Collingwood wins through to grand final with thrilling victory over GWS but injury cloud hangs over Dan McStay

All eyes will be on Dan McStay at Pies recovery after he was subbed out of last night’s thrilling win over GWS. Where will Craig McRae turn if the forward can’t recover from a knee injury?

Collingwood has withstood the full force of the Orange Tsunami to win a preliminary final classic by a solitary point and advance to the Grand Final.

The Magpies only managed one final quarter goal but took seven intercept marks to preserve their razor-thin lead in yet another close-game masterclass under coach Craig McRae.

Jesse Hogan cut the margin to one point with a goal with six minutes remaining, but the Pies were able to run the clock down by forcing repeat stoppages in the middle of the ground in the final two minutes.

Collingwood forward Dan McStay is set to be the story of grand final week after he was subbed out of the preliminary final thriller with a knee injury.

The former Lion looked the most likely Magpie in the forward line and took a series of marks on his way to kicking two goals before he limped to the bench in clear pain late in the third quarter.

The Pies are in the Grand Final. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

He returned to the three quarter-time huddle with heavy strapping on his right knee and attempted to show hit fitness but was subbed off for Jack Ginnivan.

The injury could open the door for Taylor Adams to return from a hamstring strain but if McStay does not get up Craig McRae will have to shuffle his magnets to find forwardline support.

Ginnivan could move into the starting 22 but he is not a marking option like McStay, while forward Ash Johnson has been sidelined recently with an arm injury.

Mason Cox, who relived some preliminary final glory of past years with an important final-term goal on Friday night, could spent more time forward to provide marking support.

McStay had played in two losing preliminary finals with Brisbane before joining Collingwood this season and was forced to watch the final stages of the classic against GWS Giants from the bench.

It had been a difficult first season at Collingwood for the free agent signing, who missed extensive time with a finger injury in the middle of the season that became infected.

He returned in round 18 and has played in the club’s last nine games and McRae has always selected him when fit.

When playing with Brisbane in 2021, McStay lost time to a medial knee injury.

McStay was subbed out with a knee injury. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

MAGPIES 2.2, 2.6, 7.7, 8.10 (58)

GIANTS 0.3, 4.4, 6.9, 8.9 (57)

BOURKE’S BESTMagpies: De Goey, Crisp, Quaynor, Pendlebury, N Daicos, Sidebottom. Giants: Green, Whitfield, Greene, Daniels, Buckley, Kelly.

GOALSMagpies: McStay 2, Crisp, Hill, Elliott, McCreery, Mihocek, Cox. Giants: Greene 2, Green, Cumming, Riccardi, Brown, Lloyd, Hogan.

UMPIRES Gavine, Meredith, Rosebury, Stephens

INJURIES Magpies: McStay (knee). Giants: Buckley (ankle).

CROWD 97,665 at the MCG

Originally published as Collingwood wins through to grand final with thrilling victory over GWS but injury cloud hangs over Dan McStay