Collingwood has avoided another boilover at the hands of bogey side Hawthorn in a thrilling conclusion to Gather Round.
After getting their season back on track with an impressive win over Brisbane at the Gabba on Easter Thursday, the Pies made it back-to-back triumphs.
The Hawks were competitive against Geelong on Easter Monday and backed up that effort against the reigning premiers on Sunday.
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Fin Macrae was omitted ahead of Sunday’s clash, with veteran Steele Sidebottom named the starting sub after coming back into Craig McRae’s side.
Despite trailing by as many as 38 points late in the first half, the Hawks battled back at Adelaide Oval, kicking four goals to Collingwood’s two in a low-scoring second half.
Sam Mitchell’s men staged a surprising scare to the reigning premiers, who — as we’ve come to expect — held their nerve late in the piece to close out their second win of 2024.
THE 3-2-1 …
3. NEAR MIRACLE COMEBACK AFTER ‘MASTER MOVE’
Don’t let anyone ever tell you coaching is overrated.
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell told Fox Footy at half-time he didn’t think his side was “that far away” and lost its “forward shape” before revealing Blake Hardwick would move into attack.
He wasn’t wrong – and boy did the move do wonders. It was crucial in taking the Hawks from 38 points down to five points by the final siren in a spirited comeback behind four second-half goals to Hardwick.
After the Hawks looked all but buried at half-time, Hardwick helped will his side back into the game, seemingly marking everything that went inside 50 to kick three of Hawthorn’s four goals in the third term alone to turn the game.
Remarkably, Hardwick’s three goals in the third quarter were not just a quarter-high or game-high, but a season high for the usual trusty defender.
Hardwick added a fourth goal in the final term in a scorching-hot performance from the 27-year-old to completely transform the feel of the Hawks’ forward line and feel of the game at large.
Tigers champion Jack Riewoldt labelled it a “master move by Sam Mitchell”, with Hardwick particularly useful forward with Mitch Lewis sidelined.
While Hawthorn didn’t ultimately get the four points, it was some sort of tale of two halves.
2. PIES ‘BACK TO THEIR BEST’ (FOR A HALF) AMID INJURY BLOW
Even Craig McRae didn’t know whether to be glass half full or half empty.
The Pies were “back to their best”, though only for a half, before surviving the largest of large scares.
No matter, a win’s a win, and Collingwood tied consecutive victories together for the first time this season — doing most of its damage with a nine-goal first half — where 40 of its 58 points came from turnover.
As impressive as the Pies’ pressure was against Brisbane, we saw the trademark run and dash off half back that made Craig McRae’s side so successful the last two seasons.
“Collingwood really started to dominate the game offensively and defensively. Their structure looks good and there’s been a lot of pressure around the ball,” Richmond champion Jack Riewoldt told Fox Footy at half-time.
“It’s certainly made it a one-sided game for Collingwood … as soon as Collingwood got on top and its turnover game going, Hawthorn couldn’t get it out of their back half.
“This is Collingwood at their best – their ability to transition it from the centre back area of the ground and get it inside 50. That is what Craig McRae would be looking at going: ‘Boys, this is the way we want to play.’
“You want to see players running away from the ball, that gives you predictability … that’s when Collingwood’s offence is at its best.”
The problem was the second-half fadeout, which left ex-Magpies coach Mick Malthouse very concerned.
“The coach that will come out of this most disappointed will be Sam Mitchell but the coach with the most concerns will be Craig McRae,” Malthouse said on ABC radio.
“His bottom players are getting exposed and his top players aren’t playing well … Collingwood are a long way from what they were.”
The only other downside of the day for the Pies was a rib injury to Scott Pendlebury that ended the 36-year old champ’s day at half-time.
It’s hard to say if the club was just taking a cautious approach with the 388-gamer, while depending on the severity of the issue, he’ll get another week to recover as Collingwood heads in for its bye.
1. GINNIVAN ‘THEATRE’ IN EPIC SIDE SHOW
Jack Ginnivan facing his old mob — one he played in a premiership for some seven months ago — was always going to be the fun side show of Gather Round.
