Round 21: Collingwood 104 Brisbane 73

THE FACTS

2018 AFL Round 22 COLLINGWOOD v PORT ADELAIDE Time & Place: Saturday August 18, 1:45pm EST MCG Fox Footy 1:30pm EST Weather: Min 6 Max 13 Chance of rain 60%: 2mm Wind: W 24kph Betting: Collingwood $1.57 Port Adelaide $2.42

COLLINGWOOD   1.3.9   5.7.37   11.14.80   14.20.104
BRISBANE          3.4.22  5.4.34       8.4.52       11.7.73

GOALS - Collingwood: De Goey 4, Mihocek 3, Stephenson 2, Mayne 2, Varcoe, Sier, Thomas

BEST - Collingwood: De Goey, Adams, Grundy, Sidebottom, Sier, Pendlebury

INJURIES - Collingwood: Nil

REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil

OFFICIAL CROWD - 33,390 at Etihad Stadium

TALKING POINTS

1. Levi shows no remorse on wounded Lion At the seven-minute mark of the third term, the margin was just four points to the advantage of Collingwood. The intensity between the two sides had lifted, while the atmosphere inside Etihad Stadium was immense. Dayne Zorko was best on ground the last time the two sides met, but this time round, Levi Greenwood was handed the almighty task of controlling the Lions hard-nut. And as Josh Thomas began a set-shot approach from inside 50, Zorko was on his haunches catching his breath after copping a bruising hit. Greenwood, who had been conjoined at Zorko’s hip all night, didn’t view this opportunity any differently. Greenwood led with both his knees and drove them into the rib cage of Zorko. Clearly angered, Zorko let his frustration show, sharing a war of words and a number of jumper punches with the Magpie tagger. But Greenwood had the last laugh, restricting the Lions skipper to just 14 disposals for the night in his side’s 31-point win. 2. Great Dayne sends Pies barking mad Originally from Gold Coast’s hinterland, Dayne Beams was recruited by Collingwood with Pick No.29 in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft. But a lot has changed since the Great Dayne lifted a premiership trophy in just his second season. At the end of 2014, Beams headed home and landed at the Brisbane Lions. They have been grateful for his tireless contribution ever since, and against his former side on Saturday night, Beams (a game-high 33 disposals, five clearances and one goal) ran riot through the Lions’ midfield to continue his outstanding season that holds him in All Australian contention. There have been whispers for the large part of the season, Beams - who is contracted until the end of next season - is keen to return back to Victoria. It was rumoured midweek he had been approached by Essendon, but the Bombers denied such talks had taken place. With the speculation around Beams’ future sure to continue, Brisbane must ensure its best player remains a Lion as his leadership and influence are priceless. 3. Young cubs have bright future Brisbane may only have four wins for the season, but it possesses a list full of youth and full of potential. The Lions were gallant in defeat, particularly after being reduced to three men on the bench following Gardiner’s injury in the first term. And while former skipper Dayne Beams led the charge, it was the inexperienced brigade – Alex Witherden, Hugh McCluggage, Cameron Rayner, Rhys Mathieson and Jarrod Berry – that battled tirelessly and provided unwithering support. Not one of the quintet has played more than 50 games, but on Saturday night they all showed glimpses of brilliance. The Lions may currently sit 16th on the ladder, but there is no question they have a bright future ahead and finals in 2019 should be in their sights. 4. Rising stars go head to head Saturday night’s clash at Etihad Stadium gave onlookers the opportunity to witness two of the League’s most promising youngsters, Jaidyn Stephenson and Alex Witherden. Pies coach Nathan Buckley has not been afraid at times this season to play Stephenson one-out in the goal square, and while that role was De Goey’s on Saturday night, the Pies’ first-year recruit was still able to have a major influence finishing with 25 disposals, eight marks and two goals. Unlike Stephenson, Witherden is in his second season, and while he had a solid end to 2017, this season has elevated his game to another level. And it was evident against the Pies. The Lions defender used his excellent foot skills and game sense to his advantage en route to 30 disposals and a game-high 11 marks. It’s no surprise the duo are favourites to finish 1st and 2nd for this season’s NAB Rising Star award.

