It’s one of the biggest games of the season but not for the reason everyone expected as Collingwood and Brisbane, last year’s Grand Finalists, square off while winless to begin Round 3.
The Lions (0-2, 86.6%) are coming off the bye after a disappointing start to the year, losing in the west to Fremantle and coughing up a 46-point lead against Carlton in Opening Round, which was their first defeat at the Gabba in 18 months.
The Magpies (0-3, 74.2%) are trying to avoid becoming the second reigning premier in V/AFL history to sit 0-4. Only the Collingwood side of 1959 has done it before, though notably, that team recovered to play finals.
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Fox Footy’s David King pre-game said you could “shut the gate” on the loser of the natch’s premiership chances.
The match gets underway at 7:30pm AEDT from the Gabba.
Watch it live on Fox Footy (channel 504) and streaming on Kayo from 6:30pm AEDT.
LIVE MATCH REPORT
After managing Steele Sidebottom at selection, Magpies coach Craig McRae made another surprising call by leaving veteran Jack Crip as the substitute, giving Fin Macrae his first start since late 2022.
Brisbane opted for young dasher Kai Lohmann.
The Pies hit the scoreboard within the first two minutes, with Norm Smith Medallist Bobby Hill finding space to mark and goal.
Cameron Rayner quickly hit back for Brisbane with a textbook front-and-centre goal. But the goal was only confirmed after a bizarre score review call to check if the footy hit the upright, despite a clear gap between the ball and the post on replay.
Another score review followed minutes later, with Jamie Elliott’s goal eventually confirmed before Beau McCreery added another major.
Hill then added another two goals to make it three for the quarter and give the Magpies a handy four-goal lead at the first change.
“It’s a recurring nightmare for Lions fans,” AFL Nation commentator Gerard Whateley said.
Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall said he was thrilled with Collingwood’s ruthless pressure and willingness to use the corridor, telling Fox Footy: “We’re just seeing signs of their best starting to return to the fold.”
The Lions had seven straight inside 50s then finally got scoreboard reward for effort, with Lachie Neale converting a tight set-shot opportunity.
Brisbane continued to dominate territory in the second term, with Charlie Cameron getting on the end of a forward 5 entry and converting his first goal.
And when Jaspa Fletcher made it three straight goals for the Lions, Collingwood’s lead had been cut to two points.
Rayner then kicked a goal on the half-time siren to give Brisbane the lead and cap off a terrific second term for the club.
Dunstall said the game “flipped on its head” and the Lions “lifted their workrate” in the second term, adding they had “ridiculous territorial dominance” (+19 inside 50s) . That came off the back of dominant contested possession (+10) and clearance (+10) numbers for the quarter, inspired by dual Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale.
Fox Footy’s Leigh Montagna asked: “Was that Collingwood throwing their best punch in the first quarter and it peters away from here? Or have they got another fight in them and see if they can wrestle back momentum?”
McCreery gave Collingwood the perfect start to the third term, nailing a long-range goal before Brody Mihocek added another to give the Pies a seven-point lead
“It is like a finals game,” Channel 7’s Brian Taylor said as both teams upped the ante and Joe Daniher kicked his first goal for the Lions.
But Daniher’s major was met by three more Pies goals to Mihocek. McCreery and Elliott as Collingwood threatened to pull away again with a 20-point lead at three quarter-time.
There was an incident late in the third quarter between Neale and Scott Pendlebury, with the Collingwood veteran slapping Neale’s stomach in a movethat sent the Lions star to the Gabba turf. It’s an incident that will almost draw scrutiny from the Match Review Officer.
Brisbane got an ideal start to the fourth term, with a stunning lookaway handball from Oscar McInerney setting up a goal to Zac Bailey.And when Hugh McCluggage added another for the Lions they were back within nine points.
But Collingwood kicked two of the next three goals through Crisp, who was subbed into the game in the third term, and Elliott to help steady the visitors.
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