Collingwood has survived a late Melbourne charge to win a tense qualifying final by seven points in front of 92,636 fans at the MCG.
Bobby Hill kicked three goals as Melbourne were left to rue multiple missed opportunities.
Collingwood held on to win 9.6.60 to 7.11.53, despite having a 25-point lead at three-quarter-time.
Heavy rain before the game left made conditions difficult early, but the ground dried out as the game went on, allowing more open play.
The game changed after a frantic first five minutes — where Hill gave the Magpies a hot start with two goals — when Collingwood’s Brayden Maynard collided with Melbourne’s Angus Brayshaw, knocking him out.
He was taken off and Maynard was put on report.
Collingwood dominated the play but missed several chances from set shots in the opening quarter.
But when Jack Crisp nailed a kick from 50 and then Darcy Cameron converted from close range after a contested mark late in the first term, the Pies led by four goals to one, 26-6 at the first break.
Brody Mihocek kicked the Magpies’ fifth in the second term, putting the lead out to 27 points.
But the Demons finally got another on the board halfway through the quarter, with Kysaiah Pickett kicking a goal after taking a juggled mark.
The Pies still led by 17 points at the long break.
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The Demons had a chance within 40 seconds of the restart, but Joel Smith missed a long kick from 50.
Melbourne had more of the momentum, but Collingwood managed to answer all challenges. A four goal to two third quarter left the Magpies 25 points clear at the end of the term.
The Demons needed to hit hard and early, and they did exactly that with goals to Joel Smith and Tom McDonald in the first five minutes of the final term.
The intensity of the game lifted again, and when the Magpies made their sub, bringing on Jack Ginnivan, there was a huge roar from the crowd.
Repeat inside 50s from Melbourne were tiring out the Collingwood defence, but Bayley Fritsch shanked a kick for goal that would have brought them within seven points.
Fritsch made up for it with less than three minutes to go, as he dribbled a shot home to give the Demons hope.
But the tiring Magpies held on, with their fans cheering to the rafters when the siren went.
Collingwood get a week off and will host a preliminary final at the MCG in a fortnight’s time.
Melbourne will now face a cut-throat semifinal next weekend against the winners of the Carlton-Sydney elimination final.
Look back at all the action as the game unfolded in our blog.
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Collingwood vs Melbourne
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By Dean Bilton
That’s it for tonight
We’ll leave the blog here for the night, but rest assured we’ll be back on the blog for every single final this September. Next up is Carlton’s return to the finals tomorrow night, as they take on last year’s beaten grand finalists Sydney.
Until then, thanks for your company tonight and hope to see you again soon. Enjoy the evening, Pies fans.
By Dean Bilton
The skipper soaks it up
What a player Darcy Moore is. He was gargantuan in the last quarter, soaking up all the presure and standing tall for his team.
By Dean Bilton
A big night for Isaac Quaynor
An absolute rock in defence, as always. This grab the highlight of his big evening.
By Dean Bilton
Brayden Maynard has spoken after the game
In an interview with Channel Seven, he spoke about the incident with Angus Brayshaw.
“I don’t want to say too much, but it’s a footy act. I came forward, I jumped to smother the ball and yeah, unfortunately I just got him on the way down.
“So I don’t know. We’ll have to wait and see what happens. But it’s all love. I absolutely love that guy to bits. So yeah, it’s shattering what happened.”
By Dean Bilton
FULL-TIME: Collingwood win by seven points! The Pies are into a prelim!
And breathe. What a finish.
Collingwood are through to a preliminary final, holding off a Melbourne charge by hook or by crook to grasp desperately onto a seven-point win.
The Pies started like a house on fire, building a lead before the Dees had even got off the bus. But the Melbourne fight back came, slowly at first and then all at once in that last quarter. Lesser teams would have relented, but led by Moore and Quaynor and Murphy, the Collingwood defence stood strong.
The Dees will be kicking themselves tonight due to the chances they torched in the second half, but they don’t have long to feel sorry for themselves. They’ve got either Carlton or Sydney back here at the MCG next weekend, and then it really will be do or die.
But tonight is Collingwood’s, as the noise from the crowd tells us in no uncertain terms. What an occasion, what a win for Collingwood.
By Dean Bilton
1′: Pies are going to win!
It hasn’t been pretty, and they’ve ridden their luck, but the Pies faithful is about to erupt …
By Dean Bilton
2′: What are Melbourne doing?
May won a free kick on centre wing, kicked it sideways. Next ball went short. Next ball went short. Eventually it ended up back on the original wing with Gawn, and his little chipped ball was turned over.
Now it’s Collingwood’s ball and they will kill the clock to victory.
By Dean Bilton
3′: Pickett had a chance!
He had a snap on goal after winning the crumb, but missed the lot. Even a point would have been useful there.
By Dean Bilton
3′: Fritsch goals! It’s not over yet!
Finally the Dees find a way through, and typically it came from Petracca winning the ground-ball at half-forward. Fritsch wasted no time after outmarking Moore, dribbling home the goal.
Seven points the margin, 2:47 on the clock. Hold on to your hats.
By Dean Bilton
5′: Pies turning this into a scrap
They’ve burned a few minutes, which is just as valuable as hitting the scoreboard at this point.
Time ticking for Melbourne, Pies are about four minutes away from a prelim.
By Dean Bilton
7′: Rivers lets fly from 50 now…
Out on the full. The tale of the tape tonight might end up being Melbourne’s wastefulness after half-time.
By Dean Bilton
By Dean Bilton
10: Bayley Fritsch marks!
He will kick from just inside 50.
For Melbourne, it has to go through. They are absolutely charging here, but need the scoreboard reward …
It’s a shank! A shank to end all shanks! Maybe the worst kick of the year! Out on the full, my goodness.
By Dean Bilton
10′: Sparrow is nearly through …
But the tackle from Pendlebury saves the day! Pies are living on the edge, but hanging on for now.
By Dean Bilton
12′: Ginnivan is about to be subbed on
Not sure who is coming off yet (I reckon it’ll be Cameron personally), but Jack Ginnivan gets a mighty roar as he enters the game.
Confirmed it is Darcy Cameron off.
By Dean Bilton
14′: McDonald will line up from the pocket
Christian Petracca is lifting like crazy here. He won a free kick for in the back, purely thanks to his charging effort through a pack. Now McDonald gets his chance from the pocket … but misses it.
Demons can’t afford to waste many more, if any at all.
By Dean Bilton
14′: Two big defensive efforts from Moore
The first was to spoil Tom McDonald, the second was to touch Oliver’s shot on the goal line. The skipper is stepping up, but his team is under the pump.
By Dean Bilton
16′: Bobby Hill snaps for number four
But misses this time. Lead is 15 points.
By Dean Bilton
16′: Dees rush a behind
Collingwood get it deep at the first opportunity, and force some nervy moments for Lever. Demons survive the scare.
By Dean Bilton
17′: Smith kicks it! The Dees are coming!
Now then! Two for Melbourne within three and a half minutes! It’s a 13-point game and the red and blue have belief!
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