It feels like we should be running something of a health clinic this morning offering heart checks for footy fans, particularly for those of a black and white persuasion.
And maybe a confessional for those that gave up.
What an exceptional weekend of footy.
The strangest of draws on Friday night, more than 1000 points across Saturday’s five games, the presumptive mark of the year yesterday, perhaps the goal of the year, the Ginnivan rule and a finish the likes of which I’m not sure I’ve ever seen.
Big shout out to the Monday morning ladder predictors. That includes Mrs Macrae.
Adam the maths teacher says we’ve gone from 7200 possible combinations down to 2160 after the events of Round 19.
So as a public service today’s Snap Judgments are more a health check on the hearts of footy fans.
The sheer, cruel stress on Tiger hearts with the full realisation that Richmondy has returned.
The wild palpitations of Geelong hearts.
The soaring emotion in Bulldog hearts as Jamarra stood before you arms out wide.
But it’s Collingwood hearts that are living the full experience – unrelenting across a couple of months.
Like a few of you I’m sure, I’ve been back through and watched the last quarter to try to figure it all out.
Early on with the margin hovering around 20 points there were a couple of symbolic moments that suggested the Magpie cause was flagging and eight wins would be enough.
Nick Daicos – desperate to create the spark at half back – is mugged in a two-man tackle by Hobbs and Caldwell… there is just no time and no space.
Minutes later Scott Pendlebury is fed a handball by Daicos - he goes to accelerate only to slip into the clutches of Jake Stringer.
The flow isn’t there… exhaustion looks to have replaced exuberance… there’ll be no Houdini act this time.
Stringer misses the shot at goal and the margin is 21 points. There’s 12:46 left on the clock.
So the anatomy of the most thrilling of victories…
Jack Crisp marks the kick in and sets off on a run to who knows where. He veers right and then doubles back, he gives it to Sidebottom and gets it back. Crisp is driven by a desire to go forward at any cost.
He handballs to Cameron who kicks to the medical sub Josh Carmichael who has just entered the fray of his third League game.
Crisp’s determination to break the shackles and take the game on transforms the Collingwood mindset and from there it seems like everyone makes a contribution.
Carmichael kicks a thumping goal which sparks three in five minutes. Josh Daicos wins a critical clearance. Pendlebury makes a vital interception. Quaynor prevails in a one-on-one marking duel. Mihocek lays a ball and all tackle. Moore tips a footy away from opposition clutches. Murphy holds his nerve under siege. Cox makes a spoil. Bianco makes a tackle. Lipinski makes the perfect choice with adrenalin pumping. Howe is fearless. Adams is relentless. Johnson makes a crushing tackle. Individual efforts that form the sum of the parts. Deeds that fuel a mindset and rekindle the belief that is fueling this thrilling Magpie season.
And then there’s luck and luck plays a part. The width of the post gives Collingwood the chance to conjure a finish the likes of which will never be forgotten by those who were present.
Collingwood’s first after the siren victory since Chris Tarrant in 2003.
These are the moments that define your fortunes. Collingwood find improbable ways to win and sit fourth. Richmond are finding impossible ways not to win and have fallen to 10th.
You’ve got to stay philosophical. If it’s all feeling a bit too much for you on Monday morning… channel your inner Noah Balta.