Summary
It wasn’t quite Brisbane’s biggest win over Collingwood, but it wasn’t far off. The Lions went into this game knowing their top-four ambitions were alive, courtesy of Hawthorn’s upset win over Western Bulldogs earlier in the day. They needed to beat Collingwood and they needed to do it by some margin to close the percentage gap with the Dogs. They delivered.
There was just a kick in it at quarter time at the Gabba but after that it was all Brisbane, who kicked nine unanswered goals either side of half-time to put an inferior Magpies outfit to the sword. Charlie Cameron kicked six tonight but the Lions shared it around, boasting 11 individual goal kickers. The win was built on intense pressure and dominance in the middle of the ground, with fast and direct ball movement allowing Brisbane’s forward to fill their boots. Collingwood had no response to Brisbane’s heat, energy and class.
Although the Lions’ fate is not entirely in their own hands, if they beat West Coast in round 23 and the Bulldogs lose to Port Adelaide - and there is sufficient swing in percentage - Brisbane will get the double chance. With Geelong to face Melbourne next week in another important contest, there is much to play for in the final round of the regular season.
Going to need an explanation for this one, @CharlesRanger23 😅#AFLLionsPies pic.twitter.com/tAf5cvKPtp
— AFL (@AFL) August 14, 2021
FT: Brisbane Lions 22-10 (142) beat Collingwood 8-9 (57)
There’s time enough for Cameron to drill his sixth goal of the night bang on the siren and that caps a huge night for the Lions. They were awesome. Their top-four hopes aren’t done with just yet.
Q4: 1 min remaining: Brisbane Lions 21-10 (136) vs Collingwood 8-9 (57) Andrews stays in the square to deny Collingwood a straight shot at goal and the last rites are now being read. Big win for the Lions.
Q4: 2 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 21-10 (136) vs Collingwood 8-9 (57) Collingwood goal! Daicos swivels a pass around the corner to Thomas, who marks just inside-50 and splits the uprights to notch not only a late goal for the Pies ... but also the 100th of his career. And who said there aren’t any 100-goal forwards left in the game?!?!
Q4: 4 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 21-10 (136) vs Collingwood 7-9 (51) ... and it looks to be another certain goal for the Lions only for Neale to dribble the ball along the carpet and miss from close range. Lyons then misses for the hosts. They’re not stopping, Brisbane. Need the percentage.
Q4: 7 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 21-8 (134) vs Collingwood 7-9 (51) Ginnivan kicks a behind for Collingwood - the first miss of his fledgling career - and from the kick-in the ball slingshots the other way...
Q4: 10 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 21-7 (133) vs Collingwood 7-8 (50) Big leap and big mark by Daniher. For some reason he dishes off to Neale and this time it wasn’t perhaps the best option, improving the angle slightly but conceding ground. Neale misses and you have to wonder why Joe wouldn’t have a crack from barely 20 metres out.
Q4: 12 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 21-6 (132) vs Collingwood 7-8 (50) Brisbane goal! Another for Cockatoo and another percentage-boosting goal for the Lions. These points might well come in handy next week.
Q4: 13 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 20-6 (126) vs Collingwood 7-8 (50) Brisbane goal! Bailey palms off to Lyons when he might have had a crack himself, but it’s the right decision as Lyons kicks truly to become Brisbane’s 11th individual goal kicker of the night.
Q4: 13 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 19-6 (120) vs Collingwood 7-8 (50) Mass confusion at half-forward for Collingwood. Hard to tell which way the free kick is going and once deciding it’s Collingwood’s, the umpire has a tough time deciding which player to give it to. It ends up with Mihocek - even he looks surprised to get it - but he misses anyway. Bewildering turn of events. As you were.
Q4: 15 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 19-6 (120) vs Collingwood 7-7 (49) Collingwood goal! That’s a really nice set shot from range by Cameron. Straight as a ruler. Is it a consolation goal for Collingwood? Not really. They are beyond consoling methinks.
Updated
Q4: 18 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 19-6 (120) vs Collingwood 6-7 (43) Brisbane goal! The Lions can smell blood and Cameron slots his fifth to get the final quarter under way. De Goey and Maynard were having strong words at the 3QT break. It hasn’t been Collingwood’s night. Or year for that matter.
