THEY sang "good old Collingwood forever" from the heart deep in the changerooms at AAMI Stadium last night after a resounding 31-point win over Adelaide in the first elimination final.
But it really was the great new Collingwood that defied the odds yesterday, turning a 24-point deficit minutes before half-time into one of the club's finest performances.
It was like the hardy cliché that Collingwood "came to play", and in contrast the Crows had very few players who produced quality football under finals pressure, which was baffling given their early lead and home-game advantage. The Magpies were meaner and hungrier, and Adelaide, for the most part, looked fragile in its poor decision-making.
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Slideshow: Magpies ruffle feathers
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This was a game there for the taking, and it was a couple of "kids" with just 16 AFL games between them — Chris Dawes and John Anthony — who stood up to be counted and kicked three goals each.
The usual heroes shone, like Dane Swan, Shane O'Bree, and especially Dale Thomas and Paul Medhurst who were brilliant in a tearaway last quarter, but Dawes and Anthony were the surprise packages, and Adelaide must be rueing the fact it did not give them enough attention.
In addition, Nick Maxwell not only caused havoc in the midfield, but shut down Adelaide's most prolific possession-winner this season, Scott Thompson.
It was an unusual game up to three-quarter-time in the sense that Collingwood controlled most of the first term, Adelaide then kicked eight of the next nine goals, and Collingwood responded by kicking nine of the next 10. And when the Crows looked as if they may steal a victory, coming from 20 points down at the last break, it was Anthony who cleverly read the play, seized the ball at the back of a pack, and ran into an open goal to wrestle the momentum.
There were numerous defining moments, including some appalling umpiring decisions, one when Medhurst clearly kicked a goal but was awarded only a point, and some baffling 50-metre penalties and other crucial decisions that affected both sides. A field umpire even made a boundary umpire throw the ball in again because his first attempt fell too short of the ruckmen.
But if there was a minute that virtually decided this game, it came in the closing stages of the first half when Swan kicked two goals within a minute. Adelaide was 24 points up, and these goals gave Collingwood enormous impetus going into half-time.
Collingwood generally played smarter football, even though it helped Adelaide get back into the game early on with some foolish free kicks from lazy tackling. The Magpies consistently punched the ball clear and, unlike Adelaide, had the crumbers to clear and finish off the play.
Scott Stevens stood out for Adelaide with six goals — four of them coming from brilliant snaps under pressure — but excluding an outstanding second term, there were few times when the Crows looked threatening.
Collingwood's strength was its ability to slow Adelaide down. The Crows consistently struggled to get the ball past its half-back line. The Pies dominated the clearances and established a crucial 7-1 advantage in a telling third term, and to record 30 scoring shots in a final against a usually mean Adelaide was outstanding.
A bitterly disappointed Adelaide coach Neil Craig didn't shy away from the fact Collingwood played better. "I thought Collingwood was dominant for three quarters," Craig said. "Around the stoppages they were a bit better than us, and we just have to find a way going forward better.
"We just don't have a good enough system at present to be able to hold up under the real pressure."
As Collingwood gave a boisterous rendition of its club song, Adelaide left the field carrying its All-Australian defender Nathan Bassett, who had played his last game. It was a sudden ending that few expected.
COLLINGWOOD 4.3 7.6 14.9 19.11 (125)
ADELAIDE 2.2 9.6 11.7 14.10 (94)
GOALS Collingwood: Anthony 3, Dawes 3, Swan 2, Maxwell 2, Medhurst, Clarke, Cox, Davis, Thomas, R Shaw, Lockyer, Fraser, Cloke. Adelaide: Stevens 6, McLeod 2, Bassett, Edwards, Mackay, Johncock, Maric, Gill.
BEST Collingwood: Maxwell, Swan, O'Bree, Thomas, Fraser, Clarke. Adelaide: Stevens, Bassett, Doughty, McLeod, Johncock, Massie.
UMPIRES James, Stevic, McLaren.
CROWD 37,685 at AAMI Stadium.
THE UPSHOT
COLLINGWOOD and Adelaide fielded similar sides in terms of experience and ability, but the Magpies earned the right to stay in the finals by performing when it counted.
TALKING POINT
ADELAIDE'S continued inability to perform at its best in a final, and Collingwood's great win after taking its well-publicised disciplinary stance.
HOT AND COLD
NICK Maxwell was outstanding on the ball, shutting out a very cold Scott Thompson.
VOTING
Nick Maxwell (Coll)
Dane Swan (Coll)
Shane O'Bree (Coll)
Dale Thomas (Coll)
Scott Stevens (Adel)
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