Magpies survive massive scare in thriller finish against Hawthorn; Pendlebury subbed out with rib injury

The Magpies survived a desperate lunge from the Hawks to prevail once again in a thriller but they are yet to convince anyone they are premiership contenders.

They had a 38-point lead but stopped like a song to win by five points. It means the necessary changes they made before playing the Brisbane Lions have given them the two wins they needed to reset at the bye.

Collingwood’s forward structure is a concern and their ageing champions have not returned in the sort of form that takes teams to flags. They are hanging in there but only just.

Jack Ginnivan has added an entertaining element to the AFL with every one on one he engages in an event in an age when events rule the airwaves.

He had a chance to win the match with a kick inside 50 that was spoiled in a desperate act by Darcy Moore that spilled to Jack Scrimshaw who was unfortunately on his left foot.

Ginnivan kicked two goals from free kicks and performed well with his effort sustained. Connor Macdonald also had a chance with minutes remaining to put the Hawks in front but pushed his kick right.

There will be many Hawks ruing their chances but they have proved they can compete in bursts against the best. They will worry plenty of teams this year.

Hawthorn wanted to play Blake Hardwick forward all pre-season but injuries intervened to delay that plan.

At half-time with the margin 38 points and just three goals on the board, Sam Mitchell flicked the switch and pushed Hardwick forward. The move yielded immediate results with Hardwick kicking 3.1 in the third quarter and dragging the Hawks back into the game.

He was leading like Jason Dunstall and kicking accurately. He also gave Hawthorn hope at the final break.

That hope turned into belief when Hardwick kicked the first goal of the quarter and then Ginnivan received a free kick and 50-metre penalty to draw the margin under three goals.

With Luke Breust, Mitch Lewis and Nick Watson missing it was brave and inspiring.

CAPTAIN’S QUARTER
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon demanded a better effort at the contest after his side’s vapid first half.

He got it - and it was piloted by his skipper.

Captain Jack Steele led a full-blooded assault of previously rampant Richmond in the clinches, the Saints dominating at ground level, forcing turnovers and generating repeat dangerous entries.

Steele had 10 touches for the term, six of them contested and was the key figure in St Kilda’s tremendous third-quarter turnaround, which began at the coalface and turned into some slick corridor transitioning that had been absent in the opening hour.

THE SHAI AND DUSTY SHOW
Shai Bolton and Dustin Martin turned Norwood Oval into their own two-man playground in the first half.

Defying Richmond’s injury-ravaged forward line, the pair’s brilliance catapulted Richmond to a commanding 21-point quarter-time lead over St Kilda.

Alternating between on-ball and half-forward, Martin looked fresh and energetic in his return from injury, racking up a game-high 20 first-half disposals.

Meanwhile, Bolton looked the most dangerous forward-of-the-footy on either side, finishing with four goals, including two absolute rippers from the Sir Edwin Smith Pavillion pocket.

KING’S ROYAL FLUSH
Max King made an indifferent start in his return from a week’s suspension, fading two shots way left to The Parade end in the second term - the first registering a behind and the second sailing out on the full.

He made spectacular amends after half-time.

King dropped an easy chest mark in front of Ben Miller just before time-on in the third term, the ball dribbling harmlessly out of bounds.

He got his hands on the subsequent boundary throw-in and defied a near-impossible angle to nail a miracle goal from the scoreboard pocket, giving St Kilda their first lead of the afternoon.

Then in the shadows of three-quarter-time, his piercing forward entry found Jack Higgins who crushed a six-pointer from the goal-square with eight seconds left, extending the resurgent Saints’ advantage to eight points.

Well, that’s a close on Gather Round for 2024. And what an ending.

Thanks for joining us!

We’ll see you next weekend for round five (already!?).

Goodnight, footy fans.

The Magpies survived a desperate lunge from the Hawks to prevail once again in a thriller but they are yet to convince anyone they are premiership contenders.

They had a 38-point lead but stopped like a song to win by five points. It means the necessary changes they made before playing the Brisbane Lions have given them the two wins they needed to reset at the bye.

Collingwood’s forward structure is a concern and their ageing champions have not returned in the sort of form that takes teams to flags. They are hanging in there but only just.

Jack Ginnivan has added an entertaining element to the AFL with every one on one he engages in an event in an age when events rule the airwaves.

He had a chance to win the match with a kick inside 50 that was spoiled in a desperate act by Darcy Moore that spilled to Jack Scrimshaw who was unfortunately on his left foot.

Ginnivan kicked two goals from free kicks and performed well with his effort sustained. Connor Macdonald also had a chance with minutes remaining to put the Hawks in front but pushed his kick right.

There will be many Hawks ruing their chances but they have proved they can compete in bursts against the best. They will worry plenty of teams this year.

Hawthorn wanted to play Blake Hardwick forward all pre-season but injuries intervened to delay that plan.

At half-time with the margin 38 points and just three goals on the board, Sam Mitchell flicked the switch and pushed Hardwick forward. The move yielded immediate results with Hardwick kicking 3.1 in the third quarter and dragging the Hawks back into the game.

He was leading like Jason Dunstall and kicking accurately. He also gave Hawthorn hope at the final break.

That hope turned into belief when Hardwick kicked the first goal of the quarter and then Ginnivan received a free kick and 50-metre penalty to draw the margin under three goals.

With Luke Breust, Mitch Lewis and Nick Watson missing it was brave and inspiring.

Wow, what a frantic final two minutes. The reigning premiers against the winless Hawks, just one goal in it.

Collingwood fighting to keep their lead, Hawthorn throwing everything at it. And it was the Magpies that hung on. But my oh my, only just.

This from our reporter on the ground, Peter Ryan: “Apparently you should not say this but this is “Radelaide”. What a comeback!”

Collingwood defeat Hawthorn 11.11 (77) to 11.6 (72).

Dylan Moore kicks a goal and draws the margin by down to just ten points. This is getting very interesting!

Hawthorn are in with a huge chance here. And plenty of time to do some important damage if they can keep their composure.

Collingwood lead by 10-points with five minutes to go.

The last two scores have been Collingwood behinds, which had they been goals, might have put this game out of Hawthorn’s reach.

Hawk Massimo D’Ambrosio touched a Reef McInnes kick right on the line, then Bobby Hill missed his third attempt tonight.

There’s 16-points in it with five minutes to go, Collingwood up.