Collingwood has completed its first hit-out of season 2025, wrapping up two match simulations against Brisbane and Gold Coast at People First Stadium.
Taking two separate squads into each clash, Pies fans had the opportunity to see new recruits and draftees in the black and white for the first time.
Brisbane v Collingwood
BRISBANE looked anything but rusty in its first hitout since last season's premiership, taking care of a mixed Collingwood outfit by 13 points.
While it was no surprise to see Neale and Cam Rayner have big impacts, most eyes were on how the Lions forward line would look without retired Joe Daniher and injured Eric Hipwood (groin).
Sam Day started out of the goalsquare, halving most of his marking contests against Darcy Moore and chipping in with some ruck minutes, but it was youngster Gallop that caught the eye.
The Brisbane Academy graduate finished with two goals, the first coming after an excellent aerial contest and follow up at ground level.
The Lions kicked the game's first three goals as they moved the ball swiftly from one end to the other in transition.
Ryan Lester was excellent, Will Ashcroft did some nice things and Jaspa Fletcher looked even more assured on the wing entering his third season.
The Magpies – who split the experience and class between two teams that would play an hour apart – started slowly but looked more assured in the final 15 minutes to close the margin.
The younger Daicos was comfortably the best player on the ground, kicking a late goal from 45m to cap a huge performance.
Boom recruit Dan Houston had his first outing at half-back, while Harry Perryman (seven tackles), who headed south from Greater Western Sydney, played an entirely midfield role.
Since joining the Pies at pick 23 in the 2020 AFL Draft, Reef McInnes has spent most of his time in the forward-line. But the 22-year-old has been trialled in defence over the pre-season, and looked comfortable in the new role, finishing with 11 disposals and four spoils.
BRISBANE 3.3 5.9 (39)
COLLINGWOOD 0.2 4.2 (26)
GOALS
Brisbane: Gallop 2, Rayner, Neale, Cameron
Collingwood: Hoskin-Elliott, Schultz, Elliott, N.Daicos
Gold Coast v Collingwood
After having to wait an hour between games, the Magpies rolled out a completely new outfit to face the Suns and trailed from midway through the first period.
Ethan Read kicked two goals in quick succession and when Ben King slotted a free kick from close range, Gold Coast had built a healthy lead.
By the time the second half of this game rolled around, both teams had emptied the benches and were playing a good chunk of VFL talent.
With former skipper Jarrod Witts having a dislocated finger put back in place, Ned Moyle continued to show his value as a back-up ruckman, going forward to kick two goals.
Collingwood key forward Charlie West, taken at pick 50 in last year's AFL Draft, impressed for the Pies with two goals, while Beau McCreery, spending majority of the match in the midfield, laid eight tackles and booted a goal.
GOLD COAST 6.0 8.2 (50)
COLLINGWOOD 3.1 5.2 (32)
GOALS
Gold Coast: Read 2, Swallow 2, Moyle 2, Walter, King
Collingwood: West 2, Bennetts, Mihocek, McCreery
