Pies warm

by LES EVERETT

SORRY everyone but it seems the time has come for us to take Collingwood seriously.

The Magpies prevailed by 15 points in a Saturday night game of centimetres at the MCG against Brisbane.

The qualifying final between last year's grand finalists revealed a great deal but mainly that Collingwood is even more disciplined and solid than it was last year and that Brisbane is limping.

Where the Magpie champion Nathan Buckley is at the height of his powers his Lion equivalent Michael Voss is struggling for fitness and even hurt himself a little more in this epic struggle. Jason Akermanis, Chris Johnson, Chris Scott and Clark Keating are similarly not quite there for Brisbane.

Collingwood on the other hand have the ever moving Chris Tarrant and a whole line up of contributors who eventually wore the champions down and knocked them out with a couple of Alan Didak specials in the last quarter.

Those who have seen all three finals so far would have noted the higher quality of this one but optimistic Dockers and Eagles fans will tell you their teams scored a goal more than Brisbane.

Brisbane must now load up to meet Adelaide at home next weekend.

australianrules.com.au

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