Collingwood
60
Match Complete
Melbourne
53
| Fourth Quarter | ||||
| 24:54 |  | B. Fritsch | ||
| 11:01 |  | T. McDonald | ||
| 9:37 | | Rushed | ||
| B. Hill | | 7:50 | ||
| B. McCreery | | 7:08 | ||
| 5:10 | | J. Smith | ||
| 2:51 | | T. McDonald | ||
| 9.4 (58) | Third Quarter [+] | 4.9 (33) | ||
| 32:25 | | C. Petracca | ||
| 27:51 | | E. Langdon | ||
| Rushed | | 27:01 | ||
| 24:18 | | K. Pickett | ||
| J. D. Goey | | 22:27 | ||
| 21:18 | | A. Neal-Bullen | ||
| D. McStay | | 19:38 | ||
| 17:44 | | T. Sparrow | ||
| D. McStay | | 13:30 | ||
| B. Hill | | 10:50 | ||
| 6:48 | | B. Fritsch | ||
| 0:49 | | Rushed | ||
| 5.3 (33) | Second Quarter [+] | 2.4 (16) | ||
| 25:45 | | Rushed | ||
| 23:43 | | K. Pickett | ||
| 15:09 | | K. Pickett | ||
| 14:11 | | B. Fritsch | ||
| 10:38 | | K. Pickett | ||
| B. Mihocek | | 6:54 | ||
| B. Mihocek | | 3:34 | ||
| 4.2 (26) | First Quarter [+] | 1.0 (6) | ||
| D. Cameron | | 32:57 | ||
| J. Crisp | | 29:23 | ||
| J. Elliott | | 22:44 | ||
| J. Elliott | | 14:34 | ||
| 7:02 | | B. Fritsch | ||
| B. Hill | | 5:18 | ||
| B. Hill | | 4:08 | ||
The 2023 AFL finals begin with an MCG blockbuster, as minor premiers Collingwood take on Melbourne for the right to a home preliminary final. Join The Roar for live scores from 7:20pm (AEST).
What better way to welcome us into September than with two huge Melbourne clubs at the G. These two sides last played each other in a final back in1989, when the Dees won by 23 points at Waverley in an elimination final.
While Collingwood secured the minor premiership and is considered the top contender for the flag, the Dees’ late-season performance has been exceptional, making them a legitimate contender as well.
The Magpies have experienced some inconsistency in their recent form, with three losses in the last four rounds of the season. However, they managed to regain their momentum with a convincing victory over Essendon in the final round, which should boost their confidence heading into the finals.
In contrast, the Demons are entering September in a strong position for another tilt at the flag. They have secured victory in seven out of their last eight games, but unfortunately, they will be missing dynamic forward Jake Melksham due to a knee injury. Melksham played a significant role in rejuvenating their season after a mid-year slump. It is also surprising to see Bayley Fritsch named on the bench after being spotted in a moon boot at training earlier in the week.
Unfortunately Nick Daicos was ruled out early in the week, but Collingwood welcome back their captain, Darcy Moore, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury, with John Noble a heartbreaking omission having played 83 consecutive matches.
The question remains whether Jeremy Howe will continue to contribute as an occasional forward or return to his defensive role to shore up the Magpies’ leaky back six.
Tonight I am tipping the Demons to get it done in an upset. They have the momentum leading into finals and they have more seasoned September campaigners in their ranks.
Game Information
Venue: MCG
First bounce: 7:20pm (AEST)
TV: Channel 7, Fox Footy
Streaming: Kayo Sports
Betting: Magpies $1.90, Demons $1.90 – odds via PlayUp
Teams
Collingwood
B: N. Murphy, D. Moore (c), I. Quaynor
HB: B. Maynard, O. Markov, S. Pendlebury
C: S. Sidebottom, T. Adams, J. Daicos
HF: B. Hill, B. Mihocek, J. Howe
F: J. Elliott, D. McStay, J. De Goey
R: M. Cox, B. McCreery, J. Crisp
I/C: P. Lipinski, T. Mitchell, D. Cameron, W. Hoskin-Elliott
EMG: J. Noble, B. Frampton, F. Macrae, J. Ginnivan
IN: McCreery, Moore, Murphy.
