Qualifying Finals
Geelong flexed their muscles and progressed straight through to a Preliminary Final after they put away reigning premiers Brisbane in convincing fashion at the ‘G’.
The bookmakers favourites to lift the cup, on the last Saturday in September, had made life difficult for themselves, in the early going, with some inaccurate kicking.
However, they managed to straighten up to take control of the contest by scoring four majors, inside a three minute spell, and had all the momentum behind them.
Just before the main interval, though, there was some real controversy with one umpire calling a downfield free-kick that ended up leading to a double goal scenario for the Lions, which certainly animated the home supporters and a real talking point.
Credit to the Cats that took it all in their stride, responded by coming out with a blistering start in the third quarter when they really took the match away from the visitors, such was their domination, and went on to run out very worth winners.
They amassed an impressive 60 inside 50s – their most in a finals match since the 2022 Grand Final victory against Sydney – and now have the luxury of a fortnight off before they’re in action again to face the winner of the Crows or Hawks clash.
As for the Queenslanders, they will get another shot at progressing by virtue of their double chance having finished third, next weekend, and take on Gold Coast.
On what proved to be a really dirty night, they will have to do it without their highly influential and two-time Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale as he pulled up with a calf injury – scans confirmed a tear, meaning that he will miss the rest of the campaign.
Superb Magpies advance to a Prelim
Collingwood produced a sensational performance as they travelled interstate and knocked over minor premiers Adelaide before a huge bumper crowd at the Oval.
They might have come into this final series on the back of some shaky form, but certainly put that firmly behind them and were the better side on the evening.
With just a kick separating the two teams, at the main interval, the key and deciding part of this contest came in the third quarter. The Magpies able to really got on top and make it count on the scoreboard with a run of seven consecutive majors.
Captain Darcy Moore (pictured below), who has been patchy, led by example with a fine display in defence as he racked up nine intercept marks, the most ever in a final. In addition he did a good job on keeping Crows 300-gamer Taylor ‘Tex’ Walker pretty quiet.
The decision to manage Jordan De Goey back from an ankle injury, in the lead up, paid dividends as he made a real impact with equal game-high 26 disposals, nine contested possessions, seven tackles as well as having five score involvements.
Even the bold, eyebrow-raising call by coach Craig McRae to bring the experienced Mason Cox worked out as he brought the ball to ground well in marking contests.
Whilst up top Jamie Elliott (pictured above) continued his fine run in front of the big sticks with a game-high four snags, much to the delight of the noisy, away supporters.
The victory means that the oldest line-up to ever contest a final will now get a rest before fronting up, in a fortnight, to take on either the Lions or Suns at the MCG.
Qualifying Final Results
Adelaide 8.7 (55)
Collingwood 11.13 (79)
Geelong 16.16 (112)
Brisbane 11.8 (74)
Elimination Finals
David Swallow scored the winning point, with just nine seconds remaining, as Gold Coast won their first ever final, in club history, by beating Fremantle in a thriller.
Playing in front of the biggest ever crowd of his career (57,507), he was awarded a free-kick, around 50 metres out. Holding his nerve, he then went back and slotted through, cool as you like, to spark wild celebrations amongst the travelling fans.
It was a finish that seemed to be written in the stars following the announcement, earlier in the week, that the 32-year-old midfielder had been re-called to the squad.
The former captain and one of the first ever players to sign for the club, leaving his home in WA at the age of just 17 after its creation back in 2010, had not played since injuring his PCL, in the VFL, but coach Damien Hardwick made the bold decision.
Speaking on ground to Fox Footy, the 248-gamer (pictured above) said “It has been an extraordinary week. The boys played unbelievable tonight and I just had a small part at the end.”
On what the Suns means to him, he replied “It has been my whole adult life living up on the Gold Coast and trying to make a go of it. I know how hard this group works and our fans deserve it, everyone deserves it. So it is a good story.”
The result sets up a mouth-watering Q-Clash against their arch rivals Brisbane, in what will be built up as the biggest ever AFL match in the state of Queensland.
For Freo, who had come in as the strong favourites, they will be devastated to have lost, especially having led with just a couple of minutes to go. Nat Fyfe (pictured below), considered one of the club’s best ever players, was chaired off having announced his retirement.
‘Hollywood’ Hawks win in a classic
Hawthorn had to show all their resilience, in advancing to a semi-final date at the City of Churches, as they managed to overcome a plucky Greater Western Sydney.
In effect they had to win the contest twice having given up a 42-point advantage and actually trailed, early in the fourth, before steading the ship to get over the line.
A strong first half by the visitors, roared on by a large travelling contingent, saw them take their opportunities and put themselves in a strong position at the half-time.
However, a remarkable run of six goals, in just eight minutes, by the Orange Tsunami undone all that good work to set up an intense, edge of the seat last-term.
The final change came at the perfect time for Hawks coach Sam Mitchell to talk to his players. Credit to them in managing to respond, everything on the line, wrestle back the momentum and Mabior Chol (pictured above) sealed it by hitting a couple of late strikes.
There was a reason that the club went hard in the summer to recruit both Josh Battle (pictured below, left) and Tom Barrass (pictured below, right) as they did an excellent job down in defence, alongside captain James Sicily, as the hosts had 72 inside 50s – their most ever in a finals contest.
Josh Weddle might only have played 40 minutes of VFL football on his return, from a stress factor in his back, but the gamble to bring him into the starting line-up paid off as he settled straight into the fold with a good showing and came through unscathed.
It was only their second ever success at Engie Stadium and undoubtedly the most important – they will now travel to Adelaide, on Friday evening, full of confidence.
Elimination Final Results
GWS 13.10 (88)
Hawthorn 16.11 (107)
Fremantle 12.7 (79)
Gold Coast 11.14 (80)
AFL finals: Week 2 fixtures – Semi-Finals
Friday 12 September – Adelaide v Hawthorn @ Oval (7.10pm AEST)
Saturday 13 September – Brisbane v Gold Coast @ Gabba (7.35pm AEST)
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