Buckley returns as Swans hold off courageous Magpies

Sydney   77 defeated Collingwood   76

An epic contest, highlighted by the return of one of the game’s all-time greats, has ended with Sydney holding off a fast finishing Collingwood to register a 1-point win at the Telstra Stadium tonight.

In a scrappy game in cold conditions, the Magpies kicked four of the last five goals, but couldn’t find the killer blow to keep their season alive, despite welcoming back their heroic skipper Nathan Buckley.

Buckley played a monumental second-half, but it wasn’t enough as Sydney’s dominance in the second and third quarters was enough to register their eighth win for season 2005, with Ben Mathews acting captain in the absence of Stuart Maxfield.

For the Swans, All-Australian defender Leo Barry was best on ground, continuously beating Chris Tarrant and providing valuable run from the backline with 18 possessions and 10 marks, while Brett Kirk had 26 touches and Barry Hall provided a constant target with four goals.

Dane Swan had a career-high 29 touches for Collingwood while blanketing dangerous Sydney forward Ryan O’Keefe, while Buckley had 28 and Scott Burns 22.

Former Magpie Nick Davis has lost eight kilograms this season, and his new-look body was on show as he swooped on a spillage to snap the game’s first goal with his left foot.

The damage was minimal however, with Collingwood kicking three of the next four goals of the term, a clever Tarrant snap giving them an eight point buffer at the first break.

The Swans fought back in the second quarter, stamping their authority on the contest with the first two goals, through Mathews and Michael O’Loughlin, and dominating the clearances and inside 50s.

Collingwood got a brief respite with a 50-metre penalty gifting Tarrant his second, but O’Loughlin booted his own second soon after to restore Sydney’s lead at half-time.

The home side continued their advantage in the third quarter, booting the first and last goals of the period and four to two overall, to stretch the margin to 17 points at the final change.

It was also a bittersweet term for Buckley, who displayed his class with nine valuable possessions, but also showed some rust by controversially, but correctly being penalised for running too far, a turnover that resulted in Hall booting his second.

Despite the Swans opening the fourth quarter with Hall’s third, three goals in four minutes from Collingwood brought the margin back to within a goal, with Buckley and Burns becoming increasingly dominant – the sergeant on the ball, and his fellow solider at centre half-forward in a small forward line.

Fortune proved it doesn’t always favour the brave however, as a Dane Swan fumble in his defensive goal-square – after courageously running back with the flight of the ball – allowed Goodes to soccer through and left the Magpies needing two goals in five minutes to win.

They got one through Lonie, but Sydney held on to strengthen their position in the top eight and continue the fierce rivalry the clubs have shared in this fixture in recent times.

Next week they take on the struggling Tigers on Saturday afternoon at the MCG, while Collingwood take on a surging Port Adelaide side at Telstra Dome on Friday night.

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