'Utterly unacceptable' Swans blasted after 112-point loss, Pies win thriller after Blues star's post-siren miss (2024)

Collingwood's night has been soured by another injury to Jordan De Goey, who has been hampered by groin issues this season.

De Goey limped off the ground clutching his left hamstring in the third quarter, and Collingwood coach Craig McRae says it's a "high grade" hamstring injury for his star man.

"I would've thought that's going to be difficult for him to play in the short to medium term," he said.

"I've just been told it's high grade and it's obviously not great for him."

Sydney losing by 112 points against Port Adelaide tonight has to go down as the most surprising result of the season.

The loss is the heaviest for a first-placed side this late into the season.

It was Sydney's heaviest loss since 1993, a season where they won just one game.

The Swans have now lost five of their last six matches.

"You can't write them off," Bulldogs great Brad Johnson says on Fox Footy's coverage.

"They've lost all cohesion in the way they're trying to move the ball, and they're just flat."

The Swans face Collingwood at the SCG next weekend in what should be another absolute blockbuster.

Tonight's game marks the first time in 66 appearances that Charlie Curnow failed to kick a goal.

The Carlton star finished the night with 0.2 having missed two very gettable set shots, including one shot that hit the post.

Curnow finished with just nine disposals, while fellow star forward Harry McKay finished with just eight touches and a goal.

More of a concern for Carlton will be the ankle issue Curnow limped off the ground with in the final quarter.

The Blues star spent over seven minutes off the ground and did return after getting his ankle re-strapped, but had very little impact on the game.

Hi Nathan,

The official attendance from tonight's clash was 86,879 at the MCG.

It must be said that it felt like there was 186,000 out there inside the last five minutes.

If tonight's game is anything to go by, Scott Pendlebury might end up being the first man to play 450 games.

The former Collingwood captain was absolutely brilliant tonight and looks like he's got plenty of juice left in the tank.

He's signed on for 2025, but you'd be a brave man to bet against him playing beyond that.

He finishes the match with 27 disposals (14 contested), nine clearances, six inside 50s and five score involvements.

What an absolute humdinger that was tonight between Collingwood and Carlton.

Just to show how important that Mitch McGovern kick was, the Blues, who have been second on the ladder for the last few months, have now dropped down to seventh.

Collingwood has risen up to 10th on the ladder and are now just four points adrift from a finals spot.

Here's what all the big numbers look like after the final siren.

• Disposals: Carlton 364-315
• Inside 50s: Carlton 58-51
• Clearances: Carlton 42-35
• Contested Possessions: Collingwood 128-125
• Marks: Carlton 115-63
• Tackles: Collingwood 59-51

The top three ranked players on the ground are all Carlton players.

1. 1.Nic Newman: 34 disposals, 12 marks, 511m gained
2. 2.Sam Walsh: 30 disposals, six score involvements
3. 3.George Hewett: 32 disposals, 12 clearances

Collingwood has hung on for a heart-stopping three-point win in club legend Scott Pendlebury's 400th game with Carlton defender Mitch McGovern missing a shot after the siren.

Leading by 32 points early in the last quarter, the Magpies had to withstand a late onslaught from their bitter rivals in a Saturday night classic in front of 86,879 fans at the MCG.

Carlton booted the final five goals, but it wasn't enough as the Magpies saluted 12.12 (84) to 11.15 (81) to keep their premiership defence alive.

McGovern had the chance to give the Blues one of their greatest-ever victories when he pushed forward to mark the ball about 45m from goal.

But while he kicked a similar goal for Adelaide to draw a game against Collingwood at the same venue in 2017, this time he sprayed the ball out on the full.

Fielding their strongest team for months, the Magpies recaptured close to their best form to pay tribute to Pendlebury becoming the sixth VFL/AFL player to reach 400 games.

Pendlebury, who during the week announced he would continue on next year for a 20th season, was brilliant in his milestone match, gathering 27 possessions and nine clearances.

The former long-term captain came close to a highlight for the ages, hitting the post after snapping a shot from the pocket in the first quarter.

"It's a bit surreal, to be honest," Pendlebury told Seven after the match.

"This whole week I've felt the love from all angles. Everyone's been so nice and kind with all the messages.

"It means the world to play with this jumper on my back.

"A lot of luck goes my way. I've had some great coaches, great support networks around me, you don't get here by yourself."

Carlton captain Patrick Cripps put in a final-quarter for the ages, almost lifting the Blues to victory by himself as he continually charged out of the centre clearances.

