Collingwood has stunned reigning premier Geelong with a 22-point win in a highly entertaining rematch of their epic qualifying final. The Magpies kicked off season 2023 with a dominant performance and ended the Cats’ 16-game winning streak, thanks to an incredible display of leg speed. Despite being 22 points down in the third quarter, the Pies rallied late to kick eight unanswered goals and run over the top of the exhausted Cats. Jordan De Goey was named best on ground with 25 touches and three goals. New captain Darcy Moore also had a dominant performance down back.
Important Details about AFL Geelong v Collingwood 2023: Jeremy Howe injury, Magpies overhaul Cats, Tom Stewart subbed out –
– Collingwood won against Geelong with a 22-point lead in their season opener.
– Geelong had a 16-game winning streak before the game.
– Collingwood dominated general play with a lead in inside 50s and clearances.
– Collingwood trailed by 22 points in the third quarter before scoring the final 8 goals to win.
– Jordan De Goey was awarded best-on-ground with 25 touches and three goals.
– Scott Pendlebury had 27 disposals, 8 tackles, and a goal.
– New captain Darcy Moore started with a dominant performance down back.
– Bobby Hill replaced the suspended Jack Ginnivan.
– The Magpies had more disposals, contested possessions, clearances, marks, inside 50s, and scoring shots than Geelong.
– Collingwood is known for its comeback victories in the final quarter.
– The Magpies have strong leg speed and the coach wants the team to be fun to watch.
– The game was played in front of 86,595 fans.
– Ollie Henry, a new Geelong forward and former Magpie, was booed all night by the Collingwood fans.
– The game featured some spectacular lead-up plays.
– The final scores were Geelong 103 and Collingwood 125.
– Three players from Collingwood (De Goey, Pendlebury, and N. Daicos) received recognition for their performances.
– There were three injuries during the game (Stewart and De Koning from Geelong and Howe from Collingwood).
– Four umpires officiated the game.
– The game was played at the MCG.
Collingwood’s Lightning Leg Speed Shocks Geelong in Season Opener
Friday night at the Melbourne Cricket Ground saw Collingwood stun reigning premiers Geelong with an emphatic 22-point win. The Pies’ win was all about their lightning fast leg speed, which saw them kick eight unanswered goals in the final quarter to win the match, 19.11 (125) to 16.7 (103).
The game was a rematch of the epic qualifying final between the two sides, and it did not disappoint. The Pies dominated general play, with healthy leads in inside 50s and clearances for the most part, but failed to convert that advantage into a lead on the scoreboard. Geelong’s incredible accuracy (it was 16.1 at one stage) kept them in the game for much of the night.
The Magpies found themselves 22 points down 26 minutes into the third quarter. But the more energetic Pies didn’t relent, booting the final eight goals, including two from sub Reef McInnes, to run right over the top of the exhausted Cats.
Collingwood dominated disposals (372-313), contested possessions (135-128), clearances (45-36), marks (105-69), inside 50s (62-46), and scoring shots (30-23) against the reigning premiers. The Pies’ superior leg speed was a major factor in their victory, with their ability to run and carry the ball through the midfield proving too much for the Cats.
Jordan De Goey was the standout performer on the night, registering 25 touches and three goals. Scott Pendlebury also turned in an influential performance with 27 disposals, eight tackles, and a goal. New captain Darcy Moore began his reign in fine style too, with a dominant performance down back, registering nine intercepts. Tom Mitchell had 21 touches, 11 clearances, and two goals, while Bobby Hill scored three goals.
The dynamic brother duo Nick and Josh Daicos combined for 62 possessions, further highlighting Collingwood’s dominance in the midfield. Speaking after the game, De Goey spoke of the Pies’ ability to rally late, saying, “We have got such heart and it is where we’re renown for coming back in that last quarter. I think opposition sides worry about that. I think we thrive off it. So hopefully we can keep that going.”
Moore also highlighted the importance of Collingwood’s leg speed, saying, “We’re not going to die wondering. A lot of guys have some great leg speed. So we want to use it. I think the coach is pretty open about saying we want to be fun to watch. So you know, it’s fun to play.”
Geelong forward and former Magpie Ollie Henry copped a loud chorus of boos all night from the Collingwood fans. At the 17-minute mark of the second quarter, Henry converted a set shot and celebrated by letting the black-and-white army know all about it. Six minutes later, he was brilliantly run down from behind by Moore right in front of the Magpies cheer squad.
Bobby Hill seemed to take his role of replacing the suspended Jack Ginnivan very seriously midway through the first quarter when he was tackled high. But Hill was not awarded a free kick because the umpire rightly deemed he dropped his legs to create the contact.
The Magpies’ second goal came as a result of some spectacular lead-up play that saw De Goey, under pressure and pressed up against the boundary line, tap the ball over his head to Pendlebury. Under the pump, the former skipper handballed it over his head to Will Hoskin-Elliott, who combined with Taylor Adams and De Goey, again, to find Brody Mihocek. Mihocek’s magnificent set shot from 45m out on a sharp angle then split the big sticks.
The win marks the Pies’ first of the 2023 season, and a highly impressive one at that. With their lightning leg speed and dominant midfield, they will look to build on this performance and establish themselves as a genuine finals contender.