{"id":292634,"date":"2023-09-30T10:49:49","date_gmt":"2023-09-30T10:49:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports-life-news.com\/?p=292634"},"modified":"2023-09-30T10:49:49","modified_gmt":"2023-09-30T10:49:49","slug":"good-old-collingwood-changed-forever-pies-defy-their-history-to-win-a-close-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports-life-news.com\/rugby-league\/good-old-collingwood-changed-forever-pies-defy-their-history-to-win-a-close-one\/","title":{"rendered":"Good old Collingwood, changed forever: Pies defy their history to win a close one"},"content":{"rendered":"

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In one of the greatest and most spectacular grand finals in the game\u2019s history, Collingwood have overcome their own profligacy, the loss of a key player early, their coach\u2019s wife giving birth <\/span>on game day and a more efficient, also outstanding Brisbane Lions to claim their 16th VFL\/AFL premiership in a game for the ages.<\/p>\n

By hanging in their now customary Houdini manner under Craig McRae to win by four points, this Collingwood team also defied the 131-year-old club\u2019s storied and unique history of losing tense grand finals in unimaginable ways, completing McRae\u2019s reinvention over the past two seasons.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Darcy Moore celebrates with the Collingwood faithful.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Eddie Jim<\/cite><\/p>\n

It is a victory that will arguably change good old Collingwood forever, the Magpies having won the 2010 flag 13 years ago in a grand final replay, before losing to Geelong (2011) then West Coast (2018) by five points. This premiership means they equal Carlton and Essendon on 16 flags since the creation of the competition in 1897.<\/p>\n

The grand final was replete with highlights \u2013 goals, high marks and passages of play that showcased the best of the code.<\/p>\n

It should rate as potentially the best grand final of the 21st century, given the combination of numerous lead changes, fast and skilful passages, extraordinary goals from difficult positions \u2013 the Magpies booted two after the (quarter- and half-time) siren \u2013 and plot twists. It pitted two great teams who simply refused to buckle in the 29-degree furnace.<\/p>\n

And the presentation \u2013 with appropriate gracious concession and victory speeches by Harris Andrews and Darcy Moore \u2013 contained a major surprise when McRae revealed that his wife Gabrielle had given birth to a daughter on game morning (7.45am). \u201cToday was already the best day of my life because my wife gave birth,\u201d said the coach, who was at the hospital for his daughter\u2019s arrival.<\/p>\n

While the Lions and their admired coach Chris Fagan will be inconsolable and rue dozens of moments, the Lions were superb, too, stretching Collingwood to the final seconds, having squandered a final foray with a little over a minute remaining. Lachie Neale was awarded a free kick, but the umpire handed them an advantage that wasn\u2019t when Zac Bailey kicked weakly forward.<\/p>\n

Bailey had earlier kicked two first-quarter goals that were outlandish for skill execution under duress.<\/p>\n

All told, Collingwood won their three finals in 2023 by an aggregate of 12 points.<\/p>\n

On Saturday, Collingwood led at every change but lost the lead several times during the game, 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.<\/p>\n

While Bobby Hill\u2019s four goals in the first half \u2013 and ability to find space \u2013 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 in around the ball, enabled the inaccurate Magpies to hang on and secure a parlous four-point victory.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Jordan De Goey celebrates with the crowd.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Paul Rovere<\/cite><\/p>\n

Pendlebury\u2019s 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 50m penalty on the wing that put Sidebottom on the edge of his range.<\/p>\n

Sidebottom, based on his history, did not seem to have the legs to boot the goal, but the 15-year club great took the kick and somehow \u2013 despite the heat of the day and the frenetic pace of the previous two hours \u2013 summoned enough strength to clear the goal line, triggering the loudest roar of the day, aside from the final siren.<\/p>\n

Joe Daniher\u2019s retort \u2013 created by Hugh McCluggage\u2019s wonderful work on the boundary line \u2013 kept the Lions alive and ensured that the McRae Magpies would, once again, have to reprise their survival drill, forcing contests, ball-ups and some chip kicks to run down the clock.<\/p>\n

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 first quarter of this epic, the footy gods had donned the black and white this September. For evidence, look no further than Collingwood\u2019s escapes against Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney, not to mention Brayden Maynard\u2019s avoiding AFL suspension at the tribunal for a contentious incident that left Angus Brayshaw knocked out.<\/p>\n

Hill, who was traded by GWS last October for a bargain of a 2023 second-round pick, encapsulated another important change within Collingwood \u2013 the Do Better<\/em> report on racism released in 2021 that had triggered a reckoning for the Magpies, who, despite Leon Davis and Andrew Krakouer\u2019s talents, had not experienced an Indigenous player taking over a grand final until this day.<\/p>\n

If it cannot be asserted that Hill would not play for Collingwood without that reckoning, it can be said 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 a key moment, and while he missed his shots in the second half, there was no question that he would win the medal \u2013 even if the Lions had managed to get up in that last minute.<\/p>\n

Hill aside, Collingwood\u2019s most influential players were generational footballers, separated by 15 years.<\/p>\n

Pendlebury\u2019s 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 third term \u2013 via Hill\u2019s vision \u2013 to regain Collingwood the lead at a time when they risked losing the game due to wasted chances.<\/p>\n

The other smooth operator to exert consistent influence was Nick Daicos, who booted the game\u2019s first goal, created Jack Crisp\u2019s major on the half-time siren and completed a jumping handball to De Goey that delivered the final lead change.<\/p>\n

Another Collingwood recruit from the last post-season, Tom Mitchell, also excelled in the midfield trenches and answered his critics, who questioned his position in the side. Mitchell often forced contests in close-in scrimmages.<\/p>\n

In the absence of McStay, McRae had made the bold move of picking journeyman Billy Frampton to essentially play a negating role on Brisbane key intercepting tall back Harris Andrews; Frampton, who is no one\u2019s idea of a key forward, did not have a disposal until the third quarter, did not take a mark and fluffed an easy one.<\/p>\n

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 next player who missed the flag.<\/p>\n

Keidean Coleman had been Brisbane\u2019s most effective performer in the first half, garnering 13 disposals alone in the first term and setting up the Lions with his kicking. But Coleman\u2019s output waned, as with many Lions in the second half.<\/p>\n

McCluggage was among the Lions who kept on in the second half. Joe Daniher was another, booting three goals and leading with purpose.<\/p>\n

Murphy, who had blurry vision and had a resume that counted several concussions, would later reveal to this masthead that he had ruled himself out at quarter time.<\/p>\n

In a grand final that broke the Collingwood mould, tens of thousands would concur with McRae\u2019s assessment that this was the best day of their life.<\/p>\n

Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. <\/i><\/b>Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

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