The Result
Collingwood 10.13 (73)
West Coast 9.6 (60)
Goals - Thomas 3, Swan 2, O’Brien, Pendlebury, Jolly, Blair, Goldsack
Disposals - Beams 30, Pendlebury 29, Swan 29, Sidebottom 25, Thomas 23
Collingwood has recorded some famous finals wins over the course of the past decade or so. The 2002 Qualifying Final win against Port Adelaide, the 2007 Semi-Final win over the Eagles in extra time, the epic against Adelaide in the 2009 Semi-Final and last year’s heart-stopping Preliminary Final win over Hawthorn immediately spring to mind as examples of the team’s refusal to give in when September comes around.
Click here to watch the CTV highlights.
But each of those wins may have been topped by Saturday night’s triumph over the West Coast Eagles. The win was a big enough deal in itself. A loss would have spelled the end of season 2012, and after conceding the first four goals, even the most ardent Pies’ fans would have begun gnawing at their fingernails.
Yet all of that paled in comparison to the game’s backdrop - the death of much-loved former teammate John McCarthy. In the face of severe emotional duress, Collingwood dug deeper than ever before into its reserves of resilience to record a win that meant so much more than just an extension of their season.
Bucks’ take
“I think he (Dale Thomas), and the club together, would like to have had a smoother season, a better season ... but sometimes it's not about where you start, it's where you finish. At this stage, we believe over the last two or three weeks, we've probably played as good as footy we've played all year and it's a good time to be doing that.” - Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley.
Hear more from Bucks in his post match press conference.
Over the fence
“We finished fifth, won a finals game, lost the next one. Top-four teams generally get through to the preliminary finals and that's where we've got to get to.” - West Coast Eagles coach John Worsfold.
Read the match report here.
The J-Mac factor
There’s no question that the loss of McCarthy was playing on the minds of all 22 Collingwood players as they took to the MCG. They stood united during the minute’s silence pre-game before paying tribute to him with a gutsy 13-point win. Harry O’Brien and Jarryd Blair both kissed and tapped their black armbands after kicking team-lifting goals in the first and third quarters, with Blair’s major late in the third nearly tearing the roof off the Great Southern Stand, such was the noise generated by the 65,483 strong crowd.
The game changer
Dale Thomas hasn’t quite been able to match the feats of his highlight-laden 2011 this season but he continues to contribute when it counts. With the Magpies trailing by 11-points at half time, Thomas exploded out of the blocks in an inspired third quarter. He kicked three goals in the opening seven minutes of the term to convert the deficit into an eight-point lead. The boy from Drouin has developed a reputation as a big game player in his seven years at the highest level, but this was one of his best.
View the best photos from Collingwood's 13-point win.
All heart
Many have spoken about Chris Dawes's the role in the Collingwood machine circa 2012. He silenced everyone with one of his bravest performances on Saturday night. Despite winning only seven possessions, Dawes’ use of his body in close helped force several stoppages and his ability to return to the field to play a vital role late in the match after hurting his knee underlined the depth of his character.
The medical room
The aforementioned knee injury to Dawes was a talking point after the match, as was Alan Didak’s calf complaint. Didak was substituted out of the match at three quarter time but Director of Football Geoff Walsh told SEN radio that the club is confident that both will be fit to play Sydney on Friday night.
King of forward pressure
Tyson Goldsack quietly slipped back into the line-up for Saturday night but made plenty of noise once the ball was bounced. In his new role at half forward, Goldsack set the standard for forward pressure, laying eight tackles and playing with a ferocity that would have endeared him to the coaching staff. After kicking two early behinds, Goldsack broke through for a goal in the final quarter that wrenched back a lead that his Magpies would never surrender.
Watch the CTV highlights, including the teams’ tribute to McCarthy, here.
Consider this
This stat is almost too coincidental to believe.
In defeating West Coast, Collingwood kicked 10.13 (73). Only hours before, the Sorrento Football Club, John McCarthy’s junior team, kicked 10.13 (73) to win their Grand Final in the NPMFL.
Feeling a little eerie?
It runs even deeper. While playing for Port Adelaide, McCarthy’s team kicked 10.13 (73) in his one and only meeting with Collingwood in round four earlier this season. On that afternoon, McCarthy gathered an equal career-high 30 disposals.
What does it mean?
- Collingwood now has a six day break before it takes on the Swans in the Preliminary Final, but it won’t faze the team one bit.
- Darren Jolly continues to soldier on against high quality opposition. Most teams fail to win the overall hitout count when they come up against Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui, but with 24 hitouts, 12 possessions, three tackles and a goal, Jolly’s game was worth its weight in gold.
- Ben Reid is back to his standing as one of the best key defenders in the business. The 2011 All-Australian endured an injury-riddled start to the season but has come home with a rush, and in taking 10 marks and winning 16 possessions, he was one of Collingwood’s finest in Saturday’s win.
Looking ahead…
The stakes are high and the situation is clear. If Collingwood defeats Sydney on Friday night, it will book a place in the Grand Final for the third year running. Should it lose, it’s curtains for 2012. The fact that the game will be played at ANZ Stadium should help boost the Magpies’ confidence, as the side has won its past seven games at the venue. Further to that, the Pies’ have won their past 11 encounters with the Swans. The last time they lost, Nathan Buckley was captain and James Clement the reigning Copeland Trophy winner. The stage is set for one of the games of the year. We can’t wait.
