Where and when: MCG, Saturday September 21, 4.35pm
What it means for Collingwood: The chance to progress to a second successive Grand Final – which would be a remarkable achievement after the tumult of 2017 – and another chance to be the finals party pooper for the Giants.
What it means for GWS: An opportunity to make their first Grand Final after losing their previous preliminary finals in 2016 and 2017. It would also show great steel to win their third final in a row while missing stars Stephen Coniglio, Lachie Whitfield, Callan Ward and Toby Greene.
The stat: The Giants have lost both of their finals at the MCG, where they have won just two of their past 11 games. The victories were against a depleted Collingwood in round two last year and against Melbourne in round 10 this year.
The match-up: Jeremy Cameron v Darcy Moore
Coleman medallist Cameron and intercept specialist Moore are set to stage a hard-running, high-flying duel that might well be worth the admission price alone.
It’s a big week for: Josh Kelly
With Whitfield ruled out and Greene another potential absentee, the Giants’ best remaining playmaker could be required to produce a career-defining performance against a Magpie midfield that is humming. The silky left-footer’s finals form has been strong, averaging 24 touches and two goals. He might need to lift that to 30 and three.
Big call: Pies fans to start queuing for Grand Final tickets midway through the second quarter.
Prediction: Magpies by 45 points
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And then there were three.
Down to two after this one.
Not sure how the giants will go on the MCG
If they had Greene, Coniglio and Whitfield, they’d be in with a shot.
Pies, unfortunately, for me here.
Reckon MAYNARD will play a blinder to celebrate his birthday weakend with a prelim win before he take’s home CHARLIE and NORM next weak.
I think the Brownlow might be a bit of a stretch, but apart from Grundy, I think your guy was probably the Pies’ best for most of the day.
Pretty even contest thus far.
Hopefully the Giants can settle in the first quarter.
Get Hill off. Not up to it. Two EASY misses.
and one of them wasn’t even close
Cameron on the other hand is dobbing them from outside 50.
Lol. Exactly, GP.
wow… goal got overturn.
now 14 minutes without a goal.
Poor Whitfield will miss out on a flag…
he might play, if they make it.
You tipping the Giants from here?
What’s happened to Steel Sidebum ?
Giants are running two taggers, on Pendles and SideBottom.
Giants have more inside 50’s just need someone that can put it through the sticks.
The Grundy vrs Mumford mismatch is quite telling in the wet. Giants had multiple ruck contests in their forward line and Grundy neutralised most of them.
It’s Anzac day again. Frees are 15/8.
Glad i put the c on Grundy
AFL spent the last fornight talking up this f*cking “ARC” nonsense. Unable to detect a clear touched goal.
Umps conspiring to keep the Pies in this.
Oh, this is f*cking ridiculous. Absolute circus in Collingwood’s F50. Pure luck.
Come on, GWS! Put this rabble down!
Well the finally got an ARC call correct.
not sure what the giants are doing…
How long is this quarter going for?
Brayden ‘fumbles’ Maynard
I didn’t think it was possible for Carlton and GWS to be better friends off the field… but keeping Collingwood out of the GF might have just taken our inter-club friendship to the next level. Thanks guys!
The Giants have always had the talent, but up until now, they’ve never had the grit to go all the way. Somehow, in the last three weeks, they’ve found it in a big way.
Throw in Toby Greene coming back, and possibly Whitfield and Coniglio too, plus Phil Davis pulling up well, and I can see no reason why they can’t win next week.
I can see just the one small reason, richmond.
Don’t get me wrong, the Tigers will deservedly start as firm favourites, but I’m not putting a line through the Giants just yet.
I don’t think there has been a lot between top 5 or 6 sides this year. On a given day anyone can beat anyone. Hoping tigers bring their a game next week.
If the pies couldn’t get over GWS with the quality missing from their side,they wouldn’t have gotten within 10 goals of Richmond
While the G won’t be bursting at the seams next week, I believe we might have a game on?!
Pies weren’t good enough last year and were flattered by the woeful Cats in the QF this.
The two best sides in the comp are playing off next week … let’s hope it’s a humdinger!
My tip: Martin and Houli hard-tagged. GWS to surprise.
I remember you talking up GWS earlier in the year, that they were tougher this year. That was a good call.
GWS definitely like the double tag. I think Prestia might get one.
It must be concerning for them though that they seem to run out of gas in the last quarter, given Tigers had a week off in week 2.
So who do bombers play in next year’s granny?