WEST COAST has lost to Collingwood in a heart-stoppingsemi-final at Subiaco by 19 points after the match went into extra-time when thescores were tied at 10.12 (72) at the final siren.
Stellar performances from Dean Cox and Matt Priddis couldn'tprevent the 19-point defeat, the Eagles going down 10.14 (74) to 13.15 (93) after Collingwood kicked 3.3 to 0.2 in the two five-minute halves of extra time.
A late third-quarter surge from the Pies got them back intothe game after West Coast had shot out to a 23-point lead during that term, but West Coast'sweary legs couldn't get them back into the game.
Both teams made changes to their selected teams – West Coastreplaced Beau Waters (hip) with Jamie McNamara, while Collingwood was forced toleave Josh Fraser (back tightness) out and use Chris Bryan, changes thatbrought West Coast into slight favouritism before the bounce.
For West Coast, Brett Jones, Daniel Chick and Darren Glasswere outstanding.
The first term was what the old timers would call "goodold-fashioned finals footy".
For the first time ever at Subiaco, West Coast went goallessin the first term, while Collingwood only grabbed one, when former Docker PaulMedhurst made the most of an errant kick from West Coast out of the last lineof defence.
But that goal didn't come until the 20 minute-mark, as bothteams missed shots, had behinds rushed and missed attempts at soccered goals,and the Pies led by seven points at quarter-time.
The second term was an entirely different affair. Dean Coxgot the first goal of the term inside two minutes, when a misdirected clearingkick from Shane Wakelin went directly to youngster Jamie McNamara, who spottedup Cox 35 metres out.
Three minutes later, some good follow up work from Mark Seabyat a boundary throw-in allowed Andrew Embley to get it on the wing, take twobounces and slot the major, before Dane Swan got one back for the Pies.
Chad Fletcher then made the most of a beautiful boundary tapfrom Cox to run into an open goal, but Nathan Buckley got the ball from theresulting centre bounce, kicked it forward to Alan Didak who goaled from thearc.
West Coast then added another couple – Mark LeCras marked at50 in front of the West Coast race and put it away, before James Clement messedup the kick-in and kicked it straight to David Wirrpanda 25 metres out.
Anthony Rocca then got the final major of the term, when theball bounced off his boot in the square and through for a goal, and the leadwas just three points at the long break.
West Coast got the first major of the third when Stakerdelivered to Lynch, who marked it off his face at 45 and converted.
Some tremendous bullocking work from Daniel Chick got theball out of the backline, then Quentin Lynch worked hard forward to keep italive and Priddis kicked truly from 40.
Staker then added another goal assist when Wirrpanda markedit in the square and ran in to score.
But at the 26-minute mark, Travis Cloke marked andconverted, then Rocca kicked a couple and in three minutes a 22-point lead hadbeen reduced to just four.
LeCras kicked the first of the last term from a free kick,but the Pies scored the next two to lead for the first time since 20 minutesinto the second term.
Rosa then marked at 50 andconverted, but a goal to Dale Thomas, and then behinds to Glass and Embleyforced extra time.
Chris Bryan then kicked one in the first-half of extra time,and two more to the Pies in the second half of extra time sealed the deal.
WESTCOAST 0.4 5.5 8.9 10.12 10.13 10.14(74)
COLLINGWOOD 1.5 4.8 6.11 10.12 11.13 13.15 (93)
After one period of extra time
GOALS - Collingwood:A Rocca 3, P Medhurst 2, A Didak 2, D Swan 2, T Cloke, D Thomas, C Bryan, SPendlebury
West Coast: D Wirrpanda 2, M Le Cras2, D Cox, A Embley, C Fletcher, Q Lynch, M Priddis, M Rosa
BEST - Collingwood: A Didak, PMedhurst, S Pendlebury, D Swan, T Goldsack
West Coast: D Cox, M Priddis, BJones, D Chick, D Glass
INJURIES
Collingwood: J Fraser (back)replaced in selected side by C Byrne, S Burns (ankle)
West Coast: B Waters(hip) replaced in selected side by J McNamara, A Hansen (hamstring)
Reports: None
Umpires: S McBurney, S Ryan, SMcInerney.
Crowd: 43,627 at Subiaco Oval, Perth
