Post Grand Final. Sweet 16. All comments.

[pietillidie]

Fly has delivered a masterclass over the finals series. The shift in tactics, keeping the game tight and managing the tempo, and breaking away in bursts got the very best out of a thin list. Three beasts short - a CHF, another explosive mid and another star big man - yet, Fly reads the tea leaves out from the finals series.

Loses a key defender who was dominating, but had the backup tall if needed, having made the right call. Used Frampton purely structurally, limiting Harris, with Frampers even missing a couple of grabs due to not having played enough in the firsts, such were the fine margins.

Set up Bobby to hurt them over the back as much as they were going to hurt us in the same way.

Timed the run of the older mids to perfection. There were times they looked shot, yet Pendles, Mitchell and Sidey had a big finals series. Crispy and Jordy went on big runs for the club in those last few games, with Crispy lifting his kicking to elite level.

Nailed the ruck rhythm just enough, despite being short a star big man. Managed Nicky Boy to get the most out of him on the big day.

Got the most out players on the edge of the list, like Oleg, and players once on the edge of the list, like Murph.

The fine margins of being the best are reflected in the tight finishes, mastered last year. Optimally managed to bring our best players to the fore when it mattered most, for longer. Howey's return was a huge bonus, because the break put years on his legs. One of our best on return through to the cup. Looked quicker and was kicking laser passes, making lemonade from the sour lemons of the injury gods.

A coaching masterclass, on the back of a hiring masterstroke from the club, steady low-key management from Browney and the Cement Truck, absolutely optimal recruiting from Wrighty from an unfavourable cap position, and the right choice as captain.

First, Fly built the ball movement and belief. Then, he built the defensive half. Then, he refined the game management and smarts. Finally, he moved the pieces to optimise every last fraction of advantage, making sure the best players were more central to the game for longer.

The reflection will be just how much he got out of that side, from journeymen to ageing guns, even being a few explosive, dominant players short. The defensive wall and the desire and belief were, in the end, too much for the opponent on the big stage. Not once, but three times including the big one.

What a journey, with much more to come. A real whole-of-club premiership, willed on by record attendance and devotion from Pies' fans, including the good folk of Nick's. A priemiership fully deserved all round.

[Mossi]

[didick]

My god
Elated.
Was at my local brisbane pub and there were five pies supporters. I let rip as the siren blew. So bloody satisfying.
Sidey you are a legend. How many of us thought he had that in him??! I didn’t. But I will never forget it. And I want a framed picture of it.
A week of intense stress and now on top of the world.
Thank you so much Collingwood. Love you all.
Gutted for Taylor Adams. Gutted.

[Mossi]

[pietillidie]

One thing that wasn't called live, likely because it was hard to pick the ball up, was that Sidey's goal was a barrel, wasn't it? I've watched and re-watched, looking at his hands and the trajectory, and what we can see of the ball, and I'm sure that was a torp, which would've been mentioned had the footage picked it up.

Whatever the case, no other player in the side could've pulled that out at that moment. With Jamie's kick dropping short at the other end, he read the moment, that's for sure.

Edit: Yes, 100%, that's a huge barrel! What kahunas!

[Mossi]

[swoop42]

12pts collectively across 3 final wins.

Shows how close it was between ecstasy and agony.

It must be some kind of record for a side that has set records across these past 2 seasons.

Funnily enough today, the biggest occasion of them all, was the game we absolutely could have won by more and it would have been an injustice if we hadn't of won this Premiership.

We lost a key defender in the 1st quarter, we gave ourselves more opportunities in front of goal and for a long while Brisbane simply couldn't bloody miss.

Not much went wrong for them, we would have hoped more went right for us and yet they still couldn't quite beat us.

A day and a season to remember.

Collingwood 2023 AFL Premiers.

GO PIES!

[swoop42]

[What'sinaname]

Shame they showed such a bag angle of Sidey's goal. I would love to have seen the torp

[stoliboy]

Ok am at the AIAI Centre waiting for the players to come back.

What a game. Love you pies. We beat the cheats and the team.

Go Pies.

[Larabee]

[Culprit]

I'm not the only Pie Supporter in the ER. I have a charger so I can just watch my phone. Going to be in here for a while. Go Pies.

[lazzadesilva]

[What'sinaname]

At 16, we are level with Carlton in terms of GFs won.

Essendon have won only 14 Grand Finals - 1897 and 1924 were round robin finals.

[WalZ_PieZ]

What a day to saviour and memories to cherish forever.
Now to watch and re-watch the replay.
Sweet #16 ooooh how sweet it is.
GO THE PIES