AFL 2024 round nine LIVE updates: Magpies soar over Eagles despite injury toll; Crows and Lions battle at Adelaide Oval

GENERATIONAL HYPE

It seems like generational players come around every year these days. Dustin Martin, Lance Franklin, Gary Ablett Jr, Luke Hodge and Chris Judd were all generational talents from last generation. Last year, Nick Daicos was the generational talent of the 21st century. This year it’s Harley Reid. But no matter how silly or repetitive the hype may be, it’s hard to look away when Harley is on stage – especially when he lines up on Nick Daicos, as he did in the centre circle at times. Daicos was supreme, likely grabbing another three Brownlow votes, and Collingwood clearly went after Reid, ready for his fend-off. But Reid still had incredible moments – a big screamer in the first quarter from three deep; a contemptuous shrug of the hips to get rid of Jack Crisp later, following with a bullet pass to Jamie Cripps for a Liam Ryan goal. As Daicos himself said after the game, it’s scary to think what he will become.

SILVER SERVICE

Collingwood’s long list of injuries meant that most of the attention understandably fell on their less exposed, younger replacements. An improving West Coast meant an upset was very much on the cards. But Collingwood’s senior players were there to show their future replacements the way. For pure leadership, Scott Pendlebury, in game No. 392, played his finest match since the last quarter of last year’s grand final; so too Jack Crisp. Steele Sidebottom, who earlier this year looked a shadow of himself, kept drifting back in defence from his wing to mop up. All three are seasoned marathon runners who are looking better as this season settles into the long grind of the Melbourne winter.

JOE SMOKES

There’s little doubt that small forward Joe Richards wouldn’t have been playing today if not for the loss of Collingwood forwards Lachie Schultz (suspension), Beau McCreery (concussion) and Jamie Elliott (back). So Craig McRae has an interesting week at the selection table this week, because Richards will be impossible to drop after a debut to remember. In the first half, the Wangaratta product racked up 14 possessions, kicked 1.2, and handed off three assists to Finlay Macrae, who has battled to settle his own place in the side. He was electric, nimble on his feet, with quick hands and quicker thinking. He faded after half-time, but the game was done by then, and he’d played a big role in making sure the Pies were never threatened.

Adelaide and Brisbane sit at 12th and 13th on the ladder respectively and both need a good spark to get their seasons’ going.

Will that be Crows or Lions? We’re about to find out!

Now, it’s time for Adelaide and Brisbane at Adelaide Oval.

How do you see this one playing out?

GENERATIONAL HYPE

It seems like generational players come around every year these days. Dustin Martin, Lance Franklin, Gary Ablett Jr, Luke Hodge and Chris Judd were all generational talents from last generation. Last year, Nick Daicos was the generational talent of the 21st century. This year it’s Harley Reid. But no matter how silly or repetitive the hype may be, it’s hard to look away when Harley is on stage – especially when he lines up on Nick Daicos, as he did in the centre circle at times. Daicos was supreme, likely grabbing another three Brownlow votes, and Collingwood clearly went after Reid, ready for his fend-off. But Reid still had incredible moments – a big screamer in the first quarter from three deep; a contemptuous shrug of the hips to get rid of Jack Crisp later, following with a bullet pass to Jamie Cripps for a Liam Ryan goal. As Daicos himself said after the game, it’s scary to think what he will become.

SILVER SERVICE

Collingwood’s long list of injuries meant that most of the attention understandably fell on their less exposed, younger replacements. An improving West Coast meant an upset was very much on the cards. But Collingwood’s senior players were there to show their future replacements the way. For pure leadership, Scott Pendlebury, in game No. 392, played his finest match since the last quarter of last year’s grand final; so too Jack Crisp. Steele Sidebottom, who earlier this year looked a shadow of himself, kept drifting back in defence from his wing to mop up. All three are seasoned marathon runners who are looking better as this season settles into the long grind of the Melbourne winter.

JOE SMOKES

There’s little doubt that small forward Joe Richards wouldn’t have been playing today if not for the loss of Collingwood forwards Lachie Schultz (suspension), Beau McCreery (concussion) and Jamie Elliott (back). So Craig McRae has an interesting week at the selection table this week, because Richards will be impossible to drop after a debut to remember. In the first half, the Wangaratta product racked up 14 possessions, kicked 1.2, and handed off three assists to Finlay Macrae, who has battled to settle his own place in the side. He was electric, nimble on his feet, with quick hands and quicker thinking. He faded after half-time, but the game was done by then, and he’d played a big role in making sure the Pies were never threatened.

And easily.

In the end, the reigning premiers claimed a whopping 66-point win over the Eagles to climb into the top eight for the first time this year.

Collingwood defeated West Coast 15.13 (103) to 5.7 (37).

There were some questions around the new look Collingwood forward line coming into the game, given the injury toll, but a host of players stepped up to etch their names on the scoreboard.

The Magpies have 10 individual goalkickers, including Reef McInnes and Finaly Macrae, both with three each. Joe Richards also got a major on the board, along with his eight score involvements.

The usual suspects in the Daicos brothers and Bobby Hill all hit the scoreboard, but Craig McRae will surely be happy about the spread of new talent.

Collingwood by 73.

Liam Ryan has kicked the Eagles fourth goal of the game, with a beautiful finish to a passage of play starting with Harley Reid in the centre of the ground.

A good moment for Eagles fans but not going to put too much of a dent in the Magpies’ lead, who are in for a mighty percentage boost

Collingwood by 67.

Here’s a hard one for you while we wait for the fourth and final quarter, can you spot the difference between these two pics?

Veteran Eagles Jeremy McGovern is done for the day with internal injuries. It’s being reported on Fox he is on his way to the hospital after falling heavily on his ribs in a contest.

For the Eagles, there’s no point in putting him through any more pain at 72 points down going into three-quarter time. For Collingwood, Jack Bytel is off too for an HIA assessment. The subs need their own subs in this game – Andrew Stafford