By Conor Morrissey, Chris Nice and Zac Standish
West Coast and Collingwood have a rich history in September, playing off four times in the last 12 years, and seven throughout history.
Interestingly though, none of those seven meetings were ever in a Grand Final, or even a Preliminary Final.
In 2011, West Coast had risen from last to fourth, and despite the absence of star rover Daniel Kerr, nearly caused an MCG boilover, trailing by just seven points deep into the final quarter, before two late goals to the Pies put the game beyond doubt.
The next season they met again in a semi-final, where the Eagles burst out of the blocks with a run of four goals to start the match.
Collingwood rallied however, and led by a Dale Thomas third quarter frenzy, overcame the Eagles by 13 points.
And then in this year's gripping qualifying finals, the travelling Magpies led by 10 points early in the final quarter, before being overpowered by the home side, spurred on by a raucous crowd and big final quarter performances from Jack Darling and Josh Kennedy.
These sides always produce good contests, and one thing is for certain: it will take something special to put any distance between the two teams, one way or another.
WEST COAST
West Coast’s Round 16 victory ended a 23-year drought over the Magpies at the MCG, but it came against a tired midfield lacking Adam Treloar and the high-flying Mason Cox up forward.
Now, with a surge of momentum at their backs, and facing a West Coast side now without Brad Sheppard - who would serve as the perfect match-up for Jordan de Goey - the Magpies will hope to overrun the Eagles in the midfield, and allow their high-energy ball movement to slip through the cracks in their defence.
Much has been made of the Eagles' preference to move the ball slowly via a kick-mark system, but they love to move the ball fast when they can.
Either way, they thrive on space, and the ability to use their skills.
It will be up to Collingwood to stop this, because if the Eagles can get rolling while taking the ball forward, it is difficult not to see at least one or two of their dangerous forward six getting off the chain and kicking a bag.
West Coast finished in the top-six last year, but ought not to have made finals.
Longtime warriors Matt Priddis and Sam Butler retired, as did Sam Mitchell and Drew Petrie. Josh Hill and Sharrod Wellingham were let go.
And when Josh Kennedy didn’t have a pre-season, West Coast were a universal vote for the big slider of the season, and barely a pundit could be found who had them anywhere above 12th on their predicted ladder.
However, Priddis’ 2017 season had not measured up to his other recent ones, and the retirements of the imported Petrie and Mitchell didn’t hit quite as hard as people thought, given West Coast hadn’t exactly come to rely desperately on them after just one season.
Rather than shield their young players, the Eagles have celebrated them, and given them key roles and responsibilities.
Tom Cole has been at the Eagles for a few years but he has flourished this season, and held Jordan de Goey in check in this year's qualifying final.
Liam Ryan and Willie Rioli have completely changed the way the Eagles play, at last giving the forward line true crumbing nous to complement their much-vaunted talls.
Liam Duggan and Tom Barrass have looked assured in the backline.
The Eagles have embraced their own strengths this year. It all came together after about five or six weeks, and with only one loss to their name, they blasted Port Adelaide and Richmond at home, and overcame Greater Western Sydney and Hawthorn away.
A victory over the Saints made it 10 in a row, and a 10-1 form-line, which put them in the box seat for a top-two finish, which eventually they claimed.
Those wins all came without 2016 Club Champion, Luke Shuey.
They have since worked past injuries to elite players Josh Kennedy, Nic Naitanui, Jack Darling, and more recently, Brad Sheppard. This was compounded by the undisputed lowlight of the entire 2018 season, Andrew Gaff’s ugly hit on Andrew Brayshaw in Round 20, which ruled him out for the rest of the season.
Dom Sheed has come back in, and what they’ve lost with Gaff’s peerless ability to run and move the ball, they’ve gained with Sheed’s impressive contested work.
