Steele Sidebottom kicked three goals, including two in the midst of a third quarter blitz as Collingwood advanced to the preliminary final. (Getty Images: Sarah Reed)
Collingwood has booked its spot in a home preliminary final after recording a courageous 24-point qualifying final win over Adelaide.
Despite kicking just one goal in the final quarter, the Magpies overcame the AFL's minor premiers in the second half to record the 11.13 (79) to 8.7 (55) win that puts them one victory from the grand final.
Jamie Elliott starred for Collingwood with four goals, including the match-sealer in the final quarter, while Jordan De Goey collected an equal game-high 26 disposals and six clearances.
After leading by six points at half-time, Collingwood booted five majors to none in a golden quarter-hour.
Loading Twitter content
The Pies' 34-year-old veteran Steele Sidebottom triggered the onslaught with two left-footed snaps in a game-breaking burst.
Sidebottom's two left snaps — punctuated by a near-identical major from De Goey — came in four minutes that stunned the 52,187-strong pro-Adelaide crowd.
The Pies added two more to create a match-high 35-point advantage before Adelaide could reply.
The Crows, in their first final since 2017, scored three consecutive goals to reduce their three-quarter-time deficit to 19 points.
Loading Twitter content
But the gap proved too wide in the final term as minor premier Adelaide's nine-game winning streak ended.
De Goey, Nick Daicos (24 disposals), his brother Josh (23) and Ned Long (23) were prolific ball-winners and captain Darcy Moore was pivotal early with six intercept marks by half-time and 10 grabs for the game.
Moore finished the match with a total of nine intercept marks, the most in an AFL finals game.
De Goey could find himself in some hot water after a bump on Adelaide defender Josh Worrell in the third quarter.
Loading Twitter content
Adelaide's Luke Pedlar kicked three goals, Taylor Walker scored two in his 300th AFL game, while Worrell (26 touches, six marks) was a standout.
Collingwood will now have a week off as it awaits its preliminary final opponent, while Adelaide will face the winner of the elimination final between GWS and Hawthorn in a home semi final next week.
Follow the live blog below for a recap of all the action as it happened.
Congratulations to Collingwood and brick bats to Crows supporters booing the victim of a homophobic slur delivered by one of their players. They need to drag themselves into the 31st century.
- MargKicaj
A great game thanks ABC
- Brian
Thanks so much for the great commentary. I am basking in a wonderful win by The Pies by the Mara River in Kenya. The hippo orchestra is in full voice in celebration. Go Pies!!!
- Gayle
That's it from us for tonight, what a game, what a win for Collingwood!
The fans are up and about, here are some of the best reactions at the final siren.
Key Event
Quaynor's response to being booed by Crows fans
C
By Chris De Silva
Collingwood defender Isaac Quaynor was asked about being booed and here's what he said.
"I did hear a little bit of it, but to be honest, I get so locked in to games that I don't pay much mind to anything else other than what's on the field," he told AFL Nation.
"To be honest, what I paid mind to was the Collingwood fans with the Collingwood chant and the incredible noise they were making."
Key Event
McRae condemns the booing of Quaynor
C
By Chris De Silva
Collingwood coach Craig McRae not impressed by the booing of both Isaac Quaynor and Dan Houston tonight by Adelaide fans.
Here's what he said in his post-match press conference.
"It is disappointing, not just Isaac, Dan as well," he said.
"I'm just not a booer. I teach my beautiful young girls.
"I just get disappointed with that. I find it really disappointing. I'm really proud of him and Dan and others."
Key Event
Crows not thinking about Rankine's return
C
By Chris De Silva
Tonight's loss means Izak Rankine could potentially play if Adelaide reaches the grand final in three weeks' time.
Nicks, who confirmed Rankine was in attendance tonight, says it's not something that's at the forefront of his mind at the moment.
"That's not even a conversation for us at the moment," he said.
"Right now that's a long, long way off."
Rachele a chance to return for semi-final
C
By Chris De Silva
Nicks says Josh Rachele, who is working his way back from a knee injury, is a shot of playing next week.
"He's moving really well, Josh," he said.
"He'll be pushing. He's a competitor and he'll be keen to get himself back in, but we've got to make the right decision.
"We won't push it if he's not ready."
Key Event
Nicks refuses to comment on the booing of Quaynor
C
By Chris De Silva
Matthew Nicks was asked twice by two separate reporters regarding the boos aimed at Isaac Quaynor tonight.
On both occasions, he refused to comment on the matter.
"It's not one for me to comment on. I see a stadium that's rocking," he said.
He added that he's not able to hear a lot of the crowd's reception while sitting inside the box.
