Collingwood keep rolling with Gather Round win over Sydney

Collingwood’s dominance at Adelaide Oval continues, making it 10 straight wins at the venue and four on the bounce in 2025 after seeing off Sydney by 31 points on Friday night.

The Magpies were simply too polished in the second half, restricting last year’s AFL grand finalists to just three goals after the main break in a 16.13 (109) to 12.6 (78) win that again showcased the club’s enviable depth.

Without Dan Houston (suspension), Jordan De Goey (Achilles), and Lachie Schultz (hamstring), it was left to Collingwood’s old and new to step up — and they did just that.

Veteran Steele Sidebottom turned back the clock with 28 disposals and 13 score involvements, while Nick Daicos (34 disposals, nine tackles) and Ned Long (29 and eight clearances) added drive and steel to the midfield unit. In the ruck, Darcy Cameron celebrated his 100th game with 20 touches, 24 hitouts and five clearances, outpointing former teammate Brodie Grundy.

The takes Collingwood to 4-1 for the first time since their 2023 premiership season and marked a return to the winner’s list over the Swans for the first time in six meetings.

Sydney, still without key names like Errol Gulden, Callum Mills, and Tom Papley, lacked their usual bite in the midfield and were left to rely on individual brilliance. Isaac Heeney (27 disposals, two goals) led from the front, while Grundy, James Rowbottom and Hayden McLean had their moments. But once Joel Amartey went down with a hamstring issue before half-time, the Swans were a forward short and unable to keep pace.

The match started as a shootout with both sides trading goals early — 18 in the first half alone. Beau McCreery’s spark helped set the tone for Collingwood, combining fierce pressure with scoreboard impact. Bobby Hill, Brody Mihocek and Jamie Elliott all finished with three goals, giving the Pies plenty of options in a forward line built from role players and opportunists.

By half-time, the Pies had broken the game open, dominating clearance numbers and scoring repeatedly from turnover. They led by 17 at the main break and never looked back, even as Sydney showed glimpses of resistance.

The Swans simply couldn’t generate enough sustained pressure, and without Gulden’s run or Papley’s presence inside 50, they found themselves outgunned by a Collingwood side whose balance, pressure and system again shone through.

Next up for Craig McRae’s men is a blockbuster Easter clash at the Gabba against Brisbane, where the Pies will look to cement their top-four credentials.

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