Collingwood unleashed an unrelenting 22 tackles to just six in the opening term at the MCG, yet entered quarter-time locked in a dead heat with Hawthorn at 15 points apiece. The clash between the two rivals carried massive top-eight consequences heading into the penultimate week of the home-and-away calendar. With both sides trading momentum in a high-intensity battle, the early stages set the tone for another dramatic finish following their memorable deadlock earlier in the season.
The Story at a Glance
Entering Round 23, the Hawks sat third on the ladder with a 14-6-1 record, while the Magpies entered in eighth position with 12 wins, eight losses, and one draw. Both clubs previously produced the sole draw of the 2026 season back in Round 8, when scores finished 93-93 after a Dylan Moore goal on the siren. Collingwood held a massive 18-8 advantage in inside 50 entries and controlled clearances 7-4 in the first term, but erratic finishing kept Hawthorn level at 2.3 (15) to 2.3 (15).
How the Story Developed
The buildup to the match saw significant personnel shifts on both sides. Collingwood received a major pre-match disruption when retiring champion Steele Sidebottom was withdrawn late due to illness, making way for Harvey Harrison. However, the Pies welcomed back veteran midfielder Scott Pendlebury and dynamic playmaker Jordan De Goey to stabilise a squad missing several injured regulars.
Hawthorn opened the scoring through Jai Newcombe after Dylan Moore charged through a stoppage and fed ruckman Lloyd Meek. Collingwood answered immediately as Beau McCreery set up Charlie West for a 40-metre running goal. The Daicos brothers then orchestrated a transition from defence to find Ed Allan, whose long kick bounced home with assistance from Lachie Schultz. Meek responded from a tight angle deep inside 50 to level scores, while Dan McStay came within inches of an extraordinary volleyed goal from a boundary throw-in, denied only by a desperate goal-line fist.
Key People and Details
Several individual matchups and statistics defined the high-pressure contest at the MCG:
- Jarman Impey: Led all players with 11 disposals in the first quarter, providing crucial rebound from defence.
- Nick Daicos: Collected nine touches in the first term while matching up against Hawthorn tagger Josh Ward.
- Roan Steele: Set an early defensive benchmark by laying four tackles in the opening quarter.
- Jack Crisp: Reached his 278th match for Collingwood, moving past Wayne Richardson into fifth on the club all-time games list.
- Sam Mitchell: Handed mid-season draftee Max Beattie his senior debut while recalling Bailey Macdonald into the starting lineup.
Reaction and Response
Leading into the encounter, Hawthorn senior coach Sam Mitchell challenged his playing group following a heavy 67-point defeat against Brisbane the previous week, calling for a ruthless return to basic fundamentals:
I think the narrative from the public has been pretty much spot on - out toughed and outworked. We're certainly not at a stage where we're good enough to compete against teams as good as Brisbane without bringing those two things.
Collingwood coach Craig McRae emphasised the ongoing leadership value provided by veteran Scott Pendlebury, particularly in guiding younger players through critical late-season fixtures amidst external speculation surrounding his playing future.
What to Watch
With Brisbane defeating Gold Coast by 42 points earlier on Saturday to move to third on the AFL ladder, Hawthorn faced immense pressure to secure four premiership points to protect their top-four ambitions. For Collingwood, a victory keeps their top-six hopes firmly alive ahead of a final-round assignment against the Lions at the MCG.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why was Steele Sidebottom ruled out of the Round 23 match?
- Steele Sidebottom was withdrawn from Collingwood's team shortly before the first bounce due to illness and was replaced by Harvey Harrison.
- What was the result when Hawthorn and Collingwood played earlier in 2026?
- The two teams played out a 93-93 draw in Round 8 at the MCG, which stands as the only drawn match of the 2026 home-and-away season.
- Which milestone did Jack Crisp achieve in this match?
- Jack Crisp made his 278th appearance for Collingwood, passing Wayne Richardson to claim outright fifth place for the most games played in the club's history.
- Who returned to Collingwood's midfield for the clash with Hawthorn?
- Collingwood welcomed back senior midfielders Scott Pendlebury and Jordan De Goey after both recovered from injuries that kept them out of Round 22.