AFL Collingwood Magpies Brayden Maynard reported after Melbourne Demons’ Angus Brayshaw concussed knocked out

Minor premiers Collingwood have held on for an exciting seven-point win over a fast-finishing Melbourne in a dramatic opening to the AFL finals collection on the MCG

After wanting shaky late within the home-and-away season, the Magpies recaptured their greatest from early within the yr to pip the Demons 9.6 (60) to 7.11 (53) in entrance of 92,636 followers in Thursday night time’s qualifying ultimate.

Collingwood led by 25 factors at three-quarter-time however needed to survive a late Melbourne surge because the Demons dominated the ultimate time period with out having the ability to get in entrance.

Tom McDonald and Bayley Fritsch each sprayed gettable set pictures within the final quarter, because the Demons could not capitalise on Max Gawn and Christian Petracca’s utter dominance within the midfield.

With captain Darcy Moore and fellow stopper Nathan Murphy coming back from accidents, Collingwood’s defensive set-up clicked into gear, with Melbourne successful the inside-50 depend 69-37 however losing so many alternatives.

Collingwood may very well be battling Port Adelaide or Brisbane in a fortnight for a spot within the grand ultimate, however enforcer Brayden Maynard faces a nervous wait to see if he’ll play in that preliminary ultimate.

Melbourne’s Angus Brayshaw was knocked out chilly throughout a chaotic first quarter after Maynard’s tried smother on the Demons midfielder went flawed.

Maynard jumped ahead in an tried smother and picked up Brayshaw excessive together with his shoulder as tensions boiled over between the 2 groups simply 10 minutes in.

The on-field umpire may very well be heard on the printed saying Maynard was reported for the excessive contact,

Brayshaw left the MCG on a stretcher and together with his neck in a brace, which means he might be within the 12-day concussion protocols and dominated out of subsequent week’s semi-final towards Carlton or Sydney.

Melbourne may also be with out younger key ahead Jacob van Rooyen subsequent week after he collected Daniel McStay excessive later within the first quarter.

McStay underwent a concussion check however returned to the bottom within the second time period, catching fireplace after a sluggish begin to boot two targets in an necessary third quarter.

The Magpies booted the primary two targets by small ahead Bobby Hill, sending the pro-Collingwood crowd into raptures.

Hill completed with three targets in an electrical show from the previous GWS participant, who like McStay, arrived at Collingwood throughout final yr’s commerce interval.

It was Melbourne’s third-straight loss in a ultimate since their 2021 premiership following final yr’s straight-sets exit from the post-season.

Simon Goodwin had a 5-1 document as coach in finals after the Demons’ conquer the Western Bulldogs two years in the past.

Melbourne’s ahead line lacked efficiency, with veteran McDonald having no affect till the ultimate quarter because the substitute for Jake Melksham, who ruptured his ACL within the Demons’ final-round sport towards Sydney.