Lions flip the script on AFL favourite Magpies in ‘extraordinary’ scenes
Collingwood have looked every part the competition heavyweights in 2023 but the Magpies have been ambushed in an unthinkable result.
AFL
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A 10-goal blitz from the Brisbane Lions proved too much for Collingwood to overcome at the Gabba on Thursday night, with the Magpies suffering their first defeat of the AFL season.
Inspired by a six-goal performance from Charlie Cameron and a magnificent display from Cam Rayner, the Lions bounced back from last week’s 14-point loss to the Western Bulldogs with a 18.8 (116) to 11.17 (83) win.
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The Magpies kicked the final three goals of the opening quarter to lead by 13 points at the first break.
The Lions needed an immediate response and they delivered with a magnificent second-quarter display, outscoring Collingwood 38 to three to lead by 22 at half time.
The Lions were superb in kicking six unanswered second-quarter goals, as well as 30 more disposals than the Magpies.
In fact, the Lions then responded by kicking the game’s next 10 goals, much to the delight of the majority of the 33,565-strong crowd.
In contrast, the Magpies were all at sea, with their second-quarter display perhaps best summed up by a diabolical kick out on the full from Bobby Hill when he had a host of teammates in good positions screaming for the ball.
Hawthorn great Jason Dunstall told Fox Footy that it was an “extraordinary second term”.
“It was just a controlled, dominant term … they were under the pump (in the first-quarter),” Dunstall said.
The Magpies, who struggled without a recognised ruckman despite the best efforts of former Lions forward Dan McStay, went 51 minutes without scoring a goal.
They didn’t give up, with Brody Mihocek kicking three third-quarter goals to give the visitors a glimmer a hope.
But despite the best efforts of Nick Daicos, who finished with 38 possessions, there wasn’t to be a miracle comeback, with Brisbane claiming a deserved win.
If there was any doubt where Cameron Rayner best serves the Brisbane Lions, it was dispelled on Thursday night with his scintillating display in the forwards.
Having been used almost exclusively in defence in the pre-season, the versatile Rayner was superb in attack, providing energy and spark to a forward line that struggled in the previous week’s loss to the Bulldogs.
Rayner finished the match with four goals
“He gave the energy and it dragged the bigger boys up,” Lions great and Fox Footy’s Alastair Lynch said.
Those “bigger boys” included maligned pair Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood, who had both been criticised for their performances against the Bulldogs.
They both responded, with Daniher; s performance including 20 disposals and two goals.
Hipwood also kicked two goals, and showed that he could work well in tandem with the former Essendon star.
Originally published as Lions flip the script on AFL favourite Magpies in ‘extraordinary’ scenes
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