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Magpies still winless as slick Swans end MCG hoodoo

3 minute read

Sydney have snapped a five-match losing streak at the MCG as Chad Warner and Isaac Heeney starred in a 33-point thumping of reigning premiers Collingwood.

LOGAN MCDONALD.
LOGAN MCDONALD. Picture: Ryan Pierse/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

In-demand Sydney forward Logan McDonald has kicked four goals in a convincing 33-point victory over Collingwood that leaves the AFL's reigning premiers winless from two games in their flag defence.

McDonald took his chances in attack as the high-pressure Swans seized control during the second quarter and ran away with a 15.12 (102) to 10.9 (69) triumph in front of 78,933 fans at the MCG on Friday night.

Chad Warner starred in a Sydney engine room missing injured guns Callum Mills, Luke Parker and Taylor Adams, tallying 27 disposals, seven clearances and an equal career-best three goals.

Isaac Heeney was also influential in his midfield role with 29 touches, four clearances and two goals, while Errol Gulden (30 disposals) was busy and the Swans' back-line stood up well when tested.

Ruckman Brodie Grundy split his ruck battle with Darcy Cameron and had the last laugh against another of his former clubs, having starred in the Swans' opening-round win over Melbourne.

Key forward McDonald, who is out of contract at the end of the season, kicked two goals in each of the second and third terms before falling short of equalling his career-best tally when he missed a fifth shot in the final quarter.

Sydney coach John Longmire was thrilled with his side's performance, highlighting a lop-sided tackle count (72-51) as the irrepressible Swans' intense pressure told the tale.

"It was really only small windows that we gave them," Longmire said.

"We thought our shape was terrific, our intent and our connectedness across the ground was really good.

"It's still a really young team and from that perspective it was a mature performance with a lot of young players playing key roles."

Nick Daicos (37 disposals, seven clearances) and Scott Pendlebury (26, eight) found plenty of the ball in a losing battle for Collingwood, who were unable to give their forwards enough clean supply to kick a winning score.

Small forwards Jamie Elliott and Lachie Schultz (two each) were the only Magpies with multiple goals.

Collingwood won centre clearances (17-9), overall clearances (35-30) and contested possession (129-121) but were still comfortably beaten as a raft of turnovers - especially in the back half - proved costly.

"Their pressure overwhelmed us at times. It did," Magpies coach Craig McRae said.

"At their best, they're a great pressure team and we didn't handle that.

"We either didn't hold it in when we needed to or didn't clear the territory or area when we should've, too.

"We tried to keep going through it when maybe we should've just gone around it and over it.

"We've played two really good teams early in the season and I don't think they've shown us the level but we've got a lot of improvement left in us."

The result ended the Swans' five-match losing streak at the MCG, which began with the 2022 grand final thrashing from Geelong.

Collingwood face another stern test in six days' time when they face St Kilda, while Sydney will be favourites to continue their winning start to the season against Essendon at the SCG.

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