Mention must also be made of Jack Redden, who has been a star for the Eagles’ engine room this season, and with Sheed, Shuey and Elliot Yeo must continue the midfield’s upward trend in the contest and winning ground balls.
COLLINGWOOD
What a year it has been for Collingwood, who after finishing 13th in 2017 now have the opportunity to play on the coveted last Saturday in September, despite a host of injuries which plagued its entire season.
After being placed firmly on the chopping block for all of last season, the Magpies decided to hold firm with coach Nathan Buckley, who just one year into his somewhat controversial extension has more than delivered on the club’s expectations.
So just hours out from the big game, what made Collingwood click in 2018?
Although they stuck with their original coach, the club changed their game style substantially over the off-season to very good effect.
The main change came through the forward line, as they looked to the Richmond model for inspiration in assembling one of the competition's most potent attacks.
Headlined by dynamic young star Jordan de Goey, the Magpies have enjoyed a plethora of scoring options this season, with each forward executing their roles to perfection.
Rising Star Jaidyn Stephenson has been a sensation for the Pies this season, with last year’s pick No. 6 breathing new life into the forward line through his exceptional speed and skill.
A breakout year by big American Mason Cox and solid contributions from the likes of Brody Mihocek, Will Hoskin-Elliott and Travis Varcoe, have made this group among the toughest to match up on in the competition.
Despite the clear improvement in their forward line, the real strength of this Collingwood team is its midfield, who hold the true key to their fortunes come Saturday afternoon.
Led by Brownlow Medal runner-up Steele Sidebottom, captain Scott Pendlebury and contested beasts Adam Treloar and Taylor Adams, this group has truly taken another step in 2018.
Along with their elite on-ball brigade, the Magpies also boast arguably the competitions best ruckman in Brodie Grundy, who after an All Australian season will be itching to show off his skills on footballs biggest stage.
After dominating Richmond through the middle of the ground last week, they will look to again exploit their opposition in this area and put the hardened West Coast defence under pressure early.
The only real weakness in the Magpies team heading into this grand final lies in its undermanned defence.
With key posts Lynden Dunn, Ben Reid and Darcy Moore all sidelined with injury, Collingwood have had to rely on a returning Tyson Goldsack and the undersized Tom Langdon and Jeremy Howe to get the job done the opposition key forwards.
Although they have battled valiantly thus far, this weekend they tackle the best duo of key forwards there is in twin towers Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling.
These two were really the difference in their last meeting in the qualifying final just three weeks ago, and if given adequate supply have the ability to take the game away from Collingwood.
In what can only be described as a rollercoaster season, Collingwood have pushed through hardships admirably to reach their first Grand Final since 2011.
With soldiers constantly falling, the "next man up" mantra at the Magpies has seen previously unknown players become pivotal cogs in the Collingwood machine, who will undoubtedly play a key role in Saturday’s result.
KEY MATCH-UPS
Both sides remain unchanged heading into this week, with the only difference between this week's line-ups and that of the qualifying final being Brad Sheppard, who was replaced by Will Schofield.
In what is set to be one of the most evenly matched Grand Finals in recent memory, there will be a number of game-defining match-ups scattered across the MCG.
MARK HUTCHINGS V STEELE SIDEBOTTOM
After collecting a game-high 41 disposals and completely dominating the Tigers last Friday night, Steele Sidebottom is looming as the biggest danger on Collingwood's list.
His great form of late and enormous influence on his side will without a doubt see West Coast’s number one tagger, Mark Hutchings, get the biggest job of his career.
In the sides' two match-ups this season, the pair have split the points, with Hutchings getting on top of Sidebottom in their Round 17 clash, before the Magpie champion hit back hard with a dominant qualifying final performance.
Now on the biggest stage, this match-up has the potential to decide the result from the get-go.
If Sidebottom gets off the chain, he has the ability to take the game away from the Eagles. But if Hutchings clamps down early, that's one major weapon taken out of Collingwood's arsenal.
