The Source: Collingwood fan petition to overturn result of 2018 Grand Final provides cheap laughs

It's been five years since a Collingwood fan petition demanded the AFL overturn their loss to West Coast in the 2018 Grand Final. The detailed document still provides a cheap laugh.

West Coast’s Dom Sheed celebrates after kicking winning goal.

Putting the squeeze on Victoria’s movers, shakers and headline makers.

The extreme passion of Collingwood fans make them an easy target for cheap laughs, so let’s get started.

It’s five years since half of Victoria galvanised in support of an interstate team.

The Source was digging through some old files the other day when it uncovered a Pies petition in the aftermath of their narrow 2018 grand final loss to West Coast.

In short, it demanded the AFL overturn the game’s result because of poor umpiring.

Three key points were cited to back the slightly ambitious submission.

They were:

• That a video replay of a first quarter West Coast goal showed that the ball was touched as it crossed the line.

• A Collingwood behind in the last quarter should have been ruled a goal.

• Brayden Maynard should have been paid a blocking free with two minutes to go in what was a crucial passage of play.

Nathan Buckley embraces Brodie Grundy after the loss. Picture: Darrian Traynor

Mason Cox looks dejected. Picture: Michael Dodge

It goes on to mention Maynard being whacked in the ribs by Liam Ryan, but oddly fails to mention all those last quarter moments when Collingwood could — and perhaps should — have fairly and squarely closed down the game.

“We, as Collingwood supporters, as well as most of the general public, feel that a Grand Final should be allowed to be won on merit and not be awarded as the result of poor umpiring and biases towards clubs and particular players held by the governing body,” the petition thundered.

“We DEMAND (their capitals) that the decisions made on Saturday the 29th September be overhauled and reviewed in their entirety and that either the result reversed or the game declared a no-result and replayed in its entirety at a future date.”

As persuasive as it sounded — given umpiring decisions have never been a talking point at any stage in the “entirety” of football — the 6100 signatures of the petition were not quite persuasive enough.

Them Eagles kept the cup.

Campaign momentum appears to have since stalled. The last petition comment was posted five years ago — at about the same time the boys from Perth were exploring hedonistic post-season trips of triumph.

It can now be revealed that some of those fans posting their support may not have been committed to the cause.

The most recent said: “This is great stuff. I think future Grand Finals should be decided by petition.”

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