‘We might need you mate’: How McRae’s Magpies rallied in the face of pre-game carnage

Collingwood’s system has never passed a greater test than Saturday night’s 45-point victory over North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.

The Magpies had lost 1032 games of experience – resting Darcy Moore (181 games) and Steele Sidebottom (341) before having to deal with the late withdrawals of Scott Pendlebury (412) and Bobby Hill (98) in the hours before match.

Tim Membrey of the Magpies kicks a goal.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

To make matters worse, rugged defender Brayden Maynard was subbed out of the contest during the first quarter because of a persistent plantia fascia complaint.

It was easy to understand why the Magpies appeared to be undermanned in the first half, trailing the lower-ranked Kangaroos by three points at the long break.

But Collingwood then kicked 3.8 in an attacking third quarter and 8.1 in a rampaging final term on the back of some Nick Daicos brilliance and some Jamie Elliott magic.

Understandably, Magpies coach Craig McRae said the win was a testament to their depth.

“We got information this afternoon that Pendles was not well with gastro and just wasn’t going to be able to get up,” he said.

“I won’t go into Bobby’s stuff (Hill withdrew for personal reasons), because that’s really quite personal, and not for me to talk about, but we thank the AFL for their understanding (in allowing the late change).

“This happens one in a thousand. I don’t remember the last time we had a late withdrawal.

“So to be able to think on our feet a little bit, and get things where we needed to be, was another pleasing part of the game because some guys weren’t even playing up until, you know, an hour before the game.”

The Collingwood coach said Oleg Markov answered his SOS phone call while shopping at Bunnings on Saturday afternoon.

“I had a chat to Ollie and said, ‘We might need you mate. We got a few things happening.’ And he goes, ‘Yep, whatever you need coach’,” McRae said.

“It’s great to have guys like him that just want to come in and are all for the team, do their job and play their part.”

Hidden among the carnage of Collingwood’s pre-game selection headaches was the fact that match-winner Elliott, who booted five goals, had troubles of his own during the week.

“Funnily enough, he was sick all week. He didn’t train until Thursday, which is
another credit to him,” McRae said.

Tristan Xerri of the Kangaroos kicks the ball.Credit: Getty Images

North Melbourne sensed an opportunity. In a keepings-off approach, they lead the half-time disposal count 208 to 151, the kick count 145 to 79, and had taken 71 marks to Collingwood’s 27.

Jy Simpkin had the better of Nick Daicos, Tristan Xerri was on top of Darcy Cameron and Caleb Daniel racked up disposals off half-back.

Then we went down a familiar path. The Magpies needed a spark, Daicos lit the match.

He more than doubled his possession count from 10 to 21 in the third term. He finished with 38 for the match after running rampant in the final term.

Elliott lifted the Collingwood forwards with two of his five goals in the third quarter.

Despite the singular heroics, even Kangaroos coach Alastair Clarkson conceded it was all about the system.

“They had a lot of their important players out of their side, which is testament to them as a club in terms of the way they play their system and their game plan,” Clarkson said.

“They’ve got good depth, but the depth is all about playing their roles and knowing their system, and they do that particularly well.

“There’s parts of that where we say to ourselves, ‘Well, irrespective of the personnel that they had, what we’re playing against was Collingwood’s system tonight and we’re good enough to be in the contest until three-quarter-time’.”

When asked about the prospect of being thrown off their game by losing so much experience in the lead up to the game, McRae said it was all about opportunity.

“At some stage in our life we’re going to be without these incredible players, and it gives opportunity to Ed Allan (24 disposals), and opportunities to Wil Parker and Crispy through the midfield and Ned Long (15 score involvements) and these others,” McRae said.

“It’s a pretty impressive rehab group we’ve got at the moment, and most of them will be available next week, which is exciting.”

McRae praised the efforts of defender Billy Frampton to help thwart North Melbourne in the opening half of the game.

That’s all we have for you tonight.

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Please have a lovely evening and bye for now.

The Welcome to Country ceremony is performed during the 2025 AFL Round 11 match between Walyalup (Fremantle Dockers) and Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide Power) in Perth.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

Collingwood’s system has never passed a greater test than Saturday night’s 45-point victory over North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.

