Geelong did to Collingwood on Saturday night what nobody at the MCG had quite expected. The Cats won 18.14 (122) to 9.14 (68), a 54-point margin that set a new high water mark on Scott Pendlebury's record-equalling 432nd AFL game and put the Magpies' premiership credentials under serious review. The 83,166 in attendance saw Pendlebury draw level with Brent Harvey at the top of the all-time games list, then watched Oisin Mullin hold Nick Daicos to almost zero impact while Bailey Smith, Jeremy Cameron and Tyson Stengle ran the contest from there.
The Eight-Goal Burst That Decided It
Geelong led by just four points late in the second quarter when the contest tilted. The Cats then kicked eight unanswered goals across the back half of the second and into the third, slamming home 6.4 in the third while restricting the Magpies to 0.6, the kind of zero-goal quarter that ends contests. The third-quarter scoreline of 11.10 to 5.14 told the structural story. Patrick Dangerfield kicked two of the eight unanswered, Tyson Stengle nailed three, and Jeremy Cameron contributed three of his five for the night. By three-quarter time the lead was 36 and the Pies were chasing. Cameron's five took his season tally to 33 goals through nine rounds and put him back at $4 favourite in the Coleman Medal market.
For Collingwood the night had two stories. Oisin Mullin, the Irish convert who has built a reputation as a stopping defender, picked up Nick Daicos from the opening bounce and held him to limited touches through the first three quarters. The second story was the inability to answer Cameron and the Cats forward press. Pendlebury did kick a goal late, getting the Pies some reward for effort after the margin had drifted to 19.
Pendlebury's Record Lands at the MCG, 23 May
The 432-game milestone arrived in defeat but the record-breaker is now confirmed for Round 11, Saturday 23 May, against West Coast at the MCG. Collingwood will rest Pendlebury this Sunday against Sydney as Craig McRae continues to manage the load. The 19-year career, four Anzac Day Medals, two All-Australian honours, the 2010 Norm Smith Medal as a 21-year-old and the games-record breaker on a date the Magpies have already begun selling tickets to as if it is a final. The Magpies plan a gold No. 10 guernsey for the milestone evening.
Geelong's 9-1 record after Saturday's win takes them two games clear of Sydney (7-1) and Fremantle (8-1) at the top of the ladder. Premiership market: Cats firm to $3.50 favourites at dabble, with Hawthorn and Fremantle level at $4. The Cats face GWS at Engie Stadium next Saturday before hosting Sydney at the Cattery in Round 11. Cameron has firmed in the Coleman from $7 to $4, level with Josh Treacy.
Where the Markets Land
The Cats' run home is the kind that sets up a top-two finish, with all four games before the bye against sides outside the eight currently. Collingwood drop to 6-2-1 and now host Sydney at the SCG before the road trip to West Coast for Pendlebury's milestone. Carlton, Sydney and Brisbane round out the top of the AFL premiership market behind Geelong, with Hawthorn at $5 having drifted on the back of Thursday's loss at Optus. Picklebet have refreshed all flag markets across Saturday evening.
Round 9 closes Sunday afternoon with Western Bulldogs hosting Melbourne at Marvel Stadium and Richmond travelling to Adelaide Oval to face Port Adelaide. Full match details and Pendlebury's post-match interview are available at AFL.com.au.