“Magpies' 3-Point Smash & Grab Win

- Australian Football League (AFL) Preliminary Final 2011 -

What a pulsating match! What a heart-thumping 4th quarter thriller to a game that had all the hits and misses!

Collingwood's Leon Davis and Heath Shaw celebrate a last-quarter goal against Hawthorn. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: Herald Sun
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Today's Preliminary Final between Collingwood (AFL Defending Champions) VS Hawthorn really served up a feast for everyone. Hawthorn fought hard and proved a match for Collingwood throughout most of the game. But a game is a game. There can only be a winner and a loser. Sadly, Hawthorn fell short - by a mere 3 points in a game that ended 68-65 to Collingwood.

Collingwood looked a shadow of themselves. They only upped the ante towards the end of the 4th quarter when they realised their title ambitions were on the line. Probably Hawthorn played just too well, making Collingwood look bad.

On the looks of tonight, Collingwood seems to have a hard task on hand to win the Premiership for the 2nd time in the row. A better overall performance will certainly be needed if Collingwood were to beat either Geelong Cats OR West Coast Eagles for the game.

Can't wait for the Grand Final already! I believe it will be played out between Collingwood and Geelong. Not that I'm diminishing West Coast Eagles chances even before a ball is kicked but Geelong is definitely the favourite to come through to the Grand Final. Their performance has been sensational en-route to the Final Series and who will bet against them on claiming the title come Grand Final day next month?

Till then, let us await for the confirmation of Collingwood's final opponents when Geelong and West Coast kick off tmr afternoon. Cheers mate:)!