Q4: 19 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 18-6 (114) vs Collingwood 6-7 (43) Hello. Is it me you’re looking for? Could we be on for a 100-plus game? Brisbane look in the mood. Let’s see. Update on the medical front: Ruscoe was removed from the game because of an injured ankle.
3QT: Brisbane Lions 18-6 (114) vs Collingwood 6-7 (43)
More of the same from Brisbane, who are on course for a very big score after a dominant seven-goal third term. It’s a bit futile attempting to identify or isolate where they are on top. They are on top everywhere.
Is there a handball of the year vote?
— AFL (@AFL) August 14, 2021
Because this from Cockatoo is the clear winner! 🤯#AFLLionsPies pic.twitter.com/lub9znRgEl
Q3: 1 min remaining: Brisbane Lions 18-6 (114) vs Collingwood 6-7 (43) Collingwood again try to play keepy-offs in defence. But this time it kind of works as they retain possession only for De Goey - the Pies’ best tonight - to miss to the left.
And Collingwood have enacted their medical sub.
Trey Ruscoe has been replaced by medical substitute John Noble for @CollingwoodFC.#AFLLionsPies
— AFL (@AFL) August 14, 2021
Q3: 2 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 18-5 (113) vs Collingwood 6-6 (42) Brisbane goal! Collingwood chip the ball around across half-back and for a moment the heat has come out of the game. But it’s a dangerous game to play and soon enough the turnover comes, leading to Cameron snapping unchallenged for his fourth of the evening.
Updated
Q3: 6 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 17-5 (107) vs Collingwood 6-5 (41) Brisbane goal! It’s another McGoal! McCarthy drills a set shot and the Lions basically can’t miss tonight. They’ve been deadly close to goal and you can’t always say that about them.
Q3: 8 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 16-5 (101) vs Collingwood 6-4 (40) Brisbane goal! Another goal for the Lions and another for their McBrigade - this time it’s McCluggage who finds time and space inside-50 to extend the lead and hammer another nail into Collingwood’s coffin. They’ve stopped, the Pies. Withered in the heat that Brisbane are bringing.
Q3: 10 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 15-5 (95) vs Collingwood 6-4 (40) Brisbane goal! McStay again. Nice contested mark inside-50 for the big man and that’s his third of the night. No Hipwood, no worries. The Lions have options - tall and short - galore up forward.
Q3: 11 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 14-5 (89) vs Collingwood 6-4 (40) Collingwood goal! Brisbane’s run of nine unanswered majors is brought to an end - and that is at least something for the Magpies - as Mihocek stretches his legs and gets a toe on the ball en route to goal.
Q3: 13 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 14-5 (89) vs Collingwood 5-4 (34) Brisbane goal! Rinse/repeat. Copy/paste. This time McStay is the man. But it could have been anyone. They are taking turns.
Q3: 13 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 13-5 (83) vs Collingwood 5-4 (34) Brisbane goal! Cockatoo - could he be another shrewd signing by the Lions? - becomes the home team’s ninth individual goalkicker of the game. And this is now officially all too easy for Brisbane. Any resistance, any warped designs Collingwood had on an upset victory, are now dead and buried.
Updated
Q3: 14 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 12-5 (77) vs Collingwood 5-4 (34) Brisbane goal! The Lions go long, deep and fast from the middle and it works again (surprise, surprise) as Cameron gets on the end of one and kicks his third of the evening.
Q3: 15 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 11-5 (71) vs Collingwood 5-4 (34) Lions players pounce on Mayne deep in their forward 50. They want ‘baaaaaaaaall’, but the umpire is having none of it. Good pressure by Brisbane. It’ll stand them in good stead next month.
Updated
Q3: 16 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 11-5 (71) vs Collingwood 5-4 (34) Collingwood work the ball off half-back and De Goey looks like launching a forward move only for the ball to spill out of his control. The Pies aren’t in strife because of him - with 21 touches, he leads all-comers. Collingwood now do get the Sherrin inside-50 but Sidebottom just misses.
Q3: 19 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 11-5 (71) vs Collingwood 5-3 (33) Welcome back. Let’s see what Collingwood can do in the second half to get back into this match. If indeed they can do anything. It’s more of the same, however, with Brisbane working the ball forward but Zorko can do no more with his snap than kick a behind, missing to the left.
