AFL Grand Final: Collingwood wins premiership, denying Brisbane Lions in classic
Craig McRae says his Collingwood players manage moments ‘better than anyone I’ve ever seen’. And with the grand final in the balance, a young star proved him right.
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When Nathan Murphy went down the steps to the changerooms with five minutes remaining in the opening quarter, Collingwood’s world was about to get a lot harder.
They were the one set of steps coach Craig McRae had deliberately not spoken about 10 months earlier when he set the tone for the 2023 season with a special training session at the MCG.
McRae got his players to run up the steps at the top level of the Shane Warne Stand for 30 minutes in their last training session of 2022. Then he told them the meaning behind the exercise.
Collingwood needed to “take the steps” to realise their flag dreams and not take any shortcuts like an elevator or escalator.
He had got the idea from a London tube station when he saw a commuter climbing steps instead of the escalator like everyone else.
Post-match, McRae said a premiership was the ultimate reward after “two years of good habits and acting like winners every day and trying to improve ourselves”.
“We’re not standing still in what we’re trying to do, and then in the end it was incredible management of moments,” McRae said.
“That’s probably the storyline of this team. They know how to manage minutes better than anyone I’ve ever seen in the game.”
McRae stopped short of declaring the knowledge that his players were equipped for the game’s biggest moments as the ultimate validation as a coach, but he credited their ability to “know what to do”, particularly in the dying minutes as Brisbane surged with veteran stars Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom stepping up.
“They’ve got 30 seconds to go? We don’t have to say anything, they’ve practiced it and they do it and they coach each other out there,” he said.
“Just little things that win big games. And this has been our story.
“You create habits for these moments. But I’m not going to take all the credit … our coaches, our support staff. We set these players up so well. We rock up here on a match day with so much trust and belief in the group, because we’ve set them up really well. Then you go, ‘Just go play’.”
In a pulsating first half of the grand final, Collingwood and Brisbane had gone step-for-step, with just one goal separating them at the main break.
From there it was going to be about who made the fewest missteps.
At the 11-minute mark of the third quarter Oleg Markov took too many steps on the mark, was penalised 50m and handed Hugh McCluggage a goal.
Five minutes later Jack Ginnivan took too many steps, taking an impossible dribble shot from the boundary line when he should have centred to two free teammates in front of goal.
A minute later Patrick Lipinski didn’t take enough steps to settle and a shot for goal sailed out of bounds.
Brisbane then quickly transferred the ball to the other end, where Deven Robertson got on the end of it in the goal square for a simple goal and a three-point lead.
Scott Pendlebury never takes any wrong steps, and the Pies were back in front at the 27-minute mark after he nailed a set shot from 30m.
But a minute later Beau McCreery took too many steps and over-cooked a simple short pass to an open Jamie Elliott which would have set up another Pies goal.
Bobby Hill hadn’t put a step out of place all day, kicking four first-half goals but at the three-minute mark of the final term he made the goal umpire take too many steps, missing a set shot he hadn’t looked like missing earlier in the day.
When Brayden Maynard and Isaac Quaynor took the wrong steps and opened the door for a Charlie Cameron snap goal at the 18-minute mark, the Lions were back in front with just over five minutes left.
Jordan De Goey has taken lots of wrong steps throughout his career – a couple of times he has been one step away from being flicked by Collingwood – but at the 20-minute mark of the last quarter he took two of the most important steps of his life.
A quick Nick Daicos handball saw him 52m out and off two steps he unloaded a perfectly executed drop punt. The Pies were back in front.
Two minutes later Jarrod Berry took two extra steps he shouldn’t have, cannoning into Steele Sidebottom after he’d taken a mark. The 50m penalty put the Pies veteran in range and he brilliantly nailed it.
Surely that was enough, but at the 27-minute mark the boundary umpire decided Lions midfielder Hugh McCluggage hadn’t taken one step too many (the replay suggested something different) with his scrambled kick landing in Joe Daniher’s lap.
