Yeah - it was a push.
LOL.

Nah, it was good "forward craft".

I seem to have a good situation next Saturday - as I'm working that night, I'll miss the first half because I should be sleeping, and I'll miss the second half because I clock on at 5 and expect to be busy right away. Win and win 🏆

I will continue to barrack for ABG. Go The Bloods!

Amazing how often the one late decision is blamed for a lose . Pies 5 goal down at half time despite leading the free count by 4 . Staged a brilliant late comeback to just fall short . Again still leading the frees by 5 . So as i watched the game as a neutral observer, i noticed a number of poor calls/ non calls for both teams. Also noticed a number of costly skill errors/ poor decisions from both teams which could have changed the coarse of the game. Disappointing that the focus is so heavy on one call by an umpire .

Robbie Williams. I'd almost forgotten. FFS.....

I'm sure he only got the gig because the tatts make him look somewhat like a modern AFL player..

"Pies supporters complaining about the umpires are like a uni student complaining the internet is down when they didn’t start their essay until the night before it was due."

When I was at uni there was no internet from which we could cut and paste the content of an essay. We had to generate ideas, and then write them down manually. Surely, if the internet is down, most Collingwood supporters would have a box of crayons somewhere?

Here's an example of an 'idea' for Collingwood: All the world's conspiracy theories, and particularly those involving the umpires when the margin of a match is small and the result goes against your team and insults the very gods themselves, are just a hoax. You're welcome.

The important thing is Collingwood lost. I understand many would like to see them lose in the actual Granny, but imagine how bad this week would have been in the lead up?

I'm not sure what Brisbane thought they were doing on Friday night but they certainly made the Demons look bad for having lost to them the week before

Let's get the ARC involved in these decisions so as to really stuff the game up - in the end it would have been "Umpire's
Call". Oh, that's right it was! Geelong v Richmond would have been a better game than what Brisbane dished up! and I'm not all bitter and twisted, much!!

Craig McCrae said it perfectly, move forward don’t dwell

Titus on Friday’s unhelpful guide: “I’m tipping the Swans, but this one is going to be close”. And some say Titus can’t tip.

“Collingwood’s year of living dangerously has come to an end in what was a classic Preliminary Final”. Yes, the problem with living dangerously is that it’s dangerous way to live. And yes, a classic final. Some are calling it the most intense high pressure sporting contest of all time. Especially those last 5 minutes.

For those with extraordinary memories will know that the last team to defeat Geelong was Saint Kilda. Let that sink in.

Typo, Titus?

"I’m not sure why the Swans didn’t want to defend, but it turned out to be a tactical mistake."

Erm, I think in the context, you mean the Pies, not the Swans

I am just grateful that the boys rarely conceded a single point when on the pies goal line. Gawd that would have made such a difference.

So, Titus, you were saying about defending???

As usual losers always want to blame the umpires. However, those same barrackers magically forgive their players when they stuff up. Inaccurate kicking once again cost the game. 10 points that could have easily been goals & then it would have been an easy win. But no we want to win by the whistle or die by the whistle & keep the scores close at the end. There have been plenty of instances where players have done what Papley did & the umpires have allowed it. So Hawkins should have a field day next weekend.

Footy wise, I can't think of anything better than the Pies losing a Prelim by a point.

I love the way we bag the umpires all year for not properly adjudicating what has happened right in front of their eyes, yet we consider the Brownlow medal, adjudged by these same umpires, as legitimate recognition of talent and performance. Give me the club best and fairest any day as an indicator of who consistently played their role for the team.

Norman—yes, I think the whole AFL (and sporting world) learnt from Adelaide’s 2017 GF loss that dwelling on a single loss, even for a fairly significant game, is not a great idea.

"Scott Morrison was Prime Minister and most of the Cabinet."

I believe the official protocol is for a capital M, hence:

"Scott Morrison was Prime Minister and Most of the Cabinet.

I love this stuff. Let's forget the umpiring until the last 2 minutes. Have a look at the footage from the ruck stoppage in the last minute. Chad Warner is tackled without the ball and taken out of the play by Ginnevan. Play on said the man.

THE 2022 AFL GRAND FINAL

Rejoice that Sydney made it in!
(The Swans were yang, the Magpies yin.)
Now the media will be invested in
Declaring how Geelong *must* win.

Yet Sydney will triumph, despite their din.

Turn it up Titus ... Pat, Tom & Joely are easy enough to like. Larry, Moe & Curly the same. Funny too!! Con

As an unbiased supporter of neither club I thought the umpiring on Saturday was inconsistent . To focus on one incident is a cop out but that happens every week . If any of the three who umpired on Saturday get a gig in the Grand Final the AFL clearly don't subscribe to you are only as good as your last game .
Dogs supporter but I am very much with the Blood Stained Angels this week . After seeing 220 wrap around paper features on the Queen I couldn't face Geelong wrap arounds regurgitating Dangerfield Sellwood Hawkins etc stories .
Go the Bloods

I raise you one. Ball knocked out of Buddy's hands after he controlled it - should have been a mark close to goal. Mihochek fumbles/drops the ball, paid a mark and goals.
Great game.

