AFL 2022: Pat Lipinski’s evolution as midfielder simply breathtaking as he flourishes as a Magpie

Pat Lipinski knew his time was up at the kennel, but he wasn’t wasting any time not preparing for the next phase of his career. Now he’s at the Magpies and it’s paying massively.

The Dons have named star Jake Stringer to return on Anzac Day. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

Pat Lipinski’s pre-season started before last season finished.

Travelling the country in a finals hub that resembled incarceration, Lipinski sweated through gym workouts knowing his career at the Western Bulldogs hadn’t worked out.

The 23-year-old was picked in the best 22 in nine of the first 11 games last year and then none of the final 15 games.

“I was kind of in pre-season mode (in the finals hub) personally, because I knew I wasn’t going to be playing,” he told the Herald Sun.

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Patrick Lipinski has the potential to be one of the finds of the year if he can maintain his new-found form at Collingwood.

“I was basically doing gym every day for a while. I was working really hard and still training and just having fun with everyone

“It was actually a super, super fun month for me, just hanging around with everyone and enjoying a great finals run.”

Coach Luke Beveridge hadn’t officially told Lipinski he wouldn’t be playing. He didn’t need to.

Lipinski — last named in a squad in round 20 — read the tea leaves.

“I hadn‘t played since round 11, so I didn’t think I was going to get a chance and you don’t really change a finals team when you’re winning,” he said.

So why was Lipinski suddenly on the outer at the halfway point of the season?

“Obviously they had a very strong team and they just went for a different look,” Lipinski said.

“I was playing a bit of wing and it was probably just some of the open field stuff that needed to be a bit better.

Lipinski attended 22 centre bounces against West Coast and just nine for the entire 2021 season.

The lifelong Bulldogs supporter is suddenly on the inside at Collingwood and looming as one of the finds of the season.

Exchanged for pick 43, Lipinski attended 53 centre bounces in the first month of the season.

Last season he attended nine. Even Tom Liberatore, the No. 1 clearance player last year, has found himself out of the centre much more this year.

But Lipinski’s evolution as an onballer at the Magpies has allowed Josh Daicos and Steele Sidebottom to light up the wings.

Even captain Scott Pendlebury spent the first four games redeployed at halfback.

Lipinski is a line-breaker.

In round his GPS clocked 15.2km and in round 3 he chalked up 16km, running further than every other player in a Saturday night thriller against Geelong.

Lipinski still lives in Port Melbourne with Aaron Naughton — Tim English recently moved out — and the Dogs would’ve liked to keep him, especially given this year’s spate of injuries.

Fringe Bulldogs Riley Garcia, Louis Butler, Roarke Smith, Anthony Scott, Lachie McNeil, Hayden Crozier and Robbie McComb have all rolled through the team this season.

Lipinski was used on the inside in 2019 at the Bulldogs but played his final two seasons under coach Luke Beveridge predominantly on the wing.

But players sometimes get squeezed out of strong clubs. Just look at St Kilda matchwinner Jack Higgins, a former fringe Tiger suddenly in All-Australian form.

The kid once coached by Marcus Bontempelli’s uncle knew all he needed was a chance.

VFL onlookers would’ve known that as well. Lipinski averaged 156 SuperCoach points in four games for Footscray last year.

The first two times Lipinski was dropped he responded with 40 disposals and then 36 disposals, three goals and 198 rankings points.

The freshness of the Magpies excited Lipinski. A new beginning at a club embarking on a new direction.

Former AFL coaches Justin Leppitsch and Brendon Bolton had signed on with new Collingwood coach Craig McRae and this year Lipinski has palled up with Charlie Dean and the Daicos boys.

With Melbourne in lockdown, Collingwood coach Craig McRae walked Lipinski through his plans over a stroll around Albert Park Lake.

Lipinski’s 26 disposals against the Magpies in round 1 last year stood out to Pendlebury.

In round 1 this year and Lipinski lumped nine coaches votes lining up alongside Pendlebury.

“(He’s a) smooth mover, great skills and I think it was a role we needed to fill,” Pendlebury said.

