Collingwood’s Dan McStay shamed after butchering golden opportunity

Collingwood forward Daniel McStay has delivered the miss of the season in a moment that left legends and fans of the game in disbelief.

Collingwood forward Daniel McStay was looking for the nearest hole to hide in during the Pies’ six-point win at the MCG on Friday night.

The Pies were locked in a close battle with the Western Bulldogs when McStay found himself on the end of a brilliant passage of play.

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After slicing the Dogs apart through the middle of the ground, the ball ended up in the hands of McStay who found himself in a paddock of space only 30 metres from goal.

With no defender close, McStay looked destined to slot through his second goal of the contest before it all went horribly wrong.

Instead of putting it through the big sticks, the forward tried to do the team thing and deliver the ball to Tim Membrey who was standing alone in the goalsquare.

The kick however missed the target with Membrey ultimately left helpless as he watched the ball slide through for a behind.

Watch the horror miss in the video player above

Membrey could do nothing but watch as the ball went past him. Credit: Fox Footy.

“They made a mess of it!” Fox Footy caller Anthony Hudson stated. “A big ‘M’ mess!”

“Unforgivable, really,” Garry Lyon said. “He had too many options.”

Jason Dunstall added: “He tried to do the right thing and pass it to Membrey and shanked it!”

Fans watching on were quick to lay the boots into McStay with many quickly labelling the shank the miss of the year.

AFL Today AU’s Alex Donnelly wrote on X: “That could be up there with the miss of the season by Collingwood.

“Blew a certain goal by allowing Cox & McStay to try and think/work.”

One wrote: “Clanger of the year Daniel McStay.”

A third added: “Just gotta drill that McStay. So frustrating. We are our own worst enemy.”

A fourth wrote: “McStay miss of the season.”

McStay couldn't believe what he'd done. Credit: Fox Footy.

Thankfully for McStay the costly blunder didn’t come back to haunt the Pies as they secured the 10.16 (76) to 10.10 (70) victory.

The contest remained a seesawing affair all the way through until the final siren with Steele Sidebottom kicking the final goal of the contest that put a nail in the Dogs’ coffin.

The win makes it two in a row for Collingwood after they were questioned following a horror display in their opening round clash against the GWS Giants.

For the Bulldogs they walked off the ground dejected knowing they had a golden opportunity to have a perfect start to the season.

Despite the loss, the footy world was left fawning over the meteoric rise of young Dogs star Sam Darcy, who finished with four goals from 15 disposals.

Originally published as Collingwood’s Dan McStay shamed after butchering golden opportunity