Gutsy Pies shade Giants in AFL

Injury ravaged Collingwood scored a gutsy eight-point AFL win over Greater Western Sydney on Saturday.

The Magpies had only one player on the bench for most of the second half, but battled back from a 21-point second quarter deficit to score a 11.9 (75) to 9.13 (67) victory at Spotless Stadium.

The victory lifted them into the eight, though they will drop out if Richmond beat St Kilda on Sunday.

The Magpies didn’t hit the front until just under six minutes from time, but kicked the last three goals.

Josh Thomas sparked the Pies with an equal career-best three goals and a team leading 29 touches.

Luckless Collingwood, who had five players injured in last week’s loss to Brisbane, lost three more in just over a half on Saturday.

Clinton Young came off in the second quarter with a hamstring issue and Dane Swan didn’t return after halftime with a similar problem.

Brent Macaffer suffered what appeared to be a serious knee injury just after halftime.

The Giants led by seven at quarter and halftime and 10 at the final change.

Jarryd Blair and Alex Fasolo kicked the last two goals of the first half to get the Pies within seven at halftime and Josh Thomas notched the first of the third quarter.

GWS midfielder Toby Greene logged a career-best 42 disposals.

The Giants were forced to activate their substitute Tim Golds in the first quarter after Jono O’Rourke injured a hamstring.

Former Magpies defender Heath Shaw captained the Giants after co-captain Phil Davis’s failed to recover from a calf injury.

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