Finally, Pies let the Cat out of the bag

Rohan Connolly In the end, the biggest surprise of the 2011 grand final was the margin by which it was decided.

Era's best, and not done yet

Rohan Connolly Cats' win-loss record is a phenomenon that's going to take some topping.

Don't write off a Magpie return to top

Rohan Connolly Everyone wants instant answers when a side loses a grand final.

Taking care of business

Rohan Connolly After Geelong kicked the first three goals of the second half, the game was all but over.

Too old, too slow, two flags ... and counting

Rohan Connolly A 2011 Geelong premiership team would be one of the oldest in league history. But Rohan Connolly won't be surprised if the Cats defy the doubters.

Rested Cats will need all their bite

Rohan Connolly Geelong will come back to the fray rested and refreshed as it was from 2007-09.

It takes more than 22 men

Rohan Connolly AFL football is moving closer to a model similar to English soccer.

Tackling the slippery issue

Rohan Connolly YOU can understand why the AFL has become so protective of the image of the game it runs. Context is a quality sadly often left behind these days, the mad scramble to judgment on any issue too...

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Saints axe three, name Winmar for clash with Demons

Martin Boulton, Rohan Connolly St Kilda's fifth loss forces the pace of change at the club with Nicholas Winmar becoming its seventh debutant of the year.

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Geelong's fighting win leaves Magpies in a flap

Rohan Connolly Collingwood has played far worse than it did last night and emerged victorious.

The final countdown

Rohan Connolly In the third instalment of his countdown to the AFL season, Rohan Connolly suggests the more things change the more they stay the same...

St Kilda's taller attack in good Nick early

Peter Hanlon and Rohan Connolly St Kilda's shift to a taller forward-line structure geared towards spreading its aerial threat received a tentative tick from coach Ross Lyon last night.

Geelong purring as the Cats prowl menacingly

Rohan Connolly Mark Thompson doesn't give away a lot, but when the Geelong coach does pipe up, it's usually pertinent and straight to the point.

Mick's men can still learn a lesson from Geelong

Rohan Connolly Cats' second-quarter demolition of the Dogs is compulsory viewing for Pies.

Pies pass test with honours

Rohan Connolly If this was a test of sorts, it was one Collingwood passed with flying colours. Now for that final exam, one the Pies now know they can sit with confidence.

Cats lose leading support

Rohan Connolly Geelong may have played in the past three grand finals for two premierships, but a surprising majority of its rivals expect its dominance to end sooner than later.

Cats collar Dogs to earn rest

Rohan Connolly Geelong knew it needed to get the week's rest to have the best possible chance at this year's premiership.

Cats ahead at game's pointy end

Rohan Connolly Hawthorn has recaptured the hardness, power and determination that took it to last year's premiership but there isn't the time or space now to make it count.

Party time for Cats as Pies' dream dies

Rohan Connolly By the end it had got ugly for Collingwood. Geelong players doing party tricks. A stream of possession the Cats' way out of the centre square.