HT: Brisbane Lions 11-4 (70) vs Collingwood 5-3 (33)
A big quarter from the Lions, who won the ball out of the middle and went straight and fast. The result? A seven-goal term, including six straight to close the quarter. Collingwood have mostly been competitive but are now really struggling with Brisbane’s pressure and manic ball movement. They have it all to do in the second half.
Slick hands from the Lions and Joey kicks his third 🦁#AFLLionsPies pic.twitter.com/bl0IA1iUvQ
— AFL (@AFL) August 14, 2021
Q2: 1 min remaining: Brisbane Lions 11-4 (70) vs Collingwood 5-3 (33) Mihocek drops Fullarton with a high-looking hip-and-shoulder. Hmmm, they’ll look at that for sure. Fullarton looks a bit groggy and is slow getting to his feet.
Q2: 1 min remaining: Brisbane Lions 11-4 (70) vs Collingwood 5-3 (33) Brisbane goal! That’s six straight for Brisbane and now Neale is warming to the task with his first of the night. The Lions are just killing Collingwood in the contest, winning the hard and easy ball far too easily.
Q2: 3 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 10-4 (64) vs Collingwood 5-3 (33) Brisbane goal! Daniher is just fine. Not injured at all. I know this because he’s back on the ground and back kicking goals: this snap his third of the night. Big period for the Lions. It’s now getting away from the Pies.
Q2: 5 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 9-4 (58) vs Collingwood 5-3 (33) Brisbane goal! Another centre clearance win for Brisbane and another goal. This time it’s McCarthy who makes the Pies pay inside-50 - they’re sharing it around, the Lions, and this is starting to get a bit out of hand. Brisbane have really shifted gears in a short period of time.
Q2: 6 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 8-4 (52) vs Collingwood 5-3 (33) Brisbane goal! Yep, they’re all over the Pies now. That’s three straight for Brissie as Bailey is released from a stoppage. And, well, he doesn’t miss too often. But there is concern for the Lions now with Daniher limping off the ground. Might have got hurt in that aforementioned stoppage?
Q2: 8 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 7-4 (46) vs Collingwood 5-3 (33) Brisbane goal! The Lions make no mistake this time as Daniher turns provider before Ah Chee gets on the end of a chain of passes and kicks truly off a step. Definitely getting on top now, the Lions.
Q2: 9 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 6-4 (40) vs Collingwood 5-3 (33) Cameron to Lyons in a sharp bit of relay work (sorry, trying to keep Olympics vernacular out of this blog but old habits die hard) between the two former Crows, but Lyon’s shot on the run is just cut off. Looked a sure goal off the boot.
Nice post. Not that it went anywhere, but with the Olympics now over can we say ... foooooty’s baaaaaack?!?!
Q2: 12 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 6-3 (39) vs Collingwood 5-3 (33) Brisbane goal! And now the Lions are back in front as they win another clearance out of the middle, with McStay doing the rest after taking a strong contested mark. The Lions will win this if they maintain their superiority in the centre of the park.
Q2: 13 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 5-3 (33) vs Collingwood 5-3 (33) Collingwood goal! A bit of De Goey magic there to crumb off a marking contest and run into an open goal. Nice deep, penetrating ball by Sidebottom, too. It’s now even Stevens.
Q2: 15 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 5-3 (33) vs Collingwood 4-3 (27) Neale has been quiet tonight: just six possessions so far, one fewer than Daniher. Smokin’ Joe is now having a breather. I swear he went from full-forward to the interchange area in about three strides.
Q2: 17 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 5-3 (33) vs Collingwood 4-3 (27) Brisbane goal! Not sure how Mihocek missed the memo because everyone else got it: lots of goals, please, and kick them early. Now Daniher gets in on the act - he’s having a busy night - and Collingwood’s lead is gone in 60 seconds.
Q2: 18 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 4-2 (26) vs Collingwood 4-3 (27) Collingwood goal! But Ginnivan sets the record straight, snapping truly for his second of the game. Another Andrews error in there somewhere. An early goal has now been scored. Phew.
Q2: 19 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 4-2 (26) vs Collingwood 3-3 (21) We’re back. And, of course, a goal has been kicked inside the first minute of play. Um, well, it would have been had Mihocek had read the script. In the event, he drags his set shot to the right for his third behind of the night.
