Collingwood has won their fifth straight game taking care of GWS 88–77 in slippery conditions at the MCG.
Coming off the bye, it was Collingwood who was slow out of the blocks as the Giants would boot the opening two goals of the game.
Following that opening flurry, the Magpies were able to wrestle control of the clash as they’d kick the next five goals of the half as the Giants didn’t trouble the scorers in the second term.
While the end margin was just 11 points, it could’ve been far worse for the Giants who kicked more majors than their opposition despite having 17 scoring shots to the Magpies’ 33.
In the second half, Collingwood continued to have the majority of the play but couldn’t capitalise as they kicked 6.16, while the Giants’ 10.1 which included seven last-term goals brought them back into it late.
While the last few minutes were frantic as the margin dipped below two kicks, Collingwood will feel they earned the four points after being the better of the two sides across four quarters.
In his 150th game, Brayden Maynard stood up for Collingwood with 22 disposals along with limiting Toby Greene’s influence, while the experience of Darcy Cameron (two goals, 17 disposals, 23 hitouts), Steele Sidebottom (26 disposals) and Taylor Adams (24 disposals) helped see Craig McRae’s side across the line.
For the Giants, Stephen Coniglio (one goal, 30 disposals), Josh Kelly (one goal, 26 disposals), Harry Himmelberg (30 disposals) and Jesse Hogan (four goals) were strong throughout.
The win lifts the Pies to a 9-5 record and to the seventh spot, while GWS sit 14th at 4-10.
Collingwood will hope to make it six in a row when they head to the Gold Coast to face the Suns on Saturday, while GWS will look to bounce back when they host Hawthorn on Sunday.
FULL SCORE
Collingwood: 3.4, 5.6, 9.17, 11.22. (97)
GWS: 2.4, 2.4, 5.4, 12.5 (71)
GOALS
Collingwood: Elliott 2, Mihocek 2, Henry 2, Cameron 2, Ginnivan, McCreery, Sidebottom
GWS: Hogan 4, Ricciardi 2, Ash, Kelly, Coniglio, Green, Greene, Whitfield
BEST
Collingwood: Brayden Maynard, Darcy Cameron, Steele Sidebottom, Jamie Elliott, Taylor Adams, Will Hoskin-Elliott
GWS: Stephen Coniglio, Josh Kelly, Harry Himmelberg, Isaac Cumming, Jesse Hogan
INJURIES
Collingwood: n/a
GWS: n/a