Meek and wild: Hawk to face MRO heat as Magpies make a statement with crushing win

Some of the AFL’s modern-day greats are calling for the league to make a snap change to the contentious match review officer guidelines as Hawthorn’s Lloyd Meek faces a three-match suspension for a heavy clash on his Collingwood opponent.

Magpie Patrick Lipinski was on the receiving end of a heavy bump from Meek and left the field at the MCG on Friday night for a head injury assessment (HIA) test.

Under MRO protocols, Meek faces a three-game ban because of Lipinski’s concussion diagnosis.

But Garry Lyon, Brisbane Lions premiership star Jonathan Brown and former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley were united in their view that a three-game ban would be too severe.

The incident in question.Credit: Seven Sport

“The players should be allowed – to have every right to try and make an attempt to spoil,” said Brown on Fox Footy about Meek’s clash with Lipinksi.

“I think it’s unfair to be expecting players to be absolute [and] perfect [with their] decision-making.

“I’m happy enough for him [Meek] to have a sanction, but it shouldn’t be three [games] ... because that is a player genuinely doing his best for the team to get there and make a spoil.”

Buckley called for the AFL to make an immediate change.

“If the outcome in terms of a concussion is reached, and that becomes a three-week penalty, then that should trigger the AFL to come out and make a change to the way that they legislate against these actions,” he said.

“And there should be something in between nothing and three [matches]. And it should be done now.

“They [the AFL] can do it any time.”

Lyon concurred with his fellow panellists.

“I think he [Meek] was genuine in his attempt, [and] not malicious. He got it wrong, [but] shouldn’t pay a three-week price for getting it wrong,” Lyon said.

Brown repeated a view that he feared a player would wrongfully miss a grand final.

“Obviously, we are concerned for the player [and] about the player who gets concussed,” said Brown.

“But I’m concerned that this will happen in the first week of a finals [series] ... and a player will miss a grand final.

“But ‘the rules are the rules’, the AFL say. ‘So we have to suspend him for three weeks’.

“Andrew Dillon has shown tremendous leadership during the week. Continue on with that leadership and just go ‘bang’.

“Captain’s call – ‘This is what we’re doing. The whole footy world agrees with it’.”

Collingwood coach Craig McRae has described the injury as a “small” hamstring for Schultz.

Collingwood veteran Steele Sidebottom says in hindsight he may not have needed to take a break for the Pies’ clash with North Melbourne ahead of tonight’s round 12 clash against Hawthorn, but he again endorsed the club’s capacity to bring in fresh players without interrupting the club’s momentum.

Speaking to Fox Footy after his 342nd career game, Sidebottom stressed that Collingwood were a “system-based” outfit.

“Looking at it now, I didn’t need the break,” said Sidebotton, who was recalled along with Scott Pendlebury and Darcy Moore for tonight’s clash.

Steele Sidebottom is enjoying some of the best form of his career.Credit: Getty Images

“I think our fitness guys at the club and the coaches have got a good balance of... when we need guys to play.

“When you bank enough wins early, maybe you’ve got a bit of a luxury to rest some guys.

“In saying that, it doesn’t matter who plays each week, someone comes in and plays a role.”

Collingwood have banked their 10th win with the destruction of Hawthorn to restamp their premiership credentials.

“I think we’ve got a great squad, no matter who wears the jumper. We’re a system-based team,” said Sidebottom.

“I think we’ve shown this year that no matter who comes into the team we just play a role. It’s holding us in good stead in big games.”

The veteran was also asked about taking four bounces while carrying the ball on the wing.

“I was lucky that Ginny [Jack Ginnivan] was chasing me,” Sidebottom quipped.

“I don’t think I ever have [taken four bounces] … which is nice.”

The Hollywood Hawks have become a horror show.

Hawthorn came to the MCG needing a scalp to frank their premiership credentials only to be clinically dissected by a black and white scalpel.

In front of a blockbuster crowd of 83,706, flag favourite Collingwood made the Hawks look second rate, smashing one of the pre-season fancies by 51 points – 16.11 (107) to 8.8 (56).

The Hawks, whose losing streak is now three, were comprehensively outplayed from quarter-time by a red-hot Magpies side that looks even better than their 2023 premiership version.

Hawthorn’s night from hell is set to have a sour postscript, too, with ruckman Lloyd Meek facing a three-match suspension for a late attempt at a spoil that left Pat Lipinski with concussion.

Craig McRae’s men had a dream night at the MCG, while for the Hawks it was a horror show.Credit: Getty Images

Though Meek made what appeared to be only glancing high contact to Lipinski, the premiership Pie’s head crashed heavily when he landed.

Last year’s glamour boys, the Hawks refused to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty, laying just 38 tackles to the Pies’ 82 despite having less of the ball. The differential of 44 will be one of the highest ever recorded by Champion Data.

Jack Ginnivan bettered his previous career-best night with 31 possessions and three goals, but there were few other good players for the Hawks.

Jamie Elliott booted five goals and Brody Mihocek four as the Pies cashed in on the Hawks’ bruise-free brand.

Wow. That was incredible from Collingwood.

Scoring dried up in the final quarter, but it mattered little. The damage had been done. It was a stunning 51-point win, thanks in no small part to a tackling effort that almost had to be seen to be believed.

FINAL: Collingwood 16.11 (107) d. Hawthorn 8.8 (56)

There’s an injury watch here on Lachie Schultz. He’s left the field moments after grabbing at the back of his right leg.

Brody Mihocek! What a ripping goal. Do catch up on this one via the replay. That’s four goals for Mihocek.

Q4, 17:56 - Collingwood 16.9 (105) lead Hawthorn 8.7 (55)

With about seven minutes of play to come:

29 possessions - Nick Daicos
27 - Jack Ginnivan
24 - Steele Sidebottom, Conor Nash
23 - Ed Allen