Melbourne have settled the match after an explosive first quarter in the qualifying final against Collingwood.

Watch every match of The 2023 Toyota AFL Finals Series before the Grand Final Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo Sports. Join now and start streaming instantly >

The blockbuster clash has already got Melbourne buzzing with the two AFL powerhouses playing in an AFL final for the first time since 1989.

But it was Collingwood that hit the ground running, taking a 20-point at the end of the first term.

However, it was an explosive quarter after Melbourne’s Angus Brayshaw was left knocked out after a collision with Collingwood’s Brayden Maynard in a hit that left the AFL divided.

The general consensus was immediately that Maynard was just trying to brace himself when he made contact, but it will be up to the Match Review Officer with a decision that could well end Maynard’s season.

While it’s not a sudden death clash, it’s all-important with the winner to get a week off and a prelim at the MCG, while the loser will have a mountain to climb with a week two clash against the winner of Carlton and Sydney before playing the winner of the Lions and Port Adelaide on the road if they want to make the Grand Final.

9.45pm — Melbourne come home strong

The Pies are fourth quarter specialists but the Demons have ambushed them, scorinmg the first two goals of the term to instantly cut the lead.

It’s tense scenes at the MCG as the game is now on a knife’s edge.

With about 10 minutes to go, it’s a 13-point ball game and Melbourne are all over the Pies.

9.31pm — Collingwood lead by 25

With a quarter left, the Pies are looking set to have a home preliminary final while Melbourne are facing a tough road to the Grand Final.

At three-quarter time, the Pies lead 9.4 (58) to 4.9 (33).

Leigh Montagna said the Demons had to show some dare with a quarter to go, claiming the side had reverted to the way it played last season, when the side finished second but was eliminated in straight sets by Sydney and Brisbane.

8.32pm — Melbourne hit back

At half-time it’s a 17-point ball game as the Pies were kept quiet in the second quarter.

While it was a 20-point deficit at quarter time, the Demons kicked 1.4 up to halftime to reduce the damage and make it a three kick game at the break.

Leigh Montagna said the Demons will take the 17-point deficit after being utterly outplayed.

“It was all about the first term, they were completely overwhelmed Melbourne by Collingwood,” Montagna said.

“They were tougher, they were harder, they were slicker with the footy, they dominated the first term. And they were lucky Melbourne not to be further behind.”

David King said Max Gawn had stood up, but it was like “Max Vs Collingwood”.

“He needs those midfield troops that have been so good for so long to come with him,” he added.

“They haven’t got an answer up forward at the moment. And their ball movement has been so basic and boring, I’m sure (coach) Simon Goodwin will say ‘let’s free it up’.”

8pm — Melbourne star ‘in real trouble’

While the Brayshaw incident sucked all the oxygen out of the room in the opening quarter, it appears Melbourne forward Jacob van Rooyan’s finals campaign could be in doubt after an elbow in the opening quarter.

Collingwood’s Dan McStay had nearly overrun a ball when van Rooyan hit him.

And the scene wasn’t great for van Rooyan, who appeared to get him right on the chin, while McStay immediately left the field.

AFL great Jason Dunstall said he feels the youngster could be in a spot of bother.

“He is trying to be aggressive and I think he got it incredibly wrong,” Dunstall said on Fox Footy.

David King added: “You just can’t do that. An elbow to the chin, it doesn’t get much more straightforward than that.”

7.31pm — Star knocked out in sickening scenes

Melbourne’s Angus Brayshaw has been knocked out in the opening minutes after a sickening accident in the middle of the field.

After the Pies had scored two goals through Bobby Hill before the Demons had their first play up the field.

But as Brayshaw went to kick towards the 50, Brayden Maynard went to smother the ball before falling on the Demons star.

“I think he’s had some damage here. He may have been knocked out, Brayshaw,” Brian Taylor said in commentary.

“He hasn’t moved. That was a very, very heavy knock and it is going to start a bit of bish-bash here.”

The stretcher was soon called to take Brayshaw from the field.

The commentators soon came to the conclusion that there was not much in that as Maynard had jumped well before Brayshaw kicked it.

Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield said there was nothing Maynard could have done.

“Maynard plays on the edge but in my view, there’s nothing in this because there’s a duty of care to yourself to protect yourself as you come to land,” he said on Channel 7. “There’s nothing in this for me.

“Unfortunately in this game, there’s contact that occurs. He can’t protect himself in that position either (Maynard).

“He’s at the mercy of the oncoming player.”

Matthew Richardson added: “He’s jumped in the air to smother, he then cannot avoid contact. What else can he do?”

On Fox Footy at quarter-time, two-time premiership winner David King said: “I’m not sure what more Maynard could do. He’s going at the ball, he’s trying to smother and then he just braces for contact. He doesn’t try and use the elbow at all, he doesn’t use the forearm. I just think this is a football action and unfortunately he’s caught him in the wrong spot and he’s out for the day.”

Jason Dunstall added that it was a “genuine attempted smother”.

“Once he’s in the air, he can’t disappear, he can’t change his positioning and it doesn’t look a massive hit per se but unfortunately, it looks like it’s going to result in Brayshaw not taking any further part — we hope he’s okay.

“But can you punish a player jumping up in the air trying to spoil?”

Two-time All-Australian Leigh Montagna agreed and said: “I don’t think you can. I don’t think Maynard is going to have anything to worry about.”

Thankfully, midway through the second quarter, Brayshaw was reportedly up and talking to staff which is great news after he concerning scenes.

Brayshaw has had a long history with concussion, having suffered four in 12 months back in 2019, admitted he even considered walking away from the game.

It’s why he now wears a helmet in games.

Former Port Adelaide 300-gamer Kane Cornes tweeted: “Nothing else Maynard could have done there. Thoughts with Brayshaw – but a non-story in terms of a suspension.”

But CODE Sports’ Lachlan McKirdy believes there may be a charge to answer.

“I get it’s a footy incident, but it’s still forceful contact from Maynard’s shoulder to Brayshaw’s head,” he tweeted.

On SEN, Gerard Whateley said it could go either way.

“There are two extremes here,” he said on AFL Nation.

“It’s either classified as accidental. Or Maynard’s finals could be over.

“There’s extreme drama. It’s very rare you see a player knocked out cold.”

Over to you MRO.

At halftime, the Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph said it will be either nothing or season over for Maynard.

He said it was a “line ball” incident as it could be seen that Maynard’s shoulder made contact with Brayshaw’s head, but also that the rotation of the shoulder was because Maynard was protecting himself.

But if it’s ruled as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact, the three-match ban would mean Maynard’s season is over.

As Brayshaw was being taken off the field, Jack Viney came to defend his teammate, getting up in the face of Maynard.

The commentators believed it was to get in Maynard’s head that there would be potential Tribunal ramifications to the hit.

At quarter-time, the Pies led 4.2 (26) to 1.0 (6).

7pm — Lightning concerns to play a part

The weather has chosen the worst possible time to get involved with the first final set to be a wet and wild affair.

But there are concerns that there will be lightning around Melbourne.

If this is the case, the Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph confirmed that the AFL’s lightning rule would go into effect.

“If there is lightning within 10km of the MCG, then they will stop the game,” he said.

“They will stop it for a minimum of 20 minutes. And then, when it is safe to do so, when the lightning and thunder has passed by the area, they will restart the game.

“There is certainly no time limit in regards to when that game would be restarted, we can go as late as we need.”

But the rain is certainly coming down at the MCG.

However, there was lightning earlier in the day around 6pm, but it’s eased off and the first bounce should not be delayed.

6.40pm — Selection bombshell ‘devastating as it gets’

There’s still plenty of disbelief around about the Magpies’ call to drop defender John Noble in a stunning call for the all-important final.

The 26-year-old Noble had played 83 consecutive games for the club but was told he wouldn’t be selected for the qualifying final on Wednesday.

There were heartbreaking scenes with his teammates getting around him in a huddle after the news.

“That’s as devastating as it gets,” Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd said on Nine’s Footy Classified on Wednesday night.

“I certainly didn’t see this coming. John Noble, who’s played every game since he debuted, 83 in a row.”

But while they were brutal scenes, it also shows the strength of the minor premiers, who welcome back Nathan Murphy, Darcy Moore and Beau McCreery for the clash.

Speaking on Thursday, Magpies assistant Scott Selwood said it was a heartbreaking call.

“It was extremely tough,” Selwood said.

“He’s been such an integral part of not just what we’ve done over this year but the past three or four years. It’s really disappointing for him but the way he took it was extremely well, he’s a really good teammate yesterday and today and supported the guys.

“It was extremely marginal between him and Oleg (Markov) and we’re confident in both of them and Oleg got the nod just on recent form.”

6pm — Wild scenes hours before AFL blockbuster

If you want to know how big this game is in Melbourne, the line up outside the MCG throughout the afternoon says absolutely everything you need to know.

The match has been hotly anticipated with 95,000 fans expected to file into the ground.

But the line up started early as members flocked to get their seats.

Note: the gates didn’t open for members until 4.30pm with the public gates opening at 5.30pm.

Fox Footy’s Drew Jones said there were “thousands” lined up outside the MCG at about 4pm.

While it’s not unexpected as Victoria loves its footy, they are incredible scenes showing just how hot a ticket the event is.

For the record, the Magpies come into the finals with its first minor premiership since 2011.

It’s a good omen for the side who finished minor premiers in 2010 as well, winning the flag, before finishing runner’s up in 2011.

But after losing three of their last five games leading into the finals, questions had started to be asked.

As for the Demons, seven wins from the last eight matches has Melbourne well primed for a tilt at the premiership.

Originally published as AFL Finals, Collingwood Vs Melbourne live: Sickening scenes as Angus Brayshaw knocked out cold