Friday Night Fever as Magpies and Hawks Ignite MCG Showdown
Let me take you right into the heart of Friday night footy at the MCG — and what a night it’s been. Under the bright lights, with tens of thousands of roaring fans filling the stands, we witnessed a genuine blockbuster between two iconic AFL clubs: Collingwood and Hawthorn. The energy was electric even before the first bounce, and you could tell this wasn’t just another game — this was a statement-making moment for both teams.
Collingwood entered this clash red hot, winning nine of their first eleven games, including a comfortable win over North Melbourne the previous week. With the finals looming ever closer, the Magpies had well and truly cemented themselves as premiership favourites. And tonight, they made their intentions very clear.
A huge boost came for the Pies as they welcomed back some serious star power: skipper Darcy Moore, the evergreen duo Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom, and dynamic forwards Bobby Hill and Lachie Schultz. Losing Brayden Maynard to a foot injury did hurt, but honestly, the strength of those inclusions was unmatched. You could just feel Collingwood was locked in from the get-go.
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Hawthorn, meanwhile, came in a little shaky after back-to-back losses to Gold Coast and Brisbane. They made only one change, bringing in Jarman Impey for Cam Mackenzie. And while the Hawks did have flashes of brilliance — like James Worpel’s impressive goal and a cheeky finish from Jack Ginnivan against his old team — they just couldn’t match Collingwood’s pressure and polish.
Early goals from Jamie Elliott and Nick Daicos set the tone, and Brody Mihocek quickly followed suit. The Pies were relentless in turning defence into attack, forcing turnovers, and capitalising with clinical execution. It’s clear that Collingwood has reinvented itself this season, no longer just defending and rebounding — now they trap the ball forward, dominate territory, and break opponents with depth and speed.
Hawthorn showed fight, no doubt. They tried to push through the corridor and get numbers behind the ball. But every time they slipped up, the Pies made them pay — Sidebottom’s precise finish off a turnover was a perfect example of that ruthless Collingwood edge.
One of the big storylines was also the return of Jack Ginnivan to face his old club. And as always, Ginni didn’t shy away from the spotlight, slotting one through with a signature smirk. You could sense the rivalry — friendly at times, fierce on the field.
By halftime, it felt like the game was being dictated on Collingwood’s terms. Their midfield, bolstered by surprise package Ned Long — a former Hawk himself — played with purpose and composure. Long's rise this season has been incredible, and facing his former side, he brought that extra edge.
This was a night that had it all — passion, history, and elite footy. Collingwood came to prove they’re the team to beat in 2025, and tonight, they backed it up. The Hawks? They'll learn from this one. But under the MCG lights, it was the Pies who soared.
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