Brisbane Vs Collingwood: Daicos withdrawn 20 minutes before bounce in huge Thursday night clash
brisbane vs collingwood — Collingwood suffered a last-minute blow when Nick Daicos was withdrawn 20 minutes before the Thursday night bounce at the Gabba, with Ed Allan named in the selected 23. The Lions and Magpies meet at the Gabba at 6. 30pm AEST after both sides adjusted their line-ups because of injuries and recalls. The late changes matter because both clubs have reworked defensive lines and will run altered match-day orders into a high-stakes Thursday night fixture.
Brisbane Vs Collingwood: Daicos late withdrawal reshapes Pies’ plans
Collingwood made a late call to withdraw Nick Daicos after the midfielder battled a corkie at training and appeared with his calf heavily strapped in the warm-up, and Ed Allan took his place in the selected 23. The decision came 20 minutes before the bounce and follows an earlier fitness crisis that also rules out veteran Scott Pendlebury. Collingwood senior coach Craig McRae addressed the squad earlier, outlining that skipper Darcy Moore and Pendlebury would each spend time on the sidelines; Moore sustained a low-grade hamstring strain with scans also showing an inflamed bursa behind his knee and is expected to be available for selection in three to four weeks, while Pendlebury experienced Achilles tightness and scans cleared him of damage with an expected return by the club’s Round 5 fixture.
Line-up flux: Small defenders in, Lions recall defensive cover
With Darcy Moore unavailable, Collingwood has called on smaller defensive options: Will Hayes is back for just his third career game and Lachie Sullivan returns for his first game of 2026 after strong VFL form. Jeremy Howe, Billy Frampton and Brayden Maynard are set to lead the defensive line despite a downsizing in height. Beau McCreery will play his 100th AFL game in this clash, and the Pies enter the contest bolstered by a Round 3 victory over Greater Western Sydney and consecutive wins in the recent Easter Thursday fixture.
Brisbane has also shuffled its backline. The Lions have recalled Darragh Joyce to replace the injured Darcy Gardiner, while the defensive group remains without co-captain Harris Andrews due to suspension. James Tunstill has been brought into the side in place of Noah Answerth, who is unavailable with concussion. Co-captain Hugh McCluggage was ruled out earlier in the week with a calf issue, leaving further gaps for Brisbane to cover in its next rotations.
What’s next: Immediate fallout and the days ahead
The late withdrawal of Nick Daicos hands Collingwood an immediate selection headache and forces on-the-fly adjustments to midfield and defensive rotations for the Thursday night fixture at the Gabba. For Brisbane, the recalled defenders give the Lions added depth as they look to even their win-loss record and push toward the top four with challenging matches ahead. Team medical bulletins and official club selection confirmations will be the next updates to watch before final preparations; fans should expect further clarity from both clubs’ staff as the game approaches.
This live build-up to brisbane vs collingwood will continue to shift as final confirmations and medical updates are issued; the match-day 23s and any late changes will determine how both sides plug sudden holes ahead of the bounce.
