AFL Round 10: Josh Daicos brilliance seals Magpies’ thrilling victory over Swans

Collingwood led by just three points in the dying stages of Thursday night’s match against Sydney – that was until Josh Daicos snapped a goal that would’ve made his famous Magpies father Peter proud.

Chris Honnery

3 min read

August 6, 2020 - 9:24PM

AFL

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Collingwood has kept its finals hopes alive with a nine-point win over the Swans in a tight tussle at the Gabba on Thursday night.

The Pies found themselves back in the winner’s circle following their back-to-back losses in the west, but it was by no easy feat.

In a low scoring clash, every scoring opportunity proved crucial.

The floundering Pies kicked just two goals and 10 behinds in the first half while Sydney kicked five straight goals to take a handy eight point lead into halftime.

A third quarter comeback saw them take a slim three-point lead before Josh Daicos saved the day by kicking a goal in the dying minutes to give the Pies their fifth win of the season.

Sydney coach John Longmire admits it was disappointing not to find a way to win.

“I thought we were a chance of getting it,” he said.

“We had an opportunity there.

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Magpie Ben Reid pursues the footy. Picture: Jono Searle/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

“We got to within two points and I thought we had a bit of momentum in that last bit.

“Clearly they had more scoring shots but if you’ve got the ability to get within two points you’re every chance of grabbing it.”

Collingwood’s experienced midfield dominated the Swans and Longmire said his playing group were taught a lesson.

“Sometimes you’ve got to learn the hard way and we certainly learned from an A-grade quality midfield tonight,” he said.

“That put us on the back foot.

“We gave away a lot of free kicks in the first quarter around stoppages.”

STATS THAT MATTER

The Pies dominated almost every stat in Thursday night’s clash at the Gabba – finishing the game with 50 inside 50s to the Swans’ 33.

Throw in their 34 clearances to 24, 133 contested possessions to 109 and 23 free kicks to 11, they should have been well in front.

But the imbalance did not reflect in the only numbers that matter - on the scoreboard - when Collingwood went into the halftime break trailing by eight points.

Their game plan early in the match seemed to be to kick the ball long but a confluence of Sydney’s defence and the Pies poor execution and kick options gave the Swans the upper hand.

Nathan Buckley would have been left fuming at his side’s missed opportunities as they trailed at halftime and if the Pies are to be any sort of premiership contender, they need to improve their kicking.

DAICOS’ EARLIER GOAL ATTEMPT WASN’T AS SPECIAL:

DEBUTANTS SHINE

Both sides fielded AFL debutants and they wasted no time getting involved in the match.

Collingwood’s Trey Ruscoe managed to kick the first career goal – and the first goal for the Pies – much to the delight of his teammates who had only kicked behinds at that time.

Sydney’s Sam Wicks wasn’t to be outdone by his rival newbie by following up with his own goal just minutes later.

It’s a good sign of things to come for both teams struggling with injuries and short turnarounds.

COLLINGWOOD HURTING

The Pies are in a tough period of playing four games in 13 days and their growing casualty ward isn’t going to make things any easier.

Will Hoskin-Elliott limped off with a knee injury in the first quarter and failed to return for the rest of the game.

Adam Treloar reportedly suffered a hamstring injury in the third quarter in a huge blow for the Pies.

Isaac Quaynor was stretchered off the field with an ankle injury in the dying minutes of the game to leave the Pies with just one player left on the bench.