QT: Brisbane Lions 4-2 (26) vs Collingwood 3-2 (20)
An entertaining first quarter played at great speed, and an even contest to boot. Things did calm down a little after three goals were kicked inside the opening two minutes and the Pies did well to finish the quarter well after the Lions had looked to be getting on top. Grundy is on top in ruck but Brisbane are on top in clearances. The Pies will want to remedy that sooner rather than later.
Cool, calm and collected from young Jack Ginnivan 😎
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) August 14, 2021
📝 BLOG: https://t.co/ayIW4kd8M7
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📺 WATCH #AFLLionsPies on @kayosports: https://t.co/K8JTv0fMdD pic.twitter.com/3qsBsDU8WX
Q1: 1 min remaining: Brisbane Lions 4-2 (26) vs Collingwood 3-2 (20) Collingwood goal! Andrews turns the ball over in a crook part of the ground and Collingwood make him pay as young Ginnivan marks inside-50 and flushes a beautiful kick right between the uprights that matter. Mihocek then hits one of said uprights. Collingwood finishing the quarter well.
Q1: 3 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 4-2 (26) vs Collingwood 2-1 (13) Cameron goes on a lightning fast run off half-back, zig-zagging his way through a minefield of Collingwood pursuers, but it’s all happening too fast - for everyone - as the Pies pick up the crumbs across their own half-back. Speaking of good value, Charlie sure is that. You can’t look away when he has the ball.
Q1: 5 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 4-2 (26) vs Collingwood 2-1 (13) Daniher in the thick of the action yet again. His way is so unusual, so unique. The big Lion is one-on-one inside-50 with Roughead but dishes out one of the most obvious shoves in the back you’ll see, sprinting away with the ball and looking back with utter amazement as the umpire blows the whistle and pays a free to the Pies defender. He’s good value, is Joe.
Q1: 7 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 4-2 (26) vs Collingwood 2-1 (13) Big, big leap from Daniher - almost comical to look at with his monstrous limbs flailing at all angles in the Brisbane night - but he can’t hold the mark at the top of the square and Collingwood rebound.
Q1: 9 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 4-2 (26) vs Collingwood 2-1 (13) Brisbane goal! But normal service is soon resumed as the Pies are punished with a very finicky 50-metre penalty, handing Birchall a simple set shot which he converts. I said stand!!!!
Q1: 10 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 3-2 (20) vs Collingwood 2-1 (13) A couple of behinds to Daniher - one a snap from ground level and one from a set shot hard on the right pocket - and for once this blog has a post that doesn’t feature a goal.
Q1: 13 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 3-0 (18) vs Collingwood 2-1 (13) Collingwood goal! Big tackle by Elliott deep in attack puts the Lions under pressure as they strive to clear the ball. They can’t get it out of there, however, and now Henry has a shot on goal after marking just inside-50 ... and he drills it! Tough shot on a tight angle but that was a delightful drop punt. This game just is not letting up.
Q1: 16 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 3-0 (18) vs Collingwood 1-0 (6) Brisbane goal! Wowser, what a start to this game. Zorko again involved as Cameron uses his pace to mark on the lead and snap between the big sticks off a standing start. We are on world record pace here.
Q1: 18 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 2-0 (12) vs Collingwood 1-0 (6) Brisbane goal! Okay, so it’s going to be one of those nights. The Lions pelt the ball forward at speed and this time Cameron is on the end of it, marking on the chest in the square and converting his simple set shot. Zorko very busy in the middle of the ground. Three goals in two minutes of play.
Q1: 18 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 1-0 (6) vs Collingwood 1-0 (6) Brisbane goal! Not to be outdone, the Lions do some good clearance work of their own to find Daniher, whose set shot from outside 50 just clears the line before being touched. Score review but that is a goal - two of them inside 70 seconds of play.
Q1: 19 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 0-0 (0) vs Collingwood 1-0 (6) Collingwood goal! We are up and away. Sidebottom involved as Collingwood win an early centre clearance and it’s chaos at the top of the goal square as Cameron feeds Thomas - and we have a goal on the board after just 20 seconds!
Nice day/night in Brisvegas. No rain. Light breeze. Perfect for footy. Not long now.
