THE SYDNEY Swans’ losing stretch against Collingwood has grown to nine matches with a 25-point defeat at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.

The Pies had won every clash between the two teams since round 13, 2005 and they were rarely challenged in yet another road win, managing 13.18 (96) to 10.11 (71) in front of 43,585 fans.

The Swans were best served by co-captain Brett Kirk and his midfield colleague Josh Kennedy, while Nick Malceski worked tirelessly to provide run from defence.

Ben McGlynn was also a good contributor, while ruckman Shane Mumford broke even with former Swans ruck Darren Jolly at the centre bounces and stoppages.
 
Collingwood's win puts it in third place, half a game clear of Fremantle and just half a game behind pacesetters Geelong and St Kilda, while the Swans fall to seventh, trailing Carlton on percentage.

For all the Swans' pre-game talk of a fierce contest, the Pies dominated the stoppages early and their nine-point lead at quarter time could have been greater but for their inaccuracy.

They rectified their ways early in the second term, stretching out to a 31-point lead as Chris Dawes and Sidebottom caused havoc for the Swans defence.

As if incensed, Kirk took it upon himself to lift the home team, and with Kennedy began to make an impact at the clearances.

But the Swans only managed stem the tide as opposed to turning it, with two goals to the Pies four to trail by 25 points at the main break.

Craig Bird's early goal in the third term gave the Swans some hope but it was quickly snuffed out through successive goals to Leigh Brown and Travis Cloke.

With a 34-point lead at the last change and near-complete control of the midfield, it was a relatively simple task for the Magpies to hold the Swans at bay until the final siren.

Sydney Swans    2.3    4.4    6.7    10.11 (71)
Collingwood        3.6    7.11    10.17    13.18 (96)

Goals
Sydney Swans:
O'Keefe 3, McGlynn 2, Kirk, Bird, Shaw, Rohan, White
Collingwood: Dawes 3, Sidebottom 2, Cloke 2, Brown 2, O'Brien, Dick, Jolly, Didak

Best
Sydney Swans:
McGlynn, Kirk, Kennedy, Mumford, Malceski, O'Keefe
Collingwood: O'Brien, Thomas, Swan, Jolly, Prestigiacomo, Sidebottom

Injuries:
Sydney Swans:
Nil
Collingwood: Dick (shoulder)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: McBurney, Wenn, Findlay

Official crowd: 43,585

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs