Autopsy AFL 2026 Opening Round - Saints v Pies Sun March 8th 7:20pm AEDT (MCG)

[No SPIN]

Well they can’t afford a dip with any of those key players.

You can say the same thing about the best players for every team.

 

[No SPIN]

McStay Long are just not much good
Yes sorry Elliot was beaten and Crisp was ok but is in decline.

The crux is the best players all played extremely well.

Actually - you are implying we have no improvement left which is fanciful.

 

[No SPIN]

Just watched the replay umpire still missed the unmissable free against Maynard.

Given the neutrals here have all said Coll got a bad wrap from the Umps - your comment is largely irrelevant.

 

[Apex36]

Yeah I noticed the umpire 3-4 times the non HTB on Maynard in StKilda goal square
The free to Cameron who goaled
The constant to highs the ducking Shultz
The non advantages to NWM when he was going for goal

Lmao there wasnt a single instance where Shultz was ducking he’s just a midget

 

[Apex36]

How did Diacos go tonight? From the eye test he was there but not very damaging.

You probs need to go to spec savers mate.

 

[Mynamesinuse]

Lmao there wasnt a single instance where Shultz was ducking he’s just a midget

All three were ducks

 

[Pleasedontfail11]

Ridiculous comment given the most obvious holding the ball in history wasn't paid in the goalsquare, which would've resulted in a 1 point margin.

And shortly after Collingwood got the only remaining goal of the game.

Similar to Saint Kildas first 2 goals then. One payed for an impossible to get out of unfair situation which resulted in a 50 and a goal and the second an instant follow up after said goal.

 

[Mynamesinuse]

Similar to Saint Kildas first 2 goals then. One payed for an impossible to get out of unfair situation which resulted in a 50 and a goal and the second an instant follow up after said goal.

You mean the two rules enforced correctly.

Shultz stood to the side and encroached the mark it’s 50

 

[Pleasedontfail11]

You mean the two rules enforced correctly.

Shultz stood to the side and encroached the mark it’s 50

Nope. The same rule wasn't applied to St Kilda in the second half despite 2 similar instances. Schultz was instantly pinged after the mark and had no chance to leave the area after the mark. The umps realised they made a mistake and corrected the calls later in the game.
But I realise that there are swings and round abouts in games and that shit happens.

 

[Oscarman]

Just watched the replay umpire still missed the unmissable free against Maynard.

Not a free. Knocked out in tackle and appeared Maynard was claiming a mark, so ump has to factor that in.

 

[Mynamesinuse]

Nope. The same rule wasn't applied to St Kilda in the second half despite 2 similar instances. Schultz was instantly pinged after the mark and had no chance to leave the area after the mark. The umps realised they made a mistake and corrected the calls later in the game.
But I realise that there are swings and round abouts in games and that shit happens.

He took two steps in from the side wasn’t attempting to move

 

[Apex36]

You mean where Shultz encroached the mark from the side. Shit rule clear 50

2 men stopped after the umpire said stand and got pinged 50.

Not 2 minutes later the same thing happened with the saints and one player was called out. So which decision was correct, should it have been a 50m penalty and subsequent goal to the pies too?

 

[Pleasedontfail11]

He took two steps in from the side wasn’t attempting to move

People dont have instant reactions. He stopped after the mark (whistle blow) like all humans are capable of. Put his hands up for the mark and was instantly pinged. The same happened twice later but no 50s were given.

 

[DaicosDisciple35]

When will the afl community start talking about Quaynor how they should, he is AA level every single year and certainly the past 3 years id rather have Quanyor than Tom Stewart for example.

He was unbeaten tonight and is an athlete unlike any other in the league.

When people write Collingwood off year after year it’s like they forget we have Quaynor, Maynard, Darcy Cameron

14

Darcy Cameron

Age

30

Ht

204cm

Wt

103kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

6.0

1star

K

3.3

1star

HB

2.7

2star

CL

0.3

2star

HO

5.3

5star

D

7.5

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

3.0

2star

CL

0.5

3star

HO

3.5

5star

D

6.0

2star

K

3.3

2star

HB

2.7

3star

CL

0.3

2star

HO

5.3

5star

, Josh Daicos

7

Josh Daicos

Age

27

Ht

178cm

Wt

77kg

Pos.

