A late cameo from substitute Alex Fasolo has allowed reigning premiers Collingwood to survive a huge scare from last year’s wooden spooners West Coast in Saturday’s AFL qualifying final at the MCG.
The Magpies won 12.10 (82) to 9.8 (62), with Fasolo – a late inclusion and first-time finalist – setting up the second-last goal of the match, then kicking the last himself.
It means Collingwood will host a preliminary final in a fortnight, while the courageous Eagles will face a home semi-final next Saturday night against the winner of Sunday’s clash between Carlton and Essendon.
The Magpies looked to have the game sewn up when they led by 26 points at the last change.
The Eagles had kicked just six goals to that point, with the Magpies midfield dominating, as they outscored West Coast 9.6 to 3.2 from early in the second quarter until three-quarter time.
But two goals from Quinten Lynch early in the final quarter, the second of which came after he shrugged aside Leigh Brown in a ruck contest and snapped from the pocket, gave the Eagles a genuine sniff.
Things became even more desperate for the Magpies when young Eagles forward Jack Darling goaled early in time-on, after taking an inspirational contested mark with the flight of the ball in front of Collingwood’s Leon Davis.
That narrowed the gap to seven points, with plenty of time left in the game.
It took a sensational snapped goal from midfielder Luke Ball in the 29th minute – after Fasolo dished a handball out of congestion – to give Collingwood their first major of the term and some breathing space.
Fasolo then capped the win with a set-shot goal from outside 50m after the final siren.
Earlier, the Magpies shrugged aside fears their round 24 dead rubber 96-point thrashing by Geelong might augur a untimely form drop for the finals.
While the Eagles skipped to a 14-point lead early in the second term, Collingwood completely dominated the middle stages of the match to ensure their push for back-to-back premierships remains on track.
Midfielders Dane Swan (43 disposals) and Scott Pendlebury (38) were outstanding, leading a Magpies midfield which controlled the game despite a lopsided hit-out count in West Coast’s favour.
That department will be further strengthened with the return from suspension of Dale Thomas for the preliminary final.
What looked a potential weakness of an undersized defence, against West Coast’s tall attack, once key defender Ben Reid (groin) withdrew pre-game, also turned into a strength.
Harry O’Brien and Davis provided enormous drive to be two of their side’s best, while Heath Shaw made an impressive return from an eight-week suspension, Chris Tarrant showed no sign of an ankle injury and captain Nick Maxwell came back strongly from a thumb fracture.
For the Eagles, ruckman Nic Naitanui was brilliant, with 31 hit-outs, eight clearances and a goal, with his job made harder as Dean Cox was subbed off with a suspected ankle injury in the third quarter.
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It is time that the tribunal became more simplistic, closed defence loopholes, and became representative of the game that it is trying to serve.
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