Reigning premiers Brisbane have sealed a top-four berth with a 63-point win over Collingwood, who will sweat over a knee concern to Scott Pendlebury ahead of AFL wildcard round.
Young phenom Logan Morris kicked eight goals as the Lions were a class above all night and claimed a 25.9 (153) to 15.6 (96) win in front of 66,846 fans at the MCG on Friday.
Collingwood coach Craig McRae opted not to rest any stars, despite being locked into a wildcard game, but may wonder whether that was a mistake after Pendlebury (knee bursa) was ruled out in the second quarter.
Brisbane (64 points) sit third and will stay there unless Hawthorn (60) hammer West Coast, with Melbourne (60) too far back on percentage to catch the Lions.
Coach Chris Fagan wasn’t impressed as Brisbane, who led by 75 points midway through the final quarter, gave up six straight goals — a costly percentage hit — before steadying.
The team that finishes third will avoid facing minor premiers Fremantle in Perth and instead take on a decimated and embattled Sydney at the SCG.
The Swans are without stars Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner and Nick Blakey, plus Riley Bice and James Jordon, who were suspended for the rest of the season for “breaching club standards”.
Those five players are linked to a police investigation into sexual assault allegations at East Melbourne’s Pullman Hotel on Monday morning.
Brisbane will have next week off before finals.
Collingwood will desperately hope Pendlebury is available for the wildcard match, against either the Western Bulldogs or Carlton.
The 38-year-old went down into Collingwood’s rooms in the second quarter and was later ruled out of the game before halftime.
Magpie defender Dan Houston had his left hand looked at late.
Brisbane defender Ty Gallop appears certain to face match review scrutiny for a dangerous tackle on Charlie West — though the Magpie forward played on.
It was Gallop’s first game back after a three-game suspension.
Lions veteran Dayne Zorko could also be looked at for catching Jack Crisp high as he attempted to smother a fourth-quarter handball.
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Morris was unstoppable in the first half, kicking four goals, and maintained the rage after the main break.
Irishman Conor McKenna kicked four goals, including two stunners.
McKenna smothered the ball then brilliantly toe-poked through a freak goal from a tight angle.
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The dazzling effort was followed by an incredible no-look snap from almost 50 metres out, close to the boundary.
Recruit Oscar Allen jagged four goals, Eric Hipwood kicked three, and Lachie Neale (16 clearances, 35 disposals) and Josh Dunkley (27 disposals) shone.
Collingwood’s Jordan De Goey (32 disposals, six clearances, two goals) was superb.
Nick Daicos (26 disposals) and Darcy Cameron sat out the end of the game, while Sam Swadling (32 possessions) was excellent, and Angus Anderson and West kicked three goals apiece.
At halftime, Brisbane led by 22 points, with Morris having kicked four goals.
The Lions exploded after the main break and the contest was over by three-quarter time.
AAP
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