Reef McInnes has two goals from two kicks and the Magpies have needed his contributions so far today.
Pies 56, Crows 40 with 15 mins to go in Q3.
Will Hoskin-Elliott has been forced out with a hamstring problem so sub Harvey Harrison is on for his eighth AFL game.
The Crows are yet to put sub Ned McHenry into the game.
This latest injury means the Pies now have Brody Mihocek, Jamie Elliott, Beau McCreery, Dan McStay, Hoskin-Elliott out of their best forward line.
This has been an impressive response by Kuwarna, as the Crows are being known during Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
They’re still getting smacked around the clearance, but Dawson and Rankine got busy in the latter parts of the second quarter.
Josh Rachele of the Crows celebrates a goal.Credit: AFL Photos
The Pies are still dominating the clearance, leading 27-16, but the Crows have the edge in the inside-50s 29-24.
However, a lot of their entries have been slow, allowing Collingwood to set up behind the ball. Scott Pendlebury and the Daicos brothers have been the most influential players on the park, while John Noble, in his 100th game, is playing with plenty of zest – as you would expect for a man who missed out on last year’s premiership.
The margin got out to five goals 12 minutes into the second term, but the Crows are right in this, kicking the last three.
The Pies can’t afford to slip away at stoppage and need to maintain their pressure to put the Crows away.
The Magpies fired early in the second term and let five goals.
But the Crows lifted before half-time and kicked three-straight goals.
Izak Rankine of the Crows and Bobby Hill of the Magpies exchange cultural gifts pre match.Credit: AFL Photos
The Crows are finishing the first half strongly with Darcy Fogarty snapping a goal from the top of the square.
Now Josh Rachelle has marked and kicked his first goal of the day.
Three goals in a row for the Crows.
Pies 50, Crows 39 with two mins to go in Q2.
The Pies’ pressure, a trademark of their last two years under Craig McRae, is red hot today.
As soon as a Crows player has the ball, they have a black and white jumper right in their face.
They cannot move the ball with any fluency at all. It’s all very stilted play.
Jordan Dawson has 10 disposals, Izak Rankine nine, compared to Collingwood’s prime movers the Daicos brothers, who have 20 (Nick) and 17 (Josh), and Scott Pendlebury (16).
Lachlan Sullivan of the Magpies and Jordan Dawson and Izak Rankine of the Crows.Credit: Getty Images
Elliott Himmelberg has been a strong player for the Crows today and he has come up with a mark and goal after several minutes of goal-less play.
Pies 50, Crows 27 with five mins to go in Q2.
Lachie Schultz’s head appeared to hit the ground when he took a diving chest mark.
He looked to be in immediate discomfort, though it’s unclear if it was from the head knock or being winded as he landed on the ball.
The trainers went out to him but he was able to take his kick.
That he was able to slot it through from near the boundary line and just inside 50 would suggest he had all his faculties with him.
The Pies are running away with this game.
Pies 50, Crows 20 with 12 mins to go in Q2.
Reef McInnes did the hard running and he was rewarded chasing down a bouncing ball from Schultz and snapping the goal over his shoulder.
That’s six goals in a row for the Magpies. The Crows are not having a happy term.
Pies 50, Crows 20 with 12 mins to go in Q2.
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