Pies' finals pressure is immense

Collingwood finished with 83 tackles - winning the tackle count by 15 and making 18 more tackles than the Pies' regular season average. The Pies' pressure was relentless and they set the tone from the opening bounce. "We had a lot of awesome tackles that weren't rewarded," Craig McRae said post-match. "I thought we threw a lot of punches today."

Winning mentality

Acting like winners has been Fly's message all year and he expects winning behaviour always, even when his side is on the receiving end of a heartbreaking loss. He said for as long as he's head coach, he never wants to see players lying on the ground after a game - barring a Grand Final loss. "We want to act like winners," McRae said in his post-match presser. "We lost the game but we're not losers, there's a difference."

De Goey pivotal on the big stage

He strapped his shoulder at quarter time but played out the game and was among our most important contributors, kicking two crucial last quarter goals and finishing with 26 touches, nine tackles and eight clearances. "He's that guy... he can really turn it on when you need it and kick clutch goals," McRae said. "We'll continue to put Jordy in positions where he has the opportunity to shine."

Conservative footy was never an option

With scores locked late in the final term, an emergency umpire approached the coaches on the bench to explain what would happen if the siren sounded on a draw. "The communications to the box was, 'we're going for the win,' we were never going to try to hold on for the draw," Fly said post-match. "We're here to win this thing - you get to this point and you want to give it your best shot."

Leading by example

Our leaders produced inspiring performances. Darcy Moore was an impenetrable wall down back, notching 10 intercepts, while Scott Pendlebury finished with seven intercepts and a game-high 34 disposals. Steele Sidebottom finished with 10 intercepts, 13 contested possessions and five score involvements.