Match

Collingwood vs Brisbane Lions

Commentary / 20 Sep 2025

Pre Game

00:00
Collingwood had an average age of 28.8 in the Qualifying Final (the oldest-ever team in a final). The inclusion of Jeremy Howe has increased its average age to 29.3 today. The eight youngest players taking the field tonight will all be playing for Brisbane.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
01:56
Since Round 19, Josh Daicos has averaged only 2.7 score involvements per game after recording 5.7 per game up until Round 18 and attended the first centre bounce today in a shift from half back.
03:04
Collingwood has applied six of the first seven tackles. After GWS applied 20 more tackles than Collingwood in the opening round, the Magpies have won the tackle count in every other game this season to be ranked No.1 in this area.
04:16
The first score of the game for Collingwood from Jordan De Goey came from a forward 50 stoppage. The Magpies have scored from only 54 per cent of their forward 50 stoppages this season (ranked 16th).
04:26
Magpies Interchange - Scott Pendlebury off due to an injury.
06:33
Collingwood has an early 7-1 lead in inside 50 entries. Brisbane has lost four of the five games this season when it has lost the inside 50 count.
07:06
SCORE GOAL - Magpies (Mason Cox)
07:27
The first goal of the game for the Magpies came from a forward half intercept. Collingwood leads 4-1 in such intercepts and averages 29 points per game from this source (ranked fourth).
07:44
Lions Interchange - Darcy Gardiner off due to the blood rule.
09:17
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Logan Morris)
10:01
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Josh Dunkley)
10:07
A smart intercept mark by Josh Dunkley has given the Lions their first goal of the game from a forward 50 intercept. Brisbane averages 19.5 points per game from forward 50 chains (ranked third). Dunkley applied 18 tackles last week against Gold Coast (the most recorded in a final).
11:45
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Rushed)
13:05
Collingwood is applying terrific pressure to start this game and leads 13-5 in tackles and 232-173 in pressure rating.
15:21
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Zac Bailey)
15:47
Brisbane averages 11.2 points per game from forward 50 stoppages, and its last goal from Zac Bailey came from this source. Since Round 18, Brisbane has averaged 22 points per game from forward 50 chains (ranked No.1) and both goals today have come from such chains.
19:54
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Logan Morris)
20:03
Brisbane has recorded eight of the last nine inside 50 entries and generated five scores during this period of ascendancy. The Lions have an early 14-1 lead in points scored from stoppages.
22:18
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Ty Gallop)
22:53
In the last ten minutes, Brisbane is ahead 8-2 in tackles, 7-1 in inside 50 entries and 18-0 in points scored following the last goal from Ty Gallop.
24:55
The Lions are ranked No.1 for differential in both kicks and disposals and have already had 40 more disposals, including 22 more kicks, to dominate possession in this opening term.
27:15
Both teams have generated only one inside 50 entry from a defensive 50 chain, with ball movement difficult under the high level of pressure. The Lions have taken 29 per cent of their defensive 50 intercepts into the forward 50 this season (ranked No.1).
28:22
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Rushed)
30:07
Collingwood has won first possession at stoppages 12-9, but trails 8-12 in clearances with Brisbane doing well to win the ball back in the congested stoppages.
30:31
After the Magpies were on top in the early minutes, the Lions dominated after that with 81-31 uncontested possessions, including 34-9 uncontested marks. Collingwood took only two marks in its forward half and was forced to defend for long periods.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
00:08
Darcy Gardiner had some important moments in the opening quarter for the Lions with three intercept possessions, three spoils (all resulted in Brisbane gaining possession) and eight disposals at 88 per cent efficiency to be the No.1 rated player.
02:15
Collingwood has posted a kicking efficiency of only 52 per cent today, which is well down on its season average of 67 per cent. Brisbane has a kicking efficiency of 71 per cent in comparison.
02:30
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Charlie Cameron)
03:16
SCORE GOAL - Magpies (Jamie Elliott)
03:31
Some great defensive work from Nick Daicos has helped the Magpies to their second goal from a forward half intercept. Collingwood has not taken a mark in its forward 50 and at this stage is struggling to connect with initial entries into this zone.
04:27
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Zac Bailey)
08:42
The Lions have squandered some scoring chances this quarter, with 29 per cent kicking efficiency in their forward half. After Collingwood led the inside 50 count 7-1 early in this game, Brisbane has been ahead 20-8 since.
11:29
SCORE GOAL - Magpies (Tim Membrey)
11:37
A second turnover in the defensive 50 by Dayne Zorko this quarter has resulted in a goal to the Magpies. Collingwood has scored 99 points per 100 forward half intercepts this season (ranked 15th), but has 18 points from nine such intercepts today.
