Round 23 and we're facing Collingwood at the MCG for VIC Members Round

Who: Collingwood Magpies vs Brisbane Lions
Where: MCG, Melbourne
When: Saturday 17th August at 4:35pm (local)
Gates Open: 2:00pm, check your ticket for your entry gate.

Weekly Notices → 

> AFL Captain's Run at the MCG is OPEN TO FANS this Friday afternoon from 3pm.

> The VFL team play beforehand just across the road at Collingwood's AIA Centre. Head over and watch the VFL from 12:05pm

Tickets → Round 23 tickets are still on sale here.

Lions Shop → The Lions Shop will be set up at the MCG on game day. Open at Gate 2 from 2:30pm until halftime with all the latest official Brisbane Lions merch.

Open Captains Run →  Get to the MCG this Friday afternoon from 3pm to watch the team train ahead of their clash with Collingwood.

Address → Brunton Ave, Richmond VIC 3002

Trains → There are two train stations close to the MCG. Jolimont (otherwise known as MCG Station) is north of the ground and offers a five-minute stroll through Yarra Park to the ground. From any railway station in the central business district, take the Hurstbridge or Epping lines. The other station is Richmond on the south eastern side of the MCG. It's a slightly longer walk to the ground but you can walk past the Punt Road Oval to the Shane Warne Stand side. To get to Richmond station from the city, take any train on the Lilydale, Belgrave, Alamein, Glen Waverley, Dandenong, Pakenham, Cranbourne, Frankston or Sandringham lines. ^{Advice from Public Transport Victoria for MCG patrons.}

Trams → Three tram routes provide access to the MCG.
No. 75 (City-Vermont South) travels along Flinders St and connects with the eastern suburbs via Wellington Parade. 
No. 48 (Docklands/City-North Balwyn) travels along Collins Street and connects with the eastern suburbs via Wellington Parade. Both these routes stop just outside the MCG. 
No. 70 (Docklands/City-Wattle Park) travels along Flinders Street then detours via Melbourne Park and the tram stop is a short walk across the footbridge to the ground.

Buses → The Bus route 246 is run by National Bus Company, which links La Trobe University with Elsternwick Station in a useful service for patrons from the northern and southern suburbs. The 246 stops in Punt Road, just a punt kick from the ground.

Car → Car parking is usually available at the MCG in Yarra Park on event days. This land is controlled by the Melbourne Cricket Club and managed on event days by Care Park. Parking costs $10 per vehicle and is payable by eftpos only. Please note that we can no longer accept cash and vehicles unable to pay via card will unfortunately not be allowed entry to Yarra Park. Please note that, in an effort to improve safety in the park, pedestrians are given priority in Yarra Park when exiting MCG events. This is expected to cause a delay to vehicles being able to exit the park. ^{View latest details about car park opening times.} Occasionally parts of Yarra Park are closed to save the grass after heavy rain. Street parking is very limited. Parking in high-rise parking buildings in the CBD is another option for MCG visitors.

Accessible parking → A designated accessible parking area is available in Yarra Park, subject to capacity. Vehicles must display a valid accessible parking permit. For the Shane Warne Stand and AFL Members Reserve, enter either via Punt Road (Yarra Park Gates 5 or 6) or Brunton Avenue (Yarra Park Gate 7) if you wish to obtain a parking spot as close to the designated entry gate as possible. MCC members and public patrons heading to the Ponsford Stand, Members Pavilion or Olympic Stand should enter Yarra Park via Wellington Parade South (Yarra Park Gate 3, Wellington Parade South).

