Brisbane has overpowered a Collingwood side exposed without stars Nick Daicos, Scott Pendlebury and Darcy Moore, dominating through the midfield in the 17. 17. (119) to 10.5. (65) win on Easter Thursday.
The Lions have their own availability issues, with Harris Andrews, Darcy Gardiner, Hugh McCluggage, Jack Payne and Eric Hipwood on the sidelines.
But the reigning premiers flexed their muscles and their depth as they blew the Pies out of the water in the 54-point victory.
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Will Ashcroft of the Lions. via Getty Images
The big story of the night revolved around Daicos, who was named for the game, but failed a fitness test in the warm up, unable to run freely due to a corked calf.
He was ultimately pulled out by the Pies as a late out, and the Collingwood midfield had absolutely no answers without him.
Brisbane won the clearance count 42 to 24 and kicked six goals directly from centre bounces. Their stars did as they pleased.
The Lions won 10 clearances to two in the third quarter, and controlled the middle all game. It took until the fourth quarter for the Magpies to swing Josh Daicos into the midfield.
It’s a worrying sign for the Pies, who were really only missing Daicos and the 38-year-old Pendlebury from the midfield.
The lack of influence on the game from the Collingwood on-ballers without one key player and a veteran at the end of his career would be concerning for coach Craig McRae.
Steele Sidebottom of the Magpies is tackled by Keidean Coleman of the Lions. Getty
Pendlebury likely won’t be going around again in 2026, while Daicos can only do so much – not to mention his links to the Tassie expansion side.
In their absence, Collingwood’s midfield underbelly was given an opportunity to take centre stage, but they were no match for a McCluggage-less Lions.
It should have the Magpies already planning for how they can bolster this midfield in the off-season, and maybe fully appreciating just how much Daicos papers over the cracks for them.
Their night was summed up on the cusp of half time, with Steele Sidebottom crunched into a spearing tackle by Brisbane’s Keidean Coleman.
Sidebottom was left winded and needed assistance coming from the ground, but did return in the second half.
The scoreboard flattered the Pies as well on Thursday night, with the Lions wasteful in front of goal and finishing with 34 scoring shots to just 15.
“It was 10-goal win in the way the game has been played, even if the scoreboard hasn’t reflected that exactly (due to Brisbane’s inaccuracy),” Leigh Matthews told Fox Footy.
Oscar Allen of the Lions celebrates. Â Getty
Will Ashcroft did as he pleased all night, finishing with 36 disposals, a goal and six clearances, while Lachie Neale found 29 and won six clearances himself.
Oscar Allen played his most impressive game in multiple years, and the former West Coast captain provided an ominous warning to the rest of the competition, kicking three goals, while fellow star recruit Sam Draper took three contested marks and looked strong as well.
Kai Lohmann and Logan Morris combined for seven goals as well, with the young Lions duo continuing to shine on the big stage.
For Collingwood, Dan Houston finished with 32 touches, continuing his strong season, while Dan McStay booted four goals against his old side.
With Gather Round next week, Collingwood takes on Adelaide, while Brisbane heads to the Barossa Valley to face North Melbourne.