THE MEDIA

SUPERFOOTY TIPPING point, breaking point, situation critical. The doomsayers have been bandying around plenty such terms amid Collingwood’s deepening injury crisis. The Pies simply can’t take a trick, again highlighted by Ben Reid suffering a fresh calf complaint in his VFL return from knee injuries which had sidelined him since Round 10. Yet, Nathan Buckley and his side are having nothing of the external injury “narrative”. And those who had written off Collingwood’s premiership chances ought have a rethink. The fact is the Magpies remain very much in the hunt to secure a top-four spot after returning to the winners’ list against Brisbane by 31 points at Etihad Stadium. And, as we know, make the top-four and you give yourself as good a chance as any of saluting on that last Saturday in September. Collingwood has structure, is bringing serious pressure, possesses a gun ruckman in Brodie Grundy, has midfield depth and has scoring power from a multitude of sources. Sidelined for the previous two games with leg bone bruising, Jordan De Goey’s return made the Magpies’ forward line look infinitely more dangerous. It was an ‘almost’ night for the recently re-signed star, who kicked four goals but could have easily had six or seven if not for a few bad misses and balls that slipped through his fingers. Along with fellow classy forwards Brody Mihocek (three goals) and Jaidyn Stephenson (two goals) — and even Chris Mayne who also bobbed up with two majors — Collingwood has no shortage of avenues to goal. But it was the depleted defensive unit — led by second-gamer Jack Madgen, Brayden Maynard and Tom Langdon — that would have been most pleasing for Buckley. Brisbane had 22 inside 50s in the opening quarter for only three goals and finished with just 11 majors among 18 scoring shots for the match. While the ladder might show them as a bottom-four side, the Lions are no slouches and had travelled south with a plan. Early on they chipped the ball around, taking uncontested marks and keeping the ball away from the contest and a Collingwood side which ranked second in the competition for pressure factor differential. The only problem is they only managed to maintain that for the first 50 minutes. Once Collingwood got going with three unanswered goals during time-on in the second term and lifted its pressure around the ground after a sloppy start there was no looking back. The Magpies now face a Port Adelaide side with their own injury woes at the MCG next Saturday before a final-round clash with the struggling Fremantle in Perth. Win both of those and top-four looks a very likely prospect. Collingwood continues to defy the odds and how far it can go will be fascinating to watch. AFL JORDAN De Goey's importance to injury-ravaged Collingwood's finals aspirations has been emphasised by the bullocking Magpie's four-goal game against Brisbane on Saturday night. De Goey, playing mainly in the forward line after missing the last two weeks with bone stress in his leg, was the Pies' most dangerous forward in their 31-point win over the Lions after overcoming a scratchy start. He finished the game on the bench when the result was beyond doubt, with the Pies choosing to limit his game time. The 14.20 (104) to 11.7 (73) win at Etihad Stadium keeps the Pies' top four ambitions alive, and although they'll remain in the bottom half of the eight at the end of this round, they'll be locked on 52 points at least with the fourth-placed Hawthorn with two games left. The Lions weren't disgraced and played typically like a team with nothing to lose, with Dayne Beams leading the midfield charge with 33 touches, Alex Witherden picking up 30 and Eric Hipwood booting three goals. They even led for the majority of the first half after getting the early jump and dominating the first quarter with 22 to six inside 50s, thanks to the experienced leadership of Luke Hodge. Coach Chris Fagan was proud of the in-roads his team has made across the season with their ladder position not necessarily a reflection of their ability. "We're better than a four-win team, I think everyone knows that," Fagan said. "We're a much more competitive team [than last year]. I know we've improved a lot and the players know they've improved a lot, we haven't necessarily got the wins to show for it, but we're confident we're heading in the right direction." On Saturday night, the first-quarter loss of Darcy Gardiner to a dislocated shoulder forced a reshuffle of the Lions' defence and Nick Robertson struggled at times to contain De Goey, who took a team-high four marks inside 50. De Goey's successful return will be