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Thrill kings Collingwood pulled off their trademark highwire act to advance to the grand final after surviving an almighty challenge from Greater Western Sydney in an epic preliminary final.
As he was at this stage of the season against Richmond in 2018, Mason Cox was the hero for the Pies, kicking what proved to be the winning goal early in the last quarter before the hosts held on for dear life to prevail by one point in front of a raucous partisan crowd of 97,665.
The result, which reverses a four-point Giants win four years ago, keeps alive the promoter’s dream of a Collingwood-Carlton grand final, though the Blues must defy the odds by toppling Brisbane at their Gabba fortress on Saturday.
Josh Daicos and Jamie Elliott of the Magpies celebrate a goal.Credit: AFL Photos
Collingwood have another shot at a 16th premiership next week, which would bring them level with Carlton and Essendon.
But the win may have come at a considerable cost with forward Dan McStay under an injury cloud with a knee issue after being subbed out at three-quarter time. McStay had been a key player for the Pies, booting two goals on Sam Taylor before coming to grief.
Giants spearhead Jesse Hogan held his nerve to narrow the margin to just one point with about six and a half minutes left, but the men in orange could not muster a final score for the massive upset.
The game was alive right to the moment Will Hoskin-Elliott marked on half-forward deep in the final quarter, allowing the Pies to run down the clock.
This was a match the Giants should have put away in the third quarter, but you cannot shake off Craig McRae’s unrelenting Pies, who go one better this year after losing by a point in the preliminary finals 12 months ago to Sydney.
The masters at coming from behind, the Pies had to go into defensive mode – as they did a fortnight earlier against Melbourne – and they did it.
They had the ball hemmed in their forward half, not allowing the Orange Tsunami to surge late.
Jordan De Goey was the best afield with 34 disposals and a career-high 13 clearances, while Tom Green was excellent for his side, with 31 touches in a performance that reaffirmed his status as a future star.
The week off, on top of the pre-finals bye, was not an issue for the Pies, who made a red-hot start. Clean with the ball, and fierce in their pressure when they did not, the Pies stifled the Giants, who were jittery.
The Pies had two goals on the scoreboard within six minutes, plus several early wins on the whiteboard. Steele Sidebottom was on top of Josh Kelly, likewise De Goey on Callan Ward, though the biggest bonus for McRae was McStay’s blows on Sam Taylor.
McStay should have kicked two but the Giants were also wasteful, not helped by an advantage call that was disadvantageous, and a 50-metre penalty their way that denied them a shot at goal from 20 metres out.
Considering how well they played, an 11-point lead was not worthy of the Pies’ dominance.
When Toby Greene belatedly scored the Giants’ first, six minutes into the second term after frittering gilt-edged chances, they surged. Green was dominant, his bulldozing in close reminiscent of Patrick Cripps at his best.
The Pies’ could not sustain their early intensity. The play which led to Jake Riccardi’s goal summed up their breakdown in offence and defence.
Streaming through the centre, Isaac Quaynor opted for for territory with a kick to a two on one inside 50, burning a free Pat Lipinski.
From the turnover, the Giants whisked the ball to the other end where Stephen Coniglio, showing the composure Quaynor lacked, spotted Jake Riccardi, one of two unmanned Giants in the goal square.
The Magpies were on the rack when Toby Greene sharked a hit out from Cox and snapped truly from a boundary throw-in.
Things were not working for them. Promising plays amounted to nothing, breaking down at half-forward. The Magpies’ effort could not be questioned. Perhaps they were trying too hard.
Goalless since the six-minute mark of the first term, the Magpies broke their drought in most uncultured fashion, a mongrel punt forward from Darcy Moore which led to a goal to Bobby Hill.
Mistakes counted for plenty. Callum Brown’s fumble on the wing cost his team a deep entry inside 50 and a goal at the other end. He atoned moments later, curling a left-foot snap after a brave contest from Jesse Hogan.
Cheeky Hill
Bobby Hill, who left the Giants in acrimony, got under the skin of his former teammates with a well-timed cheeky bump on Hogan, who had been off-balance. Lachie Whitfield did not take kind to the act, which was well within the rules, bowling over Hill. It cost the Giants a free kick.
Hindrance More Than Help
Fifty-metre penalties should assist the receiving side but in the Giants’ case it hindered more than helped. Lachie Keeffe had marked the ball 20 metres out but the ball was taken back to Callum Brown for a more difficult shot about from 45 metres. He missed. The Giants were also given an advantage which resulted in a snapshot from the boundary instead of a set shot from further out but less acute angle.
COLLINGWOOD
2.2 2.6 7.7 8.10 (58)
GWS GIANTS
0.3 4.4 6.9 8.9 (57)
GOALS Collingwood: McStay 2, Hill, Mihocek, Elliott, Cox, McCreery, Crisp
GWS Giants: Greene 2, Hogan, Lloyd, Riccardi, Green, Cumming, Brown
UMPIRES – Rosebury, Stephens, Gavine, Meredith
CROWD 97,665 at the MCG
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