Brisbane’s full-forward quickly played on and snapped the goal. With 90 seconds remaining on the clock the difference was now only four points.
There were plenty of right or wrong steps which followed, but again the one step which stood out in the craziest most insane part of the grand final was again delivered by the younger Daicos.
He gained possession and instead of panicking, somehow paused, took one step and delivered the perfect pass to Will Hoskin-Elliott 15m away on the wing. It was a thing of beauty.
“He looked out wide, which is one of our set plays,” Hoskin-Elliott said about the moment.
“It was pretty special and that is the good thing about our team, even the most talented guys stick to our structure.”
Up in the coaches’ box, Collingwood football boss Graham Wright nodded his head in approval. Normally the Pies would have already killed off the game – 10 points up with three minutes to go. Thankfully, Daicos had just done it.
“It changed the game, it just closes the game down,” Wright said. “We planned for it, that doesn’t mean it is going to come off, but we do a lot of planning around those things.”
From there, with Pendlebury directing traffic and what steps his teammates needed to take, the premiership was Collingwood’s.
Fifteen minutes later, McRae took the four steps he’d been dreaming about since he took over the job two years earlier. That was up to the dais for the premiership cup presentation.
He then dropped a bombshell, revealing his wife Gabrielle had taken the right step and given birth to a baby girl that morning.
“That’s one of the best games I have ever been involved in,” McRae said.
He then looked over at the Shane Warne Stand and smiled. The steps.
Scroll down to recap the action as it happened on an incredible grand final day.
MAGPIE CELEBRATIONS
Collingwood’s victory lap is getting off to a very slow start. They are going to enjoy this!
FLY’S BIG DAY
Collingwood coach Craig McRae has dropped some news in his grand final speech: “Today was already the best day of my life because because my wife gave birth to a little girl this morning at 7.45.”
NORM SMITH MEDAL WINNER
Chris Judd has presented the Norm Smith Medal for best on ground to Bobby Hill.
The former GWS goalsneak kicked four goals and finished with 18 disposals and five tackles.
Accepting the medal, he said: “To the Collingwood faithful, I love you. Up the Pies!”
DARCY MOORE SPEAKS
Collingwood premiership captain Darcy Moore’s first thoughts after the siren: “So surreal. I grew up a Collingwood supporter. I was here in 2010, 2003, 2002, in the stands and it feels surreal, it is just bizarre.
“So much work goes in for so long, so much has to go right to pull it off today. And we did it.”
Asked what was running through his mind in the final minutes, Moore told Channel 7:
“Just incredible. It was fun to play. I’m sure it was fun to watch.
“We said at halftime what an incredible game it is. Hill, unbelievable. Jordy’s goal. Steele’s goal, incredible and Brisbane were just unbelievable all day.
“They just kept coming at us. I’m lost for words.”
Meanwhile, Jordan De Goey declared it was “the greatest moment of my life”.
“I’ve been through so much shit with the media and everything … guys I absolutely love you … every single one of you (the crowd).”
PIES WIN
Incredible - Collingwood are premiers!
NO WAY
Joe Daniher keeps the Lions alive!
Hugh McCluggage somehow keeps the ball in play – did it cross the boundary line? – and centres to Daniher, who plays on from 25m out and makes no mistake.
Pies by four points with 01:33 to play.
THE BIG STEELE?
Has steele Sidebottom iced Collingwood’s 16th premiership?
The Magpies veteran settled and kicked dead straight from just outside 50m after receiving a 50m penalty on the wing.
Jarrod Berry was the offender, tackling Sidebottom to the ground after a chest mark.
PIES IN FRONT!
Just 20 seconds later Nick Daicos finds Jordan De Goey in some space on the 50m line and he slams home an incredible goal.
Is this the best grand final ever?
CHARLIE!!!!
With the clock ticking down and tensions rising, Charlie Cameron has swooped on a loose ball to snap truly and put the Lions in front with 05:38 on the clock.