14:22
Brisbane controlled the ball with 34-9 uncontested marks in the opening quarter, but Collingwood is ahead 16-9 in this measure during the second quarter.
16:15
SCORE GOAL - Magpies (Lachie Schultz)
16:37
Lachie Schultz is averaging a career-high 5.9 score involvements per game this season and is the first Magpie today to record multiple score involvements following the last goal.
18:56
Lions Interchange - Ty Gallop off due to an injury.
20:22
Lions Interchange - Jarrod Berry and is possibly out for the game.
20:32
Nick Daicos is averaging 31.5 disposals, 20 uncontested possessions, and 4.5 clearances in his last six games against Brisbane. Daicos has already recorded a game-high 309 metres gained with his outside game featuring prominently.
21:31
SCORE GOAL - Magpies (Patrick Lipinski)
22:02
Brisbane has not scored from any of its defensive 50 chains and has now conceded four goals from its defensive half turnovers, with Collingwood shutting down the ball movement of the Lions this quarter.
24:35
The AFL average for team intercept marks this season is 15 per game. Brisbane leads 13-12 in such marks today, with both teams having trouble connecting with their forwards.
26:27
Lions Interchange - Ryan Lester off due to an injury.
26:43
SCORE GOAL - Magpies (Tim Membrey)
26:58
Some sloppy work from the Lions has contributed to the run of five goals to the Magpies. Collingwood has now kicked three of its goals from either free kicks or 50-metre penalties, in addition to a pair of defensive 50 turnovers that cost goals.
28:21
SCORE GOAL - Magpies (Dan Houston)
30:33
During the second quarter, Collingwood has posted forward half kicking efficiency of 78 per cent, while Brisbane has kicked with just 45 per cent efficiency in its forward half.
30:42
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Rushed)
32:01
Brisbane scored 41 points from defensive 50 chains last week, which is the seventh-most recorded in a final and the most since 2014. The Lions scored only one point from these chains in the first half tonight and conceded three goals directly from turnovers from these chains.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:07
Nick Daicos was the No.1 rated player in the first half. Daicos had team-highs for clearances (3), kicks (10), effective disposals (11), and metres gained (350).
00:40
Brisbane holds an 8-4 edge in centre bounce clearances, but the only goal from this source has gone to Collingwood. The Lions average only 7.6 points per game from this source (ranked 16th).
00:50
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Zac Bailey)
01:40
A second goal from a forward 50 stoppage for the Lions. The Magpies have had eight stoppages in their forward 50 but have not kicked a goal from this source.
02:10
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Will Ashcroft)
02:40
A centre bounce goal for the Lions through Will Ashcroft. Brisbane has now converted a 26-13 ascendancy in clearances into 28-13 points scored from stoppages.
03:08
Lions Interchange - Darcy Fort off due to the blood rule.
05:04
Zac Bailey has already won seven clearances for the Lions. Only once in his career has he won more in a game (Round 16, 2021). Bailey has attended the third-most centre bounces today for Brisbane.
05:39
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Ty Gallop)
06:26
Brisbane has won the first six clearances this quarter, and all three goals have come from this source in a dominant performance at stoppages.
07:14
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Will Ashcroft)
07:34
Collingwood has lost six of the seven games this season when it has been outscored by at least 10 points from stoppages, but won 16 of the other 17 games. Brisbane leads 34-13 in points scored from stoppages tonight.
09:56
The behind from Jordan De Goey was the first score of the game for the Magpies to come from a defensive 50 chain. Collingwood averages only 11 points per game from this source (ranked last).
11:52
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Cam Rayner)
12:01
Four consecutive goals to the Lions (all from stoppages), and the first kick of the game for Cam Rayner is a goal. Brisbane leads the clearances 10-1 this quarter.
12:12
Lions Interchange - Josh Dunkley off due to an injury.
14:04
SCORE GOAL - Magpies (Jamie Elliott)
14:11
A spectacular mark and goal from Jamie Elliott ends the run of goals for the Lions. Both teams have now taken six marks in the forward 50, and the Magpies have a narrow 5-4 lead in contested marks.
15:49
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Hugh McCluggage)
15:56
There have been five stoppages in the forward 50 of the Lions that have resulted in five clearances to Brisbane and three goals. There have been ten stoppages in the forward 50 of the Magpies that have resulted in only one clearance to Collingwood for one behind.
18:20
SCORE GOAL - Magpies (Jamie Elliott)
18:31
A third goal for Jamie Elliott, who is causing problems for Brandon Starcevich. Since the start of 2023, Starcevich had kept Jamie Elliott to three goals in the 276 minutes they had been matched as opponents before today.
