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“Ticks everywhere”: Lyon and Watson’s observations from slick Collingwood’s massive win over rebuilding Richmond
Andrew Slevison • February 27th, 2025 10:28 am
Collingwood looked slick in beating Richmond by 83 points (132-49) in the AAMI Community Series at Ikon Park on Wednesday night.
The standouts for the Magpies were Nick Daicos (32 disposals, four goal assists), Pat Lipinski (37 disposals) and Josh Daicos (27 disposals), while off-season recruits Tim Membrey (four goals), Dan Houston (22 disposals) and Harry Perryman (20 disposals, 10 tackles) all played well.
For the Tigers, Jayden Short (25 disposals), Kamdyn McIntosh (30 disposals), captain Toby Nankervis (22 disposals, 28 hit outs) and Jacob Hopper (31 disposals) were all busy.
Footy great Garry Lyon highlighted the fact that the Pies put out a very strong team against a rebuilding Tigers outfit, so the result should come as no surprise.
But he was pleased to see Adem Yze’s Tigers have a crack before Craig McRae’s Magpies eventually outclassed their opponents.
“The margin in the end was exactly where you thought it would be,” Lyon, who called the game for Fox Footy, said on SEN Breakfast.
“Thankfully for about 40 minutes Richmond gave a really good account of themselves, but they got worn down in the end.
“Collingwood looked slick, they looked complemented by what they did in the off-season, they look to be better as a result of their additions and some of the positional moves.
“Their half-back line was at times breathtaking. Josh Daicos was reading things before they happened and then gets on and goes. Dan Houston we know about, Isaac Quaynor looked a lot better, we’ve run out of superlatives for Nick Daicos. He was just extraordinary.
“Tim Membrey kicks four goals with Brody Mihocek and Dan McStay. There were tick, tick ticks everywhere.”
Co-host Tim Watson wondered how former St Kilda forward Membrey would fit in alongside Brody Mihocek (four goals) and Dan McStay (two goals) but was impressed by how the triumvirate worked together, advantaged by Collingwood’s beautiful ball movement.
“Tim Membrey must have been licking his chops thinking, ‘Wow, it must be nice to play in a team like this’,” said Watson.
“St Kilda had tried to move the ball quickly but they never resembled the way that Collingwood play their football. When they’re on and the ball is moving that quickly and swiftly through the ground, there is nothing like that for a forward to be able to find their space.”
Lyon added: “He’ll be the beneficiary of not getting the best or second best defender every week, he’ll be getting the fourth (now).”
Overall, Watson can see the Pies, who won the 2023 premiership, bouncing back after a tough 2024.
“I think that Collingwood can go all the way,” Watson said.
“I think that they can be a premiership team again. Right now I’m not going to say that they’re going to win the flag, but they’re going to be there.
“They’re going to be contesting for a flag this year.”
Collingwood opens its 2025 campaign against GWS in Opening Round at Engie Stadium on Sunday, March 9.
As for the Tigers, Lyon says this is the reality for a rebuilding club littered with inexperienced youngsters.
“This is reality, you can’t dress it up any other way. This is where they’re at, they are young,” said Lyon.
“I thought the effort was really good. Nick Dal Santo hit it on the head when he said from ground level it was a 10-year pre-season group of seasoned players running over the top of a predominantly first and second-year group.
“That is reality. I’m not sure we can spin it any other way.”
He did provide some positives in the form of last year’s mid-season draftee Jacob Blight (12 disposals, seven marks), while tipping his hat to the likes of Rhyan Mansell (14 disposals, one goal), Jacob Bauer (two goals) and Pick 21 Luke Trainor, who had 12 disposals in the second half.
“The positives were I thought Blight competed really well, but he’s the classic example of what we’re talking about,” Lyon added.
“He won some one on ones against Mihocek and others, he spoiled hard on a lead and was able to get a fist in, but as he was called upon to give more and more effort he just dropped off a bit.
“In the second or third year of his career he’ll get fitter and be able to go longer. I liked him.
“I like Mansell. I think he’s a really serious footy player. Bauer was competitive and Trainor came on and found a bit of the footy.
“They competed hard enough for me to give them a tick, but everything else was pretty much where we thought it would be.”
Watson added: “There’s going to be some testing times for them over the course of the season.
“They’re going to cop some real heavy losses along the way. That damages the confidence of kids, so it’s going to be a really challenging year.
“I don’t think there’d be a Richmond fan out there that didn’t think they were entering a really challenging period of their history either.”
An already young Richmond side was without veterans Dion Prestia, Tom Lynch and Noah Balta last night, as well as top draftees Sam Lalor and Josh Smillie.
Next up for the Tigers is their Round 1 clash with Carlton at the MCG on Thursday, March 13.
