‘One of the best finals you will ever see’: Cats pip Magpies in thriller

Geelong have defied their finals reputation and are into a preliminary final after beating Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday in a thrilling match that went down the wire in front of more than 91,000 fans.

It was goal for goal in the final quarter, and you would have missed a lead change should you have blinked – including scores levelling with just over two minutes to go. But it was Max Holmes with the match winner for Geelong in the dying minutes of play.

As has been the case for this finals series so far, it was a fierce tussle between teams with superstars stepping up and making statement displays of fine, crafty footy. You also could not have predicted a thing. While Collingwood lead at every change, it was Geelong that celebrated their 14th consecutive win.

Max Holmes booted the match-winning goal in the dying minutes of the first qualifying final. Credit:Dylan Burns, Getty Images

By the final siren, it came down to chances and second, third, fourth efforts in an incredibly high-pressured game. Collingwood were brave and took more risks, putting up the fighting spirit they’ve become known for of late, but the experience of Geelong won in the end.

Collingwood took control early, locking the ball in their attacking half, setting up well behind the ball and keeping Geelong to just one goal in the opening term. While the Pies began the game cool as cucumbers, the Cats lacked some composure and looked a little jittery, taking the first quarter to settle.

Geelong then found momentum in the second term and took the lead off the boot of Brad Close, getting their nose just in front with three points before Collingwood stole it back moments later. The Pies went into the main break up by one.

Collingwood entered three-quarter time with a seven-point lead, off the boot of Jack Crisp but Close gave Geelong a one-point lead, which despite some change, they kept until the end.

Collingwood’s defence was terrific all game, trapping the ball in their attacking half and moving it quickly on turnovers. Darcy Moore kept half of the one-two punch of Jeremy Cameron and Tom Hawkins fairly quiet, with Hawkins being kept to one touch by quarter time, a kick, and just10 by the final siren.

Jeremy Howe and Brayden Maynard also deserve a nod, forcing turnovers, while the likes of John Noble and the Daicos brothers, Josh and Nick, made it hard for Geelong to transition out of their defence.

In an interesting move from Geelong – the reasoning for which never really revealed itself – Geelong’s veteran stars Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood started three of the four quarters on the bench. When on, they both made an impact, helping to control Collingwood when they began to surge.

Selwood finished the day with 25 disposals and Dangerfield with 22. Mitch Duncan was also prolific, registering 23 disposals, five marks and two tackles.

Tom Stewart was a stalwart in the backline for the Cats and stopped the Pies from getting some goals on the run, while Zach Tuohy and Mark Blicavs held to two and four touches at the main break respectively.

In injury watch, Jake Kolodjashnij was subbed out late in the second quarter with a knee injury, replaced by Mark O’Connor, while Collingwood’s vice-captain Taylor Adams was helped off in the fourth with what seemed like a groin injury. Ash Johnson also was injured in the last quarter.

Taylor Adams was injured in the match. Credit:Michael Willson, Getty Images

GOALS
Geelong: Cameron 3, Rohan 3, Close 2, Hawkins, Duncan, Holmes
Collingwood: De Goey 2, Johnson 2, Lipinski, Mihocek, J. Daicos, Hoskin-Elliot, Crisp, Elliott

BEST
Geelong: Dangerfield, Cameron, Duncan, Selwood, Guthrie.
Collingwood: Pendlebury, De Goey, J Daicos, Moore, Crisp

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