AFL LIVE: Knee injury fears for young Magpie as Swans begin the long charge back; Suns on top in Darwin

Magpies big man Oscar Steene has had his left knee buckle on him as he worked his way into a marking contest.

He’s been helped off the ground but looks in a bad way. With Grundy running amuck in this second half, Steene was the player they could least afford to lose.

The Magpies, yet again, are not getting rewards on the scoreboard for their efforts up the ground as they have scored eight consecutive behinds including two missed shots at goal in recent plays.

We will see if the big Magpie can return but it looks unlikely.

Pies 48, Swans 32 with 11 mins to go in Q3.

Swans star Nick Blakey has kicked a thumping, running goal to cut Collingwood’s lead to 14 points.

Meanwhile, Swans ruckman (and former Pies star) Brodie Grundy looks the player most likely to lead a Sydney comeback as the Pies are struggling to subdue their former big man.

Grundy had a snap for goal just go across the face in the early moments of the third term.

“[At] every stoppage he looks dangerous – especially in the forward 50,” Australian Football Hall of Fame Legend Jason Dunstall said on Kayo Sports.

Pies 45, Swans 31 with 18 mins to go in Q3.

Up here in Darwin for the Gold Coast v Port game, which has been pretty entertaining.

The Suns simply have been more efficient to this point, early in the second quarter, booting 5.2 to 3.5. Christian Petracca has been active, as has Touk Miller and Gold Coast’s runners from half-back, Daniel Rioli and John Noble.

Zak Butters has been effective. Jason Horne-Francis has had seven touches but hasn’t yet made the impact he’s capable of. Lachie Weller just off with a hammy for those with either a Suns’ interest or have him in their fantasy team.

The Swans have a pulse, but barely, and it’s largely coming through the 32-year-old body of their ruckman, former Magpie Brodie Grundy.

The beautiful handball chains of earlier this season have been replaced by hacking soccer kicks in the rain for the Swans. Their three-headed forward monster of Curnow, McDonald and Amartey has been practically shut out. Curnow has a goal, but Amartey and McDonald have been barely sighted.

Dean Cox trusted McDonald ahead of Hayden McLean, who perhaps would be better suited in these conditions. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Premiership winning midfielder Jordan Lewis believes the Swans haven’t faced pressure like this all season and they are struggling to find a solution to it.

“This Sydney side hasn’t been under this sort of pressure all that much this year,” Lewis said on Kayo Sports.

Collingwood great Nathan Buckley noticed the lift in pressure and effort from the Magpies.

“[It’s] workrate and intensity from the very first transition,” Buckley said.

Collingwood scoring dried up as the rain fell in that second term but they take a much-deserved lead into the main break.

The Swans have started to make some headway into the Pies’ well-organised defence but the visitors are not making it easy for them.

Nick Daicos and Jordan De Goey have been brilliant for the Magpies.

Jai Serong has snapped a goal out of nowhere for the Swans and they desperately needed it.

The rain and Collingwood’s desperate defensive play has turned this game into a hard to predict contest as we head towards half-time.

Pies 45, Swans 23 with a minute to go until HT.

Isaac Heeney has had 12 disposals, but this has been one of his worst games in memory.

The midfielder’s standards are so high, and he just cannot get an inch to move from this relentless Collingwood defensive effort.

The corridor remains completely shut off and the Swans’ normal fast-handball game is being totally negated in the rain

It’s difficult to see where the Swans are coming back here – the unfancied Pies are bullying them Sydney. The Swans are getting a hefty dose of reality being served up by a fearless Collingwood side.

Jake Lloyd sent in a rushed kick to deep in the forward line and it caught Billy Frampton, who is back on the ground, with his hands on Charlie Curnow’s head.

Lloyd’s kick was a bit unusual as it bobbled in his hands on the way down.

The free kick was called and Charlie went back and booted the goal.

There is heavy rain falling at present at the SCG.

Pies 45, Swans 18 with six mins to go in Q2.