Top four hopes alive for Collingwood after gruelling win over Essendon

Collingwood is in the top four for the moment but the AFL will be eager for the Magpies and Essendon to meet again in the first week of the finals after they produced a thriller at the MCG.

Collingwood forward Brody Mihocek marks in the fourth quarter. Picture: Michael Klein

The AFL would be salivating.

The prospect of a Collingwood-Essendon elimination final is still very much alive after the Magpies won the Round 23 battle of the arch rivals at the MCG.

Some 85,405 attended what might just be the entree to the main meal in two weeks’ time — a game that could have a very different look, feel and taste.

Of course, the Magpies importantly kept themselves in the hunt to finish top-four as they ran out 11-point winners.

But they will be pushed back to fifth spot if West Coast and Richmond both salute over the course of the rest of the weekend.

All that would need to happen then for a Collingwood-Essendon elimination final would be a Western Bulldogs win over Adelaide in Ballarat, dropping the Bombers to eighth spot.

What is for sure is both teams will have very different personnel come week one of finals after injury carnage which left doubts over the availability of Darcy Moore and Michael Hurley.

Jeremy Howe flies for a spectacular mark against the Bombers. Picture: Michael Klein

The bashed-up Bombers had already made six changes at selection — all injured — and were forced to swing a seventh when Cale Hooker was a late withdrawal with a virus.

Despite that, Essendon burnt the Magpies with their pace in the opening term as the put on six goals in a blistering display.

But Collingwood largely got the game back on its terms thereafter, dominating territory and scoreboard as forwards Brody Mihocek (four goals) and Jamie Elliott (three goals) fired.

While certainly not looking as sharp heading into September as they were this time last year, the Magpies are very much capable of still doing some damage.

And they have some handy players still to come back into the side in Jaidyn Stephenson, Steele Sidebottom, Jordan De Goey and James Aish.

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GRUNDY SHINES AGAIN

There is no bigger lock for All-Australian selection next week than Brodie Grundy.

The Collingwood ruckman was named on the bench in last year’s team but has to be the starting ruck this time around.

Grundy put on an absolute clinic again, overworking a sluggish Tom Bellchambers who returned for the Bombers after seven weeks sidelined with a calf injury.

The Magpies’ big man had eight disposals and three clearances in the first 15 minutes and finished with 33 disposals, seven clearances and 35 hit-outs.

He’s going to be a serious weapon come finals.

As for Bellchambers, he has some serious work to do on his fitness over the next two weeks.

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti bursts clear after breaking the tackle of Collingwood’s Taylor Adams. Picture: Michael Klein

WALLA LIGHTS IT UP

Still out of contract for next season, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti’s price tag might have just gone up.

The Essendon forward was nothing short of electric on the big stage at the MCG and, incredibly, had a hand in eight of the Bombers’ first 10 scoring shots.

Commentating the game, Brownlow medallist Chris Judd said McDonald-Tipungwuti was a “top-10 player of the competition” when he is in red-hot form like he was against the Magpies.

It was a big call, but it is hard to argue.

Walla, as he is known, finished with two goals and four direct score assists among his 18 disposals.

The Bombers’ biggest X-factor, he might just be the difference between Essendon winning an elimination final or not.

Essendon debutant Tom Jok takes a mark in the second quarter. Picture: Michael Klein

JOK GETS A TASTE

Essendon debutant Tom Jok took just 20 seconds to get a touch of the leather.

The lightly-framed 22-year-old went on to play in a range of positions around the ground and finished with 12 disposals and five marks.

Jok is quick, a good mark above head and has fast hands in the contest.

The performance is unlikely to keep him in the side come finals, but getting a taste of the big league certainly won’t do him any harm looking towards next year.

SCOREBOARD

COLLINGWOOD 3.1 6.7 8.9 10.16 (76)

ESSENDON 6.2 7.2 9.3 10.5 (65)

GOALS

Collingwood: Mihocek 4, Elliott 3, Thomas, Roughead, Adams

Essendon: Laverde 2, Ham 2, McDonald-Tipungwuti 2, McKernan 2, Brown, Langford

BEST

Collingwood: Grundy, Mihocek, Elliott, Pendlebury, Adams, Mayne, Noble, Treloar

Essendon: McDonald-Tipungwuti, McKenna, McGrath, McKernan, Parish, Merrett

INJURIES

Collingwood: Scharenberg (concussion), Darcy Moore (hamstring)

Essendon: Hooker (illness) replaced in selected side by Hartley, Hurley (shoulder)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Donlon, Hosking, Chamberlain

Official crowd: 85,405 at the MCG

CHRIS CAVANAGH’S VOTES

3: Brodie Grundy (Coll)

2: Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (Ess)

1: Conor McKenna (Ess)

Originally published as Top four hopes alive for Collingwood after gruelling win over Essendon