It couldn’t have been closer, but the result couldn’t have been sweeter.
In the balance right to the very end, Collingwood won its way through to the 2023 AFL Grand Final after a one-point win over GWS at the MCG.
A fiercely contested game form the outset, the Pies trailed for many parts of the middle portion of the game before a late surge in the third quarter set up victory.
They kicked only one goal in the final term via Mason Cox, yet were able to hold on after a stirring display from the backline.
Jordan De Goey confirmed his status as a finals hero with the game of his life, recording 34 disposals and 13 clearances in a monumental display.
Steele Sidebottom and Nick Daicos were also strong through the midfield.
With a build up as big as you can imagine, Bobby Hill’s bump in the middle of the MCG set the tone in the first 10 seconds and the Pies didn’t relent from that point on.
Only a minute after the first bounce, Daniel McStay out marked Sam Taylor – just the ninth time the Giants defender had lost a one-on-one contest all season – and converted the Pies’ first goal of the game.
The Pies were controlling both the clearances and contested ball, with Jordan De Goey having three clearances himself in the first eight minutes.
Jack Crisp continued the trend but with the added benefit of putting it on the scoreboard, creating something out of nothing at a forward fifty stoppage with a brilliant snap.
The early two-goal buffer was what it would stay at for the remainder of the opening term, with the Pies’ defence holding strong and limiting the Giants to only three behinds.
The visitors came out hot in the second quarter with two quick goals despite the Pies’ pressure remaining immense.
GWS continued their surge with two more goals while keeping Collingwood goalless as the home side went into the main break trailing by 10 points.
Toby Greene kicked the first goal of the third term for his second, however the Pies re-emerged after that.
A tense period was snapped by Bobby Hill’s first goal against his former side when he converted from close range.
Only seconds later, a brilliant defensive win from Oleg Markov set up McStay’s second goal as the Magpie Army erupted.
De Goey continued to be the instigator of many of the Pies’ forward entries as the two teams traded blows throughout the third quarter.
Beau McCreery’s roving goal put the Pies in front as the third quarter came to a close, with Brody Mihocek kicking one of his own to give Collingwood a four-point buffer heading into the final term.
All the stats were even, put it was the clearances that Collingwood continued to lead with 12 more than the Giants at three quarter time.
Nick Daicos and Sidebottom had worked themselves into the game with five clearances each to that point as the last quarter began.
Jack Ginnivan was activated as substitute at quarter time after McStay went down with an ankle injury and almost found the big sticks with his first possession.
A 50-metre penalty gave the Giants the first goal of the final term, but Mason Cox immediately responded with a well-executed set shot.
As the game drew to an end, the Pies were expert in locking the ball in the forward half and helping the clock tick away.
As stoppage after stoppage ensued, the Pies secured their place in the Grand Final and sent the MCG into raptures.
COLLINGWOOD 2.2 2.6 7.7 8.10 (58)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 0.3 4.1 6.9 8.9 (57)
GOALS
Collingwood: McStay 2, Crisp, Hill, Elliott, McCreery, Mihocek, Cox
Greater Western Sydney: Greene 2, Green, Cumming, Riccardi, Brown, Lloyd, Hogan
INJURIES
Collingwood: McStay (knee)
Greater Western Sydney: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Jack Ginnivan (replaced McStay at three-quarter time)
Greater Western Sydney: Xavier O'Halloran (replaced Ward in the fourth quarter)
Crowd: 97,665 at the MCG