Nicks laments ball use and lack of composure
C
By Chris De Silva
Here's Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks speaking to reporters about his side's performance:
"Three quarters won't get it done in finals footy," he said.
"We were beaten tonight by a side that played better than we did, no doubt about that. That's the biggest lesson from tonight.
"We'll all have finals experience next weekend. How quickly can we get onto that one?
"We lacked a little bit of composure with the ball in hand today. There were times where we hacked it forward and we maybe didn't need to.
"We were also beaten in the contest too many times. Even when we had even numbers, we were out-marked.
"We're reasonably clear on where we need to be better. We've been able to regroup reasonably quickly all year."
Matthew Nicks is at the podium
C
By Chris De Silva
Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks is speaking to reporters now.
I'll bring you the most notable stuff from his presser.
Tex Walker's son is rocking a Pies jersey
C
By Chris De Silva
Taylor Walker with his son Louie after the final siren. (Getty Images)
Absolutely hilarious stuff as Taylor Walker receives a guard of honour after the match.
One of his sons, Louie, who is a noted Nick Daicos superfan, is wearing a Collingwood jersey with 'WALKER 35' on the back.
Absolutely savage from little Louie.
Magpies absolutely BELT OUT their song
C
By Chris De Silva
The vibes are absolutely off the charts in Collingwood's rooms.
Loading Twitter content
A look at the updated finals bracket
C
By Chris De Silva
Loading Twitter content
Final stats from the Adelaide Oval
C
By Chris De Silva
Here's how the final numbers shaped up after this match:
Jamie Elliott kicked four goals as Collingwood recorded a 24-point win to reach the preliminary final. (Getty Images)
Collingwood is officially through to a home preliminary final, and they've got to be premiership favourites now!
The Pies have been in freefall for the last month of the season, but they've come good when it mattered the most.
After splitting the game apart in the third quarter with the first five goals, the Pies managed the game masterfully in the final term, kicking the only goal courtesy of Jamie Elliott.
There's no love lost at all between these two teams and there's some words and pushes and shoves extended after the final siren as well.
Ben Keays is not impressed with Brayden Maynard and has some choice words with the Pies defender before eventually shaking hands.
A disappointing 300th game for Taylor Walker, who was Adelaide's best player in the forward line tonight.
This is the first impact of the Izak Rankine suspension, he was sorely, sorely missed out there for the Crows.
Jordan De Goey with an equal game-high 26 disposals to go along with seven tackles, six clearances and a goal, he was absolutely sensational all night.
Jamie Elliott continues his brilliant season with four goals.
A word, too, for Collingwood skipper Darcy Moore, who was absolutely commanding down back for the Pies.
Moore finishes with a ridiculous 13 intercepts for the game to go along with 10 marks.
Elliott soccers home the dagger
C
By Chris De Silva
Jamie Elliott soccers one home on his left foot in the goalsquare and ROARS!
The Pies are through to a preliminary final.
Elliott has been simply superb tonight, he's got four goals for the night including this sealer.
The Crows fans are streaming out towards the exits.
Loading Twitter content
Mihocek misses his fifth for the night
C
By Chris De Silva
Brody Mihocek misses a set shot but the Pies are home here with an 18-point lead as we head into the final minute.
No goal for either side in the final quarter, incredible stuff.
Five minutes to go in Adelaide
C
By Chris De Silva
Adelaide running out of time here as we tick into the final five minutes.
Pat Lipinski takes a mark on the 50m arc and smartly takes a little more time off the clock.
The camera cuts to Matthew Nicks who has his hands on his head in frustration in Adelaide's box.
Walker misses a snap on goal
C
By Chris De Silva
Taylor Walker takes a big contested mark but he's tucked into the pocket so attempts a snap.
He gets a good piece of it, but the ball refuses to bend inside the right hand upright.
Six minutes to go now. Adelaide needs three goals.
Time slowly becoming Adelaide's enemy
C
By Chris De Silva
Dan Houston gets away with a blatant throw 40m out from Adelaide's goal as the Pies are able to clear.
Eight minutes to go, Adelaide needs a goal badly here.
We're still waiting for the first goal of the final quarter for either side.
Collingwood's done an excellent job of mucking things up in this final term.
Membrey misses after Daicos' set-up
C
By Chris De Silva
Tim Membrey has the chance kick a big dagger goal, but misses a gettable set shot.
It was a lovely set-up from Nick Daicos from a stoppage inside 50 as he swerved and dipped around before finding Membrey with a short kick on his left boot.
Pies by three goals as we tick into the final 10 minutes of game time.
The ABC of SPORT
Sports content to make you think... or allow you not to. A newsletter delivered each Saturday.