OUT: Frampton, Ginnivan, Noble.
Melbourne
B: M. Hibberd, S. May, J. Bowey
HB: J. McVee, J. Lever, A. Brayshaw
C: K. Pickett, J. Viney, E. Langdon
HF: L. Hunter, T. McDonald, A. Neal-Bullen
F: T. Sparrow, J. van Rooyen, K. Chandler
R: M. Gawn (c), C. Oliver, C. Petracca
I/C: C. Salem, T. Rivers, J. Smith, B. Fritsch
EMG: B. Grundy, B. Laurie, A. Tomlinson, J. Jordon
IN: Hibberd, McDonald.
OUT: Melksham. Turner.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
See you next year.
Gary
Roar Rookie
I am referring to the gf... no other team is guaranteed to have the gf at their home ground for the next 40yrs.
Jimmy
Roar Rookie
I hope Collingwood win the flag just so I can hear Macca's account of how it couldn't have occurred.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Wet game Bretto
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Ginnivan only played 15 minutes too!
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Disagree Doc. Not sure what you saw on TV but at the ground from the stands we controlled that match until a nervous final quarter.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Bretto the ground was sodden. It rained heavily 7-8pm. Our run is better in the dry, we had to win ugly which is an awesome sign we can do that.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Let them bleat all they want Tassie from their lounge chairs and stat sheets. I was at the G and couldn’t have been more proud of they boys. Excellent team defence, strategies and manic intensity. Get the win that was needed to set up a genuine shot at a GF.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Melbourne bomb manically forward then wonder why their entries are repelled?
Macca
Roar Rookie
The coach who has only selected him to start in 8 of 23 games this year?
Macca
Roar Rookie
Refer my original comment
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Port haven’t beaten lions since 17’ at the lions den. I’m picking an upset. :cricket:
Tassie
Roar Rookie
If anything it benefited Melbourne. Pies finished top and had no advantage over 4th placed Melbourne. If they win now it's due to no handed advantage, but the right to not leave home as the minor pre.isrs
deadly demon
Roar Rookie
I went to the game tonight so frustrating to watch my team. tackle well love contested ball, work their arses off just the fact of living in our forward 50 doesn't convert to good scores I am no expert just a footy lover but bad kicking is bad football also the amount of times Dees players got in each other's way It's quite amazing that with bout 8-10 minutes left we were in with a big chance I am on a few demon sites and it's all doom and gloom I think we will win our next game which will be either blues or swans next week A disappointing start for the Dee's but that's what finishing top 4 helps with. The double chance Before tonights game we needed to win 3 games to be premiers After tonights game we still need to win the next 3 games to be premiers I read a few comments saying it wasn't a good game who says finals have to be pretty games with lot of goals The intensity and pressure and tackling was astounding from both teams We had a glimmer in the last quarter but terrible kicking finished that off Go Dees????????????????????????
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Not unlike Maynard. Perhaps not adored though. Aggressive,on the line,but petulant and will be fortunate to play in two weeks. Brayshaw will also be fortunate to play in two weeks.
Tassie
Roar Rookie
Those more biased towards the opposition is closer to the point. Your opinion on him is irrelevant. The coach has his and supporters have theirs. At the end of the day he's getting paid very good money and adored by thousands. Poor bugger.
Tassie
Roar Rookie
And won the game. Conceded 7 goals. Just last week you said their leaking defence was a weakness. Perhaps their are other issues at play here. You seem to see no fault in Carlton's game plan. Let's see how this plays out in 24 hours.
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
or the winner :sick:
Birdman
Roar Rookie
Sounds like both sides had its moments but the Pies made more of theirs.
nostats
Roar Rookie
playmakers from both teams were either down or weren't involved for large patches of the game, petracca ,hill, only ones to dominate for a period.was that due to the pressure or negating tactics that both teams were able to carry out or some players just didnt perform