EF 1 Match Wrap

The lowdown

Hero:
Magpie Paul Medhurst did little until the final term, but then three touches of pure class transformed the game. First he marked on the behind post and fussed and fiddled about setting the mark and lining up for a banana kick before fooling everyone and coolly slicing the ball across goal to Ryan Cook. Cook botched his kick from 15m out, but Medhurst was at it again a minute later when he found Chris Dawes with a beautifully weighted kick. Dawes goaled and then Medhurst sealed the match with a fine kick from a tight angle after a courageous mark.

Goat:
Former Kangaroo Brad Moran had a chance to cut Collingwood's lead to single figures five minutes into the final term. Scott Stevens' fifth goal had got the Crows off to a strong start with a major in the first minute, and Moran's set shot from 25m on a slight angle would have given Adelaide real impetus given that they were kicking to what had been the scoring end all day. He missed, and a chance to build momentum was lost.

Turning point:
Twelve minutes into the third quarter and scores are level. A high kick from Collingwood's Dane Swan floats towards the goal square where a pack awaits. Chris Dawes flies from the side and hits the pack hard, momentarily grabbing the ball before it falls from his grasp. A whistle, the mark paid, and a critical goal for the Magpies in the defining term of the match.

Bonus points:
... to Shannon Cox, for his third-man-up effort in a ruck contest beyond Collingwood's 50m line with just 10 seconds left on the clock in the third quarter. Cox thumped the ball straight into the arms of Dale Thomas, who kicked a barrel from a tight angle and near enough to 50m to stretch the Magpies' lead to 20 points on the stroke of three-quarter time.

... to the ice vests some of the Adelaide players wore at quarter time in the Saharan temperatures of AAMI Stadium. Okay, it was only 22 degrees, but the vests must have done something because the Crows had some run for the first time in the match and charged to a seven goals to three quarter. Cool.

... to Crow Nathan Bassett, who played superbly in his final match of AFL football, and then 10 minutes after his career drew to a close was back out on the ground, still in his footy gear, having a kick-to-kick with some kids, chatting with fans and posing for photos.

Match Report

A RESILIENT Collingwood has booked a spot in next week's semis after beating Adelaide by 31 points in a see-sawing elimination final at a sun-drenched AAMI Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

In a sometimes surreal encounter that saw 21 of the game's 33 goals kicked at the venue's northern end, the Magpies regrouped from a lacklustre second term to kick seven in the third and five in the fourth to post an emphatic victory – 19.11 (125) to 14.10 (94) ... Full match report

Extras

All the news, views and frank exchanges of opinion in the lead-up to the game. Match centre

Match details

Collingwood 4.3 7.6 14.9 19.11 (125)
Adelaide 2.2 9.6 11.7 14.10 (94)

GOALS
Collingwood: Dawes 3, Anthony 3, Swan 2, Maxwell 2, Cox, Davis, Fraser, Cloke, R. Shaw, Lockyer, Thomas, Clarke, Medhurst.
Adelaide: Stevens 6, McLeod 2, Mackay, Edwards, Maric, Johncock, Bassett, Gill

BEST
Collingwood: Swan, O’Bree, Maxwell, Pendlebury, Anthony, Medhurst.
Adelaide: Stevens, Bassett, McLeod, Bock, Edwards, Moran

INJURIES
Collingwood: Nil
Adelaide: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: James, Stevic, McLaren

Official crowd: 37,685 at AAMI Stadium

Reaction

Fraser happy to hand back reins

We need to be disappointed: Craig

One is not enough: Malthouse

Mick's need for speed

Cook responded well: Pendlebury

Stevens shines on big stage

Dane Swan flying at right time

Crows shattered: Goodwin

Pies defied the odds

Player Ratings: Collingwood

John Anthony – 6
Didn't touch the ball in the first half, but booted a goal with his first possession in the third quarter and added a further two when the game was there to be won late.

Nathan Brown – 6
Had a crack at Scott Stevens after Tyson Goldsack was moved off him and fared better. Also took Nick Gill and played well when taken deep.

Chris Bryan – 6
Started on the bench and came on to provide Josh Fraser with good support. Didn't impose himself around the ground but shared the hit-out duties well.

Full Collingwood ratings.

Player Ratings: Adelaide

Nathan Bassett – 8
Battled his heart out in defence in the last game of his AFL career. Ran forward hard to boot a goal in the third term.

Nathan Bock – 6
Matched up on Travis Cloke as expected and while he kept him quiet, Bock didn’t have a large influence himself.

Michael Doughty – 8
Capped a strong year with a good finals performance. Was one of the Crows best in the midfield rotations.

Full Adelaide ratings.