The Brisbane Lions are currently playing against Collingwood at the MCG, with the battle for third spot on the line. According to current percentages, the Lions have a 2.2% advantage over Hawthorn, but Hawthorn has a chance to overtake them if they win by a margin of at least seven goals more than Brisbane. The article provides live updates from the game, including key events such as Logan Morris scoring four goals in quick succession and Scott Pendlebury being ruled out for Collingwood due to a knee injury.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
With the battle for third spot coming down to percentage, Brisbane Lions will have to put their foot down against Collingwood to get a big break over rivals Hawthorn.
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Lions → come → Hawthorn
The Lions go into the final round with a 2.2 per cent advantage over the Hawks.
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Lions → go → Hawks
However Hawthorn has the advantage of playing West Coast in Perth on Sunday, needing a winning margin at least seven goals more than Brisbane — if the Lions win — to take third spot.
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Lions → have → spot
With the prize of a first final against a depleted Sydney Swans at stake, the Lions will be looking for a big win at the MCG, while Collingwood is preparing for the wildcard round next week.
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Collingwood → deplete → round
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Charlie West gets one back for Collingwood
That was another of those multiple passages of play we've had tonight.
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we → choose → play
The Pies had a shot for goal and missed, but they quickly forced the turnover after the kickout, and it comes back to Charlie West, who marks and goals from the pocket.
BIG goal for the Pies, the lead is back to 23 points inside time on.
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lead → have → time
Key Event
Bad news for Collingwood as Pendlebury ruled out
The news is getting worse for the Pies, with Scott Pendlebury sitting on the bench with a jacket on.
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jacket → rule → bench
he's been very good for them and has helped set up a number of Collingwood goals.
Hipwood goal pushes the Brisbane lead further
The Lions have found their groove here, and they are putting extreme pressure on the Pies defence.
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they → help → defence
The ball goes to the left forward pocket and the ball is switched across 50 - and Eric Hipwood marks!
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Hipwood → go → 50
And he drills the kick!
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he → drill → kick
The lead is out to 30 points - things are progressing very nicely for the premiers.
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things → progress → premiers
with nine minutes left in the half.
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minutes → leave → half
That 24-point lead means the percentage gap between Hawthorn and Brisbane equates to about 11 goals.
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gap → mean → goals
That's roughly what Hawthorn needs to beat West Coast on Sunday to go third - IF the margin stays as it is right now.
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it → need → Sunday
Morris has four!
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Morris → have → four
The Magpies are struggling to stop him.
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Magpies → struggle → him
The visitors benefited from a free kick in the middle where Will Ashcroft spilled the ball but then was bending (ducking?) as Ed Allan clipped him high.
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Allan → benefit → him
The Lions took advantage, and the ball went into the right forward pocket where Morris marked.
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Morris → take → pocket
He nailed the nick from a nasty angle, and the Lions are clear!
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Lions → nail → angle
Morris has three in a handful of minutes and four for the game already!
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Morris → have → game
Alarm bells are ringing HARD in the Pies coaching box.
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bells → ring → box
Morris has two in a minute!
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Morris → have → minute
The Lions are in again, they go in from the opposite side of 50, but the effect is the same.
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effect → go → 50
Logan Morris takes another mark, and he drills the kick.
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he → take → kick
Anything Pies can do, Lions can do too
Brisbane took that goal personally, and the visitors answer quick smart.
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visitors → do → goal
They loft it high from Darcy Fort to a contest - Logan Morris looks like he's gone too early, but he half-hovers in the air and takes the grab.
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he → loft → grab
He goes back and kicks.
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He → go → ?
The umpire looks straight up as if he's rolling his eyes at a funny quip - he doesn't have to move!
Great goal from Morris and the Lions extend again.
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Lions → look → Morris
Pies get the fast start again through Anderson!
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Pies → get → Anderson
It's fast and fierce in the opening salvos in the second quarter, but the Magpies finally break clear down the near wing.
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Magpies → open → wing
A bit of a chaos ball bounces towards 50 and the Pies grab it and lofts one to the square - Angus Anderson gets it, and scores his second!
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Anderson → bounce → second
I know we still have the wildcard round next week, but this is shaping like an early start to finals!
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this → know → finals
QT stats
- Inside 50s: 14-12 Brisbane
- Clearances: 12-9 Collingwood
- Centre clearances: 5-3 Collingwood
- Contested possessions: 28-27 Brisbane
- Uncontested possessions: 76-60 Collingwood
- Marks inside 50: 4-4
- Tackles: 16-11 Collingwood
- Tackles inside 50: 4-2 Collingwood
Key Event
QT:
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Brisbane → contest → 50
Brisbane 5.3 (33) leads Collingwood 3.3 (21)
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Brisbane → lead → 3.3
The siren sounds, and that's the end of a ripping quarter of footy.
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that → sound → footy
But just as important was a great late break on the counter by the Magpies, leading to Nick Daicos with his hands on the footy just outside 50 - and he unloaded for a goal to bring the Pies fans to a frenzy!
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he → lead → frenzy
And then the Lions found a way to get a late, late one of their own.
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Lions → find → own
A kick inside 50 and Sam Draper standing tall and clunking the mark - and kicking from 20m out in his 100th game.
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Draper → stand → game
So after all that, the Lions lead by 12 points, after being as many as 19 in front at one stage.
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Lions → lead → stage
Anderson misses chance to go back-to-back
Collingwood are looking dangerous on the break!
They go again and down the wing, it's a lovely kick inside 50 and again it's Angus Anderson who takes an uncontested mark.
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who → miss → mark
…and 31 more, not listed.