No Daicos, No Hope for Collingwood: Lions Deliver a Harsh Easter Defeat to the Magpies

Brisbane has convincingly defeated a Collingwood outfit lacking key players Nick Daicos, Scott Pendlebury, and Darcy Moore, putting on a dominant display in the midfield to secure a 17.17 (119) to 10.5 (65) victory on Easter Thursday.

While Brisbane faced their own challenges with Harris Andrews, Darcy Gardiner, Hugh McCluggage, Jack Payne, and Eric Hipwood sidelined, the reigning champions showcased their depth and strength, delivering a resounding 54-point triumph.

The key narrative of the match centred on Daicos, who was initially named in the lineup but had to withdraw after struggling with a corked calf during the warm-up. His absence proved detrimental, as the Collingwood midfield struggled without his influence.

Brisbane dominated the clearance count, winning 42 to 24, and managed to score six goals directly from centre bounces, demonstrating their superiority throughout the match.

In the third quarter alone, the Lions won ten clearances to two, maintaining control in the midfield for the entirety of the game. It wasn’t until the final quarter that Collingwood decided to move Josh Daicos into the midfield after being completely outplayed.

This would be a cause for concern for the Magpies, who were effectively missing just Daicos and the ageing Pendlebury from their midfield lineup.

The impact of their absence, combined with the lack of performance from the Collingwood on-ballers, will undoubtedly worry coach Craig McRae.

With Pendlebury likely nearing the end of his career, while Daicos seems bound for the new Tasmanian team, Collingwood’s midfield had a chance to step up but fell short against a Brisbane team playing without McCluggage.

This defeat should prompt the Magpies to contemplate how they can enhance their midfield ahead of the off-season, acknowledging just how much Daicos compensates for their vulnerabilities.

The Pies’ night was further summarised just before half-time, as Steele Sidebottom was taken down heavily by Brisbane’s Keidean Coleman, needing assistance to leave the field but fortunately returned afterwards.

The scoreboard did not accurately reflect the Pies’ performance, as the Lions had 34 scoring attempts compared to just 15 from Collingwood, despite being somewhat wasteful in front of goal.

“It was a ten-goal win in terms of how the game unfolded, even if the scoreline doesn’t fully reflect it due to Brisbane’s inaccuracies,” said Leigh Matthews on Fox Footy.

Will Ashcroft was outstanding throughout the evening, racking up 36 disposals, scoring a goal and achieving six clearances, while Lachie Neale contributed 29 disposals with six clearances of his own.

Oscar Allen delivered his best performance in years, showcasing his talent with three goals, while teammate Sam Draper excelled with three contested marks, signalling his return to form.

Young Lions duo Kai Lohmann and Logan Morris also shone, combining for seven goals and solidifying their status on the big stage.

For Collingwood, Dan Houston continued his strong run with 32 touches, while Dan McStay managed to score four goals against his former team.

As Gather Round approaches, Collingwood will prepare to face Adelaide, while Brisbane sets its sights on North Melbourne in the Barossa Valley.