HOT PIES STUN TIGERS TO SURGE INTO GF
COLLINGWOOD executed one of the biggest boilovers in AFL finals history and is within one win of its 16th premiership.
The Magpies stunned reigning premier Richmond in last night’s preliminary final, blowing it away in the second quarter and holding on grimly in the last quarter for a 39point triumph.
The 15.7 (97) to 8.10 (58) win ended the Tigers’ record 22game winning streak at the MCG. It rivals Carlton’s famous 1999 win over Essendon as the biggest preliminary final upset in VFL/AFL history.
Giant American Pie Mason Cox was awesome, taking 11 marks and kicking three goals.
Jordan De Goey kicked four goals while midfielder Steele Sidebottom was best afield to continue his outstanding finals series. Tigers key forward Jack Riewoldt was a lone hand with five goals.
A Collingwood grand final berth looked unthinkable 12 months ago, when coach Nathan Buckley survived massive pressure to keep his job. This is Collingwood’s first finals series since 2013 and its first grand final since losing to Geelong in 2011, while its last premiership was in 2010.
Richmond was still a chance in the final quarter, kicking the first two goals of the last term, reducing the margin to a gettable 21 points.
But another big mark from Cox on the wing led to Adam Treloar’s goal at 10 minutes and that ended any hope of a Tigers comeback.
Collingwood was on from the start, taking a 23-point lead at quarter time in a stunning opening. The reigning premiers looked rattled, with Richmond defenders repeatedly making basic errors.
But no one could have predicted what happened next.
Cox lit up the MCG, converting three strong marks into three massive goals in the opening 11 minutes of the second term. He blew the margin out to 42 points and it is surely the first time at any Australian sporting event where local supporters have chanted “USA, USA”.
The Magpies kicked another three goals to add emphasis to the rout, extending their lead to a game-high 53 points in what was dubbed the best footy ever seen from a Pies team under Buckley’s watch.
Dustin Martin, who was on light duties at training this week because of a corked thigh, clearly was not at full fitness and spent much of the first half playing deep in attack.
The halftime margin of 44 points left any Magpies fans who knew their history with some nerves. It was the same advantage that Collingwood had over Carlton at halftime in the famous 1970 Grand Final, which the Blues stormed back to win. But not this time.