In a thrilling encounter at the MCG, Collingwood clinched a narrowly contested victory against the Western Bulldogs, winning 10.16 (76) to 10.10 (70) in their Round 2 clash of the 2025 AFL season. The match was notable not just for the close scoreline but also for an incident involving Collingwood's Mason Cox, who was left bloodied after an attempted spoil by Western Bulldogs star Rory Lobb, potentially putting Lobb in line for disciplinary action.
The incident occurred with just over ten minutes remaining in the final quarter. Cox made a play for a mark, only for Lobb's spoil to connect flush with his face, resulting in visible cuts that required immediate attention. “That’s flush ... He might be in a bit of trouble, big Rory,” commented Garry Lyon during the broadcast on Fox Footy. Jason Dunstall, while expressing some sympathy for Lobb, added, “It looks an honest attempt at a spoil ... He (Cox) is going to have a massive shiner.” Following the game, both players were seen sharing a handshake, indicating no hard feelings despite the incident.
As the game progressed, Collingwood's victory was marked by key moments of tension. Just before half-time, Collingwood's Dan McStay found himself in a critical situation. With the Pies trailing and the opportunity to equalize right before the break, McStay opted to pass to teammate Tim Membrey while taking a shot from 20 meters out. However, the pass went astray, resulting in a behind and leaving fans and his coach Craig McRae visibly frustrated. “Unforgivable really, he had too many options,” Lyon remarked, reinforcing the high stakes of the moment.
Reef McInnes, a young player for Collingwood, faced a setback when he sustained what appears to be an ACL injury during the first quarter. “He was in a lot of pain and went straight off the ground,” Lyon reported, highlighting yet another hurdle for Collingwood in this challenging match.
The first quarter ended with the Bulldogs ahead by six points, with the scoreboard showing 6.4 (40) to Collingwood’s 5.8 (38). As the game flowed into the second half, Collingwood managed to regain momentum, leading by eight points after the third quarter as both teams battled hard on the field.
In the final quarter, it was Joel Freijah who emerged as a pivotal player, leveling the scores with a crucial goal just seven minutes from time. The excitement built as Collingwood responded with a behind from Jordan De Goey, followed by a vital goal from Steele Sidebottom that extended their lead again.
Despite the Bulldogs’ best efforts to claw back into contention in the closing minutes, they only managed a behind from Lobb, which marked the end of their scoring for the game. This victory marked a significant moment for Collingwood, who recorded their second win of the season.
Now, as the league turns its attention to the next fixture, the Brisbane Lions are set to host the West Coast Eagles in what promises to be an exciting Round 2 matchup. The Lions, the 2024 defending Premiers, kicked off their campaign with a thrilling 86-82 win against the Sydney Swans. Despite facing numerous challenges and an expanding injury list, Brisbane remains confident heading into this contest.
The Eagles, under new head coach Andrew McQualter, had a dismal start to their season, suffering a heavy defeat at the hands of the Gold Coast Suns, ending the game at 136-49. These contrasting fortunes set the stage for an engaging encounter at the Gabba on March 23, 2025, where the match is slated to begin at 1:10 p.m. AEDT.
Fans looking to catch the highly anticipated game can tune in via Kayo and Fox Sports 3, with Kayo offering a free trial for new subscribers, making it accessible for those who wish to experience the 2025 AFL season live. The match will also be available on the official AFL website for online streaming.
The match timings will accommodate various Australian time zones: for those in AEDT, the game will kick off at 1:10 p.m., while in ACDT it will start at 12:40 p.m., and those in AWST can catch it at 10:10 a.m. With talks of strategies, injury updates, and tactics buzzing among fans, anticipation for this contest continues to grow.
Following the Brisbane vs. West Coast match, other fixtures, such as North Melbourne against Melbourne (3:20 p.m. AEDT) and Fremantle vs. Sydney (6:10 p.m. AEDT), round out the Sunday entertainment, keeping AFL enthusiasts thoroughly engaged.