Bicycles → While bicycles are not permitted to enter the stadium, nor park on the MCG concourse, there are a number of bicycle hoops located next to the stadium in Yarra Park. For major events during the summer, additional bike parking facilities will be available in the western section of Yarra Park, adjacent to the cricket nets outside Gate 1. ^{Please note: These facilities are not manned by security personnel and it is the responsibility of the cyclist to secure the bicycle before entering the stadium.}

Taxi/Ride share → In front of Pullman Hotel, corner of Wellington Parade and Clarendon Street in East Melbourne. Outside Rod Laver Arena on Olympic Boulevard (previously known as Swan Street). For patrons with mobility issues, a taxi pickup and drop-off area is available at the Bus Turning Circle, Jolimont Terrace, before and after MCG events.

Watch → Free to air on Channel 7Mate or stream on Fox Footy or Kayo. Broadcast kicking off at 4:30pm.

After a dominant second quarter grabbed it the lead at half-time, Brisbane really struggled to score, with it three-pronged tall forward line rarely marking the ball inside 50. Lachie Neale was incredible in the second term and finished with 35 touches that included 10 clearances while Zorko (30) and Hugh McCluggage (29) battled hard. The result was a second straight loss at the Gabba, where the Lions were unbeaten in 2023. After a nervous start from both teams that saw plenty of unforced turnovers, Collingwood was first to settle.

BRISBANE                   1.3     5.8     6.10     10.12 (72)  
COLLINGWOOD          5.3     5.3     10.6      14.8 (92)  

GOALS
Brisbane: Rayner 2, Neale, McCluggage, McCarthy, Lohmann, Fletcher, Daniher, Cameron, Bailey

BEST
Brisbane: Neale, Zorko, McCluggage, Andrews, McCarthy, Rayner

Crowd: 34,022 at the Gabba 

We're heading to the loud house!

Back at the MCG in front of our Vic fans for a MASSIVE round 23 clash and almost every side is chasing a top four spot.

Buckle up Lions fans this is a big one, as we jump into this weeks match preview.

Last Time We Met

Last time: Collingwood 14.8 (92) d Brisbane 10.12 (72) Round 7, 2024

In our last encounter at the Gabba, our boys showed great resilience but ultimately fell short in a 20-point loss to Collingwood. Despite the defeat, there were moments of brilliance, particularly in the second quarter, when our boys mounted a spirited comeback.

Lachie Neale was instrumental, collecting 13 disposals and five clearances in that term alone, helping the Lions to dominate with 21 inside 50s to Collingwood's two and keeping the Magpies scoreless. Cam Rayner's crucial tackle on Darcy Cameron led to a goal as the half-time siren sounded, putting Brisbane ahead. The Lions fought hard, with standout performances from Dayne Zorko and Hugh McCluggage, who tallied 30 and 29 touches, respectively. Although we won the stoppages (42-34) and inside 50s (56-43), our inability to convert these opportunities into goals was what left us wanting.

However, Saturday is a new day, a different game, and with the race for a top four spot coming down to the wire with only two rounds remaining, our boys are raring to go to try and secure a double chance come September!

Excited About

Vic Fans Assemble!

Not gonna lie, we are bloody excited to be back to entertain our Vic members and fans at the home of footy!

Better yet we get a double dose of our Vic members and fans as we have an open captains run from 3pm at the MCG.

Our boys can’t wait to hear your mighty roar!

Match-ups we're keen for

Darcy Cameron vs Joe Daniher

While they won’t face each other for the entirety of Saturday afternoons’ clash at the G, both men will cross paths throughout various stages no doubt.

Cameron, in arguably the best season of his career, has achieved career-high averages in disposals (15.8), clearances (3.7), and hitouts (29.9), showcasing his importance to the Magpies. Despite Collingwood's challenges, Cameron's performances have been a bright spot, and he'll be an important figure in helping the Pies contend with our midfield group.

Meanwhile, our man Joe Daniher has been instrumental in our resurgence, consistently delivering spectacular moments in the forward half. The 30-year-old has scored multiple goals in 11 of the last 12 matches, helping secure victories in 10 of them. Daniher's dynamic play poses a significant threat to Collingwood's back six, setting the stage for a captivating encounter as both players look to make a decisive impact on Saturday’s blockbuster at the G!

