Magpies players celebrate after the round 23 match between Collingwood and Brisbane at the MCG, August 17, 2024. Picture: AFL Photos

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.

MAGPIES v LIONS Full match coverage and stats

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.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS

  • 14:57

    Mini-Match: Collingwood v Brisbane

    Extended highlights of the Magpies and Lions clash in round 23

    AFL
  • 04:51

    Full post-match, R23: Magpies

    Watch Collingwood’s press conference after round 23’s match against Brisbane

    AFL
  • 04:45

    Full post-match, R23: Lions

    Watch Brisbane’s press conference after round 23’s match against Collingwood

    AFL
  • 07:09

    Highlights: Collingwood v Brisbane

    The Magpies and Lions clash in round 23

    AFL
  • 03:23

    Last two mins: Pies come from the clouds to roll Lions

    Watch the thrilling final moments from Collingwood’s clash with Brisbane at the MCG

    AFL
  • 00:41

    Insane scenes as magic Magpies double brings pandemonium

    Lachie Schultz threads an outrageous banana before Beau McCreery puts Collingwood in front with a cool checkside

    AFL
  • 00:42

    Cameron's cracking dribbler an inevitable Charlie moment

    Charlie Cameron gets out the back and curls a beautiful finish

    AFL
  • 00:37

    Chaotic Pies find their feet as Beau hits it sweet

    Beau McCreery threads a superb checkside after Collingwood handballs its way through traffic

    AFL
  • 00:33

    Silky Neale has his say with beautiful bender

    Lachie Neale steps inside and nails a super snap as Brisbane gains momentum

    AFL
  • 00:56

    Dazzling Daicos runs the 'G with one for the ages

    Nick Daicos dashes away from Lachie Neale and slots a magnificent running finish to lift the Magpie Army

    AFL
  • 00:38

    Big O banana stuns all after Ashcroft grunt

    Oscar McInerney bends a beauty after Will Ashcroft's brilliant contested assist

    AFL
  • 00:42

    Quaynor's classic curler sparks Pies alive

    Isaac Quaynor snaps through a classy finish for Collingwood's first major

    AFL

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.

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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.

07:09

Highlights: Collingwood v Brisbane

The Magpies and Lions clash in round 23

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.

05:04

The 10: Round 23's best moments

Watch the best highlights from an entertaining round of football

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.

00:41

Insane scenes as magic Magpies double brings pandemonium

Lachie Schultz threads an outrageous banana before Beau McCreery puts Collingwood in front with a cool checkside

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.

00:42

Quaynor's classic curler sparks Pies alive

Isaac Quaynor snaps through a classy finish for Collingwood's first major

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.

03:23

Last two mins: Pies come from the clouds to roll Lions

Watch the thrilling final moments from Collingwood’s clash with Brisbane at the MCG

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.

00:38

Big O banana stuns all after Ashcroft grunt

Oscar McInerney bends a beauty after Will Ashcroft's brilliant contested assist

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!

00:56

Dazzling Daicos runs the 'G with one for the ages

Nick Daicos dashes away from Lachie Neale and slots a magnificent running finish to lift the Magpie Army

Lion learns the hard way
The second half of the season has seen Cam Rayner come of age as a footballer, but with new-found notoriety comes a lift in opposition attention. The 2017 number one draftee was held to 15 disposals - just four of them kicks - on Saturday, with two ineffective touches in the final term as the Lions’ top-four chances were slipping away. There’s no doubt Rayner has the ability and determination to learn from the attention and bounce back even stronger, but can he do it in time to effect Brisbane’s finals campaign?

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: TBC
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