I’m shattered, says runner

SHATTERED Collingwood runner Alex Woodward says he is racked with guilt about his part in the goal that put West Coast ahead in Saturday’s grand final.

Woodward said he had been told by coach Nathan Buckley not to blame himself in the emotional moments after the loss.

Woodward, still hoping to restart his AFL career after four knee reconstructions, has been a runner for the Pies between VFL commitments this year amid strong VFL form. But on Saturday while attempting to get out of the way of a Taylor Adams free kick, he unwittingly blocked Jaidyn Stephenson from getting to the ball as it headed in the direction of Eagle Elliot Yeo.

From the replay, Adams’ kick from defence skewed left, but Woodward blamed himself for the Yeo goal that allowed West Coast to surge ahead of the Pies in the third term.

“When it comes to my personality, I am my own harshest critic,” he said. “No one can make me feel any worse than I am right now.

“But this game is a game of inches and I am feeling a lot of guilt, I am still shattered right now. Bucks is an unbelievable character and for him to wrap his arms around me, he said I shouldn’t blame myself.

“I really want to put myself in that head space, but I couldn’t help it. I am still a bit emotional about it.”

Woodward, a former Hawks midfielder, was trying to deliver a message to a Pies player in the central corridor, unaware Stephenson was behind him. Next year AFL runners will almost certainly only be allowed on the field for the 45 seconds after a goal is kicked, so that situation would not arise again.