Collingwood smash Hawks in AFL pre-season
AAP
Premiers Hawthorn have taken a pre-season drubbing in Launceston at the hands of a resurgent Collingwood.
The Magpies led at every break during Thursday night’s NAB Challenge opener at Aurora Stadium and emerged victors 17.14 (116) to 2.8.6 (72).
The deal was sealed with seven final-quarter goals.
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It is the first time since September 2001 that Collingwood have beaten the boys in brown and gold.
Alex Fasolo led the scoring for the Magpies with four goals.
Youngster Jordan De Goey lived up to expectation in the top grade, showing relentless athleticism and also kicked a goal in the fourth quarter.
It wasn’t an entirely one-sided affair witnessed by a crowd of almost 15,500 at the ground more commonly known as York Park.
The Hawks made a crisp start with Ben McEvoy scoring a goal within a minute of the opening bounce.
That was closely followed by a Luke Breust kick from within the 50 which found the middle.
But the bad news started early for the two-time cup raisers, as Tyson Goldsack kicked the first goal for the Magpies then Hawthorn defender Kaiden Brand helped from the ground nursing a heavily taped left shoulder.
After a frantic opening quarter Collingwood led by 14 points.
In a see-sawing second quarter the Hawks fired back early with midfielder Jed Anderson finding the middle posts, signalling his return to form after an injury-plagued 2014 season.
James Sicily kicked the first nine-point super goal from outside 50 metres.
The Magpies shared the spoils as Patrick Karnezis booted three while there were single goals to multiple players including Jamie Elliott, Corey Gault and Brodie Grundy.