They say it takes one to know one. Pendlebury is probably the smoothest mover of the modern era and Lipinski was known as ‘Mr Clean’ in recruiting circles.

Like Pendles, Lipinski even has a basketball background to boot.

When clubs dug for dirt on Lipinski before the 2016 draft they found ‘Mr Clean’ was also squeaky clean.

Universally loved at Whitefriars College, he is starting to become a fan favourite at Collingwood.

Lipinski has never played in front of 60,000 fans and the last time he attended a packed MCG was clicking through the turnstiles with his mum and dad, draped in Bulldogs colours, for the 2016 premiership.

On Anzac Day he will run on to the grass, his parents and partner among the 85,000 in the stands.

“I think it was probably one of the first things they (Collingwood) mentioned – ‘Oh, you get to play Anzac Day’,” Lipinski said.

“We’ve had some loud stadiums, but this will be very cool,” Lipinski said.

Ollie’s big chance to make an immediate impact

High-flying Geelong rookie Ollie Dempsey has been handed a debut for the Cats, capping a stunning rise after swapping basketball for footy late in his days at Carey Grammar.

But, in a double blow, injured pair Jack Henry and Patrick Dangerfield won’t travel to Hobart for Sunday’s clash with the Hawks.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE ALL THE ROUND 6 TEAMS

Henry (foot) and Dangerfield (calf) were pulled out of Geelong’s initial squad of 26 that was named on Thursday, with Zach Guthrie and Francis Evans added into the emergencies.

Patrick Dangerfield won’t travel to Hoabrt. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Dempsey joins Shaun Higgins and Jake Kolodjashnij as additions to Geelong’s 22, with Luke Dahlhaus managed out but still a possibility to act as medical sub.

Scott said the Cats would likely take 25 players from their squad of 26 to Hobart to face the Kangaroos.

Scott said “you can rule out a terrible injury” to important defender Henry.

While he was named an emergency, Esava Ratugolea is in the mix only as back-up in case of a Rhys Stanley injury, with the Cats keen for him to get his ankle as close to 100 per cent as possible before playing.

The Dons have named star Jake Stringer to return on Anzac Day. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

Meanwhile, Essendon has sprung a major shock at the selection table by naming Jake Stringer and Zach Merrett in the team to tackle Collingwood on Anzac Day.

Both stars were expected to be at least another week on the sidelines — Merrett with an ankle injury and Stringer overcoming a hamstring injury.

Whether they line up on Monday will become clearer when Ben Rutten holds his weekly press conference on Saturday when the Bombers will cut their 26-man squad back to 22.

The Bombers have named four emergencies: Devon Smith, Nick Bryan, Kaine Baldwin and Tom Cutler.

Collingwood axed out of form big man Mason Cox and lost Jordan Roughead (finger) to injury, but regained key forward Brody Mihocek, Tyler Brown, Beau McCreery, Caleb Poulter and Jack Ginnivan.

Greater Western Sydney welcomes back talisman Toby Greene and ruckman Braydon Preuss for the crucial clash against St Kilda on Friday night, having axed Matt de Boer and Xavier Halloran.

The Saints brought back Jimmy Webster and omitted Jarrod Lienert and Ryan Byrnes.

The Pies have run out of patience with Mason Cox. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

Other big names to come in across the competition for round 6 include Lance Franklin for Sydney, Patrick Cripps at Carlton, and Ollie Wines has been picked to return for Port Adelaide.

Geelong has named Shaun Higgins, Esava Ratugolea and Oliver Dempsey to tackle North Melbourne on Sunday.

The Western Bulldogs lost a key player in Tim English to injury for the Adelaide clash in Ballarat on Saturday, while medi-sub Mitch Wallis will miss for personal reasons.

Dusty in a ‘better space’ but still not training

—Chris Cavanagh

Richmond star Dustin Martin is in a “better space” but is still yet to return to training with the Tigers.

There had been speculation that Martin could make a comeback to training on Thursday, having returned to Melbourne after spending time in Sydney.

It is understood that an AFL return is on the cards in coming weeks, after Martin has taken personal leave since late March.

However, Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said there was still no firm update on the triple-premiership player’s availability.