The Magpies had lost 1032 games of experience – resting Darcy Moore (181 games) and Steele Sidebottom (341) before having to deal with the late withdrawals of Scott Pendlebury (412) and Bobby Hill (98) in the hours before match.

Tim Membrey of the Magpies kicks a goal.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

To make matters worse, rugged defender Brayden Maynard was subbed out of the contest during the first quarter because of a persistent plantia fascia complaint.

It was easy to understand why the Magpies appeared to be undermanned in the first half, trailing the lower-ranked Kangaroos by three points at the long break.

But Collingwood then kicked 3.8 in an attacking third quarter and 8.1 in a rampaging final term on the back of some Nick Daicos brilliance and some Jamie Elliott magic.

Understandably, Magpies coach Craig McRae said the win was a testament to their depth.

“We got information this afternoon that Pendles was not well with gastro and just wasn’t going to be able to get up,” he said.

“I won’t go into Bobby’s stuff (Hill withdrew for personal reasons), because that’s really quite personal, and not for me to talk about, but we thank the AFL for their understanding (in allowing the late change).

“This happens one in a thousand. I don’t remember the last time we had a late withdrawal.

“So to be able to think on our feet a little bit, and get things where we needed to be, was another pleasing part of the game because some guys weren’t even playing up until, you know, an hour before the game.”

The Collingwood coach said Oleg Markov answered his SOS phone call while shopping at Bunnings on Saturday afternoon.

“I had a chat to Ollie and said, ‘We might need you mate. We got a few things happening.’ And he goes, ‘Yep, whatever you need coach’,” McRae said.

“It’s great to have guys like him that just want to come in and are all for the team, do their job and play their part.”

Hidden among the carnage of Collingwood’s pre-game selection headaches was the fact that match-winner Elliott, who booted five goals, had troubles of his own during the week.

“Funnily enough, he was sick all week. He didn’t train until Thursday, which is
another credit to him,” McRae said.

Tristan Xerri of the Kangaroos kicks the ball.Credit: Getty Images

North Melbourne sensed an opportunity. In a keepings-off approach, they lead the half-time disposal count 208 to 151, the kick count 145 to 79, and had taken 71 marks to Collingwood’s 27.

Jy Simpkin had the better of Nick Daicos, Tristan Xerri was on top of Darcy Cameron and Caleb Daniel racked up disposals off half-back.

Then we went down a familiar path. The Magpies needed a spark, Daicos lit the match.

He more than doubled his possession count from 10 to 21 in the third term. He finished with 38 for the match after running rampant in the final term.

Elliott lifted the Collingwood forwards with two of his five goals in the third quarter.

Despite the singular heroics, even Kangaroos coach Alastair Clarkson conceded it was all about the system.

“They had a lot of their important players out of their side, which is testament to them as a club in terms of the way they play their system and their game plan,” Clarkson said.

“They’ve got good depth, but the depth is all about playing their roles and knowing their system, and they do that particularly well.

“There’s parts of that where we say to ourselves, ‘Well, irrespective of the personnel that they had, what we’re playing against was Collingwood’s system tonight and we’re good enough to be in the contest until three-quarter-time’.”

When asked about the prospect of being thrown off their game by losing so much experience in the lead up to the game, McRae said it was all about opportunity.

“At some stage in our life we’re going to be without these incredible players, and it gives opportunity to Ed Allan (24 disposals), and opportunities to Wil Parker and Crispy through the midfield and Ned Long (15 score involvements) and these others,” McRae said.

“It’s a pretty impressive rehab group we’ve got at the moment, and most of them will be available next week, which is exciting.”

McRae praised the efforts of defender Billy Frampton to help thwart North Melbourne in the opening half of the game.

Fremantle skipper Alex Pearce is facing the prospect of a multi-week suspension after clattering into Darcy Byrne-Jones during the Dockers’ 49-point win over Port Adelaide at a wet and slippery Optus Stadium.

