Tigers' cruel late injury blow; premiers' big calls clearer, star ready to ...

27 Feb 2024

Fox Sports

Collingwood flexed its muscles in a competitive 30-point win over a wasteful Richmond in the clubs’ final tune up for the season proper as the Tigers suffered a suspected late injury blow to Jack Graham.

Graham came from the field in the last 30 seconds of the game with what appeared to be a quad issue in a bitter ending for Richmond and the midfielder. It was part of a chaotic finish that included a 60 metre Billy Frampton goal and mini scuffle on the final siren.

The Tigers started hot in the first quarter but couldn’t convert their chances in front of goal before the reigning premiers came storming back to win 10.16 (76) to 5.16 (46).

Jordan De Goey (22 disposals, one goal), Patrick Lipinski (23 touches, two goals) and Will Hoskin-Elliott (24 possessions, 12 marks) were among the Magpies’ best as well as Nick (21 disposals, one goal) and Josh Daicos (18 touches) in limited time on ground.

The only place to watch every game of the AFL Pre-Season live is Fox Footy, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

SEE ALSO: MATCH CENTRE

KEY UPDATES

Dion Prestia kicked Richmond’s first, while Noah Balta capitalised on an uncharacteristic Nick Daicos turnover in the Tigers’ forward 50, but couldn’t make good on the the set shot.

It was all Richmond in a hot start for the yellow and black, dominant in the midfield to play virtually the entire first 10 minutes in its forward half – but couldn’t convert its chances with a 1.6 return in front of goal.

“They’ve started on fire here,” Demons great Garry Lyon told Fox Footy “It’s been a super impressive start for the Tigers.”

The Pies steadied the ship later in the period to even up the inside 50s – with Patick Lipinski kicking their first goal and Brody Mihocek adding another to even the scores.

Samson Ryan took a big grab in the goalsquare to dob the last major of the term to give the Tigers a six-point lead at quarter-time, 2.7 (19) to 2.1 (13).

In an intriguing matchup, Ash Johnson, who’s looking to fill the Dan McStay key forward void at Collingwood, was was minded by returning Tigers defender Josh Gibcus.

Lipinski gave the reigning premiers took the lead after with his second goal after a dropped Tigers mark deep in defensive 50,

Bobby Hill soon after snapped a crafty goal on the run to extend Collingwood’s lead, with Lions champ Jonathan Brown noting how many “weapons” Craig McRae’s side has.

“They’ve got to work, the premiers, they were a bit slow out of the box ... they’ve taken control,” Lyon noted.

Jordan De Goey was critical in turning the tide in a dominant showing in the midfield including kicking a trademark goal from outside 50.

Collingwood led by 14 points at half-time, 5.6 (36) to 2.10 (22).

Tylar Young drew a 50m penalty after a late spoil from Darcy Cameron to kick the Tigers’ first for the third term, but the Pies responded swiftly with their highlight ball movement and electric transition play as Lachie Schultz got on the end of a chain.

It was more of an arm wrestle in the third term as the two sides battled and scrapped, but neither could get space or fluent play at Ikon Park.

Nick Daicos added another for the premiers as they’d well and truly gone up and notch to lead by 26 points.

The Pies led 8.11 (59) to 3.14 (32) at three-quarter time.

Reef McInnes, who’d entered the game midway through the third term, finally got some reward for repeated efforts, kicking his first goal from a set shot.

In a potential scare for the Pies, Norm Smith medallist Bobby Hill came from the field in the fourth term clutching at his hamstring before getting treatment from medicos.

To the Tigers credit, they never stopped trying, kicking a couple of goals late through Liam Baker and Thomson Dow.

The 3-2-1 (pre-season takeaways) ...

3. PIES’ SELECTION CALLS, FORWARD SETUP CLEARER

There’s been intrigue surrounding the reigning premiers’ selection and what their forward setup will look like amid talk of their younger players impressing over the summer.

Clearly, a bit has changed too, with Lachie Schultz, who had some nice moments on Tuesday night, effectively replacing Jack Ginnivan and Dan McStay suffering a brutal ACL injury.

In a full dress rehearsal against Richmond, where Collingwood was effectively playing its best side – bar the injured/managed Scott Pendlebury and Jeremy Howe – it was clear how hard the Craig McRa’s best 23 will be to crack into.

Finlay Macrae is one name that’s generated ample buzz as he looks to crack into Collingwood’s star-studded midfield, but the former Pick 19 didn’t feature at all in the first half before entering the game midway through the third term for little impact overall.

