AFL LIVE: Wizard weaves some MCG magic as Hawks fight back against Pies

Collingwood have confirmed defender Harry Perryman (right hamstring) is out for the game, which seemed the case when he hobbled off late in the first half and went straight to the back row on the bench.

He had spent time on dangerous Hawks forward Nick Watson.

Collingwood are clinging to a five-point half-time lead, but almost everything is pointing towards Hawthorn getting the better of them.

The Hawks kicked the last three goals of the second quarter, including a scintillating effort from the incomparable Nick Watson, who put on the afterburners and dodged a diving Jack Crisp to smash through his first major of the night.

The Pies have corrected their centre-bounce woes - winning all four clearances in there after losing all seven in the opening quarter - but Hawthorn are playing with more patience and dominating in the contest (71-48), which is not sustainable for Collingwood if they expect to win tonight.

Jai Newcombe leads all players with seven contested possessions, but Finn Maginness and Ned Reeves also have six apiece.

The Magpies weren’t as efficient that quarter, either, including twice preferring to hand off to Dan Houston for running attempts instead of set shots - only for the ex-Power star to miss each time.

A big second half awaits...

Nick Watson has worked some much-needed magic, speeding towards goal, dodging multiple players and drilling it through from an angle to give the Hawthorn fans at the MCG something to cheer about.

Moments later, Hawthorn gets another free kick and it goes to Jai Newcombe, who surely can’t miss he’s that close…

He kicks truly and that’s three in a row for Hawthorn. Suddenly, the margin is five points and Collingwood’s explosive start seems far away.

Half-time score: Collingwood lead 7.3 (45) to Hawthorn 5.10 (40)

Update: Harry Perryman came off during the second quarter and appears to be clutching his right hamstring. We will bring you more details shortly.

Jack Ginnivan has lifted his side with a much-needed goal, and gives the crowd a grin and a fist pump.

That’s Hawthorn’s first goal since the first few minutes of the first quarter – and it’s essential.

But Collingwood seem to have all the answers, much to the chagrin of Sam Mitchell, who is gesturing dramatically in the coaches’ box.

Jack Buller boots his first goal for the Pies and pushes the margin even further.

With 10 minutes to go, the Pies lead by 23 points.

That’s another goal for Collingwood, and Hawthorn, as Fox Footy commentators note, appear to still be asleep.

Jamie Elliott hands off to a running Brayden Maynard and kicks truly to make it six goals in a row for the Pies.

Inaccuracy continues to haunt the Hawks in the second quarter with another missed shot, from Josh Weddle, who sprays it awkwardly on an angle.

Hawthorn are missing some pretty gettable shots. That’s eight behinds and we’re only in the second quarter.

Score: Collingwood lead 6.1 (37) to Hawthorn 1.8 (14)

Efficient football is winning football for Collingwood, who kicked five goals without a miss from only seven inside 50s to take a 17-point lead into quarter-time over the more fancied Hawks.

The best of them was a Jordan De Goey snap from barely inside 50 under pressure.

De Goey has eight disposals and two goals, while Dan Houston also has eight disposals and set up Angus Anderson’s major with two great touches in the same passage.

The Hawks would like a lot of what they are doing: 15 inside 50s to seven, 11 clearances to six (7-0 out of the centre) and they are forcing turnovers in their forward half.

But they also sprayed a series of set shots, including two by free agent-to-be Mitch Lewis. They managed only one goal from eight scoring shots, including a Jack Gunston soccer attempt from the goal line being reversed after a score review.

Jai Newcombe is burying himself in contests and gathered seven disposals and four contested possessions in the opening term.

That’s four in a row.

The Pies are on fire and have notched four consecutive goals. Their latest came from Angus Anderson, who drilled it from 35 metres out.

Meanwhile, Hawthorn are really struggling with accuracy. They’ve had six behinds so far and keep missing easy shots.

With two minutes on the clock, it looked like Hawthorn had finally managed to boot one through but Collingwood skipper Darcy Moore tapped his hand to indicate the ball was touched.

A review followed … and it’s a behind.

Collingwood lead by four goals.

Collingwood lead 4.0 (24) to 1.7 (13)

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