The Magpies have recorded back-to-back victories after running over the top of the Lions.
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Final score
Collingwood Magpies 18.21.129
Brisbane Lions 13.6.84
The Collingwood Magpies are riding high after their rally against the Hawthorn Hawks last weekend, and they’ll be looking for two wins in a row when they host the Brisbane Lions at the MCG on Sunday Afternoon. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 1:10pm AEST.
It was a game of two halves for the Magpies last weekend, as they looked at both their best and worst last Saturday night.
The first half version of the Magpies stunk, the second half version looked like world beaters. In the end, they did enough to get over the top of the Hawks to potentially start a second half run for Buckley’s club.
They’ll be hoping for a more consistent performance this week, regardless of the fact that the quality of opposition has gone down.
The Lions were competitive for a quarter last weekend, but then got run off the park by an Adelaide side that seemed to find their touch.
The Lions have now lost eight games on the trot, and they’re in danger of making it nine if they don’t bring a four-quarter effort to this clash.
The Lions just don’t get their hands on the ball enough this season, as they’re averaging just 355 disposals per game.
Going against a good midfield likely won’t help those numbers, and it’s tough to see where the Lions win this game from.
The Magpies have been forced into at least two changes this weekend, with both Henry Schade and James Aish ruled out for this weekend’s clash.
Matthew Scharenberg, Tim Broomhead, Jackson Ramsay, Ben Crocker and Mason Cox have all been named as potential replacements.
The Lions swung the axe after last weekend’s debacle, with Tom Bell, Josh Walker and Ryan Harwood all omitted from the squad.
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Claye Beams will also miss with a hamstring, meaning there will be four confirmed changes for the Lions.
Tom Cutler, Daniel McStay, Ryan Bastinac, Rohan Bewick, Cedric Cox, Rhys Mathieson and Archie Smith are the seven men that will need to fit into four spots.
The midfield battle is the key to this clash, as both sides have been inconsistent inside the 50s. Whichever midfield can get their forwards first use probably ends up winning the game.
Prediction
I predicted Collingwood by almost 5 goals last weekend, so I won’t be overestimating them this week. However, they should have enough to get the points against a competitive Brisbane squad.
Magpies by 18
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
» Click here to read the full match report Thanks for joining me for this clash.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
FULL TIME Pretty easy win for the Magpies in the end, as they run away with a 45-point victory. Full Wrap to come. STATS Disposals: Magpies 444-310 Free Kicks: Lions 22-20 Clearances: Magpies 38-32 Inside 50: Magpies 72-33 Contested Possessions: Magpies 145-125 Tackles: Magpies 67-63 Hit Outs: Magpies 43-27 AFL FANTASY TOP 5 1. Steele Sidebottom 139 2. Scott Pendlebury 125 3. Dayne Zorko 124 4. Dayne Beams 116 5. Adam Treloar 109
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL MAGPIES 0' Quick clearance for the Pies, and Elliott will mark on the lead. He roosts one from outside 50, and it's straight as an arrow. Magpies 18.21 129 Lions 13.6 84
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL MAGPIES 0' Phillips gets a little kick going towards goal, but Lewis Taylor manages to stop the footy. He's kept it in as well, and it's going to be to his detriment, as the Magpies have numbers around the footy. He'll eventually cough it up, and Adams kicks the easiest goal of his career. Magpies 17.21 123 Lions 13.6 84
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL LIONS 2' Tom Cutler snags a late one for the Lions off a free kick. Magpies 16.21 117 Lions 13.6 84
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL MAGPIES 3' Tim Broomhead with a very nice snap, and he'll get the Pies outside a six-goal margin. Magpies 16.21 117 Lions 12.6 78
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
BEHIND MAGPIES 4' The Magpies are turning the screws late here, but Fasolo misses another one from in front. Magpies 15.21 111 Lions 12.6 78
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
BEHIND MAGPIES 5' Good kick inside from Taylor Adams, and it's Elliott that comes out on a hard lead to 50. He doesn't have the length in his boot, and it's punched through. Magpies 15.20 110 Lions 12.6 78
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL MAGPIES 7' Good quick hands in the middle from the Pies, and Maynard sends it deep inside 50. Moore has snuck out the back here, and he'll take an uncontested mark. It's not his easiest kick, but he'll pop it through! Magpies 15.19 109 Lions 12.6 78
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL MAGPIES 8' The Lions need to be perfect from here, but Keays has already ruined that with a shocking delivery off half back. Grundy will casually find Sidebottom inside 50, and that'll do it. Magpies 14.19 103 Lions 12.6 78
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL LIONS 8' Space around the outer wing for the Lions, and Hipwood will get a handball over the top. He grubbers one down for Paparone, who has an easy handball to Smith for the goal!! Surely not... Magpies 13.19 97 Lions 12.6 78
Paul D
Roar Guru
Good to see Hipwood and Lewis involved in a goal, they deserve some reward for a lot of tough and fruitless running today.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL LIONS 9' Hipwood with a mark on the wing, and he'll send it inside 50. It's Berry that's gone up in front of the pack, and he's pulled down a very good mark. He'll slot the goal from the pocket, and that gives the Lions some hope. Magpies 13.19 97 Lions 11.6 72
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
BEHIND MAGPIES 11' Hoskin-Elliott with a brilliant ball inside 50, as he finds Elliott sandwiched between two Lions. The shot doesn't reward the entry though, as Elliott misses to the right. Magpies 13.19 97 Lions 10.6 66
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
12' McStay with a very strong defensive mark despite the pressure from Elliott. Now the Lions will get a chance to go forward. Magpies 13.18 96 Lions 10.6 66
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL MAGPIES 14' Dayne Zorko gives up a 50 despite the umpire calling play on before he encroached the mark. That's bad from the umpire. Maynard will kick the goal. Magpies 13.18 96 Lions 10.6 66
Paul D
Roar Guru
well, we won't win but it's been an improved effort in patches. Still so much left still to do though. Our forward line is dreadfully makeshift at the moment, just gives us nothing coming out of defence Hopefully the boys run this out and don't let things blow out at the death
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
BEHIND MAGPIES 15' Fasolo has been busy early in this quarter, but he's missed another shot. Magpies 12.18 90 Lions 10.6 66
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
16' Adam Treloar with an easy win over Cutler, and now he goes deep inside 50. Elliott managed to get free at the back, but he's managed to drop a sitter. The Lions manage to get away. Magpies 12.17 89 Lions 10.6 66
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
BEHIND MAGPIES 17' Daniel Rich caught with possession at half back, and Sidebottom will handball out wide to Fasolo. He kicked the first goal of this quarter, but he's left this one out to the right. Magpies 12.17 89 Lions 10.6 66