D/M

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.6

4star

K

8.3

3star

HB

7.3

5star

M

3.3

3star

T

3.6

5star

MG

230.5

4star

D

16.2

4star

K

9.2

4star

HB

7.0

4star

M

3.3

3star

T

3.5

4star

MG

230.5

4star

D

13.8

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

6.2

4star

M

3.2

4star

T

4.2

5star

, Jack Crisp

25

Jack Crisp

Age

32

Ht

190cm

Wt

91kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.2

5star

K

11.5

4star

HB

9.7

5star

M

4.6

4star

T

4.0

5star

CL

2.2

4star

D

17.7

4star

K

10.7

4star

HB

7.0

4star

M

5.1

5star

T

1.6

3star

CL

1.0

3star

D

14.4

4star

K

8.4

4star

HB

6.0

4star

M

2.8

3star

T

3.0

5star

CL

1.4

4star

, Steele Sidebottom

22

Steele Sidebottom

Age

35

Ht

184cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

27.4

5star

K

14.1

5star

HB

13.3

5star

M

5.5

5star

T

3.7

5star

CL

3.2

5star

D

24.0

5star

K

12.0

5star

HB

12.0

5star

M

4.5

4star

T

4.3

5star

CL

2.3

4star

D

31.6

5star

K

14.4

5star

HB

17.2

5star

M

4.2

4star

T

4.2

5star

CL

6.0

5star

, Pendlebury etc etc that are some of the best players in the comp and don’t even get a mention for why the pies will make finals.

 

[Apex36]

Pendles was decent but in the next rung. Pies won’t be expecting him to be Pendles of a decade ago. De Goey just annoys me so I struggle to give him votes- bloke could be anything but does nothing for half a game. He was decent thought Shultz was the better half forward anyway.

Daicos will get the 3 votes

Not sure how you can say that tbh, 26 disposals 3 clearances and 5 goal assists with 81% DE is bonkers from only 55% time on ground…

 

[doppleganger]

2 men stopped after the umpire said stand and got pinged 50.

Not 2 minutes later the same thing happened with the saints and one player was called out. So which decision was correct, should it have been a 50m penalty and subsequent goal to the pies too?

Both were correct according to Adam, as they both went the Saints way.

Every technical free the Saints get was deserved, and every technical paid against them was horrendous and an outrage.

 

[Apex36]

Nick Daicos...41 possessions against St Kilda.....only 6 of them were contested possessions, 35 of them were uncontested possessions.

Why criticise Nick for Ross letting him run free to do whatever he pleases?

He could get tagged and have 30+ with 18 contested and you’d be saying “BuT tHeY wErEn’T hArD BaLL gEtS”

 

[Elixuh]

If the pies SM team are serious they’ll edit that knock knock whose there video into Daicos highlights

 

[Apex36]

All three were ducks

Ok Adam

 

[DaicosDisciple35]

Pendles was decent but in the next rung. Pies won’t be expecting him to be Pendles of a decade ago. De Goey just annoys me so I struggle to give him votes- bloke could be anything but does nothing for half a game. He was decent thought Shultz was the better half forward anyway.

Daicos will get the 3 votes

Pendles can only be said to be in the next rung because of his time played, his impact was second only to Nick Daicos.

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

When will the afl community start talking about Quaynor how they should, he is AA level every single year and certainly the past 3 years is rather have Quanyor than Tom Stewart for example.

He was unbeaten tonight and is an athlete unlike any other in the league.

When people write Collingwood off year after year it’s like they forget we have Quaynor, Maynard, Darcy Cameron, Josh Daicos, Jack Crisp, Steele Sidebottom, Pendlebury etc etc that are some of the best players in the comp and don’t even get a mention for why the pies will make finals.

For all the talk about missing Moore and Howe, Quanyor and the rest of your small/mid defenders did their job stopping our forwards and rebounding fast.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Not sure how you can say that tbh, 26 disposals 3 clearances and 5 goal assists with 81% DE is bonkers from only 55% time on ground…

He was good, he just wasn’t as important as both the Daicos boys, Houston or Shultz. Never said he wasn’t good just a rung below those three take your pick what order you have them. Probably Nick 3, Shultz 2, and Houston 1 for me

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Pendles can only be said to be in the next rung because of his time played, his impact was second only to Nick Daicos.

Just have Daicos boys, Houston and Shultz ahead. He was good thought those were better personally.

 

[DaicosDisciple35]

For all the talk about missing Moore and Howe, Quanyor and the rest of your small/mid defenders did their job stopping our forwards and rebounding fast.

Collingwood mid size defenders have been the best in the afl since 2018 and just never get a mention. No idea why.

 

[doppleganger]

When people write Collingwood off year after year it’s like they forget we have Quaynor, Maynard, Darcy Cameron, Josh Daicos, Jack Crisp, Steele Sidebottom, Pendlebury etc etc that are some of the best players in the comp and don’t even get a mention for why the pies will make finals.

You forgot Perryman, Houston, McReery, Schultz, DeGoey and Lipinski.

They are core senior players in the 25-30 age range who will do the heavy lifting in 2026.

So many fans get sucked in by "potential".