AFL Finals 2022: Collingwood make fast start as Geelong stare down MCG finals hoodoo

Collingwood fans were given the first chance to roar at a packed MCG as the young Magpies drew first blood in the blockbuster qualifying final against Geelong.

It was a ferocious start as the sides tried to impose themselves on the game, but it was Collingwood who got the first reward.

Patrick Lipinski laid a grinding tackle, one of the only stats the Magpies lead Geelong in across 2022, on Tom Atkins in the forward pocket to win his side a holding the ball free kick, much to the appreciation of the Collingwood faithful.

He made the most of the chance as he ran out from the boundary and bent the ball through the middle to a wave of black and white.

WA’s Ash Johnson had a golden chance to nab the second but the moment got the best of the 24-year-old as he sprayed it.

But the Magpies continued to be the better of the two teams in the opening 10 minutes, locking the ball forward and peppering the forward 50, playing on Geelong’s poor record in the first week of finals.

Since the 2011 flag, the Cats are 4-9 in MCG finals.

Camera Icon Scott Pendlebury of the Magpies in action during the 2022 AFL First Qualifying Final match between the Geelong Cats and the Collingwood Magpies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 3, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. Credit: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

Brody Mihocek’s first from a clever crumb in the square in his 100th extended the lead to 14 as Geelong struggled to compose themselves.

Cats fans were getting desperate for a major as Lipinski added a second to his tally moments after the returning Jeremy Cameron missed what would have been a stunner.

But he made up for it by putting Geelong on the board two minutes before the first break.