Premiers Collingwood get their defence underway with their first serious hitout of the 2024 season, as Alastair Clarkson’s North Melbourne attempt to begin their climb back to contention.
The Magpies (18-5, 127% last year) will be without a substantial portion of their Grand Final side but have Josh Daicos back after an interrupted pre-season, while they’ll unveil star recruit Lachie Schultz.
It’ll be a crucial outing for young players attempting to push into the senior side, such as Fin Macrae, plus exciting draftee Tew Jiath, and SSP signings Jack Bytel and Lachie Sullivan.
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The Kangaroos (3-20, 71.5% last year) will showcase another exciting top draft pick in No.2 selection Colby McKercher, though No.4 pick Zane Duursma will miss due to knee soreness.
Recruits Dylan Stephens (Sydney), Zac Fisher (Carlton), Toby Pink (delisted free agent via SANFL) and Bigoa Nyuon (Richmond) will all feature.
The match gets underway at 10am AEDT from the AIA Centre.
The only way to watch it live is via Fox Footy (channel 504) and/or streaming on Kayo.
Roos’ Thomas facing lengthy ban | 01:39
MATCH UPDATES
After Collingwood couldn’t capitalise on a couple of early inside 50s — with Bobby Hill busy early — North Melbourne punished the reigning premiers at the other end of the ground with a powerful Cam Zurhaar goal.
Hill set up the Pies’ first goal via Patrick Lipinski — with Fox Footy commentator Ben Waterworth noting the 2023 Norm Smith Medalist had been an early “headache” for the Roos and was causing “a lot of problems.”
Collingwood was putting enormous speed on the ball with its trademark run down the centre, while dominating the clearance, with Reef McInnes kicking its second major of the day.
Pies recruit Lachie Schultz laid a crunching tackle on Bigoa Nyuon to show the black and white faithful what he’s going to bring to the table in 2024.
Hill continued his hot start with Collingwood’s third goal, while Melbourne AFLW star Lily Mithen noted on Fox Footy De Goey was “owning the corridor” in the opening period. Nick Daicos was also prolific through the midfield.
Off the back of his career-best, All-Australian 2023 season, Nick Larkey booted the Roos’ second goal of the day.
McInnes, like Lipinski, added a second goal for the Pies to consolidate his strong pre-season as he looks to fill the key forward void left by Dan McStay.
Roos recruit Dylan Stephens and Jaidyn Stephenson kicked the next two goals to stabilise the scoreboard in primising signs for Alastair Clarkson’s young side.
A slick no-look handball from Hill set up a running Finlay Macrae goal from distance to cap off a high-scoring opening term, with the Pies leading 6.4 (40) to 4.4 (28).
Stephenson kicked the opening goal of the second term — his second for the day — to continue his hot start against his former side, while Larkey kicked another to even the scores.
“You can used to that (Zac) Fisher and (Harry) Sheezel link up through the middle, that will be a really potent half back setup between those players,” Mithen observed.
A great hustle play from Paul Curtis deep in the Roos’ forward 50 led to a Cooper Harvey goal in a “real hot patch” from North, as put by Mithen, with the second term played predominately forward half.
Larkey kicked his third goal for the day — and North’s fourth-straight goal overall — to give the away side a 13-point edge.
Indeed, the second term was a promising one for the Roos as their young brigade got busy with several exciting link up plays.
“The last couple of chains it’s been (Colby) McKercher, Sheezel and (George) Wardlaw. The young talent really stepping up and having influence,” Mithen said.
The Roos led 9.6 (60) to 6.5 (41) at half-time.
MAGPIES SQUAD
1. Patrick Lipinski, 2. Jordan De Goey, 3. Isaac Quaynor, 7. Josh Daicos, 8. Lachie Schultz, 9. John Noble, 12. Josh Carmichael, 14. Darcy Cameron, 15. Nathan Kreuger, 16. Ed Allan, 17. Billy Frampton, 18. Finlay Macrae, 19. Tew Jiath, 23. Bobby Hill, 24. Jakob Ryan, 26. Reef McInnes, 27. Jack Bytel, 29. Joe Richards, 31. Beau McCreery, 32. Will Hoskin-Elliott, 33. Lachie Sullivan, 35. Nick Daicos, 36. Harvey Harrison, 37. Oleg Markov, 40. Ash Johnson, 43. Charlie Dean, 44. Oscar Steene, 46. Mason Cox
Notable absentees: Jack Crisp, Harry DeMattia, Jamie Elliott, Jeremy Howe, Brayden Maynard, Brody Mihocek, Tom Mitchell, Darcy Moore, Nathan Murphy, Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom
KANGAROOS SQUAD
2. Jaidyn Stephenson, 3. Harry Sheezel, 6. George Wardlaw, 9. Luke Davies-Uniacke, 10. Colby McKercher, 12. Jy Simpkin, 14. Liam Shiels, 15. Dylan Stephens, 16. Zac Fisher, 17. Riley Hardeman, 20. Nick Larkey, 21. Callum Coleman-Jones, 24. Tom Powell, 25. Paul Curtis, 27. Miller Bergman, 28. Bigoa Nyuon, 29. Will Phillips, 31. Josh Goater, 32. Toby Pink, 35. Charlie Lazzaro, 37. Cooper Harvey, 38. Tristan Xerri, 41. Blake Drury, 42. Kallan Dawson, 44. Cam Zurhaar, 46. Robert Hansen jnr
Notable absentees: Charlie Comben, Aidan Corr, Hugh Greenwood, Griffin Logue, Luke McDonald, Bailey Scott, Curtis Taylor, Tarryn Thomas, Darcy Tucker, Zane Duursma
MATCH FORMAT
2 x 25 minute periods for Q1 and Q3, 2 x 20 minute periods with five minutes of scenario play for Q2 and Q4
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