The Collingwood Magpies are into a preliminary final against Richmond after a last-quarter burst saw them break out of a tight tussle with the GWS Giants on Saturday night.
Quite frankly, it’s a hard result to fathom.
The umpiring was so poor and harsh on the visitors, you can’t help but feel sorry for the Giants tonight.
For the Pies though, nothing should be taken away from Jordan De Goey. He was a one-man machine for the Pies from the playing perspective. De Goey was ably supported by a strong Steele Sidebottom, who was in almost every contest.
If there is one criticism of the Giants, they certainly didn’t do themselves any favours early on with poor kicking out of defence.
However, once they got into the zone, they looked electric and incisive. Toby Greene was essentially ineffective, after a week where his name was the only thing talked about.
It will be a curious preliminary final next week, between the two Melbourne juggernauts.
But to be honest, the AFL should be looking at the officialdom tonight. For any impartial bystander, the calls for the Pies were at times incomprehensible to fathom. Which is a great shame.
The Pies will face off against Richmond, in the blockbuster prelim that all and sundry wanted.
For the Giants, they can look to 2019 with huge faith of greater things to hopefully come, if given an even playing field.
Mitcher
Guest
Are you genuinely suggesting there’s never been coverage of umpiring bias towards west coast in Perth?
User
Roar Rookie
You got your wish with wce games, no more WA based umpires, and from that moment the free kick counts have been even though many howlers have been missed for WC now
Aligee
Roar Rookie
Yep i agree, if you don't notice umpires they have done a good job. The brazilian version of Ray. https://youtu.be/IjynbUNlvWU
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Despite the best efforts of the author to undermine a meritorious victory, the Pies and Nathan Buckley defy all to make the last 4. Seems all the shallow footy thinkers claiming not enough top 8 wins have been proven wrong, with both the Demons and Pies through to the last 4. So proud of the Maggies. We should have been ahead 35+ at quarter time but who cares, we did it. Mag......nificent.....
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
10 more shots and should have won by more the Pies. Who cares what haters think, Bucks coach of the year already.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Glorious retort there Donald
Paul D
Roar Guru
Agreed iap, it’s poor and unprofessional
perry cox
Roar Guru
I actually tend to have some sympathy for your Ray Chamberlain analysis there. He definitely loves it when the game is about him. From all appearances at least, it appears that he's happiest when the attention is on him, whether it be popular or unpopular attention. I've always believed that the best umpires don't seek attention, and hope to remain irrelevant.
perry cox
Roar Guru
Called it as I saw it. If not for De Goey, Collingwood would not have been in the match. He was an absolute star. Giants were simply always up against it.
perry cox
Roar Guru
Called it as a I saw it Pieboy. Your name clearly gives away that you're a Collingwood fan, so we might just have to agree to disagree.
Damo
Guest
Just call it the VFL...it has been for the last 3 years now...in the media and in the umpiring....so bloody biased!
IAP
Guest
The umpiring last night was akin to every West Coast home game ever. It's odd that we don't get articles slamming the umpiring in those games.
Rissole
Guest
Collingwood definitely look a 7-10 team that Bradbury'd their way into the top 4 off an easy draw. The Ferrari was missing too many parts last night. Richmond would have laughed their way through the entire game.
Ditto
Roar Rookie
The umpires umpired the game like they wanted Collingwood to win, it may have been an AFL directive. Did they need help? Maybe, maybe not.
big four sticks
Guest
The headline should read: Collingwood's suicide mission. We will devour them next week.
IAP
Guest
This article reads more like sour grapes than a match report. Very unprofessional
Roger of Sydney
Guest
Good game but could not agree more that GWS were smashed in the first quarter by some very biased umpiring. Gee a non victorian team beeing cheated in the finals by umpiring, what a surprise NOT
anon
Roar Pro
Give it a rest mate. If you don't like hearing the truth then don't respond champ.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
" Tries to goad and antagonise players" That's your modus operandum on all posts. Don't you like it when someone operates with your values?
Aligee
Roar Rookie
The AFL may get their dream match up but if Collingwood get flogged and to me it looks quite possible, then GWS with Kelly back looked to be a better match up. Match could be a big flop.