COLLINGWOOD : 18.17 (125)
SYDNEY : 13.9 (87)
In their home town, the Sydney Pigs may have reigned supreme over the weekend, but in good ol’ Melbourne Town, it was a completely different story…
Rampaging Magpies crush Sydney:
“FITTINGLY, it was Collingwood skipper Nathan Buckley who kicked the sealer with only five minutes gone in the final term at the MCG last night to book the Magpies a place in the second semi-final against a depleted West Coast…”
A fitting end, with Swans beaten at own game (Greg Baum):
“…The tone of last night’s match was set at the nine-minute mark of the first quarter, when Josh Fraser threw himself desperately at Barry as he embarked on one of his trademark runs out of defence, and caught him. The resultant free kick led to a goal for Cameron Cloke, the first of six in a row for the Magpies. Soon afterwards, Anthony Rocca similarly crushed the escaping Paul Bevan. From then on, Sydney’s hours in season 2007 were numbered…”
Spearhead shoots Pies into Perth showdown (Rohan Connolly):
‘…”The boys put the ball in the spot where I could lead on to it, and take some marks,” said the modest veteran after the game. “We play really well, a great team effort. It’s going to be a big task next week (against West Coast in Perth) but it’s going to be on.” It’s another team the Magpies have troubled, if the Rocca barometer reading is as accurate as usual.’
Rusling stars in three-pronged attack (AAP):
“Sean Rusling might just be Collingwood’s ace in the hole for the AFL finals. The 20-year-old played a key role in Saturday night’s comprehensive 38-point victory over Sydney in the elimination final….”