AFL Round 8 Collingwood v Geelong: All the news and analysis from MCG thriller

Pies fans will feel aggrieved after being on the wrong side of some calls in the thriller against the Cats. But a former AFL umpire says he didn’t see any clangers in the final term of the epic clash.

Former AFL umpire Matt Head has backed in the call to penalise Bobby Hill for his trip on Shaun Mannagh as Cats defender Mark Blicavs made clear he touched Lachie Schultz’s late kick for goal on Saturday night.

In what commentators dubbed as an instant classic, the Pies nearly ran down Geelong in the final minutes with record-breaker Jack Crisp missing a shot after the siren to win the game.

But a series of umpiring calls that went against the Pies saw Fox Footy commentator David King suggest the umpires had a decisive impact on the game.

Hill was penalised for a trip after his incredible chase-down tackle on Mannagh after making up 20 metres of ground as the Cats forward ran through the centre of the MCG.

But Head made clear post-match that while Hill had made some minor contact with Mannagh’s hips as he tackled him, he clearly tripped him by the end of the tackle.

He said it was irrelevant where the tackle started if there was a clear tripping motion, with slow-motion replays showing he pinned Mannagh’s knees in a tripping action.

Head told this masthead on Sunday: “If the tackle starts around the waist and slips down below the knees or to the ankles, it’s considered a trip. The rule book doesn’t actually say that but it’s the interpretation. It’s not a decision that is really obvious, it’s still marginal, but the AFL will tick it off. His hands went down below his knees but the AFL will say it’s the right call.

“I watched the game closely and I didn’t think there were any clangers or anything like that. I thought the umpires did quite well. I just thought (the run of free kicks) were just the way it went on the night.”

The Pies were 10 points down with over two minutes remaining at the time of the tackle.

With Collingwood 17 points down Schultz believed he had kicked a goal but the boundary umpire was adamant the ball had been touched.

The Pies were on the wrong side of some tough calls. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Replays were unclear so the initial soft call of a behind stood, with Blicavs adamant on Fox Footy post-match he had touched the ball.

Commentator Jack Riewoldt said of that call: “I look at that call and think it could have been a goal too.”

The AFL was on Sunday morning yet to clarify any of those decisions and usually only makes public calls about high-profile adjudications that play a key role in deciding games.

Jamie Elliott was also baffled to have a high contact free kick go against him in the final minutes after he had believed he had earned a free for being held back in a marking contest.

King was adamant that the umpires had an outsized influence on the game.

“One man stood between Collingwood and victory — I should say five men: four in green, and one with number 35 (Dangerfield) on it,” King said.

“It’s a factor. They got 14 of the last 18 free kicks. 15 minutes into the third quarter, the Pies led by 20 points and it felt like 30 points. They had full control of the game.

“I have to say it, and I’ve talked about the umpiring a lot this year — it’s a negative starting point, and I understand that. But Collingwood were hard-done by in that last 12 minutes of football — there’s no other way of looking at this.

“Patrick Dangerfield … he was everywhere, and he was everything, but the umpiring has had a massive impact on tonight’s game.”

THE AFTER-THE-SIREN FAIRYTALE THAT NEVER HAPPENED

It was almost a perfectly written script.

Collingwood milestone man Jack Crisp missed an opportunity to steer the Magpies to another comeback win with a shot after the siren.

Celebrating his record-breaking 245th consecutive game, Crisp took a diving mark with just seconds left on the clock.

He lined up from 45 metres out relatively close to directly in front but skewed the go-ahead shot to the right.

The almost trademark Collingwood comeback followed a match-turning display from Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield.

The Magpies get around Jack Crisp after the final siren 🖤🤍#AFLPiesCatspic.twitter.com/npiK0EDZpv

— AFL (@AFL) May 3, 2025

The Cats trailed by as much as 20 points during the third quarter and were struggling to get their hands on the ball.

But despite a lack of opportunities, Geelong was efficient enough late to surge back within a kick at the final change.

With the game on the line in the fourth term, Dangerfield – in his new role as a primary forward – revisited his best football.

He collected 13 disposals and kicked a crucial goal in the last quarter to ensure Geelong returned to the winners’ list.

Bailey Smith, Sam De Koning and Shaun Mannagh were all crucial for the Cats while Nick Daicos, Josh Daicos and Steele Sidebottom continued their terrific form.

