AFL (Aussie Rules Football)-Split Round 14 Wrap Up

High-flying Thomas Sparks Collingwood's Win over Sydney

SYDNEY—Mick Malthouse celebrated his 200th game as Collingwood coach by guiding the highly disciplined Magpies to a 29-point upset win over Sydney at ANZ Stadium.

The Swans simply could not cope with Collingwood's tough defensive pressure, succumbing 11.13 (79) to 6.14 (50).

Collingwood's fifth successive victory over the Swans lifts them two places to fifth on the ladder on 32 premiership points, trailing the fourth-placed Sydney by six points.

It was Sydney's first defeat in their past seven matches this season.

Livewire forward Dale Thomas kicked three goals, including two after spectacular high marks in the first and second quarters in front of a crowd of 59,202.

Centre half-forward Travis Cloke also kicked three goals for the Magpies.

Thomas and Cloke combined for all five of Collingwood's first-half goals as the `Pies took a 26-point lead at the main break, holding Sydney to 1.5 (11) to Collingwood's 5.7 (37) in the first half.

The match opened with Collingwood playing an aggressive defensive style, crowding Sydney's star-studded forward line led by Barry Hall and Michael O'Loughlin, who were well held by Shane Wakelin and Harry O'Brien in his 50th game.

Hall was dragged from the ground early in the second quarter after conceding his fifth free kick of the half.

Hall soon returned but was involved in a fiery clash behind play with Wakelin, with Hall's swinging elbow appearing to just miss Wakelin's jaw.

Collingwood stretched their lead ot 41 points at three-quarter time but Sydney staged a late rally with goals to Hall, O'Loughlin and Henry Playfair in the last quarter.

However a second free kick at fullback against Leo Barry for incorrect disposal handed Cameron Wood an easy goal and Collingwood fans started celebrating, with Alan Didak revving up the crowd after a neat goal on the run on his non-preferred right foot.

Collingwood's win came without injured big men Josh Fraser and Anthony Rocca while the Swans were missing dual Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes, who was serving a one-match suspension after 204 consecutive matches.

Co-captain Brett Kirk (29 possessions) was a key contributor for the Swans in midfield in a typically determined display and Barry was also among the home side's better players.

But Sydney could not cope with Collingwood's pressure and numbers at the contest, with Dane Swan (30 touches) and Didak (28) influential.

Malthouse, 54, became the fourth person to coach the Magpies in 200 games, alongside Jock McHale (714), Phonse Kyne (272) and Leigh Matthews (224).

The dual West Coast premiership coach also became only the third man in history to coach 200 games for two clubs, joining Allan Jeans (St Kilda and Hawthorn) and Leigh Matthews (Collingwood and Brisbane).

Collingwood host Adelaide at the MCG next Saturday in round 15 while Sydney also play at the MCG next Sunday against Hawthorn.

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Cats in Premiership Form to Flatten Crows

ADELAIDE—Irresistible Geelong flattened Adelaide by 68 points at AAMI Stadium in a manner that suggests back-to-back AFL flags may be only a matter of months away.

The Cats made a mockery of Crows suggestions they would challenge Geelong with an aggressive approach by comprehensively out-playing them all over the ground to win 18.16 (124) to 8.8 (56) in front of 44,377 spectators.

Jimmy Bartel, Joel Selwood and Corey Enright all chopped the Crows to pieces through the middle, while Tom Lonergan benefited from silver service to notch a career-high four goals.

Cameron Ling, Gary Ablett and Darren Milburn were among the many others to shine and recalled goalsneak Matthew Stokes (three) even managed a goal of the year contender in the last term.

Graham Johncock (two goals), Simon Goodwin, Scott Stevens and Kris Massie did their best to put out the spot fires for a side now mired well and truly in mid-table after three consecutive losses.

Having preached attack and risk-taking all week, the Crows were hard pressed merely getting their hands on the ball in the first term and didn't get on the scoreboard until Nathan van Berlo's hurried point in time on.

At the other end Steve Johnson (two goals) and Lonergan were dominant and, if anything, the Cats should have been up by more than 29 points at the first break.

The Crows belatedly found the goals in the first 10 minutes of the second term through Jason Porplyzia and Richard Douglas, but they were cancelled out by majors to Lonergan and tagger Ling.

