Match

Collingwood vs GWS Giants

Commentary / 20 Sep 2019

Pre Game

00:00
Conversely, Collingwood has defended its stoppages better than any side in 2019. The Magpies have conceded an average of under 25 points per match from this source, ranked No. 1 defensively. The AFL average in 2019 is 31 points.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
03:24
SCORE GOAL - Magpies (Jamie Elliott)
05:07
Collingwood has drawn first blood here, scoring the first goal of the match following a defensive midfield intercept. The Magpies only scored one goal for the match from their defensive half intercepts in their Qualifying Final victory over Geelong.
06:49
SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Jacob Hopper)
07:49
Zach Williams has started this match playing through the midfield as opposed to his regular position in the backline. Williams has spent 73 percent of his time on ground this season playing as a defender.
10:12
The wet conditions have resulted in a physical, contested style of play with a high number of stoppages. Collingwood has the ascendancy at these stoppages so far, winning six of the first nine clearances.
15:15
After claiming two successful scalps in the finals series so far in Marcus Bontempelli and Lachie Neale, Matt de Boer is paying close attention to Scott Pendlebury around the ground during general play whilst focusing on Adam Treloar at stoppages.
16:41
Giants Interchange - Phil Davis off due to an injury.
18:01
SCORE GOAL - Giants (Jeremy Finlayson)
18:18
The Giants have kicked their first goal of the match from their eighth forward 50 entry. They have won five forward half intercepts compared to two for the Magpies, resulting in a marginal advantage in the time in forward half differential.
20:24
SCORE GOAL - Magpies (Jaidyn Stephenson)
21:52
Collingwood's second goal was again sourced from a turnover, a result of the intense pressure that they are applying all over the ground. They have applied 15 tackles compared to nine for the Giants, and have recorded their highest first-quarter pressure factor of the season.
23:46
SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Daniel Lloyd)
24:21
Greater Western Sydney has rectified its stoppage issues from earlier in the quarter, having now won eight of the last nine clearances. Harry Perryman has taken charge for his side, winning three clearances in the last 10 minutes of play.
27:40
The Giants continue to squander their opportunities in front of goal. They have had four shots at goal from their 15 inside 50s, however, have just the single goal on the scoreboard to show for their hard work.
28:49
SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Daniel Lloyd)
29:26
Greater Western Sydney doubled Collingwood's inside 50s in the opening term 16 to eight, however it is the Pies who hold a three-point advantage. The Magpies have been cleaner by foot, kicking at 65 percent efficiency compared to a low 49 percent by the Giants.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
01:19
Greater Western Sydney has kicked 20 more goals in second quarters than its opposition - the best differential of all sides this season.
01:58
SCORE GOAL - Magpies (Ben Reid)
04:03
The Giants have been very impressive in the groundball contest, particularly post-clearance where they lead groundballs 27 to 17 in the slippery conditions.
04:30
SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Ian Hill)
05:13
Giants Interchange - Phil Davis off due to an injury.
06:49
SCORE GOAL - Giants (Jeremy Cameron)
08:50
The Giants have continued to win the contested ball, leading the Magpies by 12 in contested possessions midway through the second quarter. The Magpies lost the contested possession count by 21 against the Cats in the Qualifying Final, their second-worst differential recorded this season.
13:31
SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Rushed)
15:06
Collingwood has won nine percent of their offensive one on one contests so far today, well below their 2019 average of 30 percent.
17:36
The Giants have generated a goal from 25 percent of their inside 50s this year - ranked second. They have struggled to convert these opportunities today, scoring two goals from 25 forward 50 entries at a conversion rate of eight percent.
17:45
SCORE BEHIND - Magpies (Taylor Adams)
22:03
SCORE BEHIND - Magpies (Scott Pendlebury)
22:40
Rupert Wills is playing a typical bull-like performance, laying a game-high eight tackles - four more than any other player in the match.
24:39
Collingwood has strangled back momentum in this match, generating the last six inside 50s. This territory advantage is on the back of their dominance in forward-half intercepts, where they lead the Giants five to nil in the last 10 minutes of play.
28:56
Just 37 points were scored in the first half, the second-lowest scoring opening half this season. The Giants have controlled territory, winning 10 more inside 50s but have been unable to convert these entries into goals.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
01:18
SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Jeremy Finlayson)
02:04
In conditions where territory is invaluable, Taylor Adams has adapted strongly to the conditions with a game-high 358 metres gained. All 11 of his disposals have been kicks.
04:23
SCORE GOAL - Giants (Brent Daniels)
04:59
Brent Daniels has booted the first goal of the second-half following a classy snap from the boundary in general play. Daniels has played an important role for the Giants this season, recording more score assists than any player in the competition in 2019 with 41.
06:37
