Collingwood has climbed on to the winners list, simultaneously condemning Sydney to a 0-3 start to the season after the visitors won 11.14 (80) to 11.13 (79) at the SCG on Friday night.
Facing their first 0-3 start since 1999, Collingwood looked to have relented when the Swans hit the lead in the 20th minute of the final term for the first time in the match.
However, a magnificent set-shot goal from the pocket by Will Hoskin-Elliott put the Magpies up again and they stretched their lead to seven points with two behinds, before second-game player Nic Newman scored a goal to make it the solitary point again.
In a frantic final confrontation, the Magpies held on to secure a pressure-relieving win in front of a breathless crowd of 35,310.
The Magpies’ triumph ruined Lance Franklin’s 250th match celebrations - the superstar forward went goalless, too - and leaves the Swans winless from their first three matches of 2017.
Collingwood’s victory was built on a superb opening quarter, Alex Fasolo’s four first-half goals and a remarkable tackle count of 113 that will quieten critics of their defensive efforts so far this season.
The Swans midfield got moving as the game progressed but gave up too much early. Youngster Will Hayward was a bright spot, scoring three goals in an energetic display.
Collingwood made an explosive start, clobbering Sydney’s lethargic midfield and piling on 23 inside 50s to just two to earn a 21-point quarter-time lead.
Fasolo made the most of his three scoring opportunities and Jack Crisp added another, though the Pies’ dominance might have earned even more on the scoreboard.
Remarkably, it took until the 18th minute for Sydney to enter their attacking 50 and it resulted in second-gamer Robbie Fox’s first AFL goal. It was one of just two entries for the term.
A furious spray from coach John Longmire must have resonated because by half-time Sydney had narrowed the gap to just nine points, edging Collingwood’s advantage in contested possession and clearances.
Hayward and Kieren Jack kicked two goals each, as Josh Kennedy and Dan Hannebery started getting more of the ball and the Swans’ intensity rose noticeably.
Yet the Magpies’ defensive effort absorbed well, yielding a goal to Fasolo and two neat set shot goals from the pocket by Jesse White and Levi Greenwood, who was back from injury.
In the third, Travis Varcoe, Collingwood’s other inclusion, scored early and Adam Treloar’s super effort on the run from outside the arc was one for the highlights reel, but Sydney got back to within nine points with majors to Hannebery and Kennedy, as the midfield arm-wrestle began to bite.
Sam Reid potted a free kick from beyond 50 metres to start the final term and get the Swans to within a kick.
Varcoe and Hayward swapped their second and third, respectively, before a pin-point centering kick by Franklin found Oliver Florent, whose resulting goal made it a one-point game.
From there it was anyone’s to win and Collingwood were able to hang on in a thriller.
SYDNEY 1.1 5.7 7.11 11.13 (79)
COLLINGWOOD 4.4 7.4 9.8 11.14 (80)
GOALS
Sydney: Hayward 3, Jack 2, Fox, Hannebery, Kennedy, S. Reid, Florent, Newman
Collingwood: Fasolo 4, Varcoe 2, Crisp, White, Greenwood, Treloar, Hoskin-Elliott
BEST
Sydney: Hannebery, Lloyd, Jones, Kennedy, Mills, Marsh
Collingwood: Adams, Grundy, Sidebottom, Fasolo, Treloar, Crisp
INJURIES
Sydney: Nil
Collingwood: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stevic, Nicholls, Hay
Official crowd: 35,310 at the SCG