Pure conditions. pic.twitter.com/BDpTZqbUic
— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) August 14, 2021
Brisbane and Collingwood have had some ripping clashes over the years. But we don’t need to look too far back. This one in round three was pretty good.
Not sure there is much of a correlation between the 2003 Lions and the 2021 lot, but I see where they’re heading with this.
A massive jump from 6th to 3rd in Round 22 was the kickstart our three-peat needed 🔥
— Brisbane Lions (@brisbanelions) August 14, 2021
This is the time to find form 💪 #Uncaged https://t.co/fjaiIJmtYk
Back to the Bulldogs, and they were forced to leave Ryan Gardner at home after the defender was revealed to have attended a Covid-19 exposure site.
This, from AAP:
Western Bulldogs defender Ryan Gardner has become the latest AFL player to attend a Covid-19 exposure site, forcing him into isolation. Gardner was barred from entering Tasmania for the Bulldogs’ clash with Hawthorn in Launceston on Saturday.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge confirmed Gardner had to remain in Victoria due to coronavirus protocols.
“Gardy unfortunately was on the end of a 14-day tier two exposure, so we couldn’t consider him,” Beveridge told Fox Footy.
Stars Toby Greene (GWS), Rowan Marshall (St Kilda) and Callum Mills (Sydney) were forced into quarantine last month after attending a rugby union Test at AAMI Park, which was named as an exposure site.
No late team changes
Brisbane Lions
B: Darcy Gardiner, Harris Andrews, Brandon Starcevich
HB: Grant Birchall, Ryan Lester, Daniel Rich
C: Hugh McCluggage, Zac Bailey, Jarrod Berry
HF: Lincoln McCarthy, Daniel McStay, Dayne Zorko
F: Callum Ah Chee, Joe Daniher, Charlie Cameron
FOLL: Oscar McInerney, Jarryd Lyons, Lachie Neale
I/C: Nakia Cockatoo, Keidean Coleman, Jaxon Prior, Tom Fullarton
Sub: Rhys Mathieson
Collingwood
B: Trey Ruscoe, Jordan Roughead, Brayden Maynard
HB: Jack Crisp, Jack Madgen, Chris Mayne
C: Will Hoskin-Elliott, Jordan De Goey, Josh Daicos
HF: Josh Thomas, Darcy Cameron, Oliver Henry
F: Jack Ginnivan, Brody Mihocek, Jamie Elliott
FOLL: Brodie Grundy, Steele Sidebottom, Taylor Adams
I/C: Trent Bianco, Beau McCreery, Finlay Macrae, Nathan Murphy
Sub: John Noble
It feels good to be home 🥰
— Brisbane Lions (@brisbanelions) August 13, 2021
See you tonight Brisbane! #Uncaged pic.twitter.com/mlZ63J8Hui
Preamble
Good evening and welcome. As grand as the Tokyo Olympics were, there’s something comforting, reassuring even, about the resumption of normal service: a liveblog that doesn’t involve a discus or a pole vault but instead a Sherrin. Or in the instance of today’s Bledisloe Cup match, an Adidas. Or a Gilbert. Or whatever it is they use these days. Not that we’re necessarily happy to see the back of the Games - as Bruce would say did say, they were special - but one of the reasons they are so good is they don’t go on day after day, week after week.
Anyway, I digress. AFL matches do tend to become increasingly important - do-or-die even, in sporting parlance - as the season wears on, and that is the backdrop of the contest we are focusing on tonight. Quite simply, lose to Collingwood and Brisbane can officially bid sayonara to their fading top-four ambitions. But even if they do win they will remain just an outside chance, reliant on results in other games going their way. The Lions are in this position because they have come off the boil in the back third of this most challenging of seasons. After round 16 they were contenders for the minor premiership. Now, with just two wins from their past five outings, fifth place is possibly the best Brisbane can hope for.
But first there is the Magpies, at home no less. This should be straightforward for the Lions. But then Western Bulldogs should have beaten Hawthorn earlier today. They didn’t, going down by 27 points in a result that opens the door just a tad for Chris Fagan’s men. Another upset tonight at the Gabba, however, and that door will slam shut.
Looking forward to this one. If you’d like to get involved and have your say, don’t let me stop you.
Destination: @GabbaBrisbane
— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) August 14, 2021
Return time: 3am 😅 pic.twitter.com/zQbCaEINi9
