After the first two games of September whetted the appetite for the most highly anticipated fixture of the weekend, 91,525 people – the biggest crowd since the 2019 preliminary final between Richmond and Geelong – crammed into the MCG to see one of the games of the season.
And the game delivered from the opening bounce until the final siren.
After leading by 14 points at quarter-time, a point at half-time and seven points at the final break, Jordan De Goey put the Magpies 12 points up three minutes into the fourth quarter with a clinical finish on the run and all the momentum was with Collingwood.
But just when it looked like Craig McRae's fairytale first season in charge of the Magpies was going to continue, Geelong found a way to win a game they looked like losing for large chunks.
Jordan De Goey (26 disposals, two last-quarter goals) and Scott Pendlebury (34 disposals) were outstanding for Collingwood, while Joel Selwood (25 disposals) and Tom Atkins (23 disposals) were important as the Cats gained the ascendancy around the contest in the decisive final quarter.
Despite Geelong's superiority across the home and away season again – the Cats finished with the double chance for the 13th time in 16 years – it is all about what happens in the most important month of the football calendar. The Cats had won only seven of 22 finals since the last time they went all the way in Scott's first season in 2011.
Make that eight now, after ending a first week of September hoodoo in the process.
GEELONG 1.3 4.7 7.10 11.12 (78)
COLLINGWOOD 3.5 4.8 8.11 10.12 (72)
GOALS
Geelong: Cameron 3, Rohan 3, Close 2, Hawkins, Duncan, Holmes
Collingwood: De Goey 2, Johnson 2, Crisp, J. Daicos, Elliott, Hoskin-Elliott, Lipinski, Mihocek
INJURIES
Geelong: Kolodjashnij (knee)
Collingwood: Adams (groin), Johnson (thigh)
SUBSTITUTES
Geelong: Mark O'Connor replaced Jake Kolodjashnij in the second quarter
Collingwood: Nathan Kreuger replaced Taylor Adams in the fourth quarter
Crowd: 91,525 at the MCG
