As it happened AFL 2022 round 23: Magpies stun Blues who will miss finals, Bulldogs make final eight, Rutten sacked

Here is the schedule for Week 1 of the AFL Finals Series which was just released by the AFL.

Thursday, September 1
Second Elimination Final, Brisbane Lions vs. Richmond at The Gabba, 7.20pm AEST

Friday, September 2
Second Qualifying Final, Melbourne vs. Sydney Swans at the MCG, 7.50pm AEST

Saturday, September 3
First Qualifying Final, Geelong Cats vs. Collingwood at the MCG, 4.35pm AEST

First Elimination Final, Fremantle vs. Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium, 8.10pm AEST/6.10pm local

The loser of Melbourne and Sydney will play the winner of Brisbane/Richmond in an elimination semi-final in week two.

The loser of Geelong and Collingwood will play the winner of Fremantle/Western Bulldogs in an elimination semi-final in week two.

That was a memorable end to the AFL season and now we get to take a week, enjoy the start of the AFLW season next weekend and then begin what should be a superb finals series the week after.

Thanks so much for joining us throughout the weekend and please stay with us for more AFL news and analysis as we prepare for the final series.

I appreciate the comments and interactions on the blog today and we will join you again very soon.

Bye for now.

Collingwood coach Craig McRae was in disbelief that his team had climbed into the top four after finishing second bottom last season, while Carlton coach Michael Voss told his shattered players to use Sunday’s heartbreaking loss as motivation when they front up next year.

Appropriately it was a win by the smallest margin, one point, over Carlton in front of 88,287 people at the MCG that affirmed the Magpies’ spot in the top four and denied Carlton a place in the finals.

The Magpies celebrate after the final siren in their last-gasp win over Carlton.Credit: Getty Images

The Magpies will play minor premier Geelong in a qualifying final on Saturday September 3 at 4.35pm at the MCG. The Western Bulldogs, who snatched the final spot in the eight, will play an elimination final that night against Fremantle in Perth.

Following a pre-finals bye that will feature the start of the AFLW season, the men’s finals series will kick off on the night of Thursday September 1 when Brisbane Lions face Richmond at the Gabba. And on the Friday night, Melbourne will host the Swans at the MCG.

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Here is the schedule for Week 1 of the AFL Finals Series which was just released by the AFL.

Thursday, September 1
Second Elimination Final, Brisbane Lions vs. Richmond at The Gabba, 7.20pm AEST

Friday, September 2
Second Qualifying Final, Melbourne vs. Sydney Swans at the MCG, 7.50pm AEST

Saturday, September 3
First Qualifying Final, Geelong Cats vs. Collingwood at the MCG, 4.35pm AEST

First Elimination Final, Fremantle vs. Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium, 8.10pm AEST/6.10pm local

The loser of Melbourne and Sydney will play the winner of Brisbane/Richmond in an elimination semi-final in week two.

The loser of Geelong and Collingwood will play the winner of Fremantle/Western Bulldogs in an elimination semi-final in week two.

Carlton coach Michael Voss has backed his side to come back stronger from the disappointment of missing the finals despite being in the top-eight for almost every week of the season.

Voss said his players were hurting after their one-point loss to Collingwood on Sunday.

Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow walk off the field.Credit: Getty Images

“They’re devastated. We didn’t want this season to end, we felt like we had more in us,” Voss said post game.

“Clearly when we were in the position we were we wanted to play finals footy. We fought pretty hard as a footy club for a long period of time to get us back into a place like that, so they’ll feel that.

“We’ve got a lot to like out of that game, but in the end, when it came down to key moments, we couldn’t get it done. That’s going to hurt for a bit.”

Voss said his side had aimed to make the finals and would keep that goal for next season.

“I feel like we’ve been able to create that significant change, but we just don’t walk away with the thing that we really wanted, which was to play finals,” Voss said.