Lions 80 v Pies 78. Wow.
GRAND FINAL CROWD
There are 100,024 fans in the house.
LIONS ACTIVATE SUB
Brisbane has activated its sub with veteran Jarryd Lyons injected into the game with 14 minutes left.
Callum Ah Chee has been subbed off.
Nick Daicos and Joe Daniher have both missed early final-quarter chances.
WE’RE GOING DOWN TO THE WIRE
– Lauren Wood
It’s already being dubbed one of the all-time great grand finals – and there’s still a quarter to go.
But could it be poor kicking that costs the Magpies?
While they’ve kept up the heat to go toe-to-toe with Brisbane, the Lions are proving they are as cool as a cucumber in warm Melbourne conditions when in front of goal.
What could have been half a dozen third-quarter goals to put the Lions away went begging, the Magpies adding six consecutive behinds before former skipper Scott Pendlebury finally found the middle to break the streak.
At three-quarter time, Collingwood has kicked 10.15 to Brisbane’s 11.5 – could it be the difference as they turn for home?
Brayden Maynard missed a set shot from the pocket, while Jack Ginnivan missed a dribbler on the run.
“If I’m a teammate, I’m saying, you’ve got to square that … he never really looked,” AFL Hall of Fame member Dermott Brereton said.
Patrick Lipinski put his kick completely out on the full, with Deven Robertson inflicting revenge off the rebound to put the Lions in front before Mason Cox missed another for Collingwood before Bobby Hill did the same.
Hugh McCluggage has been electric since quarter-time.
The famous “Colling-woooood” chant first rang out with real gusto at the 10:30 mark of the third quarter, but was almost topped by that of the Lions late in the third term.
Brereton lost it when Lions tall Darcy Gardiner appeared to duck into contact with Magpies ruck Mason Cox, drawing a free kick for high contact.
“None of the other umpires are paying it … totally inconsistent umpiring,” he said on SEN.
“That means you can run out there and not actually have to play the game – you just draw the free kicks.”
Collingwood’s record in close finishes is well known, and the Magpies also have a perfect 15-0 record this season when leading at quarter-time.
THE STAND RULE IS BACK
Brisbane has scored the first goal of a tense third quarter thanks to a 50m penalty.
Hugh McCluggage was the beneficiary after Oleg Markov was penalised for moving on the mark on the wing.
The incident came moments after Magpie Brayden Maynard won a holding the ball free kick after crunching Lions defender Brandone Starcevich.
Replays clearly showed Maynard’s forearm cannoning into Starcevich’s head.
He didn’t make the most of his chance with his set shot from the forward pocket hitting the post.
thank gosh maynard missed that bc that was an INSANE call #AFLGF
— jess 🫂 (@hopeurokayyyy) September 30, 2023
That is disgraceful umpiring
— Will Schofield (@WillSchofield) September 30, 2023
BOBBY DAZZLER! PIES HAVE NOSES IN FRONT
Is it too late to award the mark of the year?!
Unfortunately yes for Magpies high-flyer Bobby Hill who took an absolute screamer over Lion Brandon Starcevich, who was blinded by the sun at the Punt Road end.
The play – which sparked a Collingwood fightback after the Lions threatened to break away in the second quarter – was set up beautifully by Pies hard man Brayden Maynard, who threaded the ball through the middle, where Jeremy Howe was waiting and found Hill immediately.
Hill went back and landed the goal to level the scores, and followed up with another – his fourth of the game – soon after, with a twist and a turn to match the brilliance.
He put the Magpies a goal up before Joe Daniher answered to level proceedings, then Jack Crisp booted home a major after the halftime siren to put the Pies a goal up at the main break.
The most astounding stat of the first half has to be Keidean Coleman’s huge impact on territory.
The Lion has 22 touches – four more than any other player on the ground – an a huge 599 metres gained for the match so far, more than double any other player.
