The Magpies swoop in finish - Sunday Herald Sun

[Dale61]

02 June 2002
By MARK HARDING

COLLINGWOOD disappeared for two quarters, but still managed to defeat Sydney at Colonial Stadium last night in a match marked by the contrasting fortunes of the two key forwards.

One, of course, was Tony Lockett, who had rotten luck and some tough umpiring calls, but still looked far short of the touch required to play again at this level.

The other was Magpie forward Chris Tarrant who booted four goals in the final quarter as the Pies turned a 12-point deficit at three-quarter time into an 11-point victory.

Lockett kicked one goal and when the match was up for grabs in the final term coach Rodney Eade elected to go without him and he finished the game on the bench.

Tarrant had been sorely thrashed by Jason Saddington and had only three kicks until his goal avalanche in the last term.

He goaled inside the first minute and again at the five, 15 and 18-minute marks as the Pies buried their June hoodoo just when it had looked set to hit again.

Goal-sneak Leon Davis also kicked four goals, keeping the Pies alive with two in the third term as Sydney had all the play, but wasted opportunities, rattling up 3.7.

Lockett should have had a dream start to his second comeback game for the season, but umpire Hayden Kennedy disallowed a mark in front of goal after two minutes, ruling the ball had been touched off the boot.

After that Lockett was all at sea and fellow forward Barry Hall was also down, having only one shot for goal, missing what turned out to be a vital kick late in the third term.

Collingwood dominated the first quarter with 14 scoring shots to three and its lead of 26 points was only half what it could have been.

Scott Burns and Shane O'Bree led the way in the middle as the Pies helped themselves to seven centre clearances to one from the Swans.

O'Bree was being manned by Wayne Schwass, who was dragged late in the first term after a horror start to the game.

Not only had he failed to gain a possession, but he was penalised for taking too long to kick the ball in from one of Collingwood's behinds.

From the resultant bounce on the goalsquare Jarrod Molloy crashed through for a goal, which was far too easy.

It was one of three kick-in turnovers from the Swans in the first quarter and they looked in disarray.

They managed only 42 possessions for the term while the Pies racked up 92 -- it was impossible to predict that one quarter later the scores would be level.

Whatever Eade screamed at the Swans at quarter-time, it worked.

Their midfield lifted noticably and Paul Williams was having a great game against his former club.

The Swans were helped by the midfield rotation, which is such a part of modern football.

Scott Burns had been brilliant in the first term but was sitting on the bench at the start of the second term and when he was finally recalled to the action he replaced O'Bree, who had been as prolific.

Pies skipper Nathan Buckley was shadowed by Daryn Cresswell and was not allowed to be anywhere near as effective as normal.

Buckley even suffered the rare embarrassment of being dragged briefly for a lecture by Mick Malthouse in the third term.

The Swans' acting skipper, Matthew Nicks, was one of several key players who lifted dramatically in the second term.

Adam Goodes started in attack, but became an important player in defence, Schwass returned to the fray to do much better and Andrew Schauble drifted down from the backline to boot three goals as the Swans kicked 5.2 to 1.0 to go into the halftime break all square.

Lockett started the third term on the bench and the Swans began to look more flexible in attack.

Goals to Stuart Maxfield and Schwass gave them a 10-point lead and it was a mild surprise when Lockett came off the bench at the 19-minute mark to jog to the Coventry End.

Schwass, by now his shocking start a distant memory, passed to Lockett when he could easily have had a crack at goal himself -- the crowd roared as Plugger dropped the chest mark he would once have taken in his sleep.

Mercifully it was only minutes later that the big man failed to grab a tougher mark, but gathered the loose ball and snapped truly despite heavy pressure from Shane Wakelin. His teammates ran to congratulate him as the Swans sneaked out to 17 points in front -- which became an even three goals when Hall missed from straight in front.

It was costly because from the kick-in the Pies went forward where Leon Davis snapped his third goal to make the difference 12 points at three-quarter time.

In the final term Burns was again dominant and with Tarrant marking strongly the Pies kicked six straight goals while the Swans could add only one point - a snap from Lockett which was touched on the line just before he was benched again.

The Swans booted the last two goals of the game, but on balance the right team won. The match had fluctuated wildly, but the Pies had the better forward line and in the first and fourth quarters at least a vastly better midfield.

The Swans went into the game without Michael O'Loughlin, who withdrew with a calf injury, while Brad Seymour (shoulder) also missed. Tadgh Kennelly and Gerrard Bennett came in.


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