Good Friday Appeal: Collingwood Defeats Brisbane

In a re-run of last year’s Grand Final, Collingwood heaped more misery on Brisbane – the side they beat last September – by defeating them and on their home deck.

With both teams having made poor starts, this proved to be a tense, high pressure game which saw the Magpies come out on top, despite a pointless second period.

It also condemned the Lions to two straight defeats at the Gabba, where they were undefeated throughout the whole of 2023, for the first time since 2018.

Jamie Elliott kicked four goals for the reigning premiers while midfielder Tom Mitchell (pictured below), Brownlow medallist and 2× All-Australian, made his 200th AFL appearance.

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Speaking post-game, to Magpies TV, the 30-year old said “It’s obviously been a tough three weeks but we just got to work with our pressure and effort around the ball and it was great to get the result. One of the most pleasing things was our system really worked tonight and that’s what happens when we all buy into it.”

“I thought the backs held up really strongly, the mids, we lost momentum in patches, but we hung in there and the forwards; I thought their pressure was there all game and outstanding. It was a full team effort.”

On his milestone, he commented “I’d like to thanks my family and friends who have all flown up to Brisbane to be here with me, the footy club who have made me it a really special week for me. To dig in and get a win against Brisbane away, one of the toughest challenges in footy, is really pleasing.”

The lethal strike force of Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow combined for nine majors as Carlton put up a monster score in the thrashing of North Melbourne.

A sell-out crowd of 47,565 packed into Marvel Stadium for this fixture which also helped to raise much needed funds for the wider 93rd annual Good Friday Appeal.

The monies will go towards upgrading equipment, training staff, funding medical research and continue to provide world class care at The Royal Children’s Hospital.

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Tom Hawkins marked his 350th line-up for Geelong, by booting four majors, who triumphed over Hawthorn, in the traditional Easter Monday clash, at the MCG.

Play had to be halted for around 40 minutes due to thunderstorms and torrential rain around the Yarra, at the end of the third, but it didn’t dampen any of the celebrations.

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‘Tim Tam Tommy’ becomes only the 24th player in AFL/VFL history to complete the milestone. His latest haul sees the forward leapfrog Jack Riewoldt and up to 13th in the all-time goal scorers list (790), with the 800-club now firmly in his sights.

Talking, after the siren, to One in Hoops TV, the 35-year-old said “Obviously a huge occasion for myself, family and friends. It was a wonderful day, great build-up. There has been a lot spoken about me and my journey. Look, I don’t often love it but I have really tried to enjoy the week as much as possible. It has been great.”

“It has been a magnificent day for the footy club and one that I thoroughly enjoyed. Nice to steady and win comfortably in the end; great battle, fun game to play in.”

Melbourne showcased their early Premiership credentials with a big performance that saw them get the chocolates over another flag contender in Port Adelaide.

Captain Max Gawn (50 hitouts, 20 disposals) was immense and led by example while Jack Viney, making his 200th start for the Demons, also played a pivotal role.

Fremantle made it their best opening to a campaign since 2015, at three-zip, after coming from behind to get up over Adelaide in an error-ridden and low scoring affair.

It is starting to validate the decision by the club to give coach Justin Longmuir a twelve-month contract extension, to the end of 2025, which had raised a few eyebrows.

For the Crows it is another defeat on the road, which will no doubt get put under the spotlight, as last year’s top scorers continue to struggle in front of the big sticks.

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Jake Stringer booted what proved to be the winner as Essendon swooped from the clouds to run down St.Kilda and get over the line in an absolute thriller by four points.

‘The Package’ marked right out on the boundary before then going back to score, from just over 55 yards, to put his side in the lead for the first time in the contest.

Speaking about his big moment on ABC Grandstand, the 29-year-old said “I just backed my own ability and I actually don’t mind them from that spot. I work really hard on my routine, which is what I just focussed on and as soon as I kicked it I knew that it was going in, which was a good feeling.”

He added “I was really proud of the boys tonight. To be able to wrestle momentum like we did and keep chipping away like we did and then overrun them in that last five minutes was awesome.”

In another contest that went right down to the wire, Adam Yze enjoyed his first success as an AFL coach with Richmond managing to hold on and defeat Sydney.

The nerves were certainly tested, in only his fourth game at the helm, with the Swans coming hard in the latter stages. He breathed a huge sigh of relief as Chad Warner’s effort was put through for a rushed behind before the Tigers were able to see it out.

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Speaking in the presser, the Shepparton native (pictured above) said “To be fair, it is not about me. For our players, the last three weeks, the effort they have put in without getting any reward, I was just rapt for them today and super excited.”

“To be able to play out those last couple of quarters with some older players off the ground is something that we’re really proud of – our third quarter was the highest ranked pressure of the year and that is a standard we want to bring every week.”

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He concluded “That’s the future of our footy club, so for them to be able to do that in those moments against a quality team in Sydney, we’re really proud.”

The Western Bulldogs enjoyed an easy afternoon out, which included an eleven goal burst, as they put bottom side West Coast to the swords in a 76-point mauling.

Marcus Bontempelli, Tim English and youngster Harvey Gallagher amongst eleven different scorers for the rampant Doggies that increased their lead at every change.