Magpies in second straight upset loss as Hawks shine

Roger Vaughan | August 5, 2023

Hawthorn have continued the rash of upsets that are punctuating the run to the AFL finals, stunning top side Collingwood by 32 points.

Finn Maginness shut down Nick Daicos and captain James Sicily was mighty in defence, as veteran Luke Breust and second-gamer Brandon Ryan kicked three goals apiece in Saturday’s twilight game at the MCG for the 16.9 (105) to 11.7 (73) win.

Adding to a rugged afternoon for the Magpies, Daicos, Nathan Murphy and Tom Mitchell were all hurt and finished the game on the bench.

There will be plenty of match review ramifications out of the match as well, with several incidents especially in the third term as tempers flared.

It is Hawthorn’s best win of the season, eclipsing their upset win over Brisbane in round 13.

Collingwood have plenty to ponder after also losing to Carlton last week as the finals loom.

Hawthorn made it clear from the start this would be no regulation hit-out for the top side against 16th.

The Hawks kicked the only four goals of the opening term for a 23-point lead at the first change and then another in the second.

Collingwood did not kick their first until early in the second term, but that signalled a Magpies counter-attack.

They trailled by just 11 points at the main break, but Daicos incredibly had only three disposals in the first half.

The Brownlow Medal favourite’s lowest disposals total in a game this season had been 27, but on Saturday he only managed five.

Three days after Daicos and older brother Josh signed long-term deals, Maginness did what no-one else has managed this season – stop Nick.

The younger Daicos was also proppy after a big collision with James Blanck early in the third term, an incident that ramped up the temperature dramatically.

Soon after, Dan McStay kicked a goal and as spot fires broke up, Nick was paid a free kick and kicked another goal before the ball went back to the middle.

That brought Collingwood back to within a couple of goals, but Harry Morrison kicked a goal moments later to stop Collingwood’s surge and the Hawks had a 26-point lead at the final change.

Given Collingwood’s ability to come from behind in the last quarter, the Magpies would have been excused for thinking that had Hawthorn exactly where they wanted them.

Instead, the Hawks kicked the first three goals of the last term to kill off an absorbing duel.