If Collingwood are to book a finals berth they will likely need to do it without star playmaker Jordan De Goey, who hobbled off late in the third quarter with a hamstring injury.

De Goey has been managing a groin issue for months and sat out last Sunday's win against Richmond.

But the premiership star looked back to his supreme best, booting two goals in a lively performance before he limped off the field.

Carlton midfielder Adam Cerra suffered his third hamstring injury for the season when he was subbed out in the second quarter, replaced by Matt Kennedy.

The Blues were forced to play with just three on the bench in the final term after Matthew Cottrell hurt his shoulder.

After sitting 2nd a fortnight ago, Carlton's fourth defeat from their last five matches leaves them clinging to a finals spot. They could finish the round as low as eighth.

With three games to go, Collingwood sit 10th and only a game outside the top-eight.

Coming into today, five teams were on 48 competition points.

All that split them was percentage.

Hawthorn lurks on 44 points.

Percentage could decide who plays finals come the end of the regular season.

Coming into this game, Port's percentage was106.7 — the lowest of the teams with 48 points.

They now have a percentage of 113.6, the second-best of the aforementioned five teams.

This is a massive win for their season. Port are now second on the ladder.

COLLINGWOOD SURVIVES A HEART-STOPPER!

The nerves get to Mitch McGovern as he absolutely SHANKS it out on the full after the siren!

What. A. Game.

Mitch McGovern has floated forward and taken a mark 45m out on a slight angle!

He will kick after the siren to win the game for Carlton.

Boundary throw-in on the wing again as Jamie Elliott fumbles.

51 seconds left.

Port Adelaide has slaughtered Sydney by 112 points to fly into the top four after holding the AFL leaders scoreless in the opening term.

The Power surged to a 71-point lead before the Swans notched their first score, eventually steamrolling to a 22.16 (148) to 5.6 (36) victory at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

Their third consecutive win leaves Ken Hinkley's charges a chance to finish second on the ladder should results fall their way on Sunday.

Sydney, having lost five of their last six games, now lead the competition by just four points.

The loss is the biggest in John Longmire's 13-year tenure as coach.

Rubbing more salt to the wound, the Swans have also lost eight straight matches against the Power.

Port young gun Mitch Georgiades and Willie Rioli both kicked four goals, while Willem Drew kept Swans ball magnet Chad Warner to just 19 touches.

Drew also led the game with 32 disposals, well supported by Ollie Wines, Zak Butter and Jason Horne-Francis.

The hosts, eager to celebrate defender Aliir Aliir's 150th match in style, brutally overpowered the Swans from the first bounce with seven goals to none to build an early 45-point lead.

Such was their dominance that Sydney, trailing 20 inside-50s to five, recorded a forward-half kicking efficiency of zero per cent in the opening quarter.

Darcy Byrne-Jones continued the onslaught, scoring a major just thirty seconds into the second term.

A rushed behind gave Sydney their first score near the 20-minute mark before Isaac Heeney broke through with their first major.

It is the fourth match since 1997 that the Swans have been held to less than 10 points at halftime.

In the end, Port cruised home with nine goals to four across the second half.

Hayden McLean was Sydney's only multiple goalscorer with two, while Errol Gulden led with 25 disposals and Brodie Grundy produced eight clearances.

Former Port ruck Peter Ladhams featured in his first AFL game of the season after coming in for key forward Joel Amartey (managed) as a late swap.

Sydney return home to host 11th-placed Collingwood at the SCG, while Port Adelaide travel to the MCG to play Melbourne.

AAP

Bobby Hill halves a massive contest on the boundary line on the wing to force a throw-in.

Blues pushing hard. We're into the final two minutes.

Jamie Elliott attempts an audacious volley attempt at goal and it goes wide of the mark.

Pies by three points with 3.56 left on the clock.

It's another score for the Power, and it looks more and more like they will beat the Swans by 100 points.

Port collected the footy inside 50, and it was Boak who received the handball and produced a terrific goal from a tight angle.

WHAT ON EARTH IS GOING ON AT THE MCG?!?!

Ollie Hollands gets the ball out from a stoppage on the 50m arc and slaps it onto the boot and it floats through.

Collingwood has seen a 32-point lead dwindle right down to two points as the Blues have kicked the last five goals of this match.

Three straight behinds for the Power has brought the margin between the two to 100 points.

It is scarcely believable.

MAYHEM AT THE MCG!

Blake Acres dribbles one through under immense pressure and this lead is down to just eight points.

Collingwood has stopped playing with dare and it's cost them.

Craig McRae's side needs to get back to playing their style of football and taking the game on.

There's 6.14 left on the clock.