Thrill kings Collingwood pulled off their trademark highwire act to advance to the grand final after surviving an almighty challenge from Greater Western Sydney in an epic preliminary final.
As he was at this stage of the season against Richmond in 2018, Mason Cox was the hero for the Pies, kicking what proved to be the winning goal early in the last quarter before the hosts held on for dear life to prevail by one point in front of a raucous partisan crowd of 97,665.
The game was alive right to the moment Will Hoskin-Elliott marked on half-forward, allowing the Pies to run down the clock. Jordan De Goey was the best afield with 34 disposals and a career-high 13 clearances, while Tom Green was excellent for his side, with 31 touches in a performance that reaffirmed his status as a future star.
McStay should have kicked two but the Giants were also wasteful, not helped by an advantage call that was disadvantageous, and a 50-metre penalty their way that denied them a shot at goal from 20 metres out.When Toby Greene belatedly scored the Giants’ first, six minutes into the second term after frittering gilt-edged chances, they surged. Green was dominant, his bulldozing in close reminiscent of Patrick Cripps at his best.
The Magpies were on the rack when Toby Greene sharked a hit out from Cox and snapped truly from a boundary throw-in.
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