AFL pre-season: Key takeaways, highlights from Collingwood v Richmond

It ended in a tussle, but the Pies were too strong for the Tigers in their Charity Shield clash. GLENN MCFARLANE has all the key notes and talking points from the pre-season clash.

Glenn McFarlane

@MaccaHeraldSun

6 min read

February 27, 2024 - 10:13PM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 27: Marlion Pickett of the Tigers and Mason Cox of the Magpies wrestle during the 2024 AFL Community Series match between Collingwood Magpies and Richmond Tigers at Ikon Park on February 27, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

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The Magpies took some momentum into their premiership defence, while the Tigers may have plenty of questions to answer up forward until Tom Lynch returns.

Glenn McFarlane assesses the key points from Collingwood’s 30-point win over Richmond.

TIGERS SWEAT ON GRAHAM, PIES PLAY IT SAFE WITH BOBBY

Richmond is sweating on the fitness of Jack Graham ahead of next week’s opening round clash with Gold Coast after the midfielder was sidelined with a quad issue late in the club’s loss to Collingwood.

And Collingwood is confident Norm Smith medallist Bobby Hill will be right to take on Greater Western Sydney, despite complaining of a tight hamstring late in the game.

Tigers coach Adem Yze said the club would monitor Graham’s quad in the coming days, but hinted skipper Toby Nankervis will push hard to take on his former coach Damien Hardwick on Saturday week.

“His (Graham’s) quad is tight, so we are hoping it is cramp, but we will find that one out,” Yze said the frustrated Richmond midfielder came to the bench late in the final term.

“I’m not too sure if he has done one (a quad) before. We will find out over the next couple of days.”

Jack Graham suffered a quad injury late. Pic: Michael Klein

Bobby Hill had some hamstring tightness. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Collingwood assistant coach Hayden Skipworth, who took the reins for the Magpies on Tuesday, said Hill had felt a little tight in hamstring and came off as a precaution, while Tom Mitchell had a rolled ankle.

“They (Hill and Mitchell) should be right for round zero,” Skipworth said.

Skipworth said veterans Scott Pendlebury and Jeremy Howe, who missed Tuesday night’s game, were certain starters against the Giants next week.

“Pendles got a knock to the knee during the week, if (Tuesday night) was a (home-and-away) game, he plays,” Skipworth said.

“He has got plenty of runs on the board.

“Howey had a corked calf, but his program is set for round zero.”

TEARING ‘EM TO SHREDS AND A FINAL SIREN DUST-UP

Nick Daicos did his best ‘Dev Robertson impression’ when he ripped his jumper almost in the manner that he ripped at the seams of the Richmond midfield for a large part of Tuesday night’s clash.

Daicos and De Goey closed out the pre-season much in the manner as they finished last year’s grand final in what was another ominous sign for opposition teams, including Greater Western Sydney who the Magpies meet next week in the AFL’s opening round.

They combined superbly in Collingwood’s 30-point win over Richmond in the inaugural Charity Shield pre-season game at IKON Park as the most impactful midfielders in the game.

Both had 16 disposals in the first half, helping to drag their team back from a slow start and finished with 21 and 22 disposals respectively.

Speaking prior to the game, Craig McRae spoke about the hunger and work ethic of the Collingwood group and that much was obvious.

Nick Daicos of the Magpies looks on with a torn jumper. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Jordan De Goey dominated. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Daicos had his jumper ripped to shreds in the first half, and just as the Brisbane Lions player did at Marvel Stadium last year, he stayed on for as long as he could before heading off the ground to chase a new one.

De Goey was dominant almost from the outset, ripping the ball out of the middle and with a long bombing goal he set the scene early on.

It was a match played for charity, but there was a fair bit of ill-feeling between the two old rivals before a solid and enthusiastic crowd.

When the siren sounded, a group of Magpies and Tigers – headed by Mason Cox and Marlion Pickett – started wrestling in the Collingwood forward zone, meaning a long bomb from Billy Frampton bounced through without contest for a goal.

WHY LYNCH’S COMEBACK CAN’T COME QUICK ENOUGH

Injury-hit Richmond forward Tom Lynch told Fox Footy at half-time he was still in the mix for a return from his foot injury against Carlton in Round 1.

For Tigers fans, it can’t come quickly enough.

While the delivery of the ball into the Richmond attack was awful at times, the Tigers’ forwards provided little in terms of scoreboard pressure and impact.

In what proved to be a low-scoring contest across the board, the

They kicked only five goals for the contest, spraying many of those shots, with former Hawk Jacob Koschitke and defender-turned-forward Noah Balta held goalless.

The Magpies forward set-up in the season-long absence of Dan McStay is also a question mark heading into the opening round against Greater Western Sydney.

Ash Johnson had six disposals but could not manage a goal when he was the main target early, while Reef McInnes came on after half-time and nailed a goal but only had three disposals.

The selection next week will be highly anticipated with both players in the mix for that slot and no clear answer from Tuesday night’s game.

Richmond’s key forwards struggled. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

CLUMSY CAMERON, SAM’S A CHANCE FOR LONG-AWAITED AFL COMEBACK

Collingwood ruckman Darcy Cameron could face scrutiny over a late stretch in attempting to spoil a Tylar Young mark.

While it resulted in a 50m penalty which resulted in a Young goal, the Magpies would be hoping the minimal contact will mean it goes through to the keeper in terms of the match review.

The incident led to stand-in Richmond ruckman Sam Naismith rubbing Cameron on the head, which left the Magpie ruckman more than a little frustrated.

Naismith is a chance to make a remarkable AFL comeback that he thought was probably beyond him, with Tigers skipper Toby Nankervis desperately trying to prove his fitness ahead of the Gold Coast opening round clash last week.

Naismith, 31, last played an AFL match 1353 days ago, when he played his last match for Sydney in June 2020.

He had 13 disposals and while he had to compete against Cameron and Mason Cox, he showed some good signs.

If Nankervis doesn’t come up for next week, Naismith will go into the match as the Tigers’ main ruckman.

Yze praised Sam Naismith’s performance against Darcy Cameron and Mason Cox, but said Nankervis still believes he can be ready to take on the Suns.

“The good thing is ‘Nank’ will hopefully be available - he got through another good session (on Tuesday),” Yze said.

The Tigers coach was delighted that injury-hit defender Josh Gibcus came through the game well after missing all last season with hamstring issues.

“He is the captain and he wants to play, more is the point, he is ticking every box.”

If the AFL are serious at all about protecting the head, how many weeks for Darcy Cameron do you think? pic.twitter.com/BmwedFht1n
— dylan (@PrimeWalsh) February 27, 2024

PAT’S BACK

Patrick Lipinski was the last piece in the Collingwood’s premiership jigsaw puzzle last season, just holding out John Noble and co to be the sub on grand final day.

At times, it looked touch and go if he would keep his spot.

In a sense that was understandable given the shoulder issues that wrecked his last pre-season, but he already looks a different player heading into 2024.

He looks like the Lipinski of 2022, not the one who struggled to have an impact in the back end of last season.

A strong pre-season and good performances against North Melbourne and now Richmond has seen him having a much more meaningful role within the team.

He kicked two goals, helped himself to 23 disposals and gifted a pass to Ash Johnson in attack but the Magpie forward couldn’t quite convert.

Patrick Lipinski impressed. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

YZE WAY

It’s clearly going to take some time to bed down, but the Adem Yze impact on Richmond will be centred on fast play, high pressure and overlap handball and run.

While the scoreline didn’t go their way against the Magpies on Tuesday night, there were enough positive signs to know the Tigers will provide plenty of entertainment for fans in year one of this era under the new coach.

Yze will officially lead Richmond for the first time against triple premiership Tigers coach Damien Hardwick and Gold Coast on Saturday week with plenty of work ahead of him, but the system is being bedded in slowly.

They jumped the Magpies with some fast pace footy and an almost handball-for-kick ratio in the opening term, but they just couldn’t use the ball cleanly enough to make a difference.

The Tigers kicked 1.7 in the opening term, and in leaving the door ajar, the experience and composure of the Magpies made them pay.

The Magpies made them pay on turnover with the Tigers’ lack of polish hurting them.

Adem Yze implored his team to play fast. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

TIGERS, PIES ON THE MOVE

Richmond and Collingwood could look to take their Charity Shield pre-season game on the road next year.

The two powerhouse AFL clubs staged their inaugural clash, raising a big return for Foodbank, when the last hitout before both clubs attracted a big crowd at IKON Park.

But it is understood there are plans to stage a match interstate before the 2025 season given the success of Tuesday night’s game, with both clubs having big supporter reaches across Australia, with Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and even Darwin future prospects.

Foodbank currently feeds 57,000 Victorians daily, the highest number seen across 93 years of the organisation providing food relief.

The Tigers and Magpies have vowed to make this charity event an annual event.