Greater Western Sydney are into their first ever grand final, having won a classic preliminary final over Collingwood, 56-52, in an all-time classic at the MCG.
The Giants had to withstand a ferocious last-quarter comeback from the Magpies. After a Jeremy Cameron goal early on in the fourth put the margin, Collingwood kicked four goals straight – one a controversial non-call after the ball seemed to have been touched off the boot – to bring it back to a one-kick game, but the hosts were unable to find a winning goal despite dominating play in the closing stages.
Collingwood had only managed three goals for the entire first half – and none in the third term – in what was a tight affair early on. They led at the major break 20 points to 17, some wayward kicking from the Giants contributing to that margin.
But GWS kicked 5.2 to 0.3 in a dominant third quarter to take a stranglehold on the game, and when Cameron converted truly from a set-shot just four minutes into the last and added a behind shortly after to stretch the lead to 33, it seemed the result was decided.
Three goals in just six minutes for the Magpies changed that, a massive momentum swing putting the game right back into balance.
The second of those was particularly controversial, with Josh Thomas’s effort appearing to have flicked at least one set of fingers en route to goal. However, the AFL’s new review centre seemed oblivious to the evidence shown on TV screens and allowed the goal to stand.
Thomas added his second, and Collingwood’s fourth of the quarter, with around ten minutes left to play to put just six points between the two sides. However they could only manage two further behinds for the game – one of them rushed, the other an effort from Taylor Adams which crashed into the post – to fall agonisingly short of a second consecutive grand final appearance.
GWS were dealt an early blow with captain Phil Davis sustaining a leg injury which forced him out of the backline and into the forward goalsquare for much of the match. With Toby Greene out suspended and Lachie Whitfield a mid-week scratching with appendicitis, it made the Giants’ task a tall one.
Zac Williams was outstanding for the victors, the regular halfback pushed into the middle of the ground, where he enjoyed one of his finest performances for the side. Tim Taranto and Nick Haynes were also excellent, while Cameron was his usual lethal self up front with three goals.
With Greene and Whitfield almost certain to come back into the side for the Giants’ maiden grand final appearance next Saturday, coach Leon Cameron has the unenviable task of having to drop two players after a victorious preliminary final.
The side will also be sweating on Davis’s fitness, with the key defender set to play a crucial role against Richmond’s strong forward line in next week’s decider.
Mark.
Roar Rookie
Losing to an undermanned team who have a woeful record at the G is the definition of choking. Suck it up Petey.
Kurt
Guest
Sorry about the formatting in the above post, not sure what happened there...
Kurt
Guest
Yeah nah. 2016 – 5.16M 2017 – 3.69M 2018 – 4.3M The 2016 GF had the highest TV ratings since the 2006 GF which featured, wait let me check…a Sydney team. https://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-09-30/classic-grand-final-draws-43m-television-viewers https://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-10-02/grand-final-tv-viewership-biggest-in-10-years
Maurice
Guest
Not too sure yet on that. GWS showed the quality of there backs. They have a few players of Grand Final experience, if Deboar takes out Martin. They have Green back which is the pies evalant to DeGoey, who they would of won with.If he played. Would of preferred Collingwood but need to amp this game up instead.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Gut wreching but still stoked to see it play out as I thought it would. Whoever played Collingwood in a Prelim was an absolute morale to get the job down..... Next week against Tigers, well that's a different story. But I certainly give GWS a much better chance with Whitfield, Cogs & Toby back in than the line up they had on the weekend.
mcmanpp
Roar Rookie
Great that the Giants have made it to their first GF - they're highly talented and play great footy. I'd like them to win Saturday but Grand Finals are a prize that needs more than showing up. Richmond will have one less finals game of exhaustion and adrenaline spent than the Giants and a significant advantage: experience. They've beaten the Giants in finals, they've won the flag once already and they've now atoned for last years' prelim loss to the pies; their self-belief should be peaking about now. it.
Chris
Guest
Spineless because they´re all on his payroll. This is typical of persons lacking character and willing to do anything for the Holy Dollar!
Slane
Guest
How do you finish 'much higher on the ladder' than third? 1 more win would have had them in outright first.
Slane
Guest
The 2017 and 2018 Grand Finals both had more viewers than the 2016 Grand Final (the 2016 Grand Final obviously being the last GF to feature a Sydney team). So it would seem like you are throwing the word 'fact' around a little loosely.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
You can't see much,that's true. There's no way that the Tigers won't be complacent, home ground advantage,finals-hardened,best side the last three years,Martin,Houli,Lynch,yada,yada,yada. Who's the Coleman medallist again? Who has had the most first round picks in a team ever?
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Mind you,he can spell players' names and he has the capacity to see good in teams beyond your narrow-minded biases.
Winnie the Pooh
Guest
Did not go according to plan for the AFL. Not for want of trying though. What were the free kicks in favour of the Magpies like? Was not shocked at the umpiring bias towards Collingwood, you become used to it if you have watched AFL over the years. It is just hilarious even with all the assistance they still could not get there. As that sign in the crowd said, "The Collywobbles are BACK!"
In the outer
Guest
Fair comment about KP players; It may be that Buckley believes that the team need only rely on midfielders cast in his own image; replete with lip gloss on the mirror. During eight years of his' reign the Pies have managed to recruit two quality talls; Grundy who is a champ and Roughead whom Jack Dyer would once have described as a 'good ordinary player'. The list of duds during that period is extensive to say the least including; 'Bowfinger' Lynch Jordan Russell who? Million dollar man Wells Perennial croc Dunne Witts who has done a little better at the Coast Croc once touted as the next Wayne Carey; never was and never will be Scharenberg Clinton Young with his allegedly superb kicking skills Freeman absurdly taken ahead of Patrick Cripps in the draft Adam Oxley was small but made up for it by being slow Re-recruited in order to confirm his lack of ability Marty Clarke Jesse White the illustrated man Jackson Ramsay once described by Buckley as a 'quality player'. Tony Armstrong who could not get a game in the harbour city Patrick Karnesis goal kicker - not Jack Frost provided some service Ben Kennedy auditioned for the hobbit Jonathan Marsh feigned mental issues and wound up with the Saints Corey Gault - moon shot kicking style Tim Broomhead currently just taking up space Ben Sinclair specialized in sustaining head injuries Plus many others too insignificant to recall yadda yadda yadda You have to worry when the best that a purportedly 'gun' Pies midfielder in Taylor Adams can only manage 45% disposal efficiency in a prelim final; pretty much on a par with the standard at the Wangaratta Colts.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
In the dry the Eagles were cleaning up the Tigers in Round 22. The wet weather came and Richmond eked a six point win. GWS obviously better than the Eagles this year, so I don't think the Tigers are home and hosed.
Raimond
Roar Guru
Fair dinkum?
anon
Roar Pro
anon Roar Pro May 30th 2019 @ 7:00pm Chris Scott will spend the last 4 rounds of the season unable to sleep at night as the scenario of Richmond finishing 4th goes through his head over and over. ---------------------------------------------- anon Roar Pro May 28th 2019 @ 11:47am I like what I see from Richmond. They just need to finish 4th they’ll get a home final against Geelong. They are flawed, but being an MCG tenant gives you all kind of unfair advantages come finals and this is weak era. They are good value for the punter right now.
Chris
Guest
Don’t worry AD, it’s just Don having another dig at anything regarding Hawthorn’s greatness. A constant theme from a bitter man.
EaglesMan
Roar Rookie
Unlucky mate, Peter the pies will be up there again
EaglesMan
Roar Rookie
Unlucky mate the pies are one key forward short
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
Don Freo submits more fake news than the New York time. He has been caught out telling so many porkies.