By Raman GorayaUpdated June 25, 2011 23:09:00 Title holder Collingwood survived an almighty scare from relentless challenger Sydney, hanging on for a nerve-racking one-goal victory at the Olympic stadium on Saturday night.
The Magpies held a 30-point lead half-way through the third term before the Swans launched a remarkable offensive to poke their heads in front at the 13th minute mark of the last quarter.
Not a moment too late, the reigning premiers eventually put aside some terrible kicking on goal to reclaim a 13-point advantage thanks to goals from Sharrod Wellingham and matchwinner Travis Cloke as the clock ticked into time on.
Sydney veteran Adam Goodes, who along with fellow old heads Jarrad McVeigh (four goals) and Jude Bolton played a big part in sparking the comeback, brought the margin back with a strong mark and his third major.
But a vital, seventh contested mark by Cloke on the wing made sure there was no Swans miracle and Collingwood escaped with the 13.21 (99) to 14.9 (93) result.
Key defender Heath Shaw said the grinding contest was good preparation for next week's highly anticipated tussle with fellow top four combatant Hawthorn.
"It's good for us to come off the bye and have a tough win and know that even though we were under the pump we can still come away with a solid win," he said.
The powerful Cloke stood tall all evening and despite the occasional yip in front of the sticks ended with his second consecutive haul of six goals.
Shaw said Cloke was becoming an increasingly valuable part of the Magpies side.
"He and [Chris] Dawes always create a contest, they are big targets for us and it does lift the team when you see a guy take a big grab like that and kick a goal - when he finally does," Shaw said.
The Pies have now won their last 10 matches against Sydney which also extended its poor record against the AFL's elite.
Dane Swan accumulated 33 possessions and a goal in his return after his midseason trip to Arizona.
The silky Scott Pendlebury was not far behind while Luke Ball laid a typically dogged 12 tackles to accompany his 23 touches.
Ryan O'Keefe and Daniel Hannebery fought hard for the Swans who had few stand-outs but many contributors.
Close but no cigar
Despite always putting up a fight, the sixth-placed Swans have won just three of their last 28 clashes against top four sides following defeats to Carlton and now Collingwood in consecutive weeks.
To their credit the home side came out swinging, taking the game on and booting four of the first six goals of the contest.
Collingwood was up to the challenge, taking an eight-point lead into the first change before wasting a host of chances in the second quarter to blow the game open.
The Magpies, looking flat on their first interstate trip this season after having the week off, converted just two goals from seven scoring shots and 15 inside-50s after quarter-time with Dale Thomas particularly wasteful.
Sydney was dealt a heavy blow with last season's best and fairest winner Kieran Jack having to be substituted after a recurrence of a right ankle injury as the Pies led by 17 at half-time.
A limping Alan Didak followed Jack to the bench early in the second half and Collingwood's profligacy was proving equally debilitating as Sydney emerged from the clouds in emphatic fashion.
A soft goal to Goodes kick-started the Swans into booting seven of the next eight goals either side of the final change, the last coming from McVeigh who gave the Swans a one-point lead.
Collingwood responded but was again undone by poor kicking until Wellingham snapped truly and Cloke slotted a set shot from the pocket to ice the contest.
"The start of the third quarter I thought we were all over them but we just didn't put the scores on the board and they went down the other end and kicked goals," Shaw added.
"It does make it tough when you put all your hard work into getting it forward and you don't get the rewards."
Magpies: 13.21 (99) - T Cloke 6, C Dawes, D Swan, J Blair, L Ball, S Pendlebury, S Sidebottom, S Wellingham.
Swans: 14.9 (93) - J McVeigh 4, A Goodes 3, J Bolton 2, R O'Keefe 2, J White, K Jack, M Mattner.
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collingwood-3066 First posted June 25, 2011 22:01:00
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