Dual Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes kicked three goals in a brilliant all-round performance and clashed with a fan as Sydney claimed a 47-point AFL win over Collingwood on Friday night.
The Swans won 15.12 (102) to 8.7 (55), thanks in large part by holding Collingwood to a combined tally of 1.3 in the second and third quarters.
Indigenous superstar Goodes gathered 30 disposals in a dazzling display at the MCG in front of 65,306 fans in the opening match of the AFL’s Indigenous Round.
A female fan wearing a Collingwood jumper was escorted from the venue late in the match. Goodes, with security staff around him, had stood only metres away and pointed to her following an apparent verbal clash with the fan.
In a drought-breaking victory for the Swans it was their first win over Collingwood at the MCG since 2000.
Trailing by 48 points at three-quarter time, Collingwood rallied with 4.2 in the final term, outscoring the Swans by a point.
The Swans (26 points) claimed their sixth win and jumped one spot to third on the ladder, while the Magpies (5-4) suffered their fourth loss.
Sydney led by nine points at quarter-time and completely shut down Collingwood’s forwards in the second term, booting 3.4 to 0.2 to hold a 29-point advantage at halftime.
Collingwood could only manage one goal in the third term in response to Sydney’s four and the Swans surged to a 48-point lead at three-quarter time before both sides traded four goals in the last quarter.
Kieren Jack, Jarrad McVeigh and Dan Hannebery led Sydney’s midfield which simply out-ran the Magpies, constantly finding space as they turned defence into attack.
Big forward Travis Cloke (three goals) was a rare winner for the Magpies while Scott Pendlebury and Luke Ball were strong contributors.
Collingwood travel to Brisbane to play the Lions at the Gabba next Friday night and Sydney host Essendon at the SCG the following day.
Sydney midfielder Jude Bolton told Triple M Radio in a post-match interview it was his understanding that the remark directed at Goodes was a racial taunt.
“Goodesy was a bit distressed by it,” Bolton said.
