In the Grand Final, a week before this game, St Kilda played with spirit, Collingwood with nerves and this nearly cost them dearly as the Saints went a goal ahead in the last quarter. But a late Travis Cloke goal and the ball inexplicably bouncing away from unguarded Saints forward Stephen Milne in the final minute allowed the Magpies to escape with a draw.
Both sides made undisciplined starts in the replay. Collingwood giving away critical free kicks, and St Kilda turning the ball over. Collingwood eventually broke through for the first score of the game, defender Tyson Goldsack, who had been added to the Collingwood team for the replay at Leon Davis' expense, marking 15 metres out and kicking a goal. Another Magpie defender Ben Johnson soon added another, then came the turning point in the game as St Kilda captain Nick Reiwoldt received the ball at the end of a thrilling chain of foot passes and waltzed into goal, only for Collingwood full back Heath Shaw to chase him down from behind and knock the ball out of his hand. This was one of the greatest plays in AFL history. Minutes later Bren McAffer kicked Collingwood's third goal and they had a dangerous three goal break at quarter time.
The Saints inaccuracy prevented them from taking over the game in the second quarter, as the side registered 7 behinds before Saints Utility Brendan Goddard at last added a goal to make the difference 13 points. Then came another turning point with Saints defender James Blake running out of the backline decided to kick to Saints ruckman James McEvoy who was running loose. But the kick bounced short of McEvoy, who looked on horrified as his magpie opponent Darren Jolly pounced on the loose ball and kicked to McAffer who added his second goal. Jolly kicked a goal of his own a minute later and Pies went into half time with a 27 point lead.
The saints needed a great start to the second half to get the back into the game, but quick Collingwood goals to Dawes (a brilliant snap off the ground) Wellingham (a great piece of roving to snatch the ball out of a ruck contest and snap truly from 20 metres out) and Swan (breaking away from a pack to kick one on the run from 20 out) took the Collingwood lead out to 40. Some called the game gone right there, but it wasn't until Didak, in a play to equal Shaw's, corralled a Saints defender, smothered his kick, chased his own ball and then bent the ball through from 35 out sprinting at full pace, that the 90,000 strong crowd, most of whom were Collingwood supporters, erupted as one to herald the premiership.
The last quarter was about celebration for the Magpies, with Dawes and O'Brien kicking booming 50 metre plus goals, before Steele Sidebottom, in the last minute showed us all how easy it was, casually kicking a goal from 25 metres out on a sharp angle. The final siren ended 20 years of frustration for Magpies supporters, who could now celebrate their 15th premiership and their biggest ever win in Grand Final: 56 points. Scott Pendlebury was a worthy winner of the Norm Smith medal.
Both sides made undisciplined starts in the replay. Collingwood giving away critical free kicks, and St Kilda turning the ball over. Collingwood eventually broke through for the first score of the game, defender Tyson Goldsack, who had been added to the Collingwood team for the replay at Leon Davis' expense, marking 15 metres out and kicking a goal. Another Magpie defender Ben Johnson soon added another, then came the turning point in the game as St Kilda captain Nick Reiwoldt received the ball at the end of a thrilling chain of foot passes and waltzed into goal, only for Collingwood full back Heath Shaw to chase him down from behind and knock the ball out of his hand. This was one of the greatest plays in AFL history. Minutes later Bren McAffer kicked Collingwood's third goal and they had a dangerous three goal break at quarter time.
The Saints inaccuracy prevented them from taking over the game in the second quarter, as the side registered 7 behinds before Saints Utility Brendan Goddard at last added a goal to make the difference 13 points. Then came another turning point with Saints defender James Blake running out of the backline decided to kick to Saints ruckman James McEvoy who was running loose. But the kick bounced short of McEvoy, who looked on horrified as his magpie opponent Darren Jolly pounced on the loose ball and kicked to McAffer who added his second goal. Jolly kicked a goal of his own a minute later and Pies went into half time with a 27 point lead.
The saints needed a great start to the second half to get the back into the game, but quick Collingwood goals to Dawes (a brilliant snap off the ground) Wellingham (a great piece of roving to snatch the ball out of a ruck contest and snap truly from 20 metres out) and Swan (breaking away from a pack to kick one on the run from 20 out) took the Collingwood lead out to 40. Some called the game gone right there, but it wasn't until Didak, in a play to equal Shaw's, corralled a Saints defender, smothered his kick, chased his own ball and then bent the ball through from 35 out sprinting at full pace, that the 90,000 strong crowd, most of whom were Collingwood supporters, erupted as one to herald the premiership.
The last quarter was about celebration for the Magpies, with Dawes and O'Brien kicking booming 50 metre plus goals, before Steele Sidebottom, in the last minute showed us all how easy it was, casually kicking a goal from 25 metres out on a sharp angle. The final siren ended 20 years of frustration for Magpies supporters, who could now celebrate their 15th premiership and their biggest ever win in Grand Final: 56 points. Scott Pendlebury was a worthy winner of the Norm Smith medal.
