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AAP
Sport
Shayne Hope

Collingwood young gun Henry sinks Hawks

A late goal has given Collingwood a four-point AFL win over Hawthorn in a thrilling MCG encounter. (AAP)

Oliver Henry needed two cracks at it but his late goal has helped Collingwood bolster their AFL finals hopes with a gripping four-point win over Hawthorn.

Henry's calm set shot from 40 metres at the 21st minute of the final quarter put the Magpies in front for the final time as they prevailed 10.12 (72) to 10.8 (68) on Sunday at the MCG.

The 19-year-old forward, in his second season and 19th game, had missed from the same spot two minutes earlier but held his nerve in the decisive moment.

The result was Collingwood's third straight victory and put them back inside the top eight with a 7-5 record ahead of a Queen's Birthday showdown with stumbling Melbourne.

The Magpies played the wet and slippery conditions better than the handball-happy Hawks during the first half and dominated contested possession, building a 30-point lead before the main break.

But Hawthorn kicked the opening four goals of the second half and snatched the ascendancy when Sam Butler was gifted a controversial free kick for contact below the knees, paid against Darcy Moore in the goal square.

Butler's goal marked the first of four lead changes in a tight second half.

There was plenty of time left after Henry's goal in time-on but neither side managed another score in the desperate final stages.

Rising star Nick Daicos (36 disposals) was superb in the wet as the Magpies as Henry and Jack Ginnivan kicked two goals each.

Jamie Elliott will miss Sunday's clash with Hawthorn. (AAP)

Taylor Adams, Patrick Lipinski and ruckman Darcy Cameron were also influential as Isaac Quaynor and Nathan Murphy stood tall in defence.

Mitch Lewis kicked four goals for Hawthorn as Jai Newcombe, Harry Morrison and Tom Mitchell battled hard around the ball.

Hawks stalwarts Luke Breust and Liam Shiels were unable to celebrate with a victory as they simultaneously reached the 250-game milestone.

Butler's go-ahead goal for Hawthorn in the third quarter will be a major talking point after a non-controlling umpire paid a free kick for contact below the knees against Moore from almost 50 metres away.

Moore dived to rush a behind in the goal square and made no contact with Butler before the Hawk went to ground.

Butler nevertheless accepted the free kick and converted from point-blank range.

Jack Gunston returned from two weeks out with a right ankle injury and sent a scare through the Hawthorn camp when he clutched at his foot on the same side after it got caught under Moore's body in a marking contest.

He had the fresh issue assessed in the change room but returned to play out the match.

Reef McInnes was a late inclusion for Collingwood when Jamie Elliott withdrew through illness but the young forward was substituted out with a shoulder injury after a failed spoiling attempt on Dylan Moore.

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