Good Old Collingwood Beat New Look Saints
After just a two-point St Kilda lead at half-time, a tight game of football broke open at the start of the third quarter as Nick Daicos got off the chain.
The superstar was instrumental in Collingwood’s 12-point win, collecting 41 disposals.
Hugo Garcia was exceptional as a tagger for the Saints over the first half, but Lyon’s decision to leave the Brownlow medal favourite on his own to start the third hurt the big spenders.
“I'm impulsive,” said Saints coach Ross Lyon.
“No (Nick Daicos wasn’t the difference), he played his part.”
Collingwood Coach Craig McRae was full of praise.
“I think Nick's just maturing so much in front of our eyes,” he said.
It wasn’t just one Daicos, with Josh Daicos also having an influential 36 disposals.
“They know each other's game so well,” said Collingwood’s Ned Long.
“It just helps us so much.”
Collingwood started to win more of the football from the centre, and the Saints were stopped in their tracks after kicking three of four goals in the second.
“It was nothing special,” said Long.
“No different messaging, we just wanted to keep on playing our brand of footy, keep high pressure.
“We made a few tweaks with our ball movement and how we want to move it offensively.”
It was Beau McCreery who capitalised on Daicos’ good work, with two quick goals, while Jordan De Goey found the most pivotal of his three goals.
Roan Steele’s first AFL goal had the Magpie army in raptures as Collingwood hit a game high lead.
Liam Ryan kicked a goal in just 93 seconds into the final term as the Saints threw one last punch at the Magpies.
Unlike the second term, the Saints were moving the football better to give their forwards better use, before the unsighted Jack Higgins had them within a kick.
From there the game became a brutal arm-wrestle.
The pressure on the ball carrier was immense, but when it mattered most, the Pies had the class.
Jamie Elliott effectively ended the game, his 11th minute goal leaving the “Collingwood” chant bellowing at the MCG.
The Saints were within two goals in the final minutes, but couldn’t find a second of space when it mattered most.
While Collingwood’s stars dominated the second half, the Saints did see promising signs from their off-season recruits.
Sam Flanders, De Koning, Jack Silvagni, and Ryan all pulled on the red, white and black for the first time.
Despite the loss, all four contributed to the Saints.
“They all really contributed, but probably had some inefficiencies,” said Lyon.
Ranked last in the competition for intercept marks in 2025, De Koning and Silvagni gave the Saints a new look assurance at the back.
Flanders went and got the ball, while Liam Ryan’s speed let the Saints move the ball.
Flanders had 28 disposals, De Koning had 20 disposals and four clearances, Silvagni had 19 disposals, and Ryan kicked a goal.
However, the Saints’ best player in the first half was the two-million-dollar man.
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera was incredible in the first-half, his 12 disposals, 170 metres gained, and his goal was instrumental.
His disposal efficiency was a class above the rest of his teammates, St Kilda’s poor ball use stopping them from building a further lead in the first half.
However, a one disposal third quarter was just the beginning of the end for the Saints.
Wanganeen-Milera’s influence was cut in the second half, with Collingwood’s Harry Perryman doing a super tagging job.
“I went to Pez (Harry Perryman) on Wednesday and the leadership group really pushed it,” said McRae.
“I'm not taking ownership for that, the leaders really wanted to set a bit of a target and go after him.
“He was pretty excited about doing the job.”
St Kilda: 2.4 5.7 7.10 9.12.66
Magpies: 4.3 5.5 10.10 11.12.78
Goalkickers:
St Kilda:
Sharman 2, Owens 2, Wanganeen-Milera, Ryan, Hill, Higgins, Hall
Magpies:
De Goey 3, Schultz 2, McCreery 2, Steele, McStay, Elliott, Cameron
Best, (alphabetical order):
St Kilda:
T. De Koning, N. Wanganeen-Milera, J. Sinclair
Magpies:
N. Daicos, J. Daicos, J. De Goey