Lions roar back in style against flat Magpies
After suffering a 66-point belting by Gold Coast last Saturday, the reigning premiers roared back to defeat the Magpies at the MCG for the first time since 2014.
Leading by 19 points at three-quarter time, Brisbane had to overcome some nerves in the final term to win 14.8 (92) to 10.5 (65) in front of the biggest home-and-away for a non-Victorian team.
Emerging forward Logan Morris bagged a career-best six goals in a commanding display - the first Lions player to kick that many majors in a MCG game since Jonathan Brown in 2004.
Morris had terrific support from young ruck-forward Henry Smith, who slotted three first-half goals in his first game for 2025.
Smith came in to replace sore Oscar McInerney, who continues to struggle with a debilitating back injury.
Darcy Fort and Smith battled manfully against star Collingwood ruck Darcy Cameron, helping the Lions comfortably win the clearance battle 50-36.
After being towelled up by Suns stars Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson last week, premiership stars Lachie Neale (36 disposals) and Hugh McCluggage (34) were outstanding in the middle.
Brisbane were dealt a major blow to their defensive structure when they lost premiership veteran Ryan Lester to concussion at the start of the second quarter.
Trailing by 20 points at quarter-time, Collingwood powered ahead with five goals to two in the second term, including a long bomb to returning star Jordan De Goey.
But after being sidelined for three months, the Magpies opted to take it easy with their dynamic ace, subbing him out during the third quarter.
Norm Smith medallist Bobby Hill, who has missed a month due to personal reasons, came into the game for De Goey.
Hill flew for a trademark speccy in the last quarter after Lions star Will Ashcroft inexplicably kicked across goal.
The Pies' second term was the only period when they looked close to their best, managing just three goals after halftime in a concerning form line so close to September.
It was Collingwood's third defeat in four matches, meaning they will finish the round off the top of the ladder, replaced by surging Adelaide.
The Daicos brothers, Nick and Josh, were typically dominant early, but their influence faded as the game went on.
It was the Magpies' first loss to the Lions since round 23, 2023, having won their previous four games against Brisbane.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
10 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Lions queue for midfield minutes while Neale recharges
The Lions are confident they can overcome Lachie Neale's absence en route to the AFL finals. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS) The Lions are confident they can overcome Lachie Neale's absence en route to the AFL finals. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP Zac Bailey didn't know about Lachie Neale's injury until he heard about it "in the media". Admitting it left the group "flat", the All Australian contender is confident the defending AFL champions can more than cope with the two-time Brownlow Medal-winner's absence until the finals. "He's a huge out for us but I don't think we're as reliant on him to win the ball for us these days," a relaxed Bailey said of Neale, who will miss the final three home-and-away fixtures with a quadriceps injury. "Guys around him have stepped up their game. "Hughy (McCluggage), Dunks (Josh Dunkley), Will (Ashcroft) have taken their games to another level." Brisbane's midfield stocks are enviable and Bailey, one of many who could run through there more often against Sydney at the Gabba on Saturday, admitted a virtual queue had formed. "Jarrod Berry, he can play both inside and out, Levi (Ashcroft) would love to go inside and there's a few others trying to get in there," he said. "(We were) pretty flat; he kept it pretty quiet, I found out in the media but it'll give him an opportunity freshen up and come back ready to attack finals." Bailey, adapting to more time on a wing, is averaging a career-high 18.84 disposals this season and scoring more than ever before, with 29 goals to go with 24 behinds in 19 games. In his eighth season, he's also averaging more than one mark inside-50 each game for the first time. "I just wanted to be consistent and I feel like I've been able to do that and grasp what needs to be done around that wing role," he said. The Lions, fresh off a statement victory against Collingwood at the MCG last weekend, are third (14-5-1) but need to finish well in games against the Swans, Fremantle and Hawthorn to lock in a top-four spot. "It was pretty important we got ourselves up and we need to continue with that same mindset," Bailey said of the Magpies win that followed a disappointing loss to Gold Coast.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
AFL champion Jason Dunstall says Nathan Buckley is ‘missing coaching'
A return to coaching for Collingwood great Nathan Buckley is growing momentum after a strong endorsement from another AFL champion. Buckley on Wednesday morning declared he would take a phone call from Melbourne in the wake of it sacking premiership coach Simon Goodwin on Monday night. The former Collingwood coach said he had a desire to coach again and labelled the Demons 'a compelling case'. 'I would take the call, I would have a chat, but a lot would have to fall into place to leave this position of comfort I have found,' Buckley told SEN on Wednesday. 'It's there (the desire to coach) – otherwise it would be an easy no. I can't lie – when (Tuesday) happened I knew this would all come around again.' Buckley was linked to Tasmania earlier this year and he has been raised for almost every vacant position since his exit from the Magpies in 2021. On Thursday, AFL champion Jason Dunstall said Buckley was 'missing coaching' and expected his return was only a matter of time. 'Bucks would take a call from anyone, I would think,' Dunstall said after being inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. 'I have a feeling he's missing coaching, he loves it and he's so intense about it. 'I suspect he'll be spoken to by a number of clubs. Next year? I don't know, but he will be in the coaches' box again, I am pretty comfortable of that.' Buckley coached the Magpies between 2012 and 2021 after his 280-game playing career.
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Midfield depth has Brisbane Lions adamant they can deal with the loss two-time Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale
The Lions are confident they can overcome the loss of two-time Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale, believing they are less reliant on the Brisbane co-captain compared with previous years. Neale has been ruled out until the finals series after suffering a quad injury in Brisbane's 27-point win over Collingwood at the MCG last weekend. With three games of their regular season campaign remaining, including Saturday's battle with Sydney at the Gabba, the third-placed Lions are adamant they have the necessary midfield depth to cover Neale's absence. 'He's obviously a huge out for us, but I don't think we're as reliant on him to win the ball for us these days,' Lions star Zac Bailey said. 'There are guys around him that have stepped up their game, so we should be able to replace that hole.' Bailey said midfielders Hugh McCluggage, Josh Dunkley and Will Ashcroft had 'taken their games to another level this year' and also nominated Jarrod Berry and teenager Levi Ashcroft as candidates who could shift from the wing to an inside midfield role. 'Jarrod Berry can play both outside and inside, and he's really tough,' Bailey said. 'Levi Ashcroft (would) love to go inside. He played as an inside mid pretty much his whole junior career, and from what I saw, he was dropping some pretty good numbers, so it'll be interesting to see how he goes in there. 'He's very clean, like his brother, and can win his own ball, so I think he should go all right.' Bailey admitted to being caught off guard by the news of Neale's injury. 'He kept it pretty quiet. I didn't actually know. It came out in the media, and that's how I found out,' he said. 'He's a massive part of that midfield, so the boys will be pretty flat for him, but it'll give him an opportunity to freshen up and come back ready to attack the finals.' The versatile Bailey could also spend more time in the midfield in the absence of Neale, who was running laps of the Gabba at Thursday's training session. 'We'll, just have to wait and see. There are a few people throwing their hands up,' Bailey said. 'Coming into the season, I just wanted to be consistent, and I feel like I've been able to do that. 'I've been able to grasp the wing role. It's a little bit different to the role that I had been playing. 'I felt like in the past, I was in and out of games a lot. For me, it's just trying to put myself in positions to stay in the game for longer.'
