwood Reads Riot Act To Sluggish Briggs

KURRI Kurri coach Shaun Collingwood has told Bulldogs five-eighth Jacob Briggs that he must deliver today against Nelson Bay at Kurri Kurri Sportsground or face being dropped.

Fierce Pies Find The Way To End Geelong's Run

COLLINGWOOD is the Lleyton Hewitt of football. Not simply because it polarises opinion like the irritating "C'mon" merchant but because to win, it has to play football the way Hewitt plays tennis.

All-or-nothing Collingwood Pulls Out Its Aces

COLLINGWOOD is the Lleyton Hewitt of football. Not simply because it polarises opinion like the irritating "C'mon" merchant but because to win, it has to play football like Hewitt plays tennis.

Magpies Swoop To Leave

COLLINGWOOD'S round-nine game against Geelong was a cakewalk last night, the Magpies stunning the premier to the tune of an 86-point defeat. Geelong's second loss in 29 matches was as comprehensive as it was surprising.

Pies Send Cats Crashing To Earth

Collingwood 20.14 (134) Geelong 7.6 (48)

Afl Preview - Season 2008 Round 9

TONIGHT GEELONG V COLLINGWOOD 7.40pm at the MCG TAB Sportsbet: Cats $1.18, Magpies $4.50

Despite His Coach's Protest, Ottens To Miss

MARK Thompson admitted yesterday he had fought with Geelong's medical and fitness staff to bring ruckman Brad Ottens back into the team for tomorrow night's preliminary final rematch against Collingwood, and lost.

Rocca In Despite Scarlett Shadow

THE ghosts of Matthew Scarlett past might haunt Collingwood but they will not be sufficient to provoke the club into resting full-forward Anthony Rocca.

Fraser Should Be Right This Time

COLLINGWOOD ruckman Josh Fraser is expected to return for Friday night's preliminary final rematch against Geelong after overcoming a knee injury received playing for Victoria in the Hall of Fame tribute game.

Afl Tightens Screws On A Loose Interchange System

THE AFL community has a tendency to overreact. Last month, we had a round of football that produced a draw between Richmond and the Bulldogs, a bad bounce that favoured North Melbourne in a close game against Collingwood and an ugly sledge directed at Andrew Lovett picked up on an umpire's microphone.

Desperate Magpies Give Saints No Final Quarter

COLLINGWOOD got their season back on track with a desperate nine-point win over St Kilda in a cracking start to round eight at Telstra Dome on Friday night.

Magpies Outlast Saints As Gehrig's Days Numbered

COLLINGWOOD outlasted St Kilda by nine points last night after a high-intensity match in which both teams ran themselves to a standstill.

Magpies Outlast Saints In Marathon Performance

COLLINGWOOD beat St Kilda by nine points last night in a high-intensity match in which both teams ran themselves to a standstill.

Victory Kick-starts Magpies' Campaign

Collingwood 16.7 (103) St Kilda 14.10 (94)

Afl Preview - Season 2008 Round 8

TONIGHT ST KILDA V COLLINGWOOD 7.40pm at Telstra Dome

Pies Hope Fraser Will Be Ready To Tackle The Saints

ASTOUNDING as it sounds, Collingwood says Josh Fraser, whose season appeared in jeopardy on Saturday night, is an outside chance to play when the Magpies meet St Kilda on Friday night.

Saints Fit To Burst

St Kilda did it again, getting everyone to believe that this might be its year, but as it prepares to meet Collingwood on Friday night, Ross Lyon's team faces a game it cannot afford to lose.

Coughlan Pulls Up Unscathed

RICHMOND midfielder Mark Coughlan took the first step to returning to senior football yesterday, playing a half of football in Coburg's 53-point win over Collingwood at ABD Group Stadium.

Tiger Returns, Coughlan Pulls Up Unscathed

RICHMOND midfielder Mark Coughlan took the first step to returning to senior football yesterday, playing a half of football in Coburg's 53-point win over Collingwood at ABD Group Stadium.

Fine French Farce With A Soupcon Of Benny Hill

RUN FOR YOUR WIFE (STATIONNEMENT ALTERNE) Melbourne French Theatre. By Ray Cooney, adapted by Stewart Vaughan and Jean-Christophe Barc. Collingwood College Theatre, May 6. Until tonight Running time: 120 minutes

Didak Relief At Missing Day In Court

COLLINGWOOD'S Alan Didak took a phone call on Wednesday afternoon that brought huge relief to the footballer and his club.

Didak Relief In Court Twist

COLLINGWOOD'S Alan Didak took a phone call on Wednesday afternoon that brought huge relief to the footballer and his AFL club.

Cats' Big Finish Grounds Magpies

GEELONG piled on seven unanswered last-quarter goals to trample Collingwood by 56 points in their VFL clash at Princes Park yesterday.

Hawks Expose Magpies' Weak Links

COLLINGWOOD coach Mick Malthouse admitted many of his players failed to measure up against Hawthorn at the MCG yesterday, exposing weaknesses "across the board" that needed urgent correction.

Hawks Find The Simple Things In Life The Best

SAM Mitchell won a possession roughly every three minutes of Hawthorn's thumping 65-point win over Collingwood at the MCG yesterday, but it was one of the simplest of those 39 touches, early in the third quarter, which spoke loudest, not so much of his own performance, but his team's.

Magpies' Weak Links Exposed

COLLINGWOOD coach Mick Malthouse admitted many of his players failed to measure up against Hawthorn at the MCG yesterday, exposing weaknesses "across the board" that needed urgent correction.

Unbeaten Hawks Dine Out On Pies But Coach Says Side Now Marked Men

Hawthorn 24.10 154 Collingwood 13.11 89 HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson expects to have his game plan scrutinised more closely after his potent forwards inflicted a 65-point thrashing on Collingwood at the MCG yesterday.

Magpies 'better Than 3-3', Says Malthouse

COLLINGWOOD is a better side than its ladder position suggests and will not allow Hawthorn to dictate terms when they meet at the MCG today, says coach Mick Malthouse.

We're Better Than 3-3: Malthouse

COLLINGWOOD is a better side than its ladder position suggests and will not allow Hawthorn to dictate terms when they meet at the MCG today, says coach Mick Malthouse.