Luke Jackson starred in the ruck with 38 hitouts, 21 disposals and eight clearances to go with a goal from the pocket, while Murphy Reid kicked four majors as Fremantle stormed to the 15.10 (100) to 7.9 (51) victory in front of 40,466 fans on Saturday night.

Luke Jackson of the Dockers celebrates a goal.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

But the biggest talking point of the night was the ugly second-quarter collision between Pearce and Byrne-Jones.

Byrne-Jones had his eyes on the ball and was running with the flight of the kick when Pearce charged in from the opposite direction.

Pearce initially looked like he was setting out to take a mark or produce a spoil, but he took his eyes off the ball at the last moment when he realised a collision was imminent.

Although the airborne Pearce didn’t turn his body in a bumping motion, his left shoulder still thumped into the head of Byrne-Jones.

The incident sparked a mini melee as Port Adelaide players expressed their anger towards Pearce, with a groggy-looking Byrne-Jones helped off the ground and subbed out of the match with concussion.

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir held his head in his hands upon seeing the incident, and Pearce faces a nervous wait to see how the match review officer accesses the collision.

The Dockers’ impressive display improved their season record to 6-5, while Port’s finals hopes are looking dire at 4-7.

Jackson was the dominant figure on the ground as the lead ruckman, Reid showed why he’s being touted as a future superstar with the second four-goal haul of his career, while Caleb Serong racked up 29 disposals and 12 clearances.

There’s been talk Jackson could request a trade back to Melbourne at the end of the season, but the way he’s embraced the lead ruck role over the past two weeks in the absence of Sean Darcy has heightened hopes among Fremantle fans he will stay put.

“It was good fun,” Jackson told Fox Sports.

“I do love it (playing in the ruck). It’s a good position. You’re around the ball most of the time. I feel like that’s where I play my best footy.

“I’m just happy the team got a win, we’re on a roll now.

“I love Freo, I love the club, and I’m just really happy with my footy at the moment, and I’m really happy.”

AAP

Craig McRae, Jeremy Howe and Brayden Maynard of the Magpies.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

Magpies coach Craig McRae has praised his side’s resilience after they withstood two late withdrawals and a poor first half to beat North Melbourne.

“It was really challenging - they were late withdrawals because they were really late,” McRae said.

“We got information this afternoon that Pendles was not well, had gastro and just wasn’t able to get up.

“I won’t go into Bobby’s stuff because it is really personal and not for me to talk about but we thank the AFL for their understanding - this happens once in a thousand [games] and I don’t even remember the last time we had a late withdrawal.

“To think on our feet and get things going was pleasing as some of the guys weren’t even playing until an hour before the game.”

McRae also confirmed he called Oleg Markov while he was at Bunnings.

“I told him we might need him as we had a few things going,” McRae said.

“He said yep, yep whatever coach but we said we still needed to sort some things with the AFL, you might be the sub - but I just thought that I love coaching this kid as it doesn’t matter what it is, he will come in and do it.

“Then he gets here and he said I couldn’t hear a word I had said.”

Isaiah Dudley of the Dockers celebrates a goal.Credit: Getty Images

Fremantle continued their rise up the standings beating the Power in wet conditions in Perth.

But the Dockers face a nervous wait over skipper Alex Pearce who collected Darcy Byrne-Jones in a collision which could lead to him being suspended if the match review officer finds against him.

The Dockers are finding their best but Pearce is a vital part of their defence.

Darcy Byrne-Jones of the Power on the turf after his run-in with Alex Pearce.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

George Wardlaw of the Kangaroos kicks the ball with Ned Long of the Magpies close by.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

Whether Nick Daicos or Ned Long gets the three Brownlow Medal votes from this match remains to be seen but both men were complimentary of each other after starring in tonight’s win over North Melbourne.

Long had 29 disposals and 14 tackles in a tireless display while Daicos had 38 disposals, 28 of them in the second half.

Long said he wanted Daicos to get the votes as he didn’t want to steal any of him.

Jy Simpkin of the Kangaroos tackles Nick Daicos of the Magpies.Credit: Getty Images

Daicos said Long was a revelation and the rest of the league had missed a serious player.

