Collingwood through to AFL grand final after Giants thriller

Collingwood is into their first grand final since 2018, after a thrilling one-point victory over GWS at the MCG on Friday night.

The Magpies odds of winning the premiership have now been shaved into $1.72 with AFL betting sites, with their opponent either Brisbane or Carlton, who will play on Saturday evening.

An upset was brewing at the MCG when the Giants fairytale looked to be rolling on, when they lead the Magpies by 10 points after restricting them to just two goals in a half.

But the gutsy Magpies, as they so often do, lifted when the game was on the line and produced a magnificent third term to take a four-point lead into the final change.

The Magpies eventually held on for a one-point victory, 8.10 (58) to 8.9 (57), sending the Magpies soaring into the their first grand final since they lost the 2018 decider to West Coast.

The game could not have been tighter, swinging in the balance until the very last second. Collingwood’s strategy of clogging the middle of the ground proved crucial, mirroring a reversal of the outcome from the preliminary final between these two sides four years ago.

The Giants seemed in control with a 17-point lead early in the third quarter but were unable to sustain their high-octane game for the full four quarters.

Collingwood held onto its slim one-point advantage for over six minutes, with Steele Sidebottom making a game-saving mark on the goal line after running 70m to keep out a snap from Giants’ Toby Greene.

The atmosphere was electrifying from the get-go, with Collingwood fans drowning out the famous GWS anthem with their thunderous chants. The Magpies capitalised on this momentum, taking a 11-point lead into quarter time after a goalless first term from the Giants.

Jordan De Goey was instrumental in Collingwood’s victory, attacking the ball with malice and keeping the Pies in the game during the first half.

In a match filled with standout performances, Giants’ Toby Greene and Tom Green were exceptional, especially in the first half, building the team’s lead. However, it was Mason Cox for Collingwood who turned out to be the finals match-winner, yet again. With 14 minutes to go, Cox took a strong mark and converted from 45 meters, giving Collingwood the lead they successfully defended until the final siren.

The Magpies have several concerns stemming from the match, with the most notable being a knee injury to forward Dan McStay, who booted two goals before being subbed out at three quarter time.

Some pundits are also calling for a Nick Daicos tackle to be looked at, after Brent Daniel was checked for concussion following it, however charges look unlikely. Daicos is the $2.80 favourite to win the Brownlow Medal with online bookmakers.

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