Pies Send Cats Crashing To Earth

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday May 24, 2008

Len Johnson and AAP

Collingwood 20.14 (134)

Geelong 7.6 (48)

LAST September, Collingwood's dreams went up in smoke when Geelong held on to beat them in a preliminary final by five points. Last night, it wasn't so close - and it wasn't the Cats wearing the smiles.

Collingwood started with enormous intensity and ferocious tackling from which they did not waver to beat Geelong by 86 points at the MCG.

From the first bounce, Collingwood harassed the Cats, denying them the time and space they have used so devastatingly for so long. Twice in the opening minutes, Geelong defenders were run down, first Matthew Scarlett by Scott Pendlebury, then Joel Corey by Leon Davis. These were significant moments, as was the one at the start of the second quarter when Steve Johnson danced around one opponent before being locked up as he tried to wrong-foot a second.

Collingwood, by contrast, could neither be wrong-footed, nor put a foot wrong.

The Magpies didn't flinch when the Cats kicked three quick goals at the start of the third quarter. Indeed, they stretched their lead 63 points at the final break.

Collingwood stunned the premiers to lead the premiers by a whopping 51 points at half-time.

Playing their best football since last year's preliminary final, when they nearly upset the Cats, Collingwood were outstanding to lead 11.6 (72) to 3.3 (21).

Key forward Travis Cloke kicked three goals in the half - he finished with four - and was reaping the benefits of the Magpies' domination around the ground.

Geelong had not lost since round 21 last season and had won 27 of their past 28 matches.

Collingwood dominated the tackle count 84-49 and this was clearly a focus for the Magpies from the opening bounce.

They allowed Geelong no free space and applied enormous pressure, regularly outnumbering the Cats at contested possessions.

Collingwood set the agenda early and kicked the first three goals of the game to rattle the competition's benchmark side.

Midfielder Pendlebury and defender Martin Clarke were prominent in a superb team performance, while defender Harry O'Brien played a disciplined game on dangerous Geelong forward Steve Johnson.

Magpies key forward Anthony Rocca, labelled the "bunny" of Geelong defender Scarlett, was executing an important secondary role in attack alongside Cloke, and had kicked a goal.

There were no free kicks paid yet under the league's controversial changes to the interchange laws.

The AFL's tightening up of the interchange system was trialled last week, and the free-kick penalty came into force last night.

Paul Chapman, nearly best afield in last week's comeback win over Richmond, was a late withdrawal from the Geelong side with a hamstring injury.

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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