COLLINGWOOD has produced a preliminary final miracle, clawing its way back from the dead to beat Hawthorn by three points at the MCG on Friday night.

In a finals classic, the Pies looked in huge strife throughout most of the match, with the Hawks producing a titanic effort against the reigning premiers.

Trailing by 17 points at the last break, the Pies somehow conjured a stunning 10.8 (68) to 9.11 (65) victory.

Travis Cloke put the Pies in front with his goal from a brilliant contested mark with 6:27 left on the clock, but this preliminary match-up for the ages had more twists and turns before Mick Malthouse's men would claim victory.

Lance Franklin put the Hawks back in front with a sublime dribbling goal off the side of his left boot three minutes later.

The Pies had struggled to cope with the Hawks' pressure all night, but they worked the ball back inside forward 50 where Luke Ball emerged from a stoppage to snap the goal that ultimately proved the difference with 2:49 remaining.

Even then the gallant Hawks kept coming and had the chance to snatch a late winner when Cyril Rioli took possession inside the last minute and took off from half-back.

However, Dale Thomas seized his moment and ran down the fleet-footed goalsneak, which allowed the Pies to run out the clock to a memorable victory.

Influential players
Like many of their teammates, Dane Swan and Scott Pendlebury were quiet early, but they stuck to the task at hand and ground their way back into the contest, both finishing with 32 possessions.

Travis Cloke and Chris Dawes loomed as pivotal figures before the match and they played their part with three goals each. The Hawks certainly didn't make it easy for them, with every Collingwood inside 50 attracting a crowd that regularly choked their access to the ball.

Jordan Lewis's ferocity at the contest helped set the tone early and he didn't stop hitting in all night. He finished with 28 possessions and eight tackles with Sam Mitchell (31 touches), Shaun Burgoyne (25) and Grant Birchall (26) also influential.

Hawks' strategy
Cyril Rioli's goal late in the third term spoke volumes about the Hawks' approach to the match.

Rioli ran hard to get a hand on a Scott Pendlebury kick inside the Pies' defensive 50 - work rate. The ball spilled to Harry O'Brien who paused in a moment of indecision - implied pressure. Chance Bateman crunched O'Brien in a tackle - ferocity at the ball carrier. Isaac Smith set up Rioli to run into an open goal - numbers around the contest.

It was a simple plan, but one that had the absolute commitment of every Hawk on the ground and made the Pies appear hesitant for large portions of the match.

Opportunities lost and taken
When the Hawks had the run of play, which was often, they failed to kick the necessary goals. David Hale, Brendan Whitecross, Luke Hodge and Paul Puopolo were among those who spurned opportunities.

On the other side of the ledger, Chris Dawes, Travis Cloke and Leon Davis didn't cover themselves in glory early in the game, but with their season on the line, they kicked truly as their teammates pushed hard toward the finish line.

Key match-up
Chris Tarrant did well on Lance Franklin early, but then Buddy was an important figure in kick-starting the Hawks' assault. He gave off the handball that set up Paul Puopolo's goal to put Hawthorn in front at quarter time and then kicked two goals himself in the second quarter to put the Pies' defenders on the back foot. His solo brilliance late in the last term nearly got his team over the line, but Tarrant did enough in the one-on-one duels throughout the evening to come out slightly in front of the Hawthorn champ.

QUARTER BY QUARTER

FIRST QUARTER
A tense atmosphere was reflected with an early Chris Dawes set shot that sailed across the face of goal and hit the point post. Dawes did get his first goal on the board soon enough, along with Travis Cloke who was the beneficiary of a 50m penalty. Hawks Jordan Lewis and Paul Puopolo bookended those goals, Puopolo's coming just seconds before the quarter-time break. It was the rebounding defenders having the influence on the stats sheets, with Leon Davis gathering 10 first-quarter touches while Grant Birchall and Tom Murphy were prolific for the Hawks.

Hawthorn by one point

SECOND QUARTER
It was a tight quarter with just eight scoring shots, lasting just 26 minutes. But Hawthorn edged ahead of the Magpies with two goals to Lance Franklin. The only Magpies goal came via a free kick to Darren Jolly and they should have had at least one other one but for some nervous mistakes - the worst of which was a kick by Travis Cloke that slipped off the side of the boot. Leon Davis had another nine touches but his efficiency was not at his usual rate. Ben Reid seemed to be hampered by the groin injury that kept him out of the qualifying final two weeks ago. Scott Pendlebury had 12 touches as did Sam Mitchell.

Hawthorn by eight points

THIRD QUARTER
Hawthorn carried its momentum through to the second half with an early set shot goal to Brent Guerra. Another followed to Sam Mitchell just minutes later after Nick Maxwell conceded a free kick. Big Magpies Chris Dawes and Travis Cloke each kicked a goal but Cyril Rioli lifted the roof with a great goal after a Collingwood turnover. Dane Swan was tireless in the middle, with 12 touches while Pendlebury had eight. Shaun Burgoyne showed class when it counted for Hawthorn.

Hawthorn by 17 points

FOURTH QUARTER
After three low-scoring quarters, the two teams turned in an epic last quarter. The Magpies, having booted just five goals in the first three quarters, slammed on five more in the last quarter to eclipse Hawthorn and win the game. The lead changed with the last three goals of the game, firstly to Travis Cloke, then a miracle dribble goal from Lance Franklin and finally a snap shot from Magpie Luke Ball. Ball had seven disposals and three clearances in a brilliant final term. Brad Sewell was just as tireless in the middle for Hawthorn.

Collingwood by three points
 
MATCH DETAILS

Collingwood       2.3    3.5    5.6    10.8 (68)
Hawthorn            2.4    4.7   7.11   9.11 (65)

GOALS
Collingwood: Dawes 3, Cloke 3, Davis, Swan, Ball, Jolly
Hawthorn:  Franklin 3, Hodge, Lewis, Mitchell, Guerra, Puopolo, Rioli

BEST
Collingwood: Swan, Cloke, Pendlebury, Davis, Tarrant, Jolly, Ball
Hawthorn: Lewis, Burgoyne, Mitchell, Birchall, Murphy, Hodge, Sewell

INJURIES
Collingwood: Jolly (thigh) Maxwell (rib) and Johnson (calf)
Hawthorn: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Dayne Beams replaced by Alan Didak in the fourth quarter
Hawthorn: Brendan Whitecross replaced by Matthew Suckling in the fourth quarter

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Rosebury, Meredith, Ryan

Official crowd: 87,112 at MCG

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the clubs or the AFL