All the highlights from Hawthorn vs. Collingwood, Brisbane vs. Geelong

Pre-season footy has gone up a level as the race to round 1 heats up. Take a look at our player reviews from the opening practice matches.

LAUNCESTON, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 02: Conor Nash of the Hawks is tackled during the AFL practice match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Collingwood Magpies at University of Tasmania Stadium on March 02, 2023 in Launceston, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

Collingwood has its fingers crossed Pat Lipinski will overcome a shoulder injury to be fit for its round one blockbuster against Geelong after he failed to finish Thursday’s practice hitout against Hawthorn with a shoulder injury.

Lipinsky, one of the Magpies best with 22 touches and two goals in the 15.16 (106) to 14.16 (100) win at Launceston, left the field midway through the final term and didn’t return clutching his already heavily strapped shoulder.

It was the only injury concern for either side in an entertaining contest in Tasmania, where both teams showed an attack at all costs mentality.

“We’ll get scans and work out the severity,” Magpies assistant coach Brendon Bolton said. “He’s a great young man so we’ll cross our fingers. We hope it’s on the lighter side.

“I can’t speak highly enough of Pat. When he came across from the Bulldogs his transition running for us can really expose opposition, he’s a gut runner and a good decision maker.

“We won’t worry yet, we’ll wait for a diagnosis.”

The Pies ran out winners against the Hawks, and we’ve got every player rated. Check out how your side fared.

Collingwood finished winners in an entertaining affair. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

RECRUIT WATCH

Collingwood fans would have been excited by what they saw from the majority of their new faces, all of whom have been lured to improve areas they struggled in at times last year.

Former Brisbane Lions ruck-forward Daniel McStay showed he will be invaluable as the Pies look for more tall targets in the inside 50, as well as covering for the huge loss of star ruckman Brodie Grundy to Melbourne.

McStay booted two goals in the opening term and looked capable of providing a handy foil for fellow tall Brody Mihocek, while also allowing their livewire small forwards more space.

Former Giant Bobby Hill played in the midfield and had some classy touches. In the second quarter he used his pace to stream down the wing and delivered a beautiful kick to Mihocek inside 50.

Former Hawks champion Tom Mitchell was strong at the stoppages and will take some pressure off fellow inside mid Taylor Adams.

For Hawthorn, no. 7 draft pick Cam McKenzie showed very encouraging signs on debut with 13 first half touches.

“He looks comfortable out there, he’s got a nice touch with his feet and really pleased he’s able to get out here after missing last week,” Hawks coach Sam Mitchell told Fox Footy at quarter time.

“He’s going to be a good player.”

Former Fremantle ruck-forward Lloyd Meek also kicked a first quarter goal for the Hawks.

The Hawks hit back after a slow start. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

PIES DANGEROUS UP FORWARD

Collingwood’s defence has long been among the competition’s best, but at times they struggled to kick a bag of goals and relied on their grit to win a glut of close games.

However they look to have far more options this year with McStay there, while Hill will also spend plenty of time as a crumber up forward.

Jamie Elliott looks set for a super year after he was arguably the most dangerous player on the field in the first half.

The small forward booted two goals before the major break and missed another he’d normally nail.

The suspended Jack Ginnivan is also yet to return after enjoying a breakout season in 2022, and of course there’s De Goey as another dangerous midfield-forward swingman.

Adams also got up forward more than usual and kicked two first half goals, with Pat Lipinsky following suit. The Pies now have plenty of players capable of playing big midfield minutes, but also being a danger when resting up forward.

The Magpies showed their trademark desire to attack at all costs under Craig McRae, with their quick rebound from half-back providing constant headaches for Hawthorn’s defence.

Hawthorn would also have been pleased with their efficiency up forward early. Despite losing the inside 50 count by a large margin early, they booted three goals in their first five entries to stay within reach of the Pies.

Taylor Adams celebrates a goal in the first half. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

MOVING MAGNETS

Last year’s Rising Star winner Nick Daicos spent most of last year sparking Collingwood’s attack from half-back with his silky skills.

But already it’s clear he will be given more responsibility closer to the action after spending most of the game in the midfield and on the wing.

Although the Magpies still have champions like Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom, it was Daicos who was tagged by Hawthorn with Finn Maginness given the role in the first half.

“He’s better get used to it. He’s too good to leave just running around,” Hawks coach Mitchell told Fox Footy.

Daicos played mostly half-back against Carlton last week. But it was a sign of intent by the Magpies to put him closer to the action in their main serious hit out before they play defending premier Geelong in round one.

Craig Macrae has made some changes for this game. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

YOUNG HAWKS START REBUILD

The Hawks offloaded established stars Mitchell, Jaeger O’Meara and Jack Gunston at the end of last season, with the club putting faith in their youngsters to take the next step with a view to re-emerging as a force in coming years.

Dylan Moore showed he’s ready to improve again after last year’s breakout season with 15 touches, while Will Day had eight first half touches as he looks to make the transition from defence to the midfield.

After they were smashed in inside 50s in the first quarter, the Hawks turned the tables in the second term to win that statistic 18-11.

GREENE LIFELINE BEGINS WELL

Fergus Greene might well be one of this year’s feel good stories.

The 25-year-old hasn’t been sighted at AFL level since he played five games for Western Bulldogs in 2018, before he was picked up by the Hawks via the supplementary selection period.

The small forward kicked two of his three goals early in the third quarter as Hawthorn took the lead against the Pies with five straight goals either side of half time.

