Star Hawthorn midfielder Tom Mitchell has broken the AFL’s game disposals record in the 34-point win over Collingwood at the MCG.
Hawks fans cheered late in the last quarter on Saturday night when Mitchell picked up a handball, giving him 54 disposals in the 15.11 (101) to 9.13 (67).
That broke the record jointly held by Gary Ablett jnr at Gold Coast and Greg Williams when he played for Sydney.
The Magpies stopped a blowout, with two goals apiece in the last quarter, but Hawthorn’s class stood out.
Collingwood have now lost their last three round-one games and the spotlight shines that bit brighter on coach Nathan Buckley, who was reappointed late last year.
In round nine last year, Mitchell had 50 possessions in the loss to Collingwood and Buckley questioned his impact on the game.
Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson replied by saying Buckley’s observation was “pretty ballsy”.
On Saturday night, Mitchell was clearly best afield with 20 kicks, 34 handballs and 27 contested possessions.
The start of the game went according to Collingwood’s new plan for Darcy Moore, who they want to play in the back line.
He took a strong mark in defence and the Magpies quickly transitioned, with Ben Reid marking and kicking the first goal of the game.
But 35-year-old Hawks star Shaun Burgoyne was on fire early, quickly responding with their opener.
Hawks fans cheered at six minutes when Cyril Rioli came on for his first run after an interrupted pre-season and he had an immediate impact with his trademark forward-line pressure.
Rioli set up Burgoyne for his second goal and the Hawks led by that margin at quarter time.
A brilliant backward flick from Burgoyne gift-wrapped a goal for Jack Gunston early in the second term.
The Hawks suffered a major blow midway through the second term when Ryan Burton was forced from the field with an ankle injury.
The Hawks kicked the last three goals of the half and comfortably led by 27 points at the main break.
Mitchell had racked up a whopping 29 disposals and gained 491m.
The Magpies sent Steele Sidebottom to Mitchell for some of the third quarter, but the Hawks reigning best and fairest was still prominent.
Collingwood were missing several players through injury – Daniel Wells, Jordan De Goey, Jamie Elliott, Tyson Goldsack, Levi Greenwood and Alex Fasolo.
Once Hawthorn clicked into gear, the Magpies simply could not match their class.
Moore went forward in the last quarter and kicked a goal, but Collingwood’s forward set up again looked a problem.
Aligee
Guest
Eddie thinks of himself as Jock McHale, obviously not his coaching or playing record but his total over arching domination of Collingwood, McHale was at Collingwood from 1903 to 1949 but his hold over the club extended into the 1950's, Eddie loves power and until recently it has served Collingwood and Eddie well. Everyone has a use by date, unless he can reinvent himself at Collingwood he will be going, i am pretty sure even Eddie can hear the natives getting restless.
Knoxy
Guest
Agree. The problem is that Eddie knows removing Buckley will be an admission that his succession plan was a complete failure and will likely cost him his job. He's willing to gamble the clubs future to avoid that. I used to have nothing but love and respect for Eddie. He was a terrific president for us from 1999 to 2011. But some of the decisions he has made in recent years have been truly baffling. Too often he seems to let his emotions cloud his judgement. I think he should have stepped down years ago. I would like to see Collingwood follow Hawthorn's example of having limited terms for club presidents. The club desperately needs fresh blood and new ideas going forward.
Aligee
Guest
I like Eddie, always have, whatever he personally has got from the club, he has also invested plenty and i dont necessarily mean money, i think it is a labour of love - but he has got this horrendously wrong and it is his weak spot and it will cost him.
slugger
Guest
It is sad when pies supporters only glimmer of hope is to get rid of Buckley and Macguire. I am one of those supporters. I hope they are gone by round 10, but mot likely their egos will hang on till the end of the year. They have been such a bane to this once proud and great club. On Saturday they had no forward line, no backline and allowed one player to dominate them like no one before in the history of the game. You cant coach Bucks , just let it go for the clubs sake!
Aligee
Guest
Buckley should have gone 2/3 years ago, at some stage this year Collingwood will make a run, like they have every other year and ultimately it will fall short like every other year. I am pretty sure i am not alone in stating that Eddie and Bucks are the only two blokes not in on what the rest of Australian know about Buckleys coaching. Eddie could have stayed if he had chopped Buckley but he has doubled and redoubled down, now they both will go and everyone knows it.
Chris
Guest
I hope he never surfaces on AFL Roar ever again. He discredits us decent maggies with outlandish pro-Buckley & McGuire comments that only ire the opposition and give them ammunition to fire back at us. Moreover, patronising and back-slapping comments void of objectivity do not help us go forwartd. They hamper our progress and we are doomed to being an also-ran CLUB! How the mighty have fallen!
Knoxy
Guest
So what exactly were Buckley and the coaching staff working on in the preseason? Last night was deja vu. Poor ball skills, easy goals to the opposition from turnovers. I know it's only round 1 but I saw absolutely nothing to indicate we will be any better than last year. Loved Buckley as a player but this is his seventh year in charge and my patience has long run out. Unless there is a dramatic improvement over the next few weeks he has to be moved on and Eddie should go with him. The whole place needs a clean out.
Aligee
Guest
Buckley has been coach of the opposition in 4 out of 10 highest possession winners of all time. Tom Mitchell - number 1 2018 V Collingwood (54) possesions Gary Ablett - number 3 2012 V collingwood ( 53) Tom Mitchell - number 7 2017 V Collingwood (50) Gary Ablett 2013- number 10 V Collingwood (49) The rest are Greg Williams in 1989, Barry Price in 1971, John Greening in 1971, Tony Shaw in 1991, Scott Thompson 2011, Dane Swan 2012. Seriously WTF Buckley!!
Paul D
Roar Guru
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/gary-ablett-should-have-been-tagged-buckley-20130724-2qiut.html it does appear Buckley has not learnt a great deal in 5 years
Kane
Guest
I'm interested to see The Scribes thoughts on last night, he was a little bit out with his 10 goal win comments.
Chris
Guest
I told the readers here that we would 0/12 or 2/10 by the bye. My predictions are materialising much to my chagrin. Get the mugs out of our club. There are father-sons who bleed Collingwood playing elsewhere because of their obstinance,stupidity and bloody-mindedness. We are destined to be cannon fodder. SOS MAGGIES!!!
BigAl
Guest
54 touches !! I know "the games changed..." but that sounds like sensational stats. I haven't seen him play but he's been doing this for a couple of seasons now - yet he's never really spoken about as an absolute superstar ? Why would the Swans let such a player go so easily ?
gordf
Guest
More of the same, but the years keep ticking over. As a Collingwood supporter, the only real hope I have for this season, like last season and the one before that, is Eddie McGuire, Nathan Buckley and all their pals leave or are booted from the club. I was a supporter of the Buckley handover at the time, but come on, it was obvious half a decade ago the experiment has failed. It absolutely destroys me what a mess they've made of this club, and like a high stakes gambler they keep doubling down on the disaster. They refuse to admit anything purely to save their own egos. Everyone involved should have been moved on years ago.
Peppsy
Roar Guru
Who’s mr ed little nathan?
Pieman
Guest
Sack mr ed little nathan and the board for their total incompetence...this is the first of many losses this year....