AFL LIVE: Ginnivan's night out for Hawks, but Elliott meets every challenge
Why are Collingwood so hard to beat? Because they have different ways in which they can win. In March and April, their improved work at clearance came to the fore. In the past month, they've absorbed losses at the contest, at times conceded plenty of territory, yet still got the job done. Tonight, their offence has come off their defence. Their willingness to close down Hawthorn's space has enabled them to win the ball back in dangerous areas to launch their forays forward. The sight of Collingwood players running unchecked through the centre square will be giving Sam Mitchell headaches. The Hawks have clearly had a crack but their inability to prevent the Pies' run has given their backs little hope. Steele Sidebottom is dominating his wing. Jamie Elliott, after just one possession in the first quarter, has four goals to half-time. Tom Barrass needs pressure on the ball up the field to beat Elliott, who, if allowed to lead at the ball, will be too quick for his bigger opponent. On the other wing, Jack Crisp has also been a threat. The Hawks have gifted three goals to the Pies through their own silliness. The latest was Changkuoth Jiath's brain fade in not giving the ball back to Elliott after a holding the ball free kick, resulting in a 50-metre penalty which took the Magpies forward to point-blank range. Their best player has been former Pie Jack Ginnivan, who has three goals and 17 disposals. They need more from Jai Newcombe, who has been limited to just 10 disposals by Ned Long, who has also had time on James Worpel. If the Hawks do not lift their pressure around the ball, this has the potential to get ugly in the second half.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
AFL 2025: Collingwood's Beau McCreery on his form and evolution as a pressure forward
It's starting to click for Collingwood pressure machine Beau McCreery. The premiership forward is in a patch of brilliant form and one of the unheralded weapons keeping the Magpies two points clear on top of the AFL ladder. McCreery says his elevation is off the back of gaining a greater understanding of his own game and his role is more complex than hitting the scoreboard. 'It's my fifth year and I've only started to figure out I don't need to kick goals to be happy with how I go,' McCreery told NewsWire. 'It doesn't have anything to do with me kicking any goals, it's just putting that pressure on. I feel like when I am at my best my pressure is there. 'People get nervous when us boys are hunting, especially us small forwards. 'If you've got me, Bobby (Hill), Shooter (Lachie Schultz), Jamie (Elliott) chasing, even Timmy (Membrey), Checkers (Brody Mihocek) – people get nervous.' McCreery is modest in his self-assessment, grading his first half of the year as 'up and down'. But the 24-year-old is recording greater numbers in almost every statistic important to a player in his position. McCreery's clearance numbers are included in that growth, which bodes well in his pursuit of becoming a more regular option in the middle for coach Craig McRae. 'When I get that midfield time I feel like I've been beasting in there,' he said. 'If I can keep getting some of that time in the mid, keep exposing myself to mid time, but I still do love playing forward. 'I love the craft of it, I love my group I am down there with, it's so enjoyable – playing for this team is just so enjoyable.' McCreery pinch hit in the middle during Friday night's dismantling of Hawthorn at the MCG. The 88-gamer is learning how challenging a transition up the ground will be but knows what he needs to do to earn more opportunity. 'Keep showing up, keep training well and when they do give me an opportunity … I figured out pretty quickly it's pretty tough in there,' he said. 'I need to take my chances when I go in there … use my speed, catch people off guard. I don't think people think I can close down space as quick as I can.'