19:55
Since the start of 2024, Brisbane has lost five of the nine games when Hugh McCluggage has had 20 disposals or fewer. The Lions have lost only one of the 12 games when he has had at least 30 disposals. McCluggage has already had 31 disposals today.
20:34
SCORE BEHIND - Magpies (Steele Sidebottom)
22:24
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Kai Lohmann)
24:31
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Cam Rayner)
25:01
Collingwood has scored 6.0 (36) from its set shots at goal, while Brisbane has scored 3.3 (21) from its set shots. The Magpies have also scored 4.0 (24) from all shots at goal 30-50 metres out.
25:43
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Will Ashcroft)
25:57
The Lions are annihilating the Magpies at forward 50 stoppages with four goals now from this source and 6-0 clearances in this zone. The AFL average is eight points per game from this source.
26:16
Lions Interchange - Kai Lohmann off due to an injury.
30:43
Tim Membrey has averaged 1.9 goals per game at the MCG across his career and 1.56 goals per game at all other venues. Membrey has converted two of his four shots at goal tonight.
32:57
Harris Andrews has taken at least three intercept marks in each of his last six games against the Magpies and had a season-high 15 spoils when they last met. Andrews has taken three intercept marks this quarter and five in the game.
34:13
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Cam Rayner)
34:22
The second goal from Cam Rayner was the first goal of the game for either team to come from a defensive 50 chain. Rayner has now kicked 18 goals in his career against the Magpies, which is his best return against any team.
35:26
Brisbane piled on six goals from stoppages in the third quarter, which is their best return in any quarter this season. Only once this season has any team scored more than 36 points in a quarter from stoppages.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
00:16
Collingwood trailed Hawthorn by 17 points at the final change of the 2011 Preliminary Final before coming home strongly to win by three points.
01:39
The Lions won the clearances by 17 when these teams met in Round 21, which is their best differential against the Magpies since 2000. Brisbane has won the clearances by 14 tonight, with this again an issue for Collingwood.
05:17
Will Ashcroft has now had 16 score assists across the last two final series, which is five more than any other player. He averages 5.6 score involvements per game in his career during the regular season and 8.3 per game in finals.
07:18
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Cam Rayner)
08:13
Brisbane has taken only one mark so far in the final quarter and posted a kicking efficiency of just 45 per cent.
10:19
Collingwood has edged Brisbane for contested possessions (16-12) and clearances (6-4) in the final quarter, but still trails the overall clearance count by 12.
12:38
An opportunistic goal from Mason Cox gives the Magpies their first goal of the game from a forward 50 stoppage (they have had 19 stoppages in this zone). Cox averages 24 per cent more Player Rating points in finals than he does during the regular season.
15:35
Brisbane has won all 14 games this season when Hugh McCluggage has polled AFLCA votes. It has won only three of the 11 games when he has not polled any votes. McCluggage has had a game-high 35 disposals tonight.
17:42
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Charlie Cameron)
17:49
The accurate set shot from Charlie Cameron makes it 28-8 points from the defensive half and 59-32 points scored from stoppages in favour of Brisbane. Cameron has now kicked 49 goals in finals.
20:56
A brilliant contested pack mark and accurate set shot from Ty Gallop has capped a standout game from the young Lion. Gallop is currently the No.1 rated Lion tonight, kicking three crucial goals.
22:53
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Kai Lohmann)
23:10
Kai Lohmann had kicked multiple goals in five of his six finals before tonight and has now kicked more goals than any other player in the AFL across the last two finals series (15).
26:48
Collingwood has won first possession at stoppages tonight (46-39), but has lost the clearances (34-44). Brisbane has recorded a higher pre-clearance pressure rating (272-250) to prevent the Magpies from converting first possession wins into clearances.
26:59
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Dayne Zorko)
30:25
SCORE GOAL - Magpies (Jamie Elliott)
31:10
Logan Morris kicked a career-high six goals when these teams last met, having not kicked a goal in his two previous games against the Magpies. Morris has provided three score assists and kicked a goal tonight in another impressive game.
31:32
SCORE BEHIND - Magpies (Beau McCreery)
32:16
Since Round 18, Darcy Wilmot is one of only two players in the AFL to average more than seven intercept possessions, three score involvements and 20 disposals (Tom Stewart is the other player). Wilmot has easily passed these benchmarks again tonight.
32:56
An emphatic victory for the Lions, who converted 45-36 clearances into 65-33 points scored from stoppages, including four pivotal goals from forward 50 stoppages. Outside of six goals in the second quarter from Collingwood, Brisbane kicked 15 goals to five.