Collingwood set for epic clash with Richmond after felling Giants

Collingwood’s remarkable season continued with a 10-point semi-final win over Greater Western Sydney at the MCG on Saturday night.
The Magpies – who finished 13th in 2017 – started brilliantly against the Giants and responded well from a disappointing second quarter to post a 9.15 (69) to 9.5 (59) victory in front of 72,504 fans.
Collingwood entered the season without a finals appearance since 2013 and coach Nathan Buckley has had his hands tied in 2018 by a series of injuries to key players.
But the Magpies have continued to defy the odds with relentless attack on the ball and speed of ball movement – qualities on display in their latest triumph.
Midfield dynamos Steele Sidebottom (31 disposals) and Adam Treloar (29 disposals) were typically impressive for the Magpies but it was forward Jordan De Goey who was the dominant player on the ground.
De Goey kicked 3.2 and took eight marks in a 14-disposal game that was worth its weight in gold in a low-scoring match.
.@CollingwoodFC WIN!#AFLPiesGiants pic.twitter.com/F8FEj6ci4Y
— 7AFL (@7AFL) September 15, 2018
Collingwood defender Brayden Maynard was also terrific, keeping Giants star Toby Greene goalless.
Stephen Coniglio was tremendous for the losers, kicking two goals and winning 30 disposals, but the Giants could have no complaints about their defeat, particularly after a first quarter slammed as “pathetic” by footy legend Garry Lyon.
Collingwood’s reward for victory is a mouth-watering preliminary final against reigning premiers Richmond at the MCG on Friday night.
The Tigers have won the past four meetings between the two sides, including victories by 43 and 28 points this year.
“It was a hard-fought game. They kept coming and we kept killing ourselves by not kicking straight,” Treloar told the Seven Network afterwards.
“It was a fierce battle. Just proud of the boys efforts … to come so close last week [against West Coast] and follow it tonight, super impressive.”
De Goey also acknowledged Collingwood’s inaccuracy in front of goal made victory tougher than it needed to be.
“To be in this position is unreal and the boys should be really proud of themselves,” he said.
“We were kicking pretty inaccurately but we bound together in the end and fought it out.”
Josh Thomas booted two early goals for a Collingwood side that came out breathing fire and dominated the Giants around the contest.
And it was only the Magpies’ profligacy that kept GWS – who took more than 14 minutes just to score in the match.
The Giants turned the ball over time after time across half-back, and even though Will Hoskin-Elliott goaled after the siren, the Magpies should have been far more than 22 points up at the first change.
Jonathan Brown said on Fox Footy that Leon Cameron’s side “felt the pressure” in the first quarter and “didn’t turn up at all”.
Coniglio and Jacob Hopper inspired GWS in the second quarter, though, and as Collingwood continued to burn opportunities in front of goal, the visitors kicked four unanswered majors.
And when Rory Lobb kicked truly, Collingwood’s lead had been reduced to just one point – a figure hard to believe given the Magpies’ early dominance.
Collingwood booted another late goal, though, De Goey kicking truly just before the half-time siren sounded as tensions flared.
The Giants nudged in front when Coniglio and Jeremy Cameron converted early in the third quarter but Collingwood booted five of the next six goals to effectively seal the contest.
Three of those goals came in the first five minutes of the final quarter, with Travis Varcoe, Hoskin-Elliott and De Goey all making the most of opportunities.
Treloar took his game to another level in the last term, winning 12 disposals, and although the Magpies could not put away their opponents, the Giants left their run too late.
That meant that majors from Matt De Boer and Adam Tomlinson were, in the end, only consolation goals, leaving the pro-Collingwood crowd to roar in approval at the final siren.