In round 23 of the Australian Football League, Collingwood Magpies will play Brisbane Lions at Melbourne Cricket Ground. The two teams faced defeat last weekend and will eye a much-needed victory here. Which team gets things right?
The Collingwood Magpies have not played up to their standards this season, and a playoff spot keeps becoming impossible week in and week out. The previous weekend against the Sydney Swans, this team lost by three points in an 89-86 encounter. However, prior encounters to that defeat saw the Collingwood Magpies secure a 93-67 win over the Richmond Tigers and an 84-81 win over the Carlton Blues. This season, Collingwood Magpies have accumulated 44 points from 21 matches, leaving them seated 11th in the league standings. 
Brisbane Lions suffered a defeat for the first time since the month of May when they lost to Hawthorn Hawks in a 100-75 encounter. In the meantime, the Brisbane Lions’ last weekend encounter was against GWS Giants at home, losing 64-82, as their poor fourth-quarter performance saw them struggle despite a good 31-1 lead in the first quarter. In their run of victories, the Brisbane Lions won nine different matches, defeating the Melbourne Demons, Gold Coast Suns, Port Adelaide Power and Adelaide Crows, among others.
The Collingwood Magpies showed superiority the last two times these two teams faced. However, the Brisbane Lions have been by far the better team this season, and we should expect any outcome from this fixture. On the road, the Brisbane Lions do have a lot to prove after a shocking defeat to the GWS Giants last weekend. Still, I feel the Collingwood Magpies, despite their inconsistent and never-impressive play, will show a different character against a side like Brisbane Lions and do well to close the odds.
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