It was West Coast’s gutsiest flag but heartbreaking for Collingwood, writes Mark Robinson
IT WAS tantalisingly close. It was breathtakingly tense. But in the end heartbreaking for Collingwood as West Coast claimed its most gutsy premiership, writes Mark Robinson.
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THE greatest Collingwood story became one of its greatest horror stories after losing Saturday’s Grand Final by a gut-churning five points.
It was tantalisingly close.
It was breathtakingly tense.
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And, in the end, heartbreaking for Collingwood.
For 2018 premiers the West Coast Eagles it was exhilaration and full of substance.
They came from five goals down at the 22nd minute of the first quarter and eventually, courageously hit the lead with one minute and 45 seconds to play in the final quarter, when Dom Sheed kicked the go-ahead goal.
The mark will be a huge talking point after teammate Willie Rioli manhandled Brayden Maynard, which allowed Sheed to mark the ball.
Controversial? For sure.
Wrong by the umpire? Perhaps.
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What can be done about it? Absolutely nothing.
More the point, is how did Collingwood get five goals in front and blow when both teams kicked only 11 goals in the Grand Final?
That’s for coach Nathan Buckley to dissect.
History should record Saturday’s win as West Coast’s most gutsy premiership, not withstanding the thrilling one-point win against Sydney in 2006.
That game was a slog-fest throughout. This game was also slogfest, all the while with the Eagles largely needing to play catch-up football.
The scores were level at three-quarter-time on the back of an Elliot Yeo goal and when Brodie Mihocek and Adam Treloar kicked the first two goals of the final quarter inside two minutes, the MCG was rocking and rolling to the famous “Collingwoooooood” chant.
Yet the Eagles weren’t to be denied.
Nathan Vardy kicked a goal, Mason Cox responded, Josh Kennedy responded to Cox’s goal, and then ensued 20 minutes of some of the most intense football played on Grand Final day.
Then enter Dom Sheed.
Behind by two points with opportunities scarce, Sheed, a left-footer, marked the ball near the Punt Rd pocket in the Southern Stand.
It was the moment of his lifetime.
With 100,022 at the ground mesmerised by the man with the ball, and millions more watching on TV, Sheed conquered whatever fears he held.
His approach was calm, the ball drop perfect and the spin of the ball pure — and the umpire barely moved.
The goal gave West Coast the lead and while the Pies defended with every ounce of will and effort in the final quarter, they couldn’t respond on the scoreboard.
Still, there were anxious moments.
There might’ve been another Herschelle Gibbs moment (Steve Waugh’s famous “dropped the World Cup” sledge) when Jack Darling dropped a mark while alone in the goalsquare in the final minute.
The imagery of 2015, when he dropped a similar simple mark against Hawthorn, could not be ignored.
This time, the consequences were erased.
The kick-in was found by Luke Shuey, who marked and with composure practically ran down the clock.
Shuey was the Norm Smith Medallist.
He finished with 34 disposals, 19 contested possessions, nine tackles, eight clearances, eight inside 50s, a goal and six score assists.
It is the CV of a best-on-ground performer.
Long regarded as stylish and damaging midfielder, he elevated himself to elite status in the highest-stakes game of the season.
Darling was magnificent after half-time, Sheed continued his incredible renaissance as a player with yet another standout final and Josh Kennedy kicked three goals and took 11 marks.
Another winner was Tom Barrass, who kept Mason Cox quiet in the first half, allowed the big fella to threaten in the second half, but still finished with 10 marks and winning 15 disposals.
For what it’s worth, my votes were three to Shuey, two to Taylor Adams and one to Sheed.
Adams might not be the most equipped footballer, but he has energy and heart and never waivers.
The loss killed what would’ve been a momentous season for Collingwood.
It makes it two Grand Finals losses for Nathan Buckley as a player and his first loss as coach, but in defeat on football’s greatest day emerged a team of substance.
To finish so close earns widespread respect, but the defeat will stay with Buckley and his players until they get their opportunity again.
The Eagles controlled most of the final quarter.
After Kennedy kicked the goal to make it five points the difference, the Eagles’ Liam Ryan clipped the post twice with two kicks at goal. A Kennedy shot for goal landed in the goal square and was forced through. And just before Sheed did his deed, Chris Masten pulled left a set shot at goal.
They inched towards victory until Sheed delivered it.
It could’ve been so much different.
The Eagles were jittery in the first quarter as opposed to a rampant Collingwood.
The Pies kicked the first five goals, the first via Travis Varcoe. Was it for his sister Maggie? You betcha.
Then there were goals to Jaidyn Stephenson, Stephenson, Jordan De Goey and Will Hoskin-Elliott. Briefly, it was Collingwood by how much?
The turning point came late in the first quarter. Goals to Rioli and Kennedy marked the scoreboard, but the Eagles started to halve key stats with their opposition.
From then, it was a wrestle of emotion, mistakes and opportunity.
Sheed took his, the Magpies missed theirs, and the premiership cup heads west for the fourth time.
What a game it was.
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