“I don’t mind saying that we had a goal to play finals, that’s OK. Why are we so afraid of being able to say that? We would’ve liked to have gotten there - we’re really disappointed that we haven’t been able to.

“We’ll get back to work and we’ll go pretty hard.”

Essendon say they are determined to be “bold and courageous” on the path to once more being “a successful club”.

It would be nice if they added restoring class and respect to that worthy list, for over the past week they have seriously lacked both.

Essendon CEO Xavier Campbell and president David Barham at the Hangar on Sunday.Credit: Paul Jeffers

The treatment of Ben “Truck” Rutten was appalling. That it took until Sunday to finally be open and honest with him about his future was as classless as it was predictable. Whether Rutten deserved to keep or lose his job is irrelevant to how he was treated. Richmond players and officials treated Rutten (formerly an assistant coach at Tigerland) and final gamer Michael Hurley with more class and respect than the Essendon hierarchy did.

Click here to read the story.

Western Bulldogs players launched into wild celebrations at a function room in Launceston, having sweated on a finals spot for two hours following their round 23 victory over Hawthorn earlier in the day.

Finals-bound coach Luke Beveridge earlier conceded his team hadn’t been close to setting the pace with the premiership favourites throughout 2022, but Collingwood’s one-point win over Carlton at the MCG was enough to tip the Blues out of the eight and for the Dogs to snatch the last spot.

The Dogs jumped around and embraced one another when the final siren blew in the epic Carlton-Collingwood match at the ’G, living to fight another day after a home-and-away season during which they have rarely been able to replicate the form that carried them to last year’s grand final against Melbourne.

AAP

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Sydney have scrambled their way to a finals double chance in a most unfinals-like performance against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.

Needing to win by about nine goals to finish second and claim a home final at the SCG in a fortnight, the Swans were forced to fight desperately, scrambling to a 14-point victory.

Robbie Fox is tackled by Dan Butler.Credit: AFL Photos

Carlton players were shattered as finals slipped from their grasp and Collingwood won a thriller with a late goal.

They also have questions about the fitness of livewire small forward Tom Papley after he was subbed out with concussion.

Trailing by 23 points at the last change, the Saints kicked four goals in the final term to the Swans’ two, with Will Haywood snapping both goals to save John Longmire’s side after St Kilda twice reduced the margin to seven points.

Click here for the story.

Blues coach Michael Voss says his players are devastated but he wants them to take some confidence from their turnaround this season.

Voss has seen big changes in his group and he hopes the pain of missing the finals but percentage will see his side strive even harder next season.

Blues coach Michael Voss.Credit: Getty Images

“I just spoke to them about the process we want through, the game itself, I could throw any number at you and it would be a positive for us,” Voss said.

We were able to wrestle the game back after quarter-time and had most of the game our way. Late they were able to hit the scoreboard and they were inefficient.

“Let’s use how we feel right now as a motivator. When it gets hard through the year or you need to do an extra session, extra recovery you use this as we missed by that much. It was really close.

“We also spoke about the belief we have established in the last 12 months. We had hope of how we wanted to be and new standards for the group.

“We have seen enough this year to know belief is growing in this group and I have got great belief in this group. I don’t know how much heard me as tonight is going to hurt a bit.

“But I also think we shouldn’t forget about that moment either.”

Swans star Isaac Heeney is looking forward to facing Melbourne in the qualifying final.

The Swans beat the Demons at the MCG earlier this season and are keen to do it again.

“Their performance a few nights ago was pretty impressive so we know we need to step our game up to match it with them,” Isaac Heeney told Fox Footy.

“We have belief in the group and we have had a real strong finish to the year, the belief is there.”

The Swans will finish in the top-four and the Saints will finish with yet another close loss in 2022.

Dan Hannebery is being congratulated on his last game as is Dean Kent.

The Swans will face Melbourne Demons in the qualifying final. Dates and times to come.

Sam Reid leaps for a mark.Credit: AFL Photos