The Age
8 hours ago
- The Age
Why the supposedly ‘old and tired' Magpies are flag favourites: Key takeouts from round 12
Gabba, Thursday night Brisbane defeated Essendon by 18 points Noah Answerth has become one of those lockdown defenders no forward wants to face. Last week, Answerth held dynamic Hawk Nick Watson goalless and to just four disposals (and a friendly bump when the two men left the field in the first quarter) in a win at the MCG. Hawks coach Sam Mitchell later lamented the lack of impact his small forwards had when the ball hit the turf. Answerth had another win on Thursday night, when he held Isaac Kako goalless and to 11 touches. It's the third-straight week Kako has been goalless. While Answerth has a shut-down mentality, he had 20 touches and 401 metres gained of his own. Teammate and dual Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale described Answerth as follows: 'He is dog hungry. He is a junkyard dog, is what we call him. 'The stuff he does around the contest down back and the effort he puts in to clamping down on a dangerous forward is first class.' So are the Lions, despite their so-so form against mid-tier teams. They led by 32 points at quarter-time against the Bombers, only to find themselves trailing early in the final term. Emerging star Nate Caddy was a pleasure to watch up forward, and did all he could to will the Bombers across the line, but the Lions did what great teams do, and that's take care of business. With a 9-2-1 record, they - like the Magpies - could barely be better placed to launch for back-to-back flags, ahead of facing an emerging Adelaide on Friday night. Why this is Sam Mitchell's toughest task Friday night, MCG Collingwood defeated Hawthorn by 51 points Sam Mitchell has dealt with several challenges through a relatively short coaching career now in its fourth season. The unceremonious departure of four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson meant the focus on the untried Mitchell was fierce from day one. There was the 0-5 start last year, and the spotlight which came from that, before a stunning run to the finals. Now Mitchell faces his toughest challenge yet - going from good to great, as Brian Cook dubbed the now famous review of Geelong's operations in 2006. The Hawks have seven wins and are still strong finals contenders, so they are good, but it's taking that next step that will show where Mitchell and his team are at in their development. Rivals have honed in on the Hawks, and are denying their outlet passes. Their ability to take the ball by hand from defensive 50 to attacking 50 has been stymied, with rival half-backs pushing up and making it tough for the Hawks to find space. Their poor tackling count recently has been well documented. Mitchell maintains skipper James Sicily is not hampered by a groin issue, but AFL great Leigh Matthews isn't so sure, declaring on 3AW that Sicily 'is having a really bad year'. Sicily had an AFL ranking of 44 last season; this year he is well into the 160s. Loading The Hawks' lack of Hollywood run is impacting Dylan Moore up forward, while Matthews has also questioned whether recruit Tom Barrass is 'making them better' in defence. And is father time catching up with Jack Gunston? That the Hawks are chasing Oscar Allen and Harley Reid is a sign they know they are not yet the finished product. But Mitchell can only work with what he has got. The Dockers and Crows are building; it's season over for the Swans Saturday afternoon, People First Stadium Fremantle defeated Gold Coast by 11 points Saturday night, SCG Adelaide defeated Sydney by 90 points They have been a tipster's nightmare, but the Dockers and Crows have found winning momentum. The Dockers have won their past three, none better than Saturday's surprise win on the Gold Coast, and have North Melbourne immediately after their mid-season break. The Crows, meanwhile, have won four of their past five, their only loss in this period coming against Collingwood by 10 points at the MCG. Their 90-point win over Sydney on Saturday, with a whopping 88 of their points derived from turnover, was their best of the season. There were also moments of brilliance, namely Josh Rachele's angled tap of the boot soccer pass in the centre square to Ben Keays, who capped this off with a running goal, was special. Rachele, of course, was a star junior soccer play, and he and Keays are both Manchester United fans. Keys had a superb all-round game, having emerged this year as one of the league's best defensive forwards. He booted three goals and subdued Nick Blakey (nine disposals). Loading The Crows have much to boast - seven times in 12 games they have scored more than 100 points, on four occasions scoring more than 120. Only twice have they conceded more than 100 points, and three times they have only allowed 50 points or fewer. They sit in the top three, but if they want to prove they are the real deal, they will get the job done against Brisbane at the Adelaide Oval on Friday night. And a word about the Swans. They are in a world of pain, with five losses by 10 goals or more. That's not the Bloods culture we have come to respect and fear. Where Geelong and Collingwood briefly fell off the perch the season after a flag, the Swans - after the grand final horrors of 2022 and '24 - are now in pain. Dean Cox needs to instil a greater defensive ethos - the hallmark of the 2005 premiership side that was on hand on Saturday celebrating their 20-year reunion. Damien Hardwick, meanwhile, has seen many great moments from Shai Bolton during their premiership years at Richmond but, on Saturday, and now as Gold Coast coach, Bolton's chase down tackle on Nick Holman with 35 seconds remaining was one he was left to rue.
