'Head and shoulders above': Matthew Lloyd takes issue with Tony Jones' big AFL call
Tony Jones and Matthew Lloyd have gone head to head as to who is the premiership favourite as we approach the halfway stage of the AFL season.
Collingwood and Brisbane sit first and second on the ladder, with nine and eight wins respectively.
The Magpies have looked the form team of the competition since round one, having only failed once since their Opening Round loss to GWS.
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Lloydy and TJ went head to head. Nine
Brisbane meanwhile has been inconsistent this season, losing to Melbourne in round 10 and drawing with North Melbourne before that, but flexing their might at the MCG on Saturday, comfortably beating Hawthorn.
Of course, both teams met in the 2023 grand final, with Collingwood narrowly coming out on top.
While TJ thinks the Pies are "head and shoulders" above the rest, Lloyd just can't put anyone above the reigning premiers at this point, and they debated their rankings on Nine's Sunday Footy Show.
Lloyd: "I still think they're (Brisbane) the team to beat."
Jones: "What, more so than Collingwood?"
Lloyd: "Yeah, I do. And I know you went with it, the Pies being head and shoulders above the rest. When you've got Brisbane sitting there..."
The Pies will be without Brayden Maynard as their injury list grows Fox Footy
Jones: "Oh mate, I'm happy to have a bet with you, have a bowl of soup over it."
Lloyd: "But you can't say they're head and shoulders above everyone.
Jones: "Collingwood? Absolutely (I can)."
Lloyd: "The Brisbane Lions I think have more talent and young talent than Collingwood."
Jones: "Head and shoulders is actually the whole point with Collingwood. It's all above the shoulders..."
Lloyd: "A side that just won the premiership (Brisbane), they're pretty mentally strong too."
The Lions celebrated Chris Fagan's 200th game as coach against Hawthorn. Getty
Jones: "I'm happy to put this conversation in the vault."
Lloyd: "I think it's far too early to say, in May, that one team is head and shoulders above the rest."
The two teams met at the Gabba in round six, with Collingwood comfortably winning by 52 points. They will meet again at the MCG in round 21.
Brisbane will host Essendon in round 12, while Collingwood take on Hawthorn.