GF HEARTBREAK: MURPHY SUBBED OUT
Nathan Murphy has been ruled out of the grand final after a head clash with Lion Lincoln McCarthy.
Murphy, who has a history of concussion, was subbed out in the first moments of the second quarter with Patrick Lipinski into the Magpies’ team as substitute.
Murphy, 23, spent quarter-time in the rooms being assessed under head injury rules, and despite bounding back up the stairs and completing a run-through on the sideline as the second quarter started, was ruled out soon after by the club doctor who reportedly seeing him run off his line.
He appeared devastated on the bench, with his head in his hands, then retreated back to the Collingwood rooms.
Meanwhile, Brisbane has started the second term with quickfire goals to Charlie Cameron and Hugh McCluggage.
QUARTER-TIME: PIE SUFFERS HEAD KNOCK
– Lauren Wood
Collingwood defender Nathan Murphy was taken off for a head injury assessment with four minutes remaining in the first quarter after his chin was collected by accident in a contest with Lion Lincoln McCarthy.
Lions midfielder Josh Dunkley appeared to have finger trouble late in the quarter – with some broadcasters speculating it could be dislocated – but he appeared to adjust it himself and stayed on the ground.
Magpies breaths were held briefly midway through the term when star ballwinner Nick Daicos went down after appearing to twist his ankle but he returned to play immediately.
WHO’S HAD IT?
Keidean Coleman – 13 disposals
Nick Daicos – 8 disposals
Oscar McInerney – 7 disposals
Dayne Zorko, Scott Pendlebury, Tom Mitchell, Josh Dunkley, Joe Daniher – 6 disposals
WHO HASN’T?
Charlie Cameron, Jaspa Fletcher, Billy Frampton – 0 disposals
Callum Ah Chee, Brandon Starcevich – 1 disposal
BAILEY GOES BANG BANG
Zac Bailey settled brisbane’s nerves with a running goal on the boundary line, then topped it with a superb snap after breaking through the Magpies defence.
Meanwhile, Collingwood could turn to sub Pat Lipinski earlier than planned after Nathan Murphy left the field following a heavy head knock.
Jordan De Goey has put a huge exclamation point an action-packed opening quarter with a deadly set shot after the siren to give the Pies a 10-point lead at the first break.
Zac Bailey with two of the best grand final goals you will ever see.
— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) September 30, 2023
Superb. #AFLGF
"In baseball terms, that is outta there baby!"
— AFL Nation (@AFLNation) September 30, 2023
- Dermott Brereton on De Goey's Quarter Time Goal#AFLGF | #AFLPiesLions
DID LION FLOP?
– Lauren Wood
Brisbane forward Eric Hipwood has been accused of “flopping” early in the grand final.
Hipwood was awarded a free kick on the Shane Warne wing for high contact, drawn against Magpies skipper Darcy Moore.
But Hawthorn legend Dermott Brereton reckons it was anything but there.
“He got it under his arm and threw his head back,” Brereton said on SEN in disbelief.
“That’s as good as flopping.”
Collingwood got the early jump on the Lions at the MCG, booting the first two goals to no score before Lion Zac Bailey threaded a beauty from the pocket to get Brisbane on the board.
PIES MAKE PERFECT START
Nick Daicos has the first goal of the grand final!
In a perfect start for Collingwood the young star won a free kick for high contact and didn’t miss from 30m out.
And Bobby Hill adds another less than a minute later.
WE’RE AWAY
The first bounce of the 2023 grand final shows even umpires have GF nerves, with the bounce recalled.
There are some big jobs early with Josh Dunkley starting on Jordan De Goey and Collingwood grand final bolter Billy Frampton given the job of keeping Harris Andrews under control at full-forward.
NOT FAR AWAY!
Both teams are on the ground. Lachie Neale won the toss and Brisbane will kick to the Punt Rd end in the first quarter.
Let’s go!
KISS ROCKS THE G
US rockers Kiss have fired up the crowd with a pyrotechnic-heavy pre-match show featuring their biggest hits.
