WHERE IT WAS WON:
WEST Coast dominated early with Jeremy McGovern impersonating a brick-wall across the half-back line as Collingwood’s forward thrusts were denied and the Eagles held a two-goal lead at the first break. The second term was a different story, as the plucky Magpies, with Adam Treloar and Tyson Goldsack back in the side, reeled in the Eagles kicking 6.1 to 3.4 to hold an unlikely three-point half-time lead. With Steele Sidebottom and Taylor Adams dominating in the engine room and around the ground, Collingwood were able to stretch the lead to 10-points at the last change, but another big-gun, in the form of West Coast forward Josh Kennedy, was also starting to work his way back into the game after returning from a leg injury. Collingwood kicked 2.5 in the third to West Coast’s 1.4 and really should have been further in front. With five minutes remaining in the final term Collingwood still held a slender two-point lead, but the Eagles were coming, spurred on by a raucous home crowd and a rampant Elliot Yeo. Goals to Lewis Jetta, Jack Darling and Jack Redden snuffed out the brave earlier deeds of many Magpies including Brody Mihocek, who overcame McGovern’s first quarter dominance to finish with two goals in his first final. Yeo was best afield as the Eagles progressed straight to the preliminary final, with McGovern and Sheed dominant. Sidebottom, Adams and Sier were all solid for Collingwood.