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Posted:
2023-09-22 08:30:31
Original link:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-22/afl-preliminary-final-collingwood-vs-gws-live-blog/102874920
Collingwood is the first team through to the AFL grand final, overcoming fierce resistance from GWS to win their preliminary final by a solitary point at the MCG.
The Magpies, roared on by a huge partisan crowd of 97,665, had to fight hard to keep their finals campaign going, before clinching victory by 8.10 (58) to 8.9 (57).
The Magpies fell at the second-last hurdle 12 months ago with a prelim final loss to Sydney, but they made no mistake on Friday night.
In a classic low-scoring finals encounter, the Giants led by 10 points at half-time after kicking four goals to none in the second term.
But Collingwood turned things around with a typical Magpies surge to lead by four points at the final change.
The Giants levelled the scores early in the final quarter, but Mason Cox kicked his side back in front and Collingwood hung on in a tense finale.
Jordan de Goey starred for the Magpies, producing one of his greatest performances at just the right time — he finished with 34 disposals, 13 clearances and six score involvements.
The Magpies will face the winner of Saturday's prelim final between Brisbane and Carlton in next week's grand final.
The one worry for Collingwood will be a knee injury to Dan McStay, which saw the Magpies forward subbed out at three quarter-time for Jack Ginnivan.
Look back at how the action unfolded in our blog.
That's where we'll leave the blog
As good a game as we've seen this year, and up there with the very best finals of recent times.
It was a game that didn't deserve a loser, but that's unfortunately curtains for GWS. They've gone out with a blaze of glory, their incredible story not finishing with the ending they wanted but still one that kept us enthralled.
But it's all about Collingwood now, who will play either Brisbane or Carlton in the grand final next Saturday afternoon. Either way, it's going to be a cracker.
Grand final week begins now for the Pies, but the blog will be back tomorrow night as the Lions and Blues play for the right to take on the Pies next weekend. Look forward to your company then.
The climax
Heartbreak for the Giants
The second half of this season from GWS has been remarkable. They have come within a point of riding that train all the way to the grand final.
The Giants will look back at some little moments and find mistakes that proved costly, but when the margin is that small you really can't beat yourself up to much. They did enough to win, but just fell on the wrong side of a close one.
Beware the 2024 Giants.
Darcy Moore will captain Collingwood in a grand final
One of the most admired men in the league could be a week away from becoming a premiership captain.
He also spoke to Channel Seven after the game:
"Still pretty speechless to be honest. What a game. It was just so high pressure. Every moment.
"Such a slog, low scoring, but you know we had to find a way to stand up in big moments and we had so many guys that did. All that practice over the last two years came in handy.
"So much hard work goes in. Every team, every player in the league wants to be out here doing what we just did. It takes so much work to get here.
"We have to enjoy it and bring our best next week."
Jordan De Goey
He may have been stuck on the bench for the game's final minutes, but that remains the best game Jordan De Goey has played in his AFL career. 34 disposals and 14 clearances gives some indication of his dominance, but doesn't paint the whole picture.
He spoke to Channel Seven after the game:
"The Giants were on a roll there. It's led by their midfield group.
"We wanted to try and get the midfield battle towards the goal. We did that tonight. It's great."
The Magpies' magic moment
FT: COLLINGWOOD WIN BY A POINT! The Pies are in the grand final!
A simply incredible game of football. Two titanic football teams throwing everything at each other, and at the end of it all it's Collingwood who come out on top by the smallest of margins.
You could watch that last quarter 50 times and find new moments of inspiration each time. The Giants looked like they were ripe to be overrun after a big Collingwood third quarter, but they refused to lay down.
But roared on by a crowd of over 97,000, most of them Collingwood fans, the Pies found a way. That's just what this time does! There's a magic in this team, and it has carried them all the way to the 2023 grand final.
1': Hoskin-Elliott marks on centre wing!
And he will kill the clock!
THE PIES WILL WIN!
1': Thirty seconds left
Another stoppage in the middle of the ground. Giants have to pluck it and bomb it forward quickly.
1': A minute to play
Stoppage in the middle of the ground. It has just been the most breathlessly tight last quarter you could imagine.
2': Boundary throw in, Pies' end
Ninety seconds to go. Now or never for GWS.
2': Big tackle from the Pies' forwards!
It's pinned inside Collingwood's attacking 50 with two minutes left.
3': Three minutes to play
The Pies are trying to take a bit of the pace out of it. Risky, but required. The Giants have been surging hard.
5': Toby Greene from the pocket ... Sidebottom marks on the line!
Inches! A game of inches! Pies deny the Giants again.
6': What a tackle from O'Halloran!
Hoskin-Elliott was about to send the Pies forward, but the Giants's sub absolutely nailed him in a rescuing tackle.
4:39 to play. Giants piling the pressure on. It's on a knife's edge.
7': Jesse Hogan kicks the goal! It's a one-point game!
The spin from Brent Daniels, the kick from Lachie Ash. The mark and finish from Jesse Hogan.
Pure GWS football. What a game of footy.
7': Hogan marks on the lead!
Big chance here for GWS!
There were five or six moments in that play where anything other than complete Giants perfection would have caused a breakdown.
Instead, they produced perfection. What can Hogan do?
8': Massive crowd at the MCG tonight
97,665.
Even bigger than last Friday night.
Incredible.
9': It's between the arcs at the moment
Next goal is so important. Obviously.