You've had a great year, Titus (as a writer). Thanks.

Watching the classic match on Saturday night, while Collingwood is focussing on an alleged push in the back by Paps, it can't be disputed that Collingwood players then tried to re-enact the final moments of King Charles I by decapitation. But hey, you can't let the truth get in the way of a Collingwood alternative fact!?

'... but looking for consistency in umpiring is like looking for informed debate on Twitter'

or informed debate in this comments section!

The Pies had a great year and won admirers from all over, including many former haters. A few ill-disciplined acts, nervous errors and so on cost them the game, but South were obviously lucky. Their luck may run out next Saturday. I'd rather my team go out in the closest possible way in a Prelim, having had a great set of finals, than sneak into the Grannie by the proverbial bee's equipment and then get eviscerated. South's colours may prove to be quite apt.

The Pies are clearly slightly off the pace, but surely good things lie ahead. When they come about, we will make Peter's and all the haters' lives a living hell, as you well know, so start making your travel plans/applications for asylum now.

Finally: haters, the 1920s were a long time ago. Get over it, eh?

I enjoy your columns and consider this to be the best of the season - I laughed out loud several times when reading silently by myself - which was also fun
Looking forward to your response to the GF
Cheers
Jim

Hi Titus,
love your work and I love the scrutiny the umpires get when games are close. The AFL is to blame by making the rules into interpretations. Nothing is black and white (sorry pies supporters way to soon). Moaning about umpiring, especially the hands in the back rule, is idiocy. The AFL don’t care. 6 6 6 rules and free stats to full backs is far more important to them. Next thing they’ll do is ban 1 on 1 contests! Get used to it all you diehards, the league is reverse evolving. Simple is now difficult. Imagine if you were an umpire!

Persia,

Who are South?

-Sydney Swans supporter

How old are you Daniel B? Twelve? The Sydney Swans have SMFC on the back of their jumpers. Can you guess what those letters might possibly stand for ? Another question for you - Can you guess why Brisbane jumpers have FFC on the back?

MG you are on the money the Buddy non mark followed by the Mihocek 'mark ' was one of the many inconsistent decisions I had in mind .

I thought Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles did a great job umpiring the Swans Pirs game.

@Pedantic Pete not a typo more your brain fade. Titus said pies not swans so not sure what you are on about.

@Pedantic Pete not a typo more your brain fade. Titus said pies not swans so not sure what you are on about.

As well as the Buddy/Mihocek marks, 2 of the last 3 Collingwood goals involved chains of possession with very obvious "one -handed" passes. Neither were called and both lead to goals.

Let's hope that the umpires don't get as carried away by the romance of the narrative as they did in the 2016 GF.
They didn't even have the modesty to square up the FK ledger close to the end.

and which team has FKF on the back of their shirts? + why?

Having some faith in the intellectuals that comment on Titus’ posts, can someone tell what the hell happened in the first few minutes when Collingwood defender Murphy was catapulted at a rate of knots into the back of the pack (leaving him super dazed)?

I agree that Dayne Zorko is everyone's favorite opposition player. I mean after the abuse he reportedly received from the Mennonite players which was more prolong and more personal than whatever he retaliated with, yet he was made out to be the bad guy, well after all of that you have to feel for him, don't you Titus?

Daniel B

Why are you being obtuse? I'm a Sydney-based Swans fan and very proud of our South Melbourne roots, history and fellow supporters. Our club is the same one that featured South heroes like Skilton, Pratt and Bedford in years gone by before we had Kelly, Goodes and Joey.

SF

What's better than beating the pies by 10 goals ? Beating them by a point .... but not in the Prelim.

No, In the Granny ... Replay .. with a kick after the siren ... which was originally adjudicated as a point ... but overturned to a goal on score review.

1. It was a blatant push in the back and the 'responsible' maggot should be punished by having to wander around Collingwood at 1am naked.
2. Geelong may not get more free kicks than other teams but how come they get all theirs within the forward 50? And how come Geelong players never get called for holding/dropping the ball? Ever!!!

Hate the result.
I wanted all of the Melbourne teams eliminated this weekend.
Blaming the local umpires, and home ground advantage, is a bit rich from the Collywobble fans - the umpires came from Melbourne, although they could have been supplied by South Melbourne.
Go Catters - and belt South Melbourne, this weekend.

Great season for Magpies and I don't like them. But it took a Sth Australian guy the coach to get them from 17th into Prelim Final. So good to see them run run un attack not like too many of the older/existing coaches playing boring defensive/ possession at all costs crap, sideways backwards kicking that has made AFL not as good to watch past 10 yrs. Good on AFL bringing in 6 6 6 and the stand rule!!!!!!!! Wonder if Clarkson will adjust his coaching style I think he'll have to and Ross Lyon, na get a another young coach a job at Bombers, other clubs in future!!!

When Collingwood lose, everyone wins!