“Like we’ve said all along, we’re probably reluctant to provide a running commentary,” Hardwick said on Thursday morning.

Dustin Martin is in a better place, according to the Tigers. Picture: Getty Images

“But what we do know is he’s in a better space. When we do know more, we’ll certainly give you guys some more information. But at this stage it’s the same as it has been and we ask you to respect his privacy and we’ll continue to monitor the situation and give information as it becomes available.”

The Tigers are expected to recall some other premiership stars for Sunday’s Anzac Eve clash with Melbourne, including midfielder Kane Lambert.

Lambert has not featured at AFL level since Round 22 last year due to an ongoing hip injury but starred in the VFL with 25 disposals and two goals last weekend.

“He’ll train today so we’re very bullish that he’ll play,” Hardwick said of Lambert.

“He’s played a half and three quarters (in the VFL) so we think he’s ready to go. Is he going to be at his very best fitness wise? Well, he’s a pretty fit guy overall. Footy wise he hasn’t played a lot, but we’re pretty confident that what he can bring is pretty good. He’s just such an important player to our club, he’s a coach on and off the field, he’s just a wonderful ambassador for us and the way he plays the game.”

Kane Lambert is expected to return for the Tigers. Picture: Getty Images

Wingman Kamdyn McIntosh has also been cleared to return after missing last week’s loss to Adelaide under AFL Health and Safety Protocols.

The Tigers are also hopeful of bringing back ruckman Ivan Soldo to combat the powerful Demons ruck combination of Max Gawn and Luke Jackson.

However, Soldo is expected to be released from hospital on Thursday afternoon after suffering an infected toe.

“We are still hoping he’ll be available to play,” Hardwick said.

“He’s important to us and we certainly need him back in the side and want him back in the side.”

ROUND 6 TEAMS

GWS GIANTS v ST KILDA

Friday April 22, 7:50pm at Manuka Oval

GIANTS

B: Keefe, Taylor, Idun

HB: Whitfield, Haynes, Perryman

C: Kennedy, Ward, Ash

HF: Taranto, Himmelberg, Coniglio

F: Hill, Greene, Bruhn

FOLL: Preuss, Kelly, Green

I/C: Flynn, Callaghan, Stein, Cumming

EMG: Riccardi, Wehr, de Boer, Fahey

IN: Greene, Preuss, Cumming

OUT: de Boer (omitted), O’Halloran (omitted), Hogan (managed), Riccardi (medi sub)

SAINTS

B: Wilkie, Howard, McKenzie

HB: Paton, Battle, Sinclair

C: Hill, Gresham, Ross

HF: Long, Membrey, Higgins

F: Wood, King, Butler

FOLL: Marshall, Steele, Crouch

I/C: Webster, Windhager, Wanganeen-Milera

EMG: Lienert, Highmore, Heath, Byrnes

IN: Webster

OUT: Lienert (omitted), Byrnes (omitted)

WESTERN BULLDOGS v ADELAIDE CROWS

Saturday April 23, 1:45pm at Mars Stadium

BULLDOGS

B: Richards, Gardner, Duryea

HB: Daniel, O’Brien, Dale

C: McNeil, Macrae, Scott

HF: Liberatore, Cordy, Treloar

F:Bontempelli, Naughton, Weightman

FOLL: Martin, Smith, Dunkley

I/C: McComb, Ugle-Hagan, Schache, Williams

EMG: Crozier, West, Khamis, Sweet

IN: Martin, McComb, Schache

OUT: Garcia (injured), English (injured), Hunter (personal reasons), Wallis (personal reasons)

CROWS

B: Doedee, Butts, Frampton

HB: Smith, Dawson, Brown

C: Cook, Laird, Sholl,

HF: Rachele, Murphy, McHenry

F: McAdam, Walker, Himmelberg

FOLL: O’Brien, Keays, Berry

I/C: Gollant, Hately, Crouch, Jones

EMG: Rowe, Soligo, Thilthorpe, Hamill

IN: Hately

OUT: Sloane (injured), Rowe (medi sub)

