Geelong produced a strong second-half performance to reach the Grand Final after overcoming a spirited Hawthorn outfit before a monster crowd of 99,567 at the MCG.
It was the largest non-Grand Final attendance since 1971, with MCC Members having to turn away desperate supporters who wanted to get in and see the action.
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They certainly didn’t have it all their own way and were up against it in the early stages as the Hawks, looking to become the first ever side in AFL history to make the big one from an eighth position finish, came out of the blocks well and were up and about.
Mitch Lewis (pictured below), recently back in the line-up having been plagued by injuries over the last couple of seasons, scored three early goals and proved to be a handful.
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Whilst Nick Watson, nicknamed ‘The Wizard’, was also looking lively and conjured up another bit of magic with a fantastic strike from right out on the boundary.
The Cats were also dealt a significant blow, losing key defender Tom Stewart to a concussion, which unfortunately will rule him out for next week due to the protocols, following a tackle from Maribol Chol that has since earned him a three-game ban.
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Despite that setback, they were able to work their way into the contest, really took control in the third quarter to pull away, and from there never looked back.
Captain Patrick Dangerfield (pictured below) was the catalyst with a sensational display that included 31 disposals, eight clearances, five marks, three goals and 564 metres gained.
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The 8 x All-Australians’ effort made it the fourth-highest player rating in a final, in the last ten years, as well as the highest-rated game in the previous three finals series.
Speaking on the ground, post-match to Channel 7, he said, “Enormously proud of the guys, it was a hell of a battle. It had its ebbs and flows, it was finals footy wasn’t it, and there is something special about a packed MCG.”
Asked about their slow opening, he responded, “I think a bit of it was self-inflicted with how we turned the ball over across half-forward. A bit of that is their pressure, which was good, but we weren’t as composed as we would have liked, and that wasn’t too hard to rectify, adjust to the contest, and I felt we did that well.”
On his own game, he added, “There is the talk part, and the most important bit is the performance aspect of it, and that starts with you. That is different for all of us, in our respectful roles, and it was good to play one of the big games.”
Bailey Smith (pictured below), playing in his first Prelim, put a difficult week behind him, following a verbal altercation with a female photographer, by racking up a game-high 36 disposals and scored what proved to be the sealer; he certainly enjoyed the moment!
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Despite the loss, a disappointed Sam Mitchell will be pleased at the progress and improvement his squad has made. He has vowed that “we will be aggressive in trying to make our list the best it can be” and be back for another crack next season.
Lions make it through to third straight Grannie
Reigning Premiers Brisbane made it through to their third straight Grannie after coming from behind to run right over the top of Collingwood at another packed ‘G’.
It gained some revenge for the defeat to the same opposition in the fight for the 2023 flag, with coach Chris Fagan (pictured below) admitting in his press conference that they used that as motivation both in the lead-up and during the halftime interval – it did the trick.
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It proved to be a hard-fought, see-saw affair, which saw both teams lose key players to injury in the first half. Veteran Scott Pendlebury, in his 425th game for the Magpies, had a calf tightness issue, whilst Jarrod Berry dislocated his left shoulder.
A run of conceding six unanswered goals meant that the Lions trailed heading into the break, but they came out determined in the third quarter, which proved the key period.
For a young side, with eight players out there 22 years old or under, they showed a great deal of maturity and weren’t fazed by playing in front of 96,023 spectators.
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Typified by Ty Gallop (pictured above), making only his fifth start since coming in for the injured Eric Hipwood, who kicked a career-high three goals and had a night to remember.
The 19-year-old, a product of the club’s academy, was rated best on ground and, in just the space of a whirlwind few months, will now get to play on the biggest stage.
This victory also means that ruckman Oscar McInerney (pictured below) has a chance at another Premiership after heartbreakingly missing out last year with a shoulder injury.
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Talking in the rooms, to Fox Footy, he said, “It’s going to be an exciting week for the footy club, which we’ll embrace. The boys looked really dangerous at the stoppage, and it was so exciting. We have the young boys too, who add a bit of flair as well.”
On Berry’s injury, which could see him miss out just as he did twelve months ago, he added, “The brotherhood is probably our biggest asset at the footy club, so we’ll put our arms around him. I have no doubt that he will give it every cent this week.”
Captain Harris Andrews (pictured below), game-high 13 marks, had a solid game down back and is thrilled that he will get to lead his players out next Saturday against Geelong in what will be the first-ever Grand Final between the two sides in AFL/VFL history.
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Speaking on ground to Fox Footy, the 28-year-old said, “It is unreal. It is a massive win. Obviously coming out here we knew that it was going to be a hostile environment. Pies obviously played well in the first final and we really set ourselves up of the back of last week. So really proud of the boys.”
“Credit to Collingwood, their second quarter was unbelievable, their pressure lifted, and we didn’t handle that well. I thought in the third quarter it was a real arm wrestle early but then we were able to get some ascendency, so it was a great response.”
“We knew that they set up well defensively, we had to be on our game at stoppage and if we get the ball going forward then anything can happen. Credit to our forwards, they were on their toes ready to go, won their fair share. So well done.”
Looking ahead to next week, he said, “We know Geelong are waiting and they touched us up a few weeks ago, so we have to go to school. I am looking forward to that this week. Obviously Grand Final week is not like any other, so we will embrace and enjoy it and get to work at the same time.”
Results
Geelong 17.13 (115)
Hawthorn 13.7 (85)
Collingwood 11.5 (71)
Brisbane 15.10 (100)
AFL finals: Week 4 fixture – Grand Final
Saturday 27 September – Geelong v Brisbane @ MCG (2.30pm)
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