welcome news for the battered Pies. Earlier on Saturday, they lost swingman Ben Reid to a calf injury in his VFL return following surgery on both knees early last month. However, they appear to have emerged from the win over the Lions unscathed and are hoping to welcome back defender Jeremy Howe from a cork for next week's clash with Port Adelaide. They will also be pleased with the form of Levi Greenwood, who claimed another scalp from a fiery tagging job against in-form Lions captain Dayne Zorko. Zorko had just two touches in the first quarter despite the Lions' early dominance where they locked the ball inside their forward 50 and forced the Pies into a number of horrendous back-half turnovers. He didn't improve much after that, finishing with just 14 for the game, although he was treated for a sore ankle a few times after the main break. Greenwood won the war but potentially not the moral battle, having nudged Zorko while he was crouching to attend to his ankle in the third quarter. Coach Nathan Buckley said Greenwood's performance was "huge" after Zorko had 34 touches and kicked four goals against them in round seven. "It wasn't just on Zorko, I thought his pressure around the clinches was back to his best and some of his tackle efforts and pressure on the opposition, whether it was Zorko or another player, really set the tone," Buckley said. "I thought his performance was disciplined and consistent." The Magpies as a collective were marginally better with their ball use in the second term, and it allowed De Goey a cleaner look at forward entries and saw Brody Mihocek boot two of his three goals. After claiming the lead for the first time minutes before half-time, the Pies were only headed once again as they motored to 28-point lead at the final change. Things got messy for the young Lions after that with Taylor Adams finishing with 33 disposals and Steele Sidebottom and Scott Pendlebury 28 each, with the Pies recording a much-needed win following losses to Richmond and Sydney in the last fortnight. MEDICAL ROOM The Magpies appear to have got through this one without adding to their lengthy injury list, but the loss of Reid to a torn calf in the VFL hurts. With their backline already decimated following season-ending injuries to Lynden Dunn and Matt Scharenberg, plus Darcy Moore's on-going hamstring trouble, Reid was one they would have loved to have been moving towards an AFL return. De Goey finished his first game back from leg bone stress on the bench in what the Pies said was a purely precautionary move. NEXT UP The Pies will host Port Adelaide at the MCG on Saturday in a game that looms as significant for both teams' September aspirations. REAL FOOTY Collingwood remain cautiously optimistic that high flying defender Jeremy Howe can return to play Port Adelaide at the MCG next Saturday as he recovers from a serious corked thigh. The 28-year-old is desperately needed to support the injury-hit defence that remains undersized heading into finals although the Power will be without key forward Charlie Dixon after he injured his ankle in round 21. Magpies coach Nathan Buckley said Howe was no certainty to return but he would be tough enough to return as soon as he was "thereabouts". "[He was a] bleed from a cork," Buckley said. [We are] trying to manage that and get that down and get him back to full range. "When he is thereabouts he will play and we hope it is next week." The coach said he was pleased with the efforts of the defenders, particularly Tom Langdon who he said stood up against the height of Lions' forward Eric Hipwood. "It was something we were able to get done," Buckley said. The Magpies will be without Lynden Dunn and Matt Scharenberg for the rest of the season while hopes of Ben Reid making a late season return dimmed when he tore the same calf he tore in round 10 in the VFL on Saturday. Buckley has not given up on Tyson Goldsack making a miracle return from a knee reconstruction despite a back problem delaying return that was expected to occur two weeks ago. The Magpies are also taking a cautious approach with Darcy Moore after he suffered a hamstring injury again in round 20, with no date set for his return. Midfielder Adam Treloar is also training strongly and giving himself every chance to return for the finals if the Magpies qualify. He has not played since suffering a serious hamstring injury in round 14. Buckley had a wry smile when asked whether the dynamic midfielder was telling him he would be available soon. "He is doing some good things ... there is enough time and for every win we get we give him a little more time," Buckley said.