Collingwood defy the odds to topple West Coast and secure a semi-finals spot

To complete an enthralling weekend of finals footy, Collingwood have booked a spot in the semi-finals after a nailbiting contest in Perth.

The Collingwood Magpies have defied the odds to secure a gritty one-point victory over the West Coast Eagles in Saturday evening's elimination final in Perth.

The Eagles had not lost any of their seven matches at Optus Stadium this season, but Collingwood were able to muster the win without stars Steele Sidebottom and Jeremy Howe.

The lead was exchanged eight times during the entertaining contest, with the Magpies narrowly ahead 12.4 (76) to 11.9 (75) when the final siren sounded at Optus Stadium.

After West Coast's Jack Darling kicked the opening goal of the match, Collingwood tall forward Mason Cox slotted three consecutive goals in a destructive five-minute blitz.

But neither club was able to maintain a considerable lead after the Eagles fought back in the second quarter.

Jack Darling and Josh Kennedy both snared three goals, while Eagles teammate Liam Duggan dominated the midfield with 16 disposals in the first half.

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West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui provided a moment for the highlights reel, jumping on the shoulders of a Pies rival to claim a stunning mark.

Nic Nat doing Nic Nat things 🙌#AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/SBrxI1H3TO

— AFL (@AFL) October 3, 2020

Collingwood held a 10-point lead at three quarter time, but Liam Ryan scored a major immediately after the break to reduce the deficit to less than a goal.

The home crowd went berserk when young gun Oscar Allen put the Eagles back in front soon after.

After defender Jeremy McGovern was denied a mark inside West Coast's defensive 50, Collingwood's Jordan De Goey booted a stunning goal from a near-impossible angle.

Brody Mihocek kicked his third major of the match with less than six minutes on the clock, and two late Eagles goals to set up the thrilling conclusion.

With Collingwood ahead by one point, the final couple of minutes were unbearably tense, and the Perth crowd were at their loudest during the last 60 seconds.

But the "Dirty Pies" managed to hold, knocking West Coast out of the premiership.

NOT A SINGLE PERSON BACKED US IN

HAHAHAHA pic.twitter.com/ZOdY57kJwO

— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) October 3, 2020

This is just bloody epic

— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) October 3, 2020

The asterisk on this premiership - if it ever really existed - is peeling off fast with the quality of the first set of finals. #AFLEaglesPies

— ron reed (@reedrw) October 3, 2020

Channel 7 commentators James Brayshaw said: "What a story this is. This might be as good a win as Collingwood have had since the 2010 grand final.

"The unwinnable game, Collingwood have won it.

"The travel they had to do, the quarantining they've had to do, the quarantining they've had do, the obstacles they had to get over, quite extraordinary."

Magpies midfielder Taylor Adams told Channel 7 after the game: "It was a great win obviously. To come over here, backs against the wall, to play in front of 30,000-strong West Coast supporters and get the job done was really special.

"Just a great reward for effort, you know. We prepared really well this week. We executed the plan almost perfectly. It's an awesome feeling."

Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury had a cheeky message for his critics after the final siren.

“We’re classified as ‘dirty’ over here and the crowd let us know that tonight,” Pendlebury told Channel 7.

“We’ll happily get out and get back to the Sunny Coast and reacquaint with our family.”

Collingwood's Adam Treloar mustered a game-high 25 disposals, with teammate Taylor Adams also contributing 24.

The Magpies will take on the Geelong Cats in next weekend's semi-final.