Reef McInnes similarly didn’t step on the field until halfway through the third quarter, with Ash Johnson the main focal point up forward for most of the night.

Johnson appears to be ahead of McInnes in the pecking order to fill the McStay void – a void Mason Cox will also help cover with extra time in attack – but Johnson was held goalless by Josh Gibcus in a quiet showing against the Tigers.

McInnes meanwhile in limited game time had some bright moments in a quarter and a half, presenting hard and getting to several contests before kicking a goal in the final stanza.

Elsewhere, Billy Frampton was playing down back as a key defender and figures to be the like-for-like replacement for Nathan Murphy, who’s return from an ongoing concussion battle has been delayed.

It came on a day the Pies’ key position depth took another hit, with the oft-injured Nathan Kreuger suffering a hamstring injury in the VFL game.

Working against the Magpies’ lesser types is the fact that, outside of McStay, the premiers have had such a clean bill of health.

The likes of McInnes and Macrae will get their opportunity at some stage – of course, we know the importance of such depth players and a full list. But you sense it might not come against the Giants in Opening Round.

2. TIGERS’ CRUEL LATE INJURY BLOW

In a cruel late blow, Jack Graham appeared to suffer a quad injury in the dying stages of the contest.

The Tigers midfielder exited the game in the last 30 seconds with what appeared to be quad issue in a bitter ending to the club’s pre-season 11 days out from its Opening Round clash against Gold Coast.

“He’s exasperated with that. Can you believe it? That late (in the game),” Fox Footy caller Anthony Hudson highlighted.

It potentially adds to the Tigers’ list of casualties, with Toby Nankervis (foot) racing the clock to be fit for their season opener and Tom Lynch (foot) already ruled out.

Recruit Sam Naismith impressed and looks capable of filling the ruck void, if required, in Adem Yze’s side, however the forward line missed its superstar spearhead in Lynch.

“They’re a different team without Tom Lynch. I know we’ve spoken a lot about Shai Bolton going forward, but they really need Lynch to get back in the team as that compass gong forward,” Lions champion Jonathan Brown told Fox Footy.

“Especially with the retirement of Jack Riewoldt.”

Josh Gibcus, the former Pick 9 who hasn’t played at AFL level since 2022, was another positive in defence for the Tigers on a night Yze’s side showed some promising signs but couldn’t get reward on the scoreboard.

“I think they’ll be battling to get inside that top eight, but would never write them off,” Demons legend Garry Lyon told Fox Footy. “They’re not without a chance. Tom Lynch is an important part of it.”

1. DE GOEY READY TO EXPLODE

If it was all about Nick Daicos at Collingwood in 2023, 2024 might just be the year of Jordan De Goey.

The Magpies superstar was a clear standout on Tuesday night including a particularly influential first half – racking up 16 disposals, with four marks and three tackles and a trademark goal from outside 50 – before managed later in the game.

In fact, De Goey’s long-bomb major had shades of last year’s famous grand final match winner.

De Goey looks fit, and just as importantly, happy and settled, primed for a career-best campaign after reports he was a standout on the track at the AIA Centre over the pre-season.

The 27-year old should also benefit from opposition teams likely being laser-focused on shutting down Nick Daicos (or trying to) as the Magpies’ clear No. 1 tagging target, thus helping De Goey get off the leash.

Though both Daicos brothers also shined against Richmond, De Goey was arguably the most impactful of the Pies on-ballers and at his dominant best, where seemingly everything he touched turned to gold when the contest was at its hottest.

Indeed, look out for De Goey to explode this year.

MAGPIES SQUAD

B: Darcy Moore, Brayden Maynard, Oleg Markov

HB: Billy Frampton, Isaac Quaynor, Nick Daicos

C: Bobby Hill, Jordan De Goey, Josh Daicos

HF: Tom Mitchell, Darcy Cameron, Lachie Schultz

F: Will Hoskin-Elliott, Jamie Elliott, Brody Mihocek

Foll: Mason Cox, Steele Sidebottom, Patrick Lipinski

I/C: John Noble, Finlay Macrae, Jack Crisp, Reef McInnes, Beau McCreery, Harvey Harrison, Ash Johnson, Charlie Dean

Emerg: Nathan Kreuger, Jakob Ryan, Joe Richards, Lachlan Sullivan

Notable absentees: Scott Pendlebury, Jeremy Howe

TIGERS SQUAD