SCORE GOAL - Giants (Zac Williams)
08:26
The Giants have now kicked back-to-back goals for the first time today. Zac Williams has been dangerous for the Giants all match through the midfield, winning seven clearances (second-most of his career) with four of these being centre clearances.
10:37
SCORE GOAL - Giants (Tim Taranto)
11:04
Greater Western Sydney is finally getting reward for their dominance at the contest. They have won 20 more contested possessions, 28 more groundballs and 11 more clearances than Collingwood in a tough and physical display.
12:56
SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Adam Tomlinson)
14:46
SCORE GOAL - Giants (Jeremy Finlayson)
15:55
The Giants have scored 3.4(22) sourced from stoppages, compared to just the sole behind for the Magpies from the same source. The Giants scored 76 points from their clearances against the Magpies in Round 18 this season – their third-best result recorded in a match this season.
19:37
SCORE BEHIND - Magpies (Rushed)
19:39
The Giants lead this quarter can be explained by their willingness to tackle and pressure their opponent. The Giants have laid double the amount of tackles than Collingwood this quarter (20 to 10) despite having won more possessions.
24:27
Tim Taranto has applied 15 pressure acts so far in this match, 10 of these coming in the forward half of the ground for the Giants. Taranto is one of only four players to have applied over 600 pressure acts this season (along with Dayne Zorko, Zach Merrett and Jarryd Lyons).
26:24
SCORE BEHIND - Magpies (Jack Crisp)
27:57
SCORE GOAL - Giants (Jeremy Cameron)
28:05
It is now the Magpies who are struggling to convert their forward 50 entries into scores. The Magpies have scored from 24% of their inside 50s today, compared to 35% percent for the Giants. Greater Western Sydney has been the most difficult side to convert inside 50s into scores against in 2019. They have conceded a score from less than 40 percent of its oppositions attacking entries - ranked No. 1 defensively.
32:35
SCORE BEHIND - Magpies (John Noble)
32:38
3.5 (23) is Collingwood's lowest three-quarter time score in a final since the 1960 Grand Final.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
00:33
Collingwood has played 2556 matches coming into today's Preliminary Final clash. In only three of these 2556 games have the Magpies came back from a greater margin at three-quarter time to win the match.
02:29
Giants Interchange - Zac Williams off due to an injury.
02:38
Brodie Grundy has accumulated 19 disposals today to take his season tally above 500 - making it consecutive years of 500 disposals in a season for the dual All-Australian.
03:42
SCORE GOAL - Giants (Jeremy Cameron)
05:30
SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Jeremy Cameron)
05:58
SCORE BEHIND - Magpies (Jamie Elliott)
06:04
Nick Haynes has been pivotal for the Giants today across half-back, amassing the most disposals with 25 as well as being the leading interceptor in the game with 10 intercept possessions. Haynes has averaged 13.4 disposals and 1.1 intercept marks per game across his career against the Magpies – his lowest averages against any side.
07:39
SCORE GOAL - Magpies (Jaidyn Stephenson)
08:09
Jaidyn Stephenson has booted through a much-needed goal for the Magpies and his second of the match. They are using the ball better by foot than the Giants in this final quarter, with a kicking efficiency of 73% compared to 55% for the Giants.
08:57
SCORE GOAL - Magpies (Josh Thomas)
10:37
Collingwood has kicked back-to-back goals for the first time tonight to reduce the margin to 20 points. This resurgence by the Magpies is explained by them winning seven more contested possessions than the Giants this quarter.
10:59
SCORE BEHIND - Magpies (Rushed)
13:18
SCORE GOAL - Magpies (Chris Mayne)
14:04
Collingwood has all the momentum here as they kick their first goal of the match sourced from a stoppage. Brodie Grundy leads the way for the Magpies with eight clearances as well as 17 contested possessions.
15:29
SCORE BEHIND - Magpies (Ben Reid)
18:30
Collingwood has been a dominant final quarter side this season, and this trend is continuing this evening. The Magpies have scored 15 more goals than its opposition in final quarters this season, the second-best differential of all sides behind Geelong.
21:08
Collingwood has laid five forward 50 tackles to nil this quarter, taking their match total to 19 - a season-high for the Magpies.
21:59
SCORE GOAL - Magpies (Josh Thomas)
22:02
Giants Interchange - Sam J. Reid off due to an injury.
22:58
It is now four-straight goals for the Magpies as they reduce the margin to six points. Three of the four goals for Collingwood this quarter have been sourced from forward-half intercepts.
24:27
Magpies Interchange - Darcy Moore off due to an injury.
26:25
SCORE BEHIND - Magpies (Rushed)
27:57
SCORE BEHIND - Magpies (Taylor Adams)
28:48
Collingwood took three marks inside 50 in the opening three quarters. In this final quarter, the Magpies have taken four marks inside 50 resulting in 1.2 (8) on the scoreboard.
31:00
The Giants are holding on by the skin of their teeth late in this final quarter. 73% of the play has been held in Collingwood's attacking half this term, resulting in 11 more inside 50s for the Magpies.
34:57
An all-time classic in one of the best Preliminary Finals ever played. The Magpies faced a 33 point deficit at the sixth-minute mark of the final quarter, but were unable to gain the lead back in a frantic final few minutes. The Giants will now play in their first-ever Grand Final and play Richmond next week.