“He’s such a hard worker,” Daicos told Fox Footy.

“He’s first in to watch his vision and he’s the last one to leave the club. It shows on the weekend and we are so lucky to have him, I can’t believe 17 other clubs overlooked him.”

Daicos added that the Magpies fired up their pressure in the second half.

“We wanted to challenge them a little more offensively but we had to dial up our pressure, we thought it was off in the first half with the way they were using the ball,” Daicos told Fox Footy.

“That really got us home.”

As far as nerve settlers go, Collingwood always seems to have the right mix.

Jack Crisp long on the left foot to Jamie Elliott. Goal. Nick Daicos low and direct to Jack Crisp. Goal.

Suddenly, the Magpies had turned a worrying three-point three-quarter time lead into a 15-point buffer in the opening seven minutes of the final term.

Nick Daicos of the Magpies reacts.Credit: Getty Images

The anxiety had eased and the game was in their keeping.

They then went from strength to strength, kicking eight goals to one in the last quarter to run out 45-point winners - 15.18 (108) to 9.9 (63)

Collingwood had every right to be unsettled at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.

On top of resting Steele Sidebottom and Darcy Moore during the week, the Magpies had two late withdrawals in Scott Pendlebury (illness) and Bobby Hill (personal reasons).

They then lost tough defender Brayden Maynard with a foot injury in the opening term. That was 1000 games of experience ripped out of the side.

North Melbourne sensed their moment. They held the Magpies in the first quarter and then led by nine points at the long break.

In a keepings-off approach, they lead the disposal count 208 to 151, the kick count 145 to 79, and have taken 71 marks to Collingwood’s 27.

Jy Simpkin went head-to-head with Nick Daicos and bettered the Magpies champion in the possession count 13 to 10. Tristan Xerri was on top of Darcy Cameron in the ruck, while Caleb Daniel racked up disposals off half-back with 19 possessions.

George Wardlaw provided grunt through the North midfield and for his efforts copped an accidental whack across the face in a tackle that needed some mummy-like wrapping to stop a blood nose.

Then we went down a familiar path. The Magpies needed a spark, Daicos lit the match.

He doubled his possession count in the third term. He finished with 38 for the match.

He didn’t play a lone hand. Jamie Elliott bobbed up with two goals in the third term and booted five for the match to be close to the game’s best.

By the last term, North Melbourne had slowed to a walk. They no longer dominated possession because they could not find the ball.

Collingwood outscored the Kangaroos by 42 points in the final term. Hard to believe they even had some nervous moments.

Oleg Markov of the Magpies celebrates a goal.Credit: Getty Images

Magpies utility Oleg Markov thought his afternoon and evening would revolve around installing some flooring at home.

Markov wasn’t in the squad today, so he was at Bunnings this afternoon finding what he needed for the flooring.

Then Craig McRae’s number flashed up on his phone.

“He called at about 3.15pm and I missed it because my hands were full,” Markov told Fox Footy.

“I was walking out of Bunnings, I was meant to do some flooring but being inside Marvel playing is way better than doing the flooring.”

Markov also explained his goal celebration, which involved him marching for a few steps, was a tribute to his toddler son Lenny.

“I would have done the baby cradle but he is already up and walking,” Markov told Fox Footy.

“So he throws his arms up and marches - that was for my little one Lenny.”

When asked about Collingwood’s premiership chances, Markov also had a cracking line.

“I don’t know what our roof is, but it is definitely higher than this Marvel one,” Markov said.

Jy Simpkin of the Kangaroos tackles Nick Daicos of the Magpies.Credit: Getty Images

Nick Daicos has turned on a masterclass and Ned Long and Jamie Elliott were pretty awesome too as an injury-hit Collingwood stormed home in the second half to thump North Melbourne.

The Magpies trailed by nine points at halftime before booting 11 goals to three in the second half as Daicos put on a master class, Elliott kicked five goals and Long kept tackling and winning contests all over the ground.

Injuries to Brayden Maynard and illness to Scott Pendlebury are a worry but not as much of one after a win like this.