Having almost come from the clouds against St Kilda at the same venue seven days earlier,Harvey’s men gave themselves slightly less work to do this time around before flying home against all odds.
For the best part of three quarters,it looked like Richmond - while still well short of their best - would have enough to hold the Magpies at bay. The Tigers had been desperate enough around the ball and more polished in key moments,capitalising on Collingwood’s defensive turnovers and benefiting from the Pies’ relative wastefulness in front of goal. Sydney Stack made a solid return in defence,while Dan Rioli was also holding up well in his new role across half-back.
But the Tigers had been somewhat off their game,and there were moments in which the Pies had shown glimpses suggesting that if they clicked for any sustained period,they would threaten to topple the badly undermanned reigning premiers.
And so it proved. From inauspicious beginnings - a Josh Thomas goal just before time-on of the third quarter - the Pies took control of the game,dominating across all lines and running all over the Tigers by piling on six straight goals,and seven of the match’s last eight.
While Mason Cox was this time consigned to onlooker status,it was a procession that had earmarks of the first half of the 2018 preliminary final,the sole blip in Richmond’s four years of ascendancy.
Collingwood’s win was made all the more remarkable by the fact the Pies had lost young tall Will Kelly to injury before half-time. But ultimately it was Richmond who had reached critical mass,with their injury situation worsened when ruckman Mabior Chol hurt his leg in the early stages. Chol played out the game,but appeared laboured.