Collingwood has won yet another game of miniscule margins in an enthralling preliminary final against Greater Western Sydney, edging the Giants by one point at the MCG to reach the decider.
Giants forward Jesse Hogan nailed a set shot with six minutes left to close the deficit to one point, but through congestion tactics and single-minded determination the Magpies staved off the desperate visitors to snare an 8.10 (58) to 8.9 (57) victory.
With four minutes to go, GWS skipper Toby Greene mopped up the footy in the right-forward pocket and reeled off a banana, but Collingwood veteran Steele Sidebottom scurried into the goal square and marked the footy on the goal line to deny the Giants a go-ahead major.
When the full-time siren rung throughout the venue, a 97,665-strong crowd dominated by delirious Collingwood supporters went so wild that the structures of the stadium shook.
The strains of Good Old Collingwood Forever reverberated throughout Melbourne Park as fireworks were set off on the MCG roof.
The one-point triumph again underscored the Magpies' astonishing knack of banking incredibly tight wins, with the juggernaut club securing its 15th victory by eight points or less over the last two seasons.
Having said that, Collingwood was on the receiving end of a one-point defeat in last season's preliminary finals, crashing out of the premiership race in an epic against Sydney.
Twelve months on, the Magpies are about to feature in their first grand final since 2018, when they booted the first five goals of the game but lost to the West Coast Eagles by five points.
MORE TO COME.
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