Lions maul Magpies to reach final

Brisbane Lions skipper Jonathan Brown tussles with Collingwood defender Nathan Brown. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: Herald Sun

COLLINGWOOD'S highly-anticipated reunion with former coach Mick Malthouse is on ice until Round 2 after the Pies were beaten into the NAB Cup Grand Final by the Brisbane Lions.

The Lions will play Carlton in Friday night's pre-season decider, surging clear of an understrength Collingwood in the second half last night to win by 34 points.

Brisbane, who welcomed back Jonathan Brown for his first game of the year, emerged from a tight and scrappy first half at Etihad Stadium to break the Pies with a five-goal to two third quarter.

Daniel Rich lit the fuse for the match-winning assault with a glut of clearances and was brilliant throughout, while Tom Rockliff was the constant driving force with 27 disposals.

Forward Aaron Cornelius (three goals) kept the Lions in touch in the first half and Rohan Bewick (four goals) did the damage in the second.

In the end they won easily, 12.16 (88) to 7.12. (54).

Collingwood rested the likes of Dane Swan, Scott Pendlebury, Heath Shaw and Travis Cloke, and was missing Alan Didak and Luke Ball, but its kids ensured it stayed competitive for a half.

Dayne Beams and Steele Sidebottom were prolific for the Pies - the former electric in the first half with 15 disposals and 2.1. The pair were eventually overrun but their less-heralded teammates were not disgraced.

Paul Seedsman had 17 touches running from defence, Ben Kennedy kicked a classy goal among his 19 disposals and former VFL star Sam Dwyer looked comfortable at the level.

Jarrad Witts also caught the eye. The monster ruckman was given every chance to impress with Darren Jolly used sparingly and most often in the forward line. Irishman Caolan Mooney did some nice things

The match started in sauna-like conditions - the mercury was still 32C at the opening bounce - and both sides started in error-riddled fashion.

The heat saw the controversial interchange cap lifted and both the Magpies and Lions took full advantage. Collingwood finished with an extraordinary 168 rotations and Brisbane weren't far behind with 143.

The scoreboard was just as frantic, with the lead changing constantly in the first half and the margin was never more than seven points before the Lions made their move.

They did so on the back of Patrick Karnezis, who continues to grow in his new role as a wingman and Steph Martin, who might cement a permanent role as a forward at his second club. But it was Rich's left-foot cannon that was seemingly everywhere in the second half.

The Lions simply batted too deep for an experimental Pies line-up, but there was a lot to like about the next generation in black and white.

The much-maligned Etihad turf was again an issue, with the replacement patches used after recent concerts causing some players to slip over. Divots were often replaced by club staff in front of the interchange benches.

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