Sydney Morning Herald
8 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Why the supposedly ‘old and tired' Magpies are flag favourites: Key takeouts from round 12
Gabba, Thursday night Brisbane defeated Essendon by 18 points Noah Answerth has become one of those lockdown defenders no forward wants to face. Last week, Answerth held dynamic Hawk Nick Watson goalless and to just four disposals (and a friendly bump when the two men left the field in the first quarter) in a win at the MCG. Hawks coach Sam Mitchell later lamented the lack of impact his small forwards had when the ball hit the turf. Answerth had another win on Thursday night, when he held Isaac Kako goalless and to 11 touches. It's the third-straight week Kako has been goalless. While Answerth has a shut-down mentality, he had 20 touches and 401 metres gained of his own. Teammate and dual Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale described Answerth as follows: 'He is dog hungry. He is a junkyard dog, is what we call him. 'The stuff he does around the contest down back and the effort he puts in to clamping down on a dangerous forward is first class.' So are the Lions, despite their so-so form against mid-tier teams. They led by 32 points at quarter-time against the Bombers, only to find themselves trailing early in the final term. Emerging star Nate Caddy was a pleasure to watch up forward, and did all he could to will the Bombers across the line, but the Lions did what great teams do, and that's take care of business. With a 9-2-1 record, they - like the Magpies - could barely be better placed to launch for back-to-back flags, ahead of facing an emerging Adelaide on Friday night. Why this is Sam Mitchell's toughest task Friday night, MCG Collingwood defeated Hawthorn by 51 points Sam Mitchell has dealt with several challenges through a relatively short coaching career now in its fourth season. The unceremonious departure of four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson meant the focus on the untried Mitchell was fierce from day one. There was the 0-5 start last year, and the spotlight which came from that, before a stunning run to the finals. Now Mitchell faces his toughest challenge yet - going from good to great, as Brian Cook dubbed the now famous review of Geelong's operations in 2006. The Hawks have seven wins and are still strong finals contenders, so they are good, but it's taking that next step that will show where Mitchell and his team are at in their development. Rivals have honed in on the Hawks, and are denying their outlet passes. Their ability to take the ball by hand from defensive 50 to attacking 50 has been stymied, with rival half-backs pushing up and making it tough for the Hawks to find space. Their poor tackling count recently has been well documented. Mitchell maintains skipper James Sicily is not hampered by a groin issue, but AFL great Leigh Matthews isn't so sure, declaring on 3AW that Sicily 'is having a really bad year'. Sicily had an AFL ranking of 44 last season; this year he is well into the 160s. Loading The Hawks' lack of Hollywood run is impacting Dylan Moore up forward, while Matthews has also questioned whether recruit Tom Barrass is 'making them better' in defence. And is father time catching up with Jack Gunston? That the Hawks are chasing Oscar Allen and Harley Reid is a sign they know they are not yet the finished product. But Mitchell can only work with what he has got. The Dockers and Crows are building; it's season over for the Swans Saturday afternoon, People First Stadium Fremantle defeated Gold Coast by 11 points Saturday night, SCG Adelaide defeated Sydney by 90 points They have been a tipster's nightmare, but the Dockers and Crows have found winning momentum. The Dockers have won their past three, none better than Saturday's surprise win on the Gold Coast, and have North Melbourne immediately after their mid-season break. The Crows, meanwhile, have won four of their past five, their only loss in this period coming against Collingwood by 10 points at the MCG. Their 90-point win over Sydney on Saturday, with a whopping 88 of their points derived from turnover, was their best of the season. There were also moments of brilliance, namely Josh Rachele's angled tap of the boot soccer pass in the centre square to Ben Keays, who capped this off with a running goal, was special. Rachele, of course, was a star junior soccer play, and he and Keays are both Manchester United fans. Keys had a superb all-round game, having emerged this year as one of the league's best defensive forwards. He booted three goals and subdued Nick Blakey (nine disposals). Loading The Crows have much to boast - seven times in 12 games they have scored more than 100 points, on four occasions scoring more than 120. Only twice have they conceded more than 100 points, and three times they have only allowed 50 points or fewer. They sit in the top three, but if they want to prove they are the real deal, they will get the job done against Brisbane at the Adelaide Oval on Friday night. And a word about the Swans. They are in a world of pain, with five losses by 10 goals or more. That's not the Bloods culture we have come to respect and fear. Where Geelong and Collingwood briefly fell off the perch the season after a flag, the Swans - after the grand final horrors of 2022 and '24 - are now in pain. Dean Cox needs to instil a greater defensive ethos - the hallmark of the 2005 premiership side that was on hand on Saturday celebrating their 20-year reunion. Damien Hardwick, meanwhile, has seen many great moments from Shai Bolton during their premiership years at Richmond but, on Saturday, and now as Gold Coast coach, Bolton's chase down tackle on Nick Holman with 35 seconds remaining was one he was left to rue.
