Craig McRae spent five years working under Damien Hardwick at Punt Road, but on Friday night the Magpies ensured Richmond’s triple premiership coach couldn’t celebrate his 300th game in charge of the Tigers with a win.
The Magpies made it three from three to start 2023, recording a 8.15 (63) to 7.7 (49) victory on a slippery night in front of 85,241 people at the MCG.
Richmond star Shai Bolton kicked the opening goal of the game inside three minutes, but from the moment Collingwood recruit Bobby Hill responded five minutes later, the Magpies never relinquished the lead.
With rain sweeping across the Melbourne all afternoon and drizzling before the bounce, the game was a scrap from start to finish, despite the rain clearing in the first half.
It should have almost been over at half-time. The Magpies dominated the first half, recording eight more inside 50s, 18 more contested possessions and nine more scoring shots, but they didn’t capitalise, reaching the main break only 19 points ahead.
Hardwick needed a response and got one after activating the sub at half-time, swapping a tall for a small and Noah Cumberland made an instant impact inside 50 after replacing Samson Ryan.
The Tigers kicked the first three goals in the first ten minutes of the second half to get within a kick and breathe life into a contest that struggled for air in the first half. And Cumberland was in everything.
But just as Collingwood was challenged, they responded. Josh Daicos and Jamie Elliott both kicked goals to steady the ship, before Scott Pendlebury weaved through traffic at the city end, in a moment of pure class by the man with 361 games next to his name. Elliott kicked a second to put the Magpies 28 points up at three-quarter time, enough to keep the Tigers at bay.
Player of the Match
Who was best on ground in our Round 3 clash against Collingwood? Vote to win a 2024 team-signed guernsey, team-signed footy, VIP match-day experience & photo with the team.
VOTE NOWCOLLINGWOOD 2.6 3.10 7.15 8.15 (63)
RICHMOND 1.0 1.3 4.5 7.7 (49)
GOALS
Collingwood: Elliott 2, Pendlebury, Mihocek, Johnson, Hill, J. Daicos, McStay
Richmond: Riewoldt 2, Mansell, Clarke, Bolton, Lynch, Ross
BEST
Collingwood: De Goey, J. Daicos, N. Daicos, Sidebottom, Frampton, Mitchell, Crisp
Richmond: Baker, Taranto, Rioli, Bolton, Vlastuin, Ross
INJURIES
Collingwood: Mihocek (face), Cameron (knee)
Richmond: None
SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Josh Carmichael replaced Darcy Cameron in fourth quarter
Richmond: Noah Cumberland replaced Samson Ryan at half-time
Crowd: 85,241 at the MCG