JOSH KENNEDY V TYSON GOLDSACK
Round 2 of their finals showdown will kick off at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.
Last time they met, Tyson Goldsack kept the West Coast spearhead quiet for three quarters before Kennedy became the match-winner in the qualifying final.
Returning from injury, Josh Kennedy has built into form beautifully throughout this final series, with his four goals in the preliminary final a warning of how dangerous he can be at his best.
Goldsack on the other hand exceeded all expectation on his unexpected return from an ACL injury, putting in respectable performances against Kennedy and Greater Western Sydney superstar, Jeremy Cameron, in the first two finals.
However, he was overawed by Jack Riewoldt in the preliminary final (five goals), concerning Collingwood fans about his rematch with an in-form Kennedy.
With so much of West Coast's hope riding on its key forwards, this match-up will be crucial for the overall result of the game.
Should he come out on top, Tyson Goldsack will be immortalised in Collingwood history.
NATHAN VARDY AND SCOTT LYCETT V BRODIE GRUNDY
With Nic Naitanui going down with a season-ending knee injury in Round 17, many thought it might be the demise of the Eagles as they were forced to rely on their second and third string ruckman.
However, both Scott Lycett and Nathan Vardy have come into their own in the backend of the season and have played a vital role in the team’s success as a ruck duo.
After doing an excellent job in nullifying All Australian ruckman Max Gawn, the pair will be full of confidence as they prepare to square off against the competition's other premier ruckman in Brodie Grundy.
Renowned for his ability to follow up his work and spread across the ground, Grundy provides these two with a unique challenge.
At his best, Grundy is effectively a fourth midfielder for the Magpies as he not only finds the ball at will but uses it with great effect.
Vardy and Lycett simply must stop his ability to get around the ground and get involved with the Magpies' ball movement.
If he is let loose, dominates in the ruck and feeds the ball to the likes of Sidebottom, Treloar and Pendlebury, he alone could prove to be a real difference.
KEEP AN EYE ON...
Jeremy McGovern
The biggest uncertainty surrounding the Grand Final from either team, the Eagles are still sweating on the fitness of star intercept defender, Jeremy McGovern, following a heavy knock in last week’s preliminary final.
However, if he takes the field, which he almost certainly will at this stage, McGovern looms as a genuine match-winner for the Eagles.
Blessed with the best set of hands in the competition and a gifted ability to read the ball, McGovern will be a thorn in Collingwood’s side as any lose kicks inside 50 will be quickly gobbled up.
The centre piece of the West Coast “Web”, the play of McGovern will without a doubt be playing on the mind of Nathan Buckley as he works out how to negate his influence.
Willie Rioli
Another year, and another Rioli featuring in the Grand Final.
Willie Rioli has been a livewire for the Eagles in attack this season, with his ability to apply pressure and create something out of nothing making him one of West Coast’s most important players.
Whether it be a run-down tackle, incredible goal or special piece of play, expect the youngest Rioli to put his mark on this Grand Final at some stage.
Mason Cox
The big American has officially arrived.
After his most consistent season yet, Mason Cox finally had his true breakout performance last Friday night, with his three goals proving to be the difference when the game was on the line.
Fast forward a week, and Cox now faces his biggest challenge yet as he competes against the “web” on footy’s biggest stage.
Being the only tall forward in the Collingwood team, Cox has a pivotal role to play in bringing the ball to ground for his teammates and taking important contested marks.
Jaidyn Stephenson
What a debut season it has been for the blonde-haired bombshell.
Winning the Rising Star and becoming a very popular figure at the country’s biggest club, you feel Stephenson is made for the Grand Final occasion.
Whether it be his lightning speed, incredible goal sense of intense pressure, Stephenson has been a key contributor to Collingwood’s forward line turn around.
Expect something special from the kid on Saturday, as he looks to light up the MCG for one last time in 2018.
THE RUSHED BEHIND PREDICTIONS
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