By Kim Densham in Melbourne for AFANA
During the week preceding the Preliminary Final, Mark Thompson uncharacteristically focused on Collingwood in a rare display of overt mind games. Mick Malthouse let the Collingwood players do the talking in the media to refute claims of 'hating' Geelong. Before the game, Cats' fans were nervous while Pies' fans were excited in a fearful sort of way.
Collingwood won the initial tap out and what followed was a display of brute tackling force, attacking pressure and relentless pursuit of the opposition. Kicking seven goals in the first quarter and five more in the second, Collingwood went into the half time break with 13 goals on the board and a ten goal lead. Geelong players looked sluggish and pedestrian, appearing older, slower and somewhat stunned. The Cats' invincibility had been tested during the home and away season but tonight it was ripped out of them by the throat. It was incredible to witness the changing of the guard in 20 minutes of devastatingly brilliant football, unless you were a Geelong fan, in which case it was just devastating.
The final score line of 41 points belied the forceful nature and impact of the Collingwood win. In the end the Pies cruised to an easy victory.
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Article last changed on Sunday, August 07, 2011 - 9:29 PM EDT
