COLLINGWOOD has pulled off a comeback win as good as any in its recent history, chasing down Brisbane to win 11.13 (79) to 11.12 (78) at the MCG on Saturday evening.
The Magpies' season looked over with just minutes remaining in the contest before a sensational finish kept back-to-back titles an - albeit distant - possibility. MAGPIES v LIONS Full match coverage and stats Brisbane dominated the first quarter as it did against GWS last round, but again they slowed in the second, going from a 31-point lead just before the first break to being less than a goal up at half-time. The visitors gained control again early in the third with Joe Daniher proving a massive handful for the Collingwood defence, the gap stretching back out to 23, but it never felt like a commanding lead.
Beau McCreery threads a superb checkside after Collingwood handballs its way through traffic The final term played out as most would expect - an absolute classic. With five minutes to play the Lions led by three goals, but two Lachie Schultz majors followed by a Beau McCreery snap had the home side one point in front with just under three minutes on the clock. A couple more shots were missed, but the Magpies' 2024 chances weren't as they held on for the one-point win.
More to come Watch the thrilling final moments from Collingwood’s clash with Brisbane at the MCG Lachie Schultz threads an outrageous banana before Beau McCreery puts Collingwood in front with a cool checkside Charlie Cameron gets out the back and curls a beautiful finish Beau McCreery threads a superb checkside after Collingwood handballs its way through traffic Lachie Neale steps inside and nails a super snap as Brisbane gains momentum Nick Daicos dashes away from Lachie Neale and slots a magnificent running finish to lift the Magpie Army Oscar McInerney bends a beauty after Will Ashcroft's brilliant contested assist Isaac Quaynor snaps through a classy finish for Collingwood's first major First-quarter masters Once again Brisbane got off to a hot start, winning its 19th opening term of the season and holding a 31-point lead just before the first break, but like round 22's five-goal quarter-time buffer over the Giants, it had all but disappeared by the long break and was eventually eclipsed by the final siren. Coming out of the blocks quickly isn't something Chris Fagan needs to worry about, but letting big leads slip is a worry with finals just around the corner. Oscar McInerney bends a beauty after Will Ashcroft's brilliant contested assist Second-quarter master After Brisbane's early dominance Collingwood needed someone to stand up, and there was no surprise that man was Nick Daicos.
The black and white dynamo went to work, finishing with 14 disposals for the term, getting the Magpie Army on their feet and the game back in the balance. But it was the first of his two goals for the quarter that said said it all. Daicos gathered the ball in the middle of the ground running at full pace, breaking a Dayne Zorko hold, finding time for two bounces while burning off Darragh Joyce and Lachie Neale before slotting it straight through the middle from 30.
And the most amazing part of the whole episode was that he had his fist in the air celebrating before the ball had come off his boot! Nick Daicos dashes away from Lachie Neale and slots a magnificent running finish to lift the Magpie Army COLLINGWOOD 2.4 5.6 7.
8 11.13 (79) BRISBANE 6.4 6.
5 9.10 11.12 (78) GOALS Collingwood: McStay 2, N.
Daicos 2, Schultz 2, McCreery 2, Quaynor, Hoskin-Elliott, Cameron Brisbane: Daniher 4, Neale 2, Lohmann 2, McInerney, Bailey, Cameron BEST Collingwood: N.Daicos, Sidebottom, Howe, Cameron, J.Daicos Brisbane: Zorko, Daniher, Neale, Ashcroft, Fletcher INJURIES Collingwood: TBC Brisbane: Berry (hamstring) SUBSTITUTES Collingwood: Ned Long, replaced Jack Bytel at three-quarter time Brisbane: Harry Sharp, replaced Jarrod Berry at quarter-time Crowd: 61,218 at the MCG.