Lonergan's third and a first for Cam Mooney both eventuated from serene build-ups and Adelaide's desperation was emphasised entering halftime by the sight of career backman Ben Rutten at full forward.

He was switched for Nathan Bassett in the third term as Adelaide offered the odd hint of better play, winning more of the ball than at any stage of the first half.

Geelong's defence though took it mainly as an opportunity to show their worth, consistently out-numbering the home forwards whenever a hurried kick tumbled into the 50m zone.

Within 10 minutes the pattern changed back to something more familiar and Geelong had three of the quarter's final four goals for a yawning 50-point gap at the last change.

While the Cats slowed fractionally in the final term, they still won the quarter comfortably.

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Collated Results and Ladder-Round 14

• GEELONG 4.6 9.8 12.10 18.16 (124)
  
• ADELAIDE 0.1 2.5 4.8 8.8 (56)
  

Goals: Geelong: T Lonergan 4 M Stokes 3 J Corey 2 S Johnson 2 C Mooney 2 M Blake P Chapman C Ling A Mackie T Varcoe. Adelaide: R Douglas 2 B Burton T Edwards G Johncock I Maric K Massie J Porplyzia. Best: Geelong: J Bartel C Enright J Selwood D Milburn C Ling G Ablett C Mooney T Lonergan. Adelaide: S Goodwin G Johncock K Massie T Edwards S Stevens. Injuries: Geelong: Nil. Adelaide: B Reilly (knee). Reports: Nil. Umpires: B Rosebury M Stevic R Chamberlain. Official Crowd: 44,377 at AAMI Stadium.

• COLLINGWOOD 1.5 5.7 8.12 11.13 (79)
  
• SYDNEY 1.3 1.5 2.7 6.14 (50)
  

Goals: Collingwood: T Cloke 3 D Thomas 3 P Medhurst 2 J Anthony A Didak C Wood. Sydney: C Bird B Hall J Moore R O'Keefe M O'Loughlin H Playfair. Best: Collingwood: D Swan D Thomas S Wakelin T Cloke S O'Bree A Didak. Sydney: C Bolton C Bird L Barry B Kirk D Jolly J Bolton. Injuries: Collingwood: S Wellingham (groin) replaced in selected side by J Anthony). Sydney: Nil. Reports: Nil. Umpires: M Vozzo H Kennedy S Meredith. Official Crowd: 59,202 at ANZ Stadium.

Below - split round results for last weekend

• HAWTHORN 4.8 10.8 11.15 18.18 (126)
  
• WEST COAST 0.4 4.8 7.11 9.15 (69)
  

Goals: Hawthorn: J Roughead 6 L Franklin 5 L Hodge 3 G Birchall S Crawford M Osborne M Williams. West Coast: A Hansen 4 B McKinley 2 D Cox A Hunter B Staker. Best: Hawthorn: J Roughead M Osborne S Mitchell C Rioli L Hodge. West Coast: D Kerr D Cox A Hansen M Priddis. Injuries: Hawthorn: S Crawford (knee) S Dew (soreness replaced in selected side by T Clarke) L Hodge (calf) J Lewis (thigh). West Coast: B Ebert (concussion). Reports: B Renouf (Hawthorn) reported by field umpire C Donlon for striking A Selwood (West Coast) in the third quarter, L Franklin (Hawthorn) reported by field umpire C Donlon for wrestling A Hunter (West Coast) in the third quarter, A Hunter (West Coast) reported by field umpire C Donlon for wrestling L Franklin (Hawthorn) in the third quarter. Umpires: C Donlon L Farmer S Ryan. Official Crowd: 29,138 at MCG.

• CARLTON 1.5 5.9 10.12 17.16 (118)
  
• RICHMOND 2.7 7.9 10.13 12.16 (88)
  

Goals: Carlton: B Fevola 4 B Gibbs 3 E Betts 2 B Fisher 2 C Cloke J Edwards S Grigg M Murphy N Stevens S Wiggins. Richmond: C Hughes 3 M Morton 3 B Deledio K Johnson G Polak M Richardson J Riewoldt T Simmonds. Best: Carlton: N Stevens A Bentick A Carrazzo B Gibbs M Murphy J Waite. Richmond: B Deledio T Cotchin J Bowden K Moore N Brown. Injuries: Carlton: Nil. Richmond: M Richardson (hamstring) W Thursfield (replaced in selected side by J King). Reports: B Thornton (Carlton) reported by emergency umpire M Stevic for wrestling J King (Richmond) in the third quarter, J King (Richmond) reported by emergency umpire M Stevic for wrestling B Thornton (Carlton) in the third quarter. Umpires: B Rosebury C Kamolins S Wenn. Official Crowd: 73,503 at MCG.

• ST KILDA 0.3 4.3 6.7 12.12 (84)
  
• NORTH MELBOURNE 4.4 6.7 8.11 9.15 (69)
  

Goals: St Kilda: S Milne 4 J Koschitzke 2 D Armitage R Eddy S Fisher S King L Montagna N Riewoldt. North Melbourne: M Campbell 3 D Hale L Harding D Harris B Harvey D Petrie D Wells. Best: St Kilda: J Koschitzke N Riewoldt S Milne L Ball L Montagna. North Melbourne: D Petrie B Harvey M Campbell J Gibson. Injuries: Nil. Reports: Nil. Umpires: S McInerney D Sully M James. Official Crowd: 9,128 at Gold Coast Stadium.

• WESTERN BULLDOGS 3.4 11.9 16.12 20.15 (135)
  
• PORT ADELAIDE 2.2 4.6 9.10 11.15 (81)
  

Goals: Western Bulldogs: J Akermanis 4 B Johnson 3 S Welsh 3 R Griffen 2 J Hill 2 M Boyd N Eagleton D Giansiracusa L Gilbee M Hahn F Ray. Port Adelaide: R Gray 2 W Tredrea 2 J Westhoff 2 D Brogan N Lonie M Pettigrew D Rodan A Thomson. Best: Western Bulldogs: D Cross R Griffen J Akermanis D Morris A Cooney R Hargrave B Lake N Eagleton. Port Adelaide: K Cornes D Rodan D Pearce N Lonie A Carlile. Injuries: Western Bulldogs: R Griffen (dislocated finger) S Welsh (dislocated finger). Port Adelaide: Nil. Reports: Nil. Umpires: M Ellis S Ryan J Schmitt. Official Crowd: 11,373 at TIO Oval, Darwin.

• MELBOURNE 5.4 6.6 9.8 14.9 (93)
  
• BRISBANE LIONS 2.3 5.9 7.12 13.14 (92)
  

Goals: Melbourne: B Miller 4 C Sylvia 4 C Bruce 2 A Wonaeamirri 2 M Bate B Green. Brisbane Lions: J Brown 5 D Bradshaw 4 R Hooper 2 J Patfull M Rischitelli. Best: Melbourne: B Green C Bruce B Miller C Johnson S Valenti C Sylvia. Brisbane Lions: L Power S Black M Rischitelli J Brown J Brennan. Injuries: Melbourne: B McLean (ankle). Brisbane Lions: T Johnstone (hamstring) replaced in selected side by J Polkinghorne). Reports: Nil. Umpires: M Head J Armstrong S Jeffery. Official Crowd: 23,278 at MCG.

• ESSENDON 3.2 7.5 11.9 14.11 (95)
  
• FREMANTLE 2.5 7.6 8.9 13.13 (91)
  

Goals: Essendon: D Hille 2 S Lucas 2 A Ramanauskas 2 B Stanton 2 M Lloyd S Lonergan A Lovett A McPhee M McVeigh K Reimers. Fremantle: M Pavlich 6 C Mayne 2 C Tarrant 2 J Carr C Hinkley D Solomon. Best: Essendon: M McVeigh J Watson B Stanton A Lovett N Lovett-Murray. Fremantle: M Pavlich A Sandilands C Mayne A Grover P Bell. Injuries: Nil. Reports: Nil. Umpires: S McBurney S Stewart M Nicholls. Official Crowd: 34,239 at Subiaco Oval.

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Leading Goalkickers

66: L Franklin (Hawthorn) 5

61: B Fevola (Carlton) 4

53: M Pavlich (Fremantle) 6

47: D Bradshaw (Brisbane) 4

46: J Brown (Brisbane) 5, J Roughead (Hawthorn) 6

39: D Motlop (Pt Adel) 0, M Richardson (Richmond) 1

37: P Medhurst (C'wood) 2

36: J Akermanis (Bulldogs) 4