Richmond v Collingwood: All the news, intel and key takeaways from pre-season practice match

Nick Daicos led the usual suspects at the Pies as they tore apart the Tigers, but it was the performances of the new recruits at Collingwood that will have the Magpie army talking.

Nick Daicos and the old hands of Collingwood have flexed their muscles, holding nothing back on a hapless Richmond in a brutal 83-point demolition at Ikon Park.

The Magpies decided a Wednesday night in February was as good as any to signal their intent to their rivals, as Daicos brushed off any lingering injury concerns from his summer in a blistering performance.

The 22-year-old superstar was put on ice midway through the third quarter with a game-high 32 disposals, eight tackles, six clearances and 11 score involvements as the Pies, missing only Brayden Maynard and Jordan De Goey from their best 22, kept the foot down throughout the contest.

ANALYSIS: GRIM REALITY SETS IN FOR YZE, TIGERS AFTER PRE-SEASON HIDINGS

Collingwood assistant coach Jordan Roughead declared Maynard a certain starter in opening round.

Roughead said De Goey was still pushing to face GWS in the season opener, but had more work to do to build his training loads and could be held back despite his eagerness to play.

“(De Goey) is certainly pushing for it, he’s going to train strongly (Thursday morning). He’s one that we need to make sure we get his loads to the right level and inject him at the right time,” Roughead said.

Nick Daicos sat out the final term. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

“We want to set him up similar to Brayden (Maynard) … to have a really strong season, so we’re not going to prioritise round zero over the rest of the year, we’re just going to find the right balance with him.

“We expect Brayden to play - he had a little bit of soreness through his foot after the game last weekend, and we just wanted to make sure we set him up to have a really strong season.”

Mason Cox (broken finger) is not likely to be rushed back after Tim Membrey’s impressive four-goal cameo, with Dan McStay taking the second ruck duties behind Darcy Cameron and impressing Roughead with his mobility.

NEW PIES IN OMINOUS TOUCH

The (very) early signs look good for Craig McRae’s “players over picks” off-season strategy.

In his 12th season at his third club, Tim Membrey could add another 40-goal season to his resume playing as a deep marking target.

He didn’t waste a touch, and could leave St Kilda fans irate at their club discarding him if the Magpies can replicate the speed of some of their ball movement once the real stuff begins.

Dan Houston was up to his old tricks but in new colours, waltzing past Bobby Hill for a handball to kick his first goal in black and white, while Harry Perryman (10 tackles) provided grunt as an inside midfielder and also produced a classy goal.

Tim Membrey got among the goals. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

As did Dan Houston. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

TRANSITION TERROR FOR TIGERS

Richmond was able to generate half-chances at goal thanks to impressive pressure inside 50 led by Steely Green and Rhyan Mansell, but could barely lay a hand on the Pies once they had the ball through the middle of the ground.

No Tiger had the leg speed to go with Daicos – Mansell came the closest to chasing him down midway through the second term, but the Pies star still managed to flick out a handball to set up a Perryman goal in an electric passage.

Concerningly for Richmond, injured Dion Prestia and absent top-10 picks Sam Lalor and Josh Smillie would not be able to help significantly with leg speed between the arcs.

Coach Adem Yze desperately needs a Mansell, Green or Maurice Rioli to become an impactful centre-bounce player, or otherwise may be forced to shift Jayden Short from halfback again.

“Our role is really to get the most out of these players, and we want to get better every day,” Tigers assistant Chris Newman said.

“So that’s our role within the club. That’s the role of the players, to get better, and we’ll look at the game in its entirety and see where we can improve, but also praise some of the good that come out of it too. So we’ll be really balanced with our approach.

“It’s the first time we’ve really come together as a unit. Last week we took a really young squad to West Coast, and this time was sort of our first real hit out. So there’s some things that we can go to work on and improve on for sure.”

The Tigers are set to welcome back key forward Tom Lynch (concussion) for their round 1 clash against Carlton on March 13, while No.1 draft pick Sam Lalor (concussion/jaw) also remains in the mix to debut.

“He’ll obviously go through all the protocols that he needs and we’ll give him the best chance,” Newman said of Lalor.

Another new Magpie hits the scoreboard!

Nick Daicos sets up Harry Perryman on the run.#AFLTigersPiespic.twitter.com/pqkQVOpX61

— AFL (@AFL) February 26, 2025

NANK STILL A TANK

One small consolation for Richmond fans was the conditioning of captain Toby Nankervis, who wound back the clock to rack up 22 disposals and 28 hit-outs as well as seven clearances.

The Tigers’ competitiveness during the season could be tied to how well they look after their skipper, which means finding an effective tall to play forward and shoulder enough of the ruck burden.

Samson Ryan was clearly ahead of emergency Jacob Koschitzke in the pecking order, but had a poor night and at times looked a liability in the forward line, while teens Liam Fawcett and Thomas Sims were given little chance to impress given the Pies’ dominance.

Spearhead Tom Lynch confirmed to Fox Footy at halftime he still expected to play in round 1, as he recovered from a concussion suffered in pre-season training earlier this month.

Originally published as Richmond v Collingwood: All the news, intel and key takeaways from pre-season practice match