The AFL have confirmed the week one finals fixture:
Tasmania will have two finals in week one, the other two in South Australia. Only one side - Port Adelaide- will have true home advantage.
Hope you enjoyed that Bombers and Saints fans.
Here’s to week one of the finals next week (thank goodness the pre-finals bye is gone).
We’ll be back on Friday night for Port Adelaide v Geelong.
Interim Pies coach Robert Harvey said ...
“We couldn’t do a lot right to be honest in that last three quarters. We were really poor with our ball handling.
“But as these young guys have done all year I thought they fought on along the way.
“We probably let ourselves down a bit in defending our D50 which we are usually strong at.”
On his time as interim coach he said:
“I have thoroughly enjoyed it. Really appreciative of the opportunity ... I think we have got some positive steps going forward, there’s a good young group here.
“Learnt a lot ... appreciative of the players. This is a tough year, a lot of change in one year ... to fight through that and direct the young guys to keep fighting on.
“Our young guys learnt the right way ... we would have liked to pinch a few more games and I think the supporters and members, thanks to them for being patient. They should be excited about the future.”
He would not reveal if he was trying to get the job full-time, but did not say he wasn’t.
“All that is in time for me and sort of assess in the cold, hard light of day.”
Interim Magpies coach Robert Harvey speaks to his players. Credit: Getty Images
Essendon coach Ben Rutten is not putting a ceiling on what his side can achieve.
“We are [thrilled], it is something at the start of the year we set out to do,” Rutten said.
“The way we got here, our last month we have built some real momentum and our belief, our squad is really healthy at the right time of year. It is a whole of club effort.”
He also paid tribute to Bombers fans who obviously mostly haven’t been able to be at grounds to watch their team.
“I wasn’t sure where this group would get to, I knew there was a lot of growth ... I didn’t want to put a cap or ceiling on what we could achieve.
“It is not the end of our journey. We are certainly here to keep performing and we put ourselves in a really good position to keep doing that.”
Rutten said they didn’t talk about the Fremantle result and suggested that some players may not have even known about St Kilda beating them.
He said Essendon’s last game in Tassie earlier this year against Hawthorn felt like a home game, and called on them to rock up to Launceston in droves.
“Our last month has been our most consistent month we have played all season.
“We will have to keep assessing that [Anthony McDonald Tipungwuti’s availability].
“It was a great sign he played a full game [in a scratch match against GWS] today.”
Ben Rutten speaks to his players.Credit: Getty Images
Essendon are through to the finals and Dyson Heppell has lauded the impact of the young part of the team. He spoke to Seven:
The culture that we’re building …. is really starting to show in the momentum in the back half of the year. Proud of the efforts today. It is so exciting.
They [young players] have come with great character. They have brought a different spin to the group. They carry themselves with great confidence and they believe they belong at this level.
We have embraced their personalities and they have been super. Just willing to play that role, and I think that has been the highlight for the entire year, everyone willing to play their role.”
Collingwood’s dismal season is over (save for the blooding of youngsters), as is the career of Chris Mayne.
Essendon’s home and away season is done, but finals await. They will play the Bulldogs in an elimination final next week to try and end their long finals win drought.
Jamie Elliott, Alec Waterman and Peter Wright kicked four goals each today. Devon Smith and Jake Stringer got two apiece.
Congratulations Bombers fans, and congratulations to Ben Rutten for turning this side around.
They’d already made finals thanks to Freo’s loss, but still put in a top performance against Collingwood.
FT ESS 16.6.102 COLL 9.10.64
Alex Waterman celebrates one of his four goals. Credit: Getty Images
And this is why. He is pinged for a dangerous tackle on Ginnivan.
There was a clear slam into the ground, however, Ginnivan’s head did not make contact with it.
Redman faced the tribunal a few weeks ago charged for a similar incident on Marcus Bontempelli. He got off.
Might be a nervous day for him waiting for the MRO, but he should be OK. Free kick enough punishment.
Reminder that Ollie Henry is off with a shoulder injury, replaced by Beau McCreery.
Essendon lead 89 to 50 and look like scoring almost every time they go forward.
They get the first goal of the final term through Waterman, who has four for the afternoon.
Oliver Henry of the Magpies is seen on the bench with a shoulder injury.Credit: Getty Images
It’s three-quarter time and it is Essendon 83 to Collingwood 50. Essendon kicked 2.3 and Collingwood kicked 2.4 in that term.
Final quarter of Chris Mayne’s career coming up, while Essendon have one more term to tune up before their elimination final against the Western Bulldogs next week.
Will Hoskin-Elliott of the Magpies handballs.Credit: Getty Images
Alec Waterman kicks another goal to send the Bombers lead beyond six goals, but Jamie Elliott responds with his third goal.
Essendon are now up 81-49.
As that happens the Pies youngster Ollie Henry is subbed out with an injured shoulder. Beau McCreery is into the game.