Collingwood has won a four-point thriller about rival arch Carlton at the MCG to now stand just one percentage point out of the top eight.
Big Blue’s Jack Jack Silvagni in the final seconds sailed a lot to end the Blues’ fight in the 11.13 (79) to 11.9 (75) defeat.
The Magpies kept Carlton goalless in the third, the first time the Blues have conceded no goals in a quarter of this year.
But Carlton refused to stretch in the final quarter with Matt Owies and Charlie Curnow scoring two goals each in the final to set an exciting end.
The Blues have been further attacked by the star defender of the news Jacob Weitering could miss at least six weeks with a shoulder injury suffered in the first term.
Watch all the AFL matches this weekend live and in free ad play in Kayo. Are we in Kayo? Try 14 days free now>
MATCH REPORT
Temperaments erupted at the start of the competition between former rivals Carlton and Collingwood, with a strong Taylor Adams entry over Patrick Cripps causing a small fight.
When the players came in, it was Collingwood who composed first.
Scott Pendlebury pressed the ball from the defense and the ball ended up with Jamie Elliott in the 50’s.
Instead of risking to find Brody Mihocek above the goal, Elliott settled in and threw the first of the day again.
“It’s perfect Magpies football,” said commentator Brian Taylor.
But the ball went back to the center where the blues have the advantage, and almost immediately Charlie Curnow had the reply.
“Once again, we see the Blues turning the domain of elimination into a marker,” said commentator Jason Bennett.
The Blues scored the second goal from a distance, but the game was completely turned upside down when the Blues’ star defender Jacob Weitering rushed to the ground.
He was taken to the halls immediately before being replaced from the party by a shoulder injury.
“If there’s one player Carlton can’t afford to lose, it’s him,” said commentator Daisy Pearce.
With Weitering off the field, the Pies conceded three goals in a row to open up a 15-point lead.
But when young Jack Ginnivan failed to get the first spot of the day from outside the goal post, the Blues came back into action.
Carlton scored three goals in just four minutes to tie the MCG once again.
Patrick Cripps started the race, with Sam Walsh kicking the second before Adam Cerra took action.
“Just when it looked like the game was getting a little out of control, they responded in the best way possible … and closed the scoring,” Bennett said.
“They’ve changed the pace of this game.”
“Collingwood has just lost some of its impact on the front half of the field,” added commentator Cameron Ling.
Charlie Curnow created “something out of the ordinary” to give the Blues the lead in the final seconds of the first half.
“Half a chance for Charlie Curnow and he finds the middle ground,” Bennett said.
“Before he can blink, he has it in his boot … amazing,” Pearce added.
Collingwood came out firing in the second half and kept the Blues goalless in a quarter for the first time this year.
But the inaccuracy hurt Pies’s drive again.
Pat Lipinski fired two shots into the net, while Steele Sidebottom went up the clock to find space for 50.
Sidebottom was able to sneak forward three times: he assisted Lipinski with his second goal, missed a shot seven and then nailed the third to push the Pies to 10 points.
Carlton was guilty of being “too handsome,” according to Pearce, as they advanced.
But in the last change they have lost only 10 points due to the missed opportunities of the Pies; Mason Cox seemed to be floating in the air as he elegantly headed in the 1-0 goal for Goey after a corner kick that was nicely executed by Brody Mihocek.
Jesse Motlop started the Blues perfectly in the last quarter to close out the margin on individual figures, but Cox rose when Jordan De Goey found space down the aisle.
Tyler Brown got on the scoreboard minutes later and when Oliver Henry threw his second of the day, Collingwood was suddenly left with a 22-point lead and the game seemed gone for the Blues.
Matt Owies rose with two quick goals and when Charlie Curnow made a great disputed mark and calmly scored his seven-pointer, the Blues returned to competition.
The game has been gearing up in the frantic final minutes, as the Blues threw everything against the Pies who were looking for two goals to steal the game.
A brilliant save from John Noble’s young Jack Carroll seemed to end up Carlton hoping for a quick impact on the pitch.
Jack Silvagni grabbed the mark and handed it over to Curnow to throw his quarter of the day, as Carlton was just under five points with one minute to go.
When Cripps took the ball from the center to the resulting center rebound, the Blues pushed forward but could not find the winner of the match.
Silvagni’s shot went wide and the Pies clung to a four-point victory.
EL 3-2-1 …
3. CAKES RESIST A FEROCUS FIGHT
Collingwood is now just one percent out of the top eight after surviving an exciting Carlton comeback.
When Oliver Henry scored his third goal of the day in the 19th minute of last season, Collingwood took a 22-point lead and looked home.
But the Blues refused to give up.
Matt Owies threw his second for the fourth before Charlie Curnow gave the Blues fans what they wanted: a great contested catch and a brilliant goal.
When Carlton scored a 50-for-1 inside forward, Jack Silvagni grabbed the mark and handed it to Curnow to close the gap to just five points.
It was a frantic last minute when Carlton won the central clearance, one of his massive weapons in 2022.
But Jack Silvagni’s quick jump sailed wide and Collingwood remained in an absolute classic finish.
2. WHAT DO BLUES DO WITHOUT WEEITER?
Jacob Weitering was described as “literally the only player Carlton can’t replace” after falling with a shoulder injury against Collingwood.
The star defender was replaced in the first season, and the club stated that he suffered an injury to the AC joint.
Jack Kele of St Kilda was sidelined with the same injury to the Cats, while Pie Jamie Elliott missed six weeks with his AC joint injury earlier this year.
Fox rider Jon Ralph said the loss of Weitering was a big problem for Carlton’s structure.
“They have lost their best striker Harry McKay, their best ruck Marc Pittonet and now their best defender Jacob Weitering,” he said.
“They have nothing in place.
“Oscar McDonald is out for a year with a stress fracture in his back, Liam Jones is retired, Caleb Marchbank has not played in the VFL today after moving his knee.
“All of his key players, including (Mitch) McGovern and (Zac) Williams, are long – term.
“Maybe Brodie Kemp, the 193cm defender, is next?”
Blue Jacob Weitering injured. Image: Dylan Burns Source: Getty Images
Ralph said the Blues may now have to resort to the mid-season draft to find a replacement for Weitering.
“There are interceptors around Carlton watching; Kallan Dawson of Williamstown, Sam Durdin of Glenelg. None of these guys are clearly Jacob Weitering.”
Ralph said Jones could not yet be considered for returning to his former club as he has not yet fulfilled his AFL vaccination tenure.
1. CARLTON’S MEDIUM UNDER RACE
The Blues have been forced to use their medical substitute early in the game twice as early as 2022.
As Jacob Weitering was substituted 30 minutes into the game, he could take comfort in the fact that his team was in the lead.
It was activated minutes later as commentator Eddie Betts hoped the Blues could kill his curse.
In round 3, Patrick Cripps was substituted in the fourth quarter and the Blues lost.
In the sixth round, Marc Pittonet was substituted in the first half and the Blues lost.
“It goes back to when Carlton played the Suns when they used their substitute early on (for Patrick Cripps),” Betts said.
“I do not want to harm you.
“Right now, I hope Carlton can prove me wrong.”
Weitering was substituted before the quarter and … the blues lost.
If you can’t see the blog, tