Jamie Elliott’s right boot has produced a Collingwood miracle.
In front of a raucous 72,402-strong crowd at the MCG, the dangerous Magpies forward had a set shot after the siren to clinch victory over Essendon and nailed his task.
Elliott had to steer the goal home from almost 50 metres out just inside the boundary on Collingwood’s left, but he conquered the moment to steal a four-point triumph for the Magpies.
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Harrison Jones had a chance to seal the game for Essendon with less than a minute on the clock, but a set shot hit the post and Collingwood hurtled back down the field.
Trent Bianco thumped the ball inside 50 and Elliott took a contested grab to give himself the set shot, before kicking truly and pinching a 12.8 (80) to 11.10 (76) victory.
Essendon erased a 37-point quarter-time deficit and led by 21 points during the final quarter, but Collingwood surged late to secure its ninth win in succession and eighth this season by 11 points or less.
The win nudged the Magpies into fourth on the ladder with four games remaining, which is remarkable given they finished 17th last season.
“I’m a bit speechless, to be honest,” said Collingwood coach Craig McRae in his post-match press conference.
“I hope there’s not footage of me on the bench as the siren goes.
“I really don’t know what to say to that. That was unbelievable.”
Essendon coach Ben Rutten said in his post-game press conference the loss was “bitterly disappointing”.
“Put ourselves in a great position to win the game,” Rutten said.
“We gave them a 37-point head-start at quarter-time, so (we) had a bit of time to make up, which we were able to do, but ultimately we can’t be doing that.”
Collingwood’s astounding win followed the deaths of club greats Billy Picken and Con Britt only a day earlier.
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