COLLINGWOOD'S improbable finals campaign lives on, and so does the renaissance of Victorian football. The Magpies overcame an undermanned, but heroically plucky West Coast and the collective ill-will of a record Subiaco Oval crowd to win 13.15 (93) to 10.14 (74) in extra-time after a classically uncompromising semi-final had finished in a draw.
Last-minute inclusion Chris Bryan, emerging teenage star Scott Pendlebury and stalwart Dane Swan were the heroes, kicking the extra period goals that won the game after the two teams had played each other to a leg-weary standstill in regular time.
The Magpies might never know where they found the wherewithal to win. But the gallantry of the Eagles must be acknowledged, too.
Earlier, Collingwood had fought back from four goals down to seize the lead mid-way through the last quarter, lose it and regain it. The finale was like a heavyweight boxing match, each party swinging mighty blows, some connecting, some not. West Coast had its chances, Collingwood took its.
Collingwood had to shed a great weight of history to win. The Magpies had beaten the Eagles in Perth only twice in 14 previous visits, the last time in 1992, by a single point. They had lost eight games here since. The Eagles had lost only two of nine previous finals at their Subiaco fortress.
Now, though, Collingwood has eliminated the grand finalists of the last two years in successive weeks. It remains the only of last year's top eight still in the competition for this year's flag. The AFL is in the grip of future shock.
The Magpies' victory pitches them from frying pan into fire, for next it plays all-conquering Geelong in a preliminary final next Friday night. But it does guarantee that there will be a Victorian grand finalist for the first time since 2003, and tightens the odds of a Victorian premier for the first time since 2000. Victorians would argue that this will correct an over-correction: it would be only the sixth time in 16 years since West Coast became the first frontier club to take away the spoils.
Pre-match intrigues weighed mightily. The Eagles were without ultrastars Chris Judd, Ben Cousins and Daniel Kerr for the first time since 2003, lost rugged Beau Waters before the match and forward Ashley Hansen because of a hamstring strain mid-way through the first quarter. Moreover, utility David Wirrpanda had his brittle calf re-strapped minutes before the first bounce. Veritably, the Eagles were the Black Prince of Holy Grail fame: limbless, but defiant to the end.
Fleeting glimpses of the wounded on the scoreboard screen prompted wistful cheers from the zealots of Subiaco. Ultimately, the Eagles personnel crisis told as the Magpies in the second half dominated centre clearances, typically Eagles' strength. But one of the peculiarities of finals football is that it is often contested by pounded and patched-up teams. Collingwood was dealt a three-in-one blow two hours before the game when ruckman Josh Fraser withdrew because of chronic back soreness.
The Magpies were left to face indomitable Dean Cox with little-performed Guy Richards and Bryan, ever willing, but none the less a Carlton cast-off.
There was no place on Subiaco Oval for the meek. West Coast appeared to have beaten Collingwood into submission when it kicked three goals in a row in the third quarter to lead by 23 points. Then, the Magpies' much-vaunted forward line appeared to have broken down irreparably. But, unannounced, Collingwood kicked three in the last three minutes, setting up the nail-biting, heart-in-the-mouth denouement.
For Collingwood, there was a stretch, a shower and an orderly dash for its overnight plane back to Melbourne, flying at low altitude to preserve the bruised and battered.
In the dynamics of the modern AFL, there was not half a minute to be wasted, let alone half a day.
