GWS has won a thrilling contest over Collingwood, holding on by the skin of their teeth and with an assist from the shortened quarters, in a finish eerily similar to the 2019 Preliminary Final.
Jeremy Cameron kicked the sealing goal late in the fourth term to give his side the 66-64 win.
The Magpies dominated the fourth quarter, pumping the ball inside 50 and having multiple chances to take the lead, but they ultimately couldn’t convert when it mattered most.
It will be a sorry flight home for Collingwood not only because of the loss, but what appears to be a serious injury to Jeremy Howe.
Here’s everything you need to know!
The Medical Room: Both sides lose important defenders
GWS had all the momentum early in the third term, before losing both Phil Davis and Zac Williams to hamstring injuries.
Williams had the most touches on the ground to that point in the game, while Davis had taken Mason Cox completely out of the game.
The Giants have battled injuries to key players consistently over the last few years and have been hit hard once again.
Collingwood’s Jeremy Howe was similarly the most important player on the ground for the Pies until deep in the fourth quarter before colliding with Jacob Hopper and coming off second best.
The replay showed Howe’s leg twisting awkwardly in the collision and the defender was carried from the ground unable to put any weight through the leg.
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said early signs point towards a PCL and MCL injury.
"We won't see him for a while," Buckley said post-match.
Jeremy Howe hurt his knee in a heavy collision.
— 7AFL (@7AFL) June 26, 2020
Hope he is okay 🙏#AFLPiesGiants pic.twitter.com/0GEEQMqV9L
The Moment: The final minutes
Jeremy Cameron and Mason Cox traded goals in the final two minutes of the game and it ultimately came down to whether the Pies could win the clearance, get the ball forward and kick a match-winning goal.
Despite Brodie Grundy’s clear advantage in the ruck, the GWS midfield did brilliantly, sitting on the ball and locking it in as time wasted away.
Tom Green showed his strength on the inside of stoppages in the dying stages and was key to the Giants holding on.
Fair enough, Jez. #AFLGiantsPies pic.twitter.com/aG0DJIySA3
— Cristian Filippo (@C_Filippo23) June 26, 2020
FULL SCORE
GWS Giants: 1.3, 4.4, 8.6, 10.6. (66)
Collingwood: 2.2, 4.4, 8.5, 9.10. (64)
GOALS
GWS Giants: Greene 3, Cameron 2, Finlayson, Green, Kelly, Perryman, Ward
Collingwood: Mihocek 2, Phillips 2, Stephenson 2, Cox, Crisp, Daicos
BEST
GWS Giants: Greene, Whitfield, Haynes, Taylor, Green, Cameron
Collingwood: Howe, Pendlebury, Moore, Roughead, Adams, Grundy
Reports: Nil
Injuries:
GWS Giants: Davis (hamstring), Williams (hamstring)
Collingwood: Howe (knee)