PORT ADELAIDE v WEST COAST EAGLES

Saturday April 23, 4:35pm at Adelaide Oval

POWER

B: Burton, Aliir, Clurey

HB: Bergman, Jonas, Byrne-Jones

C: Houston, Drew, Bonner

HF: Butters, Georgiades, Rozee

F: Gray, Marshall, Powell-Pepper

FOLL: Hayes, Wines, Boak

I/C: Farrell, Dumont, Motlop, Finlayson

EMG: Amon, McEntee, Mayes Jones

IN: Wines, Farrell

OUT: Mead (omitted), Amon (omitted), McEntee (omitted)

EAGLES

B: Hurn, Barrass, Witherden

HB: Nelson, Edwards, Duggan

C: Redden, Kelly, Naish

HF: Rioli, Darling, Cripps

F: Waterman, Kennedy, Ryan

FOLL: B. Williams, Yeo, Shuey

I/C: O’Neill, Foley, West, Strnadica

EMG: Langdon, Windler, Rotham Jones

IN: O’Neill, West, Strnadica

OUT: Rotham (omitted), Langdon (omitted), Jones (omitted), Dixon (injured)

FREMANTLE DOCKERS v CARLTON

Saturday April 23, 7:40pm at Optus Stadium

DOCKERS

B: Cox, Pearce, Clark

HB: O’Driscoll, Ryan, Logue

C: Aish, Walters, Acres

HF: Brayshaw, Taberner, Frederick

F: Switkowski, Lobb, Schultz

FOLL: Darcy, Brodie, Serong

I/C: Tucker, Mundy, Walker, Collyer

EMG: Wilson, Erasmus, Banfield, meek

IN: Logue, Schultz

OUT: Young (HS protocol), Chapman (HS protocol), Banfield (omitted)

BLUES

B: Weitering, Williams, Newman

HB: Saad, Young, Docherty

C: Cotrell, Hewett, Newnes

HF: Owies, Martin, Curnow

F: Fisher, McKay, Silvagni

FOLL: Pittonet, Walsh, Cerra

I/C: Cripps, Durdin, Parks, Setterfield

EMG: Boyd, Dow, De Koning, Motlop

IN: Cripps

OUT: Kennedy (soreness), Dow (medi sub)

NORTH MELBOURNE v GEELONG CATS

Sunday April 24, 1:10pm at Blundstone Arena

KANGAROOS

B: Bosenavulagi, McKay, Corr

HB: McDonald, Walker, Ziebell

C: La. Young, Davies-Uniacke, Scott

HF: Taylor, Larkey, Thomas

F: Curtis, Zurhaar, Goldstein

FOLL: Xerri, Simpkin, Horne-Francis

I/C: Mahony, Greenwood, Turner, Perez

EMG: Ford. Bonar, Coleman-Jones, Bergman

IN: Thomas, Curtis, Zurhaar,

OUT: Hall (injured), Stephenson (illness), Powell (omitted), Ford (omitted)

CATS

B: De Koning, Blicavs, Bews

HB: Kolodjashnij, Stewart, Tuohy

C: Duncan, Selwood, Smith

HF: Higgins, Cameron, Dempsey

F: Stengle, Hawkins, Close

FOLL: Stanley, Parfitt, C.Guthrie

I/C: Atkins, O’Connor, Holmes, Miers

EMG: Z.Guthrie, Ratugolea, Dahlhaus, Evans

IN: Higgins, Dempsey

OUT: Dangerfield (injured), Henry (injured), Dahlhaus (managed)

GOLD COAST SUNS v BRISBANE LIONS

Sunday April 24, 4:10pm at Metricon Stadium

SUNS

B: Powell, Collins, Lemmens

HB: Weller, Ballard, Farrar

C: Fiorini, Miller, Ellis

HF: Ainsworth, Casboult, Rankine

F: Rosas, Chol, Holman

FOLL: Witts, Rowell, Anderson

I/C: Budarick, Corbett, Markov, Swallow

EMG: Atkins, Davies, Burgess, Sharp

IN: Budarick, Burgess, Sharp

OUT: Atkins, Davies (both omitted)