And it didn’t disappoint. You were sure it wouldn’t as soon as Brayden Maynard was matched up on him, with Fox Footy pundits highlighting the “theatre” of the game was alive and well.
Ginnivan received the reception to be expected when he got his first touch, copping boos from Pies fans. Those boos quickly turned to a loud Bronx cheer when the small forward turned the ball over.
The best Ginnivan moment, and maybe the highlight of the game, came later in the first term.
After the AFL admitted this week the umpires missed a few Ginnivan free kicks against Geelong, the 21-year old (finally) got one after getting taken high twice just inside forward 50.
He went back and slotted the goal before celebrating with gusto in a moment you couldn’t script any better.
It wasn’t the only time Ginnivan was in the spotlight for the officiating, snubbed of a high contact free from Maynard in the third term — labelled “the mayo tax” by Jack Riewoldt — before getting another one in the fourth term while the Hawks were surging.
He finished with two goals on the day, and as always, brought the energy as a must-watch star who puts bums in seats.
Ginnivan gifted this high tackle free? | 00:59
COLLINGWOOD vs. HAWTHORN — AS IT HAPPENED
Brayden Maynard was assigned the matchup against former teammate Jack Ginnivan in what loomed as an exciting battle.
To no great surprise, Ginnivan was booed by Collingwood fans after getting his first disposal, then hit with Bronx cheers after turning it over.
“They do love him sort of, he’ll always be a premiership hero,” Fox Footy caller Dwayne Russell said with a laugh.
The Pies kicked the opening two goals via Lachie Schultz then Jordan De Goey in a promising start from Craig McRae’s troops.
After a quiet start to the game, Ginnivan was taken high – and finally given a free kick –before kicking the goal from distance and celebrating with a dart celebration in a nod to coach Sam Mitchell in epic scenes to ignite the crowd.
“The umpires were always going to have to do that,” Russell said in response to the free kick. “He is great for theatre and footy.”
Dockers legend Matthew Pavlich added: “This is a big moment in this match!”
Schultz kicked his second goal for the term to give Collingwood an 18-point lead at quarter time, 4.1 (25) to 1.1 (7).
In a concern for the Pies, Tom Mitchell was being assessed in the rooms for what appeared to be a hip pointer injury after landing awkwardly in a contest.
After a promising start to the second term for the Hawks, Collingwood lifted, with Scott Pendlebury kicking a classy snap goal.
Brody Mihocek extended the Pies lead to 20 after receiving a free kick, converting a set shot from distance.
McRae’s side started to really get on a roll, with Josh Daicos leading the charge in a brilliant first half on the wing.
A strong team play led to a Will Hoskin-Elliott goal to push the Pies’ lead out to 38 points.
In a blow the Pies, Pendlebury was subbed out of the game at half-time with a rib injury, with Collingwood leading 9.4 (58) to 3.2 (20).
Third quarter goals to Blake Hardwick (two) and Dylan Moore closed the gap to 25 points as the Hawks progressively worked their way back into the contest.
An opportunistic Nick Daicos capitalised on a Conor Nash error deep in Hawthorn’s defence. Magpies back out to a 31-point lead.
After Ginnivan appeared to be snubbed of another free kick, Hardwick kicked his third goal of the quarter to reduce Hawthorn’s deficit back to 26 points in the waning stages of the term.
“Here’s the hot hand!” Dwayne Russell exclaimed in commentary as Hardwick lined up for his fourth shortly after — he hit the post.
The Magpies led by 25 points at three-quarter-time.
To open the fourth-quarter scoring, Blake Hardwick kicked his fourth (!) goal of the second half to bring Hawthorn to within 20 points early in the period.
Ginnivan kicked his second after receiving a free kick (yes, that’s correct) and goaling from the goalsquare after a 50-metre penalty.
Sam Butler (tactical) made way for Henry Hustwaite, who entered the action in the final term.
A bending Dylan Moore goal reduced Collingwood’s lead to just 10 points with just over five playing minutes remaining.
Another Moore major made it a four-point contest with just a couple of minutes remaining! A tense finish on the way!
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