Jack Crisp kicks to win the game after the siren. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

But the fairytale was not to be. Picture: Michael Klein

Crisp was immediately comforted by his teammates. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

THE CRISP FINISH

A candid Crisp conceded he was “pretty gassed” when he lined up in a bid to preserve Collingwood’s winning streak, but was “feeling the love” from his club as they proceeded with a celebration of his record run of games in the rooms.

“A lot’s going through my mind. I was feeling pretty happy and content – confident in my ability to kick the goal at the end there … but it wasn’t to be,” Crisp said on Fox Footy.

“After an emotional week I guess, feeling the love from everybody outside of football … I’m pretty exhausted. It would’ve been good to get the win, but credit to Geelong.

“Had a lot of my blokes talk to me about ‘this is what dreams are made of’, and then it’s just about routine.

“(I was) pretty gassed to be fair. Geelong winners like to run deep forward and deep back, especially Ollie Dempsey … I was caught down back with him a couple of times.

“I had to match Jeremy Cameron, who was rolling around as that extra defender there. But the ball fell in my lap, that was my moment, and it wasn’t to be.”

Crisp walks off the MCG with his family. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

Crisp said it almost brought “a tear to my eye” for almost every player from both sides to go to him after the wayward kick.

“It did mean a lot – it nearly brought a tear to my eye, to be fair,” he said.

“We feel like we’ve built a really good culture like that … I definitely felt a lot of love, especially (the) Geelong players as well.”

Collingwood coach Craig McRae said his side had “looked like winners” in defeat with the full-team embrace of Crisp.

“We just celebrated the incredible 245 games in a row in the rooms with his family … gave him the match ball and spoke glowingly of his contribution to the footy club,” McRae said.

“(The response) is a testament to the character and culture that we have, that we get around Jack.

“I think we look like winners regardless of what the scoreboard said.”

A BIG BLOW

Geelong could be without a specialist ruckman for a period of time after premiership big man Rhys Stanley went down with a hamstring injury on Saturday night.

Stanley came off during the first quarter and was substituted out of the match at the first change.

The Cats’ second ruck Toby Conway isn’t fit, meaning they will likely have to start Mark Blicavs, Sam De Koning or Shannon Neale at centre bounces if Stanley is sidelined.

Blicavs toiled away against gun Magpies’ ruck Darcy Cameron from quarter time onwards.

Jack Bowes puts the Cats further in front

TRUE ENTERTAINMENT

There was no shortage of entertainment in an exciting first quarter.

Geelong rising star Oliver Dempsey submitted an entry to mark of the year with an athletic leap.

Dempsey took Steele Sidebottom to the last line of defence and treated him as a specky bag you’d see at weekly training.

But his moment in the spotlight was short-lived, as Collingwood ruckman Darcy Cameron produced a stunning goal of the year contender.

The big man turned clever small forward deep in the pocket after roving the spillage of a big pack and converting a left-foot banana.

The goal had shades of Wayne Carey’s iconic left-foot banana against Essendon in 1999.

GET OUT OF THE WAY, BRETT

Even the most experienced can get caught off guard.

Veteran field umpire Brett Rosebury was in the action early when a clearing kick from Geelong star Bailey Smith cannoned into his head in the middle of the MCG.

His accidental smother was to the delight of Collingwood fans as Steele Sidebottom collected the ricochet and took the ball forward.

Rosebury has officiated the most games in AFL history (540) and the third highest number of grand finals (nine).

Scoreboard

COLLINGWOOD 4.5 7.7 10.10 12.15 (87)

GEELONG 4.1 6.6 9.9 13.12 (90)

GOALS: Magpies: Mihocek 4, Hill, Cox, Cameron, Houston, Elliott, N Daicos, Pendlebury, Membrey

Cats: Dempsey 2, Henry 2, Mannagh 2, Dangerfield, Cameron, Neale, Blicavs, Smith, Wiltshire, Bowes

BEST: Magpies: N Daicos, J Daicos, Sidebottom, Pendlebury

Cats: Dangerfield, Smith, Dempsey, De Koning, Atkins

INJURIES:

Magpies: nil.

Cats: Stanley (h’string)

82,514 at MCG

TYLER LEWIS’S VOTES

3 P Dangerfield

2 N Daicos

1 B Smith

Originally published as AFL Round 8 Collingwood v Geelong: All the news and analysis from MCG thriller