Richmond Tigers vs Collingwood Magpies: AFL finals live scores, blog

To my mind, you would always pick Martin even on one leg. It is easy to forget that for the first three quarters of the two home and away matches he was well held by Collingwood despite their lack of interchanges. He is a great player, but I did not expect him to dominate against the Collingwood mids.

The real issue is how clubs are positioned with injuries and players suffering from wear and tear. But realistically, just like the six day break discussions, clubs should be using their experience in managing the mid-season bye to develop the skills and systems to manage a pre finals bye. It exists because clubs started playing all their seconds if they knew they were in the top four which had the potential to seriously distort the ladder and effect the credibility of the competition's fairness. Everyone knows that the bye is coming: just manage it.

Congratulations to Buckley and the lads for making my sixtieth year on this planet earth worth living. I have never seen Collingwood beat Richmond in a final and they have broken a hoodoo that dates back to the 1969 Preliminary Final. I don't think we can win it because of the Melbourne Club. We might have a chance if WCE get up tomorrow because we have an axe to grind with them after two losses thus far. I don't want to meet Melbourne because our record is 1-6 in Grand Finals and a dodgy umpires call on Ian Graham cost us in 1964, my first Grand Final. He clearly marked the ball in the goal square and was denied the mark! Remember we lost by 4 points. I left the MCG tearful and disappointed because of the injustice that was handed out to us on that day. If we play Melbourne and it's close we'll lose. That was the most unjust of all Bob Rose's losses. Sorry Bucks for bagging you when I did, but sometimes constructive criticism helps a cause and many of my comments were spot on. Come on Pies!

Why? It was no problem for Collingwood.

The bye has an impact, although it's not a foregone conclusion. It's how well the other side might be equipped to take advantage of that impact. Last year both of the non-bye sides were travelling, for example, which might've impacted the other way. Last year is such a small sample size, a broader sample size shows having a discrepancy between coming off the bye between two opponents does have a fair impact.

Was it not Kevin Bartlett who claimed Richmond would win the next 5 premierships? Hardwick was not worried about away losses in one of his press conferences and reading between the lines. "Finals at MCG our home ground not worried."

Credit to Collingwood. I have criticised Buckley and his tactics in past years, but I have never questioned the commitment of his players. They have always given everything for the guy. Collingwood executed with less talent tonight. All credit to them. Shame on Richmond. They were horrible Richmond didn't show up. Rance was a chump. Martin completely sullied the bed in the first half. Surely he had more than a cork. He was weak. Credit to Riewoldt.

And Melbourne can too.

Sorry ghost but all your comments of hate all year come back to bite you. Pies just too good on the night.

Perhaps you were just a bit too arrogant this year big four sticks.

It didn’t last year, but as I said during the build up the Tigers had played 2 games in 35 days. That can’t be a good run in. They are a wonderful club though and will be back in 2019 with Tom Lynch too.

The bye has sucha big effect on the finals. Will the AFL review themselves,?

Most likely matti, if so two great clubs in battle.

I’m just feeling very humble. I know how the Tiger fans must be feeling, I’ve been there many times. Just can’t believe how well we played. One game to go though, one game boys .

You’ll be back TTF. The bye will be the big talking point. Cotch and Jack were great, Dusty clearly hampered.

Never play finals football go to Melbourne Brisbane Lions 3 premierships Nathan Buckley 0 I’ll never forget loser figjam I think he called himself

Absolutely. Can Melbourne go up a notch? I think the Eagles can. Home ground and 57000 supporters. Kennedy and Darling the best 1-2. Lycett and Vardy to break even. Vince a big inclusion sure Hutchings on Oliver,better than Greenwood The Dees' first quarter needs to be stellar The Eagles are better than the Victorian panditry would believe and maybe Melbourne are better than I think, but it's still WCE by 17 for me

I don’t get it what so good about Melbourne I was there a fortnight ago and and it sucked big time give me the Gold Coast anytime I don’t know why everyone wants to leave the suns and go to Melbourne, really?

Couple of blokes on here think the Eagles are a shoe in. Eagles are current $1.80 to win and Melbourne a little over $2 so yes they are slight favourites. Should be a great contest.