With Jack Gunston’s departure to Brisbane, Greene could be a handy cut-price addition.

By no means will he be expected to fill the massive void left by Gunston, who kicked 410 goals in 211 games for Hawthorn, but the early signs were promising.

Fergus Greene impressed for the Hawks. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

LIPINSKI ISSUE A CONCERN

Pat Lipinski was one of Collingwood’s best players with 22 disposals and two goals. But in a concern for the Pies he left the field clutching his already heavily-strapped left shoulder midway through the last term after attempting to lay a tackle on Sam Butler.

Lipinski is one of Collingwood’s more underrated players and they’ll be hoping he’ll be ready for Geelong in round one.

It appeared the only injury concern for either side to come out of the match.

Brisbane exorcised some of last year’s preliminary final demons with a comprehensive 13.13-91 to 6.9-45 victory over reigning premiers Geelong in their pre-season encounter at Brighton Homes Arena on Thursday night. Check out the key talking points and how every player performed below.

MIDFIELD WATCH

It took less than five minutes for Ashcroft to announce himself to the Lions faithful, with a classy crumb and snap from the pocket that went inches from opening the scoring.

The Lions’ father-son selection picked up where he left off in the intraclub matches, showing his readymade AFL craft against the reigning premiers with 26 touches.

Dunkley started on-ball with Lachie Neale and the pair already looks like a match made in clearance heaven, while Ashcroft rotated between the wing, centre and half-forward.

Brisbane’s first-choice midfield will be one of the hot topics ahead of Round 1, with Ashcroft, Dunkley, Neale and Hugh McCluggage ostensibly fighting for three starting spots among four.

Neale and Dunkley are presumptive locks, leaving McCluggage and Ashcroft in an early fight. The former started the match in the guts with Ashcroft on a wing, though both attended their fair share of centre bounces.

The Lions’ awesome foursome topped the disposal tally, with Dunkley and Neale (31) leading McCluggage and Ashcroft (26).

Ex-Giant Tanner Bruhn impressed starting in the guts alongside Cam Guthrie; the 2020 No.12 pick trading blows with the full-strength Brisbane midfield and popping up inside 50 to – nearly – put Geelong on the board in the first term.

Patrick Dangerfield played just 60 per cent of the match but still found plenty of the footy, splitting his time between midfield and forward

Will Ashcroft shrugs off Patrick Dangerfield. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

INSIDE 50 FUNCTIONS

If all of Gunston, Hipwood, Bailey and Daniher are on the scoresheet at quarter-time in the regular season, Lions fans will be grinning ear to ear.

Neale added his name to the list with a bomb from outside 50 early in the second term and Charlie Cameron flew high for a screamer only to miss the set shot.

Daniher booted two goals and looked fit, finding freedom playing high up the ground with Gunston staying closer to home. The ex-Hawk kicked the opener with a Charlie Cameron-esque race back to goal and was a focal point inside 50.

The Cats’ attack was harder to judge given the absence of Cameron and Hawkins, with Dangerfield the tallest target.

Former Collingwood forward Ollie Henry had the chance to impress without the Cats’ two top guns sharing space inside 50, however he was well held by the Brisbane back six and finished scoreless.

Tyson Stengle struggled early without his tall towers to play off of, but worked his way into the match and was the pick of the Cats’ forwards, bagging two goals to go with 20 disposals.

Jack Gunston flies for a mark. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

DOUR DEFENCE

Geelong at one point led the inside 50 count 20-6 yet trailed by four goals in the opening term.

If Cats fans wanted a glimpse of what life without their tall-tandem of Cameron and Hawkins was like – it wasn’t fun.

Brisbane defender Jack Payne had a rock solid night down back before leaving the field with a feared hamstring concern, while Harris Andrews racked up the touches with 23 for the match.

The recently-named co-captain endured criticism for his patchy form last season but looked up to speed in his first test of 2023, playing 100 per cent of game time.

Ex-Bomber Conor McKenna added some dash from defence as he eyes an AFL return after two years away and showed he still knew how to find the footy with 14 disposals.

New co-captain Harris Andrews has dominated for the Lions. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

MOVING MAGNETS

Brisbane’s bolstered midfield has pushed Cam Rayner out and despite prior glimpses of his potential as a forward, Fagan seems set on experimenting with his young bull across halfback.

The former No.1 pick started the match in defence and there he stayed throughout, playing opposite Daniel Rich with Keidean Coleman also attending.

His work in close was helpful in defence but it is hard not to feel like some of his skillset is being wasted so far from goal.

Esava Ratugolea was in the sights of a number of rival clubs in the off-season but the Cats kept the 24-year-old big man with an eye to making him a regular fixture in defence.

He had the best of Daniher in the air, however was beaten on the lead a number of times and found himself getting lost in traffic inside 50.

INJURY CONCERNS

Fans of both teams held their breath when Hipwood and Ratugolea left the field after a heavy collision early in the third term.

The Lions put Hipwood on ice and though there were early fears of concussion, the diagnosis was a corked quad. Ratugolea returned to the field after a quick checkup and was cleared to play.

Jake Kolodjashnij also walked gingerly off the field in the third quarter and was later ruled out for the match following a head clash with Lincoln McCarthy.

But the big concern for Brisbane is defender Payne, who came off in the third term and immediately applied ice to his hamstring.

He looked a lock to start in the back six for Round 1 after another impressive night to that point.

Originally published as All the highlights from Hawthorn vs. Collingwood, Brisbane vs. Geelong