Collingwood's premiership defence remains alive after kicking the final three goals to sink a wasteful Brisbane by one point at the MCG on Saturday evening.

The Magpies trailed all game until the 29-minute mark of the final quarter, when Beau McCreery snapped a brilliant goal on the run.

Collingwood hung on to win 11.13 (79) to 11.12 (78) in a result that keeps its finals hopes alive ahead of a final home-and-away game against Melbourne next Friday night.

Oft-maligned recruit Lachie Schultz stepped up late with two crucial goals, before McCreery slotted the match-winner.

The Lions exploded out of the blocks with the first four goals of the match to lead by as much as 31 points late in the first quarter.

But Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos produced one of the all-time great quarters to boot two goals and gather 13 possessions in the second term to lift the Magpies back in the contest.

Collingwood can still finish in the top eight should they beat Melbourne on Friday night, and other results fall their way on Sunday and next weekend.

Brisbane was made to pay for blowing a number of gettable chances during the third quarter through Cam Rayner, Zac Bailey and Will Ashcroft to leave Collingwood just 14 points behind at the final break.

The Lions appeared home when Charlie Cameron's clever snap put them 17 points in front at the 20-minute mark of the final quarter.

Brisbane spearhead Joe Daniher then had the opportunity to bury the Magpies, but he sprayed a set shot and a chance at his fifth goal of the match to leave the door ajar for a trademark Collingwood comeback.

The Magpies took that opportunity and surged home in remarkable fashion in front of 61,218 fans.

After winning six straight games against Collingwood, the Lions have had three painful losses in a row against the Magpies, including last year's Grand Final by four points.

Brisbane’s hopes of securing a top-four finish appear shot, with this result coming on the back of a defeat to Greater Western Sydney at the Gabba last Saturday.

Lions midfielder Jarrod Berry was subbed out in the second quarter with hamstring tightness, replaced by wingman Harry Sharp.

Brisbane will complete its home-and-away campaign at the Gabba next Saturday night when they host Essendon.

First-quarter masters
Once again Brisbane got off to a hot start, winning its 19th opening term of the season and holding a 31-point lead just before the first break, but like round 22's five-goal quarter-time buffer over the Giants, it had all but disappeared by the long break and was eventually eclipsed by the final siren. Coming out of the blocks quickly isn't something Chris Fagan needs to worry about, but letting big leads slip is a worry with finals just around the corner.

Second-quarter master
After Brisbane's early dominance Collingwood needed someone to stand up, and there was no surprise that man was Nick Daicos. The black and white dynamo went to work, finishing with 14 disposals for the term, getting the Magpie Army on their feet and the game back in the balance. But it was the first of his two goals for the quarter that said said it all. Daicos gathered the ball in the middle of the ground running at full pace, breaking a Dayne Zorko hold, finding time for two bounces while burning off Darragh Joyce and Lachie Neale before slotting it straight through the middle from 30. And the most amazing part of the whole episode was that he had his fist in the air celebrating before the ball had come off his boot!

COLLINGWOOD    2.4    5.6    7.8     11.13 (79)
BRISBANE            6.4    6.5    9.10    11.12 (78)

GOALS
Collingwood: McStay 2, N.Daicos 2, Schultz 2, McCreery 2, Quaynor, Hoskin-Elliott, Cameron
Brisbane: Daniher 4, Neale 2, Lohmann 2, McInerney, Bailey, Cameron

BEST
Collingwood: N.Daicos, Sidebottom, Howe, Cameron, J.Daicos
Brisbane: Zorko, Daniher, Neale, Ashcroft, Fletcher

INJURIES
Collingwood: Nil
Brisbane: Berry (hamstring)

SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Ned Long, replaced Jack Bytel at three-quarter time
Brisbane: Harry Sharp, replaced Jarrod Berry at quarter-time

Crowd: 61,218 at the MCG