Despite the Swans getting off to a fast start and building a 23-point lead by the early stages of the second quarter, the Magpies outscored the home side 11 goals to five from that point on to post a 20-point win in front of more than 32,000 fans.
Poor delivery into attack cost the Swans, with new recruit Lance Franklin finishing the match as the Swans’ only multiple goal scorer with two goals.
The Swans also struggled to keep up with Collingwood’s running game, which saw the visitor’s captain Scott Pendlebury pick up 33 possessions and lay ten tackles for the match, while Dayne Beams and Heritier Lumumba were also in form for the Magpies.
Following the Swans second consecutive loss, coach John Longmire rued his side’s missed opportunities.
"(The game) was lost with a bit of polish going forward," he said.
"We didn't have the polish we wanted going forward, particularly in the second half, and didn't use the ball when we had it.
"Towards the back end of the game that's what cost us.
"We blazed away too many times and didn't use the extra number and really kicked it back to them too many times."
After a quiet opening round, Dan Hannebery was the Swans’ best against the Pies, collecting 29 possessions, two tackles and a goal, while Josh Kennedy and Ben McGlynn were among the Swans’ better players.
Up forward, there were brief moments of brilliance from Franklin, including a vintage goal on the run from 55 metres in the third term, which helped lift the Swans heading into the final term.
The loss saw the Swans suffer back-to-back defeats to open the season for the first time since 2006, while it was also the ninth consecutive regular season loss to Collingwood at ANZ Stadium.
Sydney Swans 3.1 7.1 9.7 10.9 (69)
Collingwood 1.2 5.5 9.10 12.17 (89)
Best: Hannebery, Kennedy, McGlynn, Jetta, Mitchell, McVeigh
Goals: Franklin 2, Rampe, Malceski, Pyke, McGlynn, Hannebery, Reid, Cunningham, Jetta
Crowd: 32,347 at ANZ Stadium
Brownlow votes: 3 – S.Pendlebury (Coll), 2 – D.Beams (Coll), 1 – D.Hannebery (Syd)
Bob Skilton Medal votes: McGlynn 31, Hannebery 26, Grundy 25, Richards 25, Jetta 25