The reviews on social media were mostly positive, although some felt for the performers in 29-degree heat.
I can feel those burners from 200m away. The blokes on stage must be melting. 🔥 #AFLGrandFinal
— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottlieb) September 30, 2023
Too early to say best ever AFL grand final entertainment? #AGLGF#kiss
— Brendan Carroll (@Brendan_Carroll) September 30, 2023
FINAL TEAMS
Collingwood and Brisbane will go in as named.
Patrick Lipinski is Collingwood’s sub.
Jarryd Lyons will start as Brisbane’s sub.
PIES CLAIM GF WIN No.1
Collingwood has registered one win on grand final day after the Magpies’ AFLW team scored a stirring win over Essendon at Punt Rd. Read full details here.
PLAYERS COMPLETE FINAL MCG WARM-UPS
– Lauren Wood
The early on-ground warm-ups are complete and all roads lead to 2.30pm.
Both Collingwood and Brisbane went through light paces on the MCG as the temperature creeped towards the forecast top of 29 degrees.
Both teams warmed up as selected, while grand final heartbreak story John Noble watched on closely and fed his teammates Sherrins in a tracksuit.
This year’s retirees – minus Lance “Buddy” Franklin – made their way around the boundary line as part of the traditional motorcade, as on-ground preparations continue for international rockers KISS.
Richmond premiership pair Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt shared a car around the ground where they shared so much success together.
KISS rehearsed on Friday afternoon and from all reports the 19-minute extravaganza is blistering, with pyrotechnics a key element.
So much so, that on-ground photographers have been told they have to stay behind the boundary line due to safety.
The Melbourne Cricket Club sold out the additional tickets it permitted restricted members to purchase within an hour of the system being recalibrated following an earlier issue.
Tens of thousands of each team’s fans have descended on Yarra Park and the surrounding areas, with one accessory in common between the two main groups - sunscreen.
PIES EXPLAIN GINNI’S MOONEE VALLEY DASH
Collingwood CEO Craig Kelly says the club has no problems with Jack Ginnivan’s pre-game night at the races, saying “he loves his punting”.
Ginnivan headed to Moonee Valley races on Friday night, hours before playing in an AFL grand final.
The live wire forward popped into the races for a brief period to watch a mate’s horse run less than 24 hours from the biggest game of his life against the Brisbane Lions.
It is understood the forward spent an hour or two at the course and watched the action from the Saintly Suite private box.
“Ginni goes out, he loves his punting, loves his horses. Relaxed night,” Kelly said on Triple M.
“The other night we went to Vlados (restaurant) and had a lovely steak up there and he played one of the best games next week.
“He said we’ve got to do that every night Ned.
“I said I don’t know if that will sit in the soft cap.
“That’s how we roll now. Everyone just chill and relax.
“The players, let them do what they want.”
The 20-year-old was the sub in Collingwood’s first two finals wins but has been promoted to the starting 22 on Saturday.
Ginnivan has played 13 AFL matches this season and was forced to win his spot back in the senior side after a mid-year stint in the VFL.
THE LONGEST AND THE QUICKEST
Geelong speedster Max Holmes has taken out the pre-game sprint ahead of Lion Jaxon Prior and young Demon Jed Adams.
It came as little surprise to those who took their seats at the MCG early, given the premiership Cat was a junior athletics star, running second in the under-18 national 400m hurdles before being drafted in 2019.
Outside the ground, Daniel Rich and Brendan Fevola put on a show for Fox Footy’s Longest Kick.
In what might be a good omen for Brisbane fans, Rich took out the competition with a 69.5 metre torp.
Fevola, however, threw himself in the Yarra.
GRAND FINAL DAY RUN SHEET
How will grand final day play out?
From the grand final sprint to KISS and the bounce of the ball – see when everything will happen at the MCG.
Originally published as AFL Grand Final: Collingwood wins premiership, denying Brisbane Lions in classic
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