LIONS

B: Gardiner, Andrews, Adams

HB: Starcevich, Rich, Answerth

C:Ah Chee, Zorko, McCluggage

HF: Bailey, McStay. McCarthy

F: Rayner, Daniher, Cameron

FOLL: McInerney, Lyons, Neale

I/C: Lohmann, J.Berry, Coleman, Fort,

EMG: T.Berry, Cockatoo, Prior, Payne

IN: Coleman

OUT: Robinson (injured), Cockatoo (omitted)

RICHMOND v MELBOURNE

Sunday April 24, 7:25pm at the MCG

TIGERS

B: Broad, Tarrant, Gibcus

HB: Short, Vlastuin, D.Rioli

C: Ross, Cotchin, McIntosh

HF: Castagna, Baker, Edwards

F: Lynch, Riewoldt, Balta

FOLL: Nankervis, Prestia, Dow

I/C: Mansell, Collier-Dawkins, Bolton, Graham

EMG: Banks, Sonsie, M.Rioli, Parker

IN: Gibcus, McIntosh, Mansell, Collier-Dawkins

OUT: Miller (omitted), Aarts (omitted), Parker (omitted), Pickett (injured), Ralphsmith (injured)

DEMONS

B: Hunt, May, Petty

HB: Bowey, Smith, Rivers

C: Brayshaw, Petracca, Langdon

HF: Pickett, Weideman, Neal-Bullen

F: Fritsch, Brown, Spargo

FOLL: Gawn, Oliver, Sparrow

I/C: Harmes, Jackson, Jordon, Dunstan,

EMG: Bedford, Melksham Tomlinson, McDonald

IN: Smith, Brown, Dunstan

OUT: Lever (HS protocol), Viney (HS protocol), McDonald (Omitted), Bedford (Medi-Sub)

HAWTHORN v SYDNEY SWANS

Monday April 25, 12:30pm at UTAS Stadium

HAWKS

B: Frost, Grainger-Barras, Hardwick

HB: Sicily Jiath, Day

C: Shiels, Mitchell, Ward

HF: Nash, Breust, Impey

F: Moore, Lynch, Gunston

FOLL: Koschitzke, Newcombe, Wingard

I/C (from): Morrison, Scrimshaw, O’Meara, Callow, Phillips, Macdonald, Long, Worpel

EMG:

IN: Day, Lynch, Wingard, Callow, Long

OUT: Lewis (injured), Reeves (injured)

SWANS

B: Cunningham, Rampe, P. McCartin

HB: Lloyd, T. McCartin, McInerney

C: Blakey, Rowbottom, Florent

HF: Hayward, Franklin, McDonald

F: Warner, McLean, Parker

FOLL: Ladhams, Mills, Heeney

I/C (from): Campbell, Ronke, Gulden, Bell, Kennedy, Wicks, Reid, Stephens

EMG:

IN: Franklin, Wicks, Stephens

OUT:

ESSENDON v COLLINGWOOD

Monday April 25, 3:20pm at the MCG

BOMBERS

B: Zerk-Thatcher, Laverde, Kelly

HB: Redman, Ridley, Heppell

C: Durham, Hobbs, Cox

HF: Martin, Stringer, Caldwell

F: McGrath, Wright, Guelfi

FOLL: Draper, Parish, Merrett

I/C (from): Hind, Shiel, Waterman, Perkins, Bryan, Smith, Baldwin, Cutler

IN: Stringer, Merrett, Bryan, Baldwin

OUT: Phillips (injured)

MAGPIES

B: Quaynor, Moore, Mihocek

HB: Maynard, Howe, Daicos

C: Noble, Pendlebury, Daicos

HF: Hoskin-Elliott, Madgen, Sidebottom

F: Adams, Kreuger, De Goey

FOLL: Grundy, Lipinski, Crisp

I/C (from): Cameron, McInnes, Wilson, Brown, McCreery, Brown, Poulter, Ginnivan

IN: Mihocek, Brown, McCreery, Poulter, Ginnivan

OUT: Roughead (injured), Cox (omitted)

Originally published as AFL 2022: Pat Lipinski’s evolution as midfielder simply breathtaking as he flourishes as a Magpie