Sydney has comprehensively outplayed the reigning premiers to put significant question marks on Collingwood going back-to-back, with the Swans dominant 33-point winners at the MCG.
On the day Collingwood unfurled its 2023 flag, the Pies will be made to refute suggestions they’re living in the past over the coming wees.
John Longmire’s men backed up last week’s impressive effort against the Demons and have now knocked off two premiership contenders in successive weeks. In terms of contenders, Sydney are arguably now leading the pack.
The Swans did it off the back of a powerful running game, smashing Collingwood on turnover.
The likes of James Rowbottom, Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner and more proved too dynamic for the Pies to handle, with only Nick Daicos able to go with his Sydney counterparts.
Only a late flurry saved the Magpies from their biggest defeat under Craig McRae. Two games into 2024, Collingwood have conceded 33 goals and that’s where plenty of focus will be in the coming days.
But don’t discount just how good Sydney was on Friday night in front of a rocking crowd at the MCG.
See our player grades below:
Sydney
James Rowbottom - A+
Could be a career best game. Just the 16 disposals playing on ball but Rowbottom was so, so damaging. A massive 13 tackles plus a goal to go with it.
Isaac Heeney - A+
Backed up last week’s epic performance, playing mostly through the middle and pinch-hitting up forward. Another Swan whose dynamic nature couldn’t be contained by the Pies.
Chad Warner - A+
It’s not hard to see why there are many tipping the 22-year-old to be a Brownlow Medalist one day. Incredibly tough at the coalface but brilliant on the outside as well. Three goals certainly helps.
Logan McDonald - A
Four goals, but was benefitted by the Swans’ system in getting out the back on several occasions.
Errol Gulden - B+
Isn’t quite yet the player he was to finish 2023, but certainly played his role on Friday night. Runs as hard as anyone on the ground and his left foot may be the most lethal in the competition.
Harry Cunningham - B+
Tom McCartin - B+
Was responsible for Brody Mihocek for most of the clash and kept him to no goals. A great night.
Justin McInerney - B+
Built into the game as it wore on. 21 touches and a goal.
Nick Blakey - B
The Lizard ran rampant again after his Opening Round heroics. 529 metres gained.
James Jordon - B
The former Demon has quickly found his feet at Sydney and is thriving in a mixture of an inside/outside role. Just doesn’t seem to make a mistake.
Dane Rampe - B-
Doesn’t play a bad game and Friday night was no exception. A team high seven intercept possessions.
Lewis Melican - B-
Is justifying his spot back in Sydney’s starting 22. Made a blue by foot but was rock solid in the air.
Tom Papley - C+
Battled a knee injury in the second half. No one loved his early goal more than him and did his job with 17 touches.
Ollie Florent - C+
Tidy off half-back and another Swan who carved up Collingwood off the half-back line.
Matthew Roberts - C+
Has found a spot in John Longmire’s best 22 on the wing and across half-back. It’s not hard to see why. Roberts used the ball well again and lays his body on the line despite standing at only 184cms.
Hayden McLean - C+
12 touches and did kick the goal that essentially sealed the game for Sydney.
Joel Amartey - C+
Looks to have a significant future for the Swans. Great overhead yet again and could have had more than one goal if he kicked straight. Subbed off in the last term.
Jake Lloyd - C+
Brodie Grundy - C-
Didn’t influence around the ground as he usually does but battled away in the hitout count. Gave away six free kicks.
Robbie Fox - C-
Still doesn’t look quite comfortable as a forward.
Will Hayward - C-
No scoreboard impact but did a couple nice things.
Braeden Campbell - C-
Drifted in and out of the game. Did some tidy things with the footy in hand but didn’t win as much as the ball as several of the other Swans who run off half-back and on the wing.
Sam Wicks - N/A
Came on late as the sub and kicked a goal amongst a few nice touches.
Collingwood
Nick Daicos - A+
What can’t the guy do? It’s easy to say the Brownlow Medal is his to lose after games like Friday night when Daicos is by far and above the silkiest player on the ground. Could not have used it better and enjoyed 37 disposals.
Brayden Maynard - A+
A typically tough performance. Hates to get beaten and it’s not hard to tell. The most metres gained for Collingwood.
Jordan De Goey - B+
A quiet outing last week and De Goey came out breathing fire on Friday night. Quick, skillful and deadly with ball in hand, he was Collingwood’s best midfielder in the first half (outside of Daicos) but faded in the second.
Darcy Cameron - B+
Probbaly the best ruckman on the ground. The duo with Cox helped Collingwood to a 35-30 advantage in clearances.
Mason Cox - B+
Had a bit of a point to prove after last week’s quiet outing and a few days of headlines. Stamped his intentions early with two big intercept marks and fought it out.
Scott Pendlebury - B
Another Pie who was quiet in Opening Round but bounced back this week, at least in the first half. An image of him handballing with his eyes closed in the first quarter is iconic.
Beau McCreery - B
Just doesn’t stop trying. A team high eight tackles.
Jeremy Howe - B
His first game for the season, Howe didn’t miss a beat. However, he was a part of a Collingwood defence that continues to leak like it hasn’t before under Craig McRae.
Bobby Hill - B-
First time back on the MCG since his Norm Smith Medal-winning performance and Hill looked at home again. An electric presence inside 50, he contributed with a goal from 12 touches.
Charlie Dean - B-
Showed more signs on Friday night that he could be the ongoing replacement for Nathan Murphy after a quiet game last week. Five intercept possessions.
Isaac Quaynor - C+
A strong defensive effort but didn’t have the rebounding and attacking tendencies he normally possesses.
Will Hoskin-Elliott - C+
Jamie Elliott - C+
Two big goals either side of three quarter time gave the Pies the slightest sniff. Not a big game but there’s no doubting his ability to perform under pressure.
Pat Lipinski - C+
Had 18 touches but didn’t have a say on the contest.
Jack Crisp - C
A low-possession midfielder but usually does more with it than he did on Friday night.
Steele Sidebottom - C
His turnover gave Sydney its first goal when the forward 50 had been so dysfunctional early. Threatened to work into the game but fell away.
Lachie Schultz - C-
Kicked his first goal as a Magpie at an important time in the second term after a slow start to Friday night’s contest. No impact after that.
Darcy Moore - C-
Still looks to be finding his feet to start season 2024. A few good spoils, but several moments he’d want back. His positioning appears to be a bit at sea but still had plenty of intercept possessions.
Oleg Markov - C-
Josh Daicos - C-
Had a crack but didn’t stand out in terms of his impact on the contest. Drifted out of the game in the second half.
Brody Mihocek - D+
A miss from point blank range in the last term when Collingwood still threatened to be a chance really hurt. Blanketed by Tom McCartin.
Ash Johnson - D-
Has been given the first crack over Reef McInnes as a tall forward inside 50 and is yet to lock down his spot. Only the three touches and no goals on Friday night.
Fin Macrae - N/A
Made good on a pre-season full of promise by earning a senior call-up this week, albeit as the substitute. Did nothing to suggest he’ll be displaced next week, unless Tom Mitchell returns.