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On Saturday,Collingwood led at every change despite losing the lead several times,regaining it for the final time with fewer than five minutes left,via a super piece of play by wunderkind Nick Daicos that was finished off by the brilliant Jordan De Goey.
While Bobby Hill’s four goals in the first half – and ability to find space –rightly earned the former Giant the Norm Smith Medal,the Magpies were led by their generational champion Scott Pendlebury,the 35-year-old whose composure in the second half and work around the ball enabled the inaccurate Magpies to hang on and secure a parlous four-point victory.
Pendlebury’s long-time lieutenant Steele Sidebottom booted a stunning goal from outside 50 metres with four minutes and 23 seconds on the clock,after Lion Jarrod Berry gave away an ill-timed 50-metre penalty on the wing that put Sidebottom on the edge of his range.
Sidebottom,based on his history,did not seem to have the legs to boot the goal,but the 15-year club great took the shot and somehow – despite the heat of the day and toll of the previous two hours – summoned enough strength to clear the goal line,triggering the loudest roar of the day,aside from the final siren.
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Joe Daniher’s retort – created by Hugh McCluggage’s wonderful work on the boundary line – kept the Lions alive and ensured that the McRae Magpies would,once again,have to reprise their survival drill of forcing contests,ball-ups and deploying chip kicks to run down the clock.
While Collingwood had misfortune in losing key forward Daniel McStay to a knee injury in their preliminary final heart-stopper and then concussed defender Nathan Murphy late in the grannie first quarter,the footy gods had donned the black and white this September. For evidence,look no further than Collingwood’s escapes against Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney,not to mention Brayden Maynard’s avoiding AFL suspension at the tribunal for a contentious incident that left Angus Brayshaw knocked out.
Hill,who was traded by GWS last October for a bargain of a 2023 second-round pick,encapsulated another important change within Collingwood – theDo Better report on racism released in 2021 that had triggered a reckoning for the Magpies,who,despite Leon Davis and Andrew Krakouer’s talents,had not experienced an Indigenous player taking over a grand final until this day. Hill had been inspired bywatching Cyril Rioli highlights.
If it cannot be asserted that Hill would not play for Collingwood without that reckoning,it can be that he came to a club that had made a sincere effort to improve the environment for First Nations players. His tackle of Brandon Starcevich on the outer wing in the final quarter was important,as was his speccy that produced a second-quarter goal. There was no question that he would win the medal,even if the Lions got up.
Hill aside,Collingwood’s most influential players were generational footballers,separated by 15 years.
Pendlebury’s contribution,as a de facto on-field coach,went well beyond statistical output,which was still impressive (24 disposals,six clearances). He controlled the tempo of the game late and booted a critical goal late in the third term – via Hill’s vision – to regain Collingwood the lead at a time when they risked losing due to wasted chances.
The other smooth operator to exert consistent influence was Nick Daicos,who booted the game’s first goal,created Jack Crisp’s major on the half-time siren and completed a jumping handball to De Goey that delivered the final lead change.
Another Collingwood recruit from the last post-season,Tom Mitchell,also excelled in the midfield trenches (13 tackles) and answered critics who’d questioned his position in the side.
Without McStay,McRae had made the bold move of picking journeyman Billy Frampton to play a negating role on Brisbane intercepting tall back Harris Andrews;Frampton,who is no one’s idea of a key forward,did not have a disposal until the third quarter,took zero marks and fluffed an easy one.
Yet he provided the contest that Pies craved and contained Andrews,at least for the first half. The result will vindicate the decision,much as it would hurt John Noble,the luckless 24th man who didn’t play.
Keidean Coleman had been Brisbane’s most effective performer in the first half,garnering 13 disposals in the first term and setting up the Lions with his kicking. But Coleman’s output waned,as with many Lions in the second half.
McCluggage was among the Lions who kept on in the second half. Daniher was another,booting three goals and leading with purpose. Brownlow medallist Neale was relatively quiet.
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Bailey had earlier kicked two first-quarter goals that were outlandish for skill execution under duress.
Murphy,who had blurry vision and a résumé that counted several concussions,would later reveal that he had ruled himself out at quarter-time.
In a grand final that broke the Collingwood mould,tens of thousands would concur with McRae’s assessment that this was the best day of their life.
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