SYDNEY coach Paul Roos is grateful his team doesn't have to play Collingwood again next week after the Magpies choked the life out of his Swans last night.

Collingwood strolled to its fifth successive win over Sydney in a comfortable 29-point at ANZ Stadium. It was also the third straight year Collingwood has beaten Sydney in the split-round clash at the venue, forcing Roos to admit the Magpies have his team's measure.

"I think so at the moment, we don't have to play them next week which is pretty good, or the week after," Roos joked.

"We have to play them at the end of the year (round 21 at Telstra Dome), so we'll have to change a few things.

"They enjoy playing against us, they play really well against us. That happens, certain teams play well against other teams."

In what was Mick Malthouse's 200th game as Collingwood coach, the Swans simply could not cope with Collingwood's highly disciplined, tough defensive pressure, succumbing 11.13 (79) to 6.14 (50).

Collingwood's win lifts it two places to fifth on the ladder, a game and a half behind the fourth-placed Sydney.

For Sydney, it was its first defeat in its past seven matches.

Livewire forward Dale Thomas kicked three goals, including two after spectacular high marks in the first and second quarters in front of a crowd of 59,202.

Centre half-forward Travis Cloke also kicked three goals for the Magpies.

Thomas and Cloke combined for all five of Collingwood's first-half goals as the Pies took a 26-point lead to the main break, holding Sydney to 1.5 (11) to Collingwood's 5.7 (37).

The match opened with Collingwood playing an aggressive defensive style, crowding Sydney's star-studded forward line led by Barry Hall and Michael O'Loughlin, who were well held by Shane Wakelin and Harry O'Brien.

Hall was dragged from the ground early in the second quarter after conceding his fifth free kick. He soon returned but was involved in a fiery clash behind the play with Wakelin, with Hall's swinging elbow appearing to narrowly miss Wakelin's jaw.

Collingwood stretched its lead to 41 points at three-quarter-time but Sydney staged a late rally with goals to Hall, O'Loughlin and Henry Playfair in the last quarter.

However a second free kick at full-back against Leo Barry for incorrect disposal handed Cameron Wood an easy goal and Collingwood fans started celebrating, with Alan Didak revving up the crowd after a neat goal on the run on his non-preferred right foot.

Collingwood's win came without injured big men Josh Fraser and Anthony Rocca while the Swans were missing dual Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes, who was serving a one-match suspension after 204 consecutive matches.

Co-captain Brett Kirk (29 possessions) was a key contributor for the Swans in midfield in a typically determined display and Barry was also among the home side's better players.

But Sydney could not cope with the pressure and numbers at the contest, with Dane Swan (30 touches) and Didak (28) influential.

Roos was pleased with his team's defensive effort, particularly All-Australian back Craig Bolton, but less so with his forwards.

"We tried to plug the holes with him on just about every forward that was on fire and he was able to snuff them all out, he was outstanding," Roos said.

With just 1.5 in the first half, Roos lamented a number of wayward shots. "Our forward line tonight really struggled and that probably was the difference in the game," he said.

"They got some really, really good goals out of Travis Cloke and Dale Thomas (three goals each), but we just couldn't seem to get anything out of our forwards."

AAP