‘Completely nuts’: Collingwood’s cardiac kids create history

Collingwood have sent the football world into meltdown after pulling off an out of this world after the siren win on Sunday.

Jamie Elliott was the man. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Collingwood have proven once again they’re the masters of escape with an after the siren win against Essendon on Sunday.

Jamie Elliott was the man for the occasion, calmly icing the victory with a shot from the boundary line as the siren rung out to claim the 12.8 (80) to 11.10 (76) victory.

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The win makes it nine in a row for the Pies and launches them into the top four on the AFL ladder.

Their reputation as the cardiac kids of the competition was further enhanced by another nailbiting finish – which launched Craig McRae’s side into the record books.

Jamie Elliott kicks a goal after the siren to win the game. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Jamie Elliott rides it home. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Jack Ginnivan hugs Jamie Elliott. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

No other side in AFL history has won seven games in a row by a smaller cumulative margin, per AFL stats guru @sirswampthing.

The four-point win followed victories against Adelaide (five points), North Melbourne (seven), Gold Coast (five), GWS (11), Melbourne (26), Hawthorn (four) and Carlton (four).

Lowest cumulative margins by V/@AFL sides over a span of 7 straight wins
62 - COLL 2022 R11-18
79 - carl 1912 R13-SF
81 - carl 1937 R15-1938 R03
85 - sth 1932 R04-R10
86 - fitz 1922 R17-1923 R02
86 - melb 1927 R18-1928 R06

@CollingwoodFC

— Swamp (@sirswampthing) July 24, 2022

Essendon’s Harris Jones had a shot from directly in front of goal in the final minute, but his kick drifted and hit the post.

Collingwood launched immediately and got out the back of the Bombers with a long kick inside 50 falling into the hands of Elliott.

As the clock wound down, Elliott went back behind his mark and backed himself in and he delivered in emphatic fashion.

“Nuts, completely nuts,” James Brayshaw said.

JAMIE ELLIOTT AFTER THE SIREN WINS IT FOR COLLINGWOOD FROM THE BOUNDARY!

ABSOLUTE SCENES AT THE MCG! pic.twitter.com/QacWHLkSNp

— 7AFL (@7AFL) July 24, 2022

Essendon will be left kicking themselves in what was a seesawing contest.

The Magpies burst out of the blocks to lead by 37 points at quarter-time, but stopped in the middle two quarters, as the Bombers completely controlled proceedings, and got out to 20 points in front early in the final quarter.

But the Pies found their wings and flew home with Elliott sending the 72,000 fans into raptures and left fans watching on in utter disbelief.

Nah how does Collingwood keep doing this?

— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) July 24, 2022

Holy hell. What a friggin kick on the siren. Incredible, Jamie Elliott.

Sport hey. #AFLPiesDons

— Daniel Garb (@DanielGarb) July 24, 2022

That is the greatest game I have seen in ages.

In any sport.

AFL is actually the greatest sport in the world when it's at it's best.#AFLPiesDons

— JAKE BUCKLEY 🇦🇺 (@TheMasterBucks) July 24, 2022

Jamie Elliot 👏👏👏

— Charles Cameron (@CharlesRanger23) July 24, 2022

The Magpies continued their fairytale run under rookie coach McRae, stringing together their ninth win in a row for the first time since 2012.

And after finishing 17th last year, incredibly they now have their sights on the double chance, although their run home does feature matches against fellow top-four contenders Melbourne, Sydney and Carlton.

However, the incredible win came at a cost for the Magpies who lost star defender Brayden Maynard to a left shoulder injury at three-quarter time.

Essendon also lost star defender Mason Redman at halftime with internal bruising.

After being ambushed in the first quarter by Collingwood who kicked the first six goals, including three to Ash Johnson, the Bombers dominated proceedings, kicking 11 of the next 13 goals and looked as though their late-season giant-killing ways were going to continue.

In fact, the Bombers finished up with sizeable advantages in disposals (365-297), contested possessions (133-117), marks (107-72), tackles (58-47) and clearances (41-26).

However, the 50 minutes of scintillating play from Collingwood that bookended Essendon’s dominance, and featured 10 of the Magpies’ 11 goals, proved the difference.

– with Ronny Lerner, NCA Newswire