‘Horror show’: Pies fans unleash after yet another loss

Collingwood’s win in round eight is now but a distant memory after Nathan Buckley’s side humiliated itself at the SCG on Saturday.

Any hopes of consecutive Collingwood wins were dashed after quarter time. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

The Collingwood faithful have slammed their side’s performance against Sydney, declaring the Magpies’ effort “utterly embarrassing”, “woeful” and a “horror show”.

After surprising the SCG with a four goals to one first term, courtesy of a double to Jordan De Goey, Collingwood would become the first team this season to endure two goalless quarters — the second and third — as the Swans piled on 10 majors to one over the remainder of the contest.

The wheels fell off spectacularly after quarter time for Nathan Buckley’s troops, who managed a total of just four points across the second and third terms.

The Swans, meanwhile, helped themselves to six unanswered goals in a 37-point turnaround between the first and third breaks.

Collingwood kicked just one goal after quarter time, ensuring any pressure eased by last week’s win has been firmly forced back onto Buckley’s shoulders.

And didn’t the Pies fans let their side know about it

Pies' skills pretty woeful. This not a game for the ages. #AFLSwansPies

— Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) May 15, 2021

Scored three points and conceded six unanswered goals in two quarters. Horror show.#AFLSwansPies

— Richard Hinds (@rdhinds) May 15, 2021

Our best and worst are so far apart. Our worst is utterly embarrassing. #AFLSwansPies

— James Mottershead (@mottersjames) May 15, 2021

Pies playing for draft picks now. Surely you couldnt be that bad even I'm you tried. #AFLSwansPies

— Assad Tannous (@AsennaWealth) May 15, 2021

Sluggish second and third quarters cost the Pies. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

It would be a strong tackle on De Goey by Nick Blakey, which was ultimately ruled holding the ball inside fifty, that helped seal the contest as Sydney pushed out to a 24 point lead late on and broke whatever spirit the Pies had left.

In a clash that turned scrappy amid the strong Sydney wind it was livewire forward Isaac Heeney who helped power Sydney to their sixth win of the season, kicking three majors including two in the second quarter as Sydney wrestled back control of the game.

Buddy Franklin would finish with two goals himself to move to 957 majors for his career, in what was an absorbing battle with both Darcy Moore and Brayden Maynard, with neither lowering their colours against the eight time All-Australian.

Tom Hickey would emerge triumphant in an intriguing ruck battle with Brodie Grundy and spark the Swans when they needed it most in the second term while youngster Justin McInerney played one of his best games in the red and white with 24 possessions in a great contribution from a wing.

Veteran Dane Rampe starred for the Swans down back while tall forward Hayden McLean took several strong contested marks to help the Swans control possession at key moments of the game.

Will-Hoskin Elliott had his best game of the season for the Pies with 23 possessions and a goal while Josh Daicos was ever present in the midfield with 28 touches.

TOM PASSES TEST

He’s been the ruck story of the season and on All-Australian pace but against a dual All-Australian ruckman in Brodie Grundy, Tom Hickey underwent one of his sterner tests of the season yet and passed it superbly once more. In need of a lift in the second quarter, it was Hickey who helped provide it for the Swans getting on top of Grundy with the surprising assistance of Nick Blakey as the second ruck. The Swans new cult hero only enhanced that status.

BUDDY’S BATTLE

After a rare goalless outing last week against Melbourne, Swans fans were hoping desperately for a bounce back from Buddy Franklin. He was handed one of the more difficult opponents, however, in Darcy Moore who held him well early before he was switched onto McLean and Brayden Maynard moved onto Buddy, only to carry on that good work.

Franklin eased into the contest well and finished with two goals to move to just 13 behind Jack Titus in sixth on the all-time goalkickers list.

OUTDOOR RENDITION

Sydney’s latest COVID crisis has cooled somewhat but restrictions on singing indoors meant the Swans gave their rendition of the famous ‘cheer, cheer the red and the white’ out on the SCG after the triumph. The oddity of it all was eased by the supporters being afforded the chance to sing from the stands with the players. An AFL rarity.

Sydney – 1.2, 4.3, 7.7, 10.12 (72)

Collingwood – 4.2, 4.4, 4.6, 5.12 (42)

Goals:

Syd: Heeney 3, Franklin, Papley 2, McLean, Warner, Blakey

Coll: De Goey, 2, McCreery, Cameron, Hoskin-Elliott,

Best:

Syd: Heeney, McLean, Rampe, McInerney, Lloyd, Hickey, Rowbottom, Mills

Coll: Maynard, Hoskin-Elliott, Daicos, Crisp, Sidebottom

Votes: 3 – Heeney, 2 – Rampe, 1 - Maynard

Originally published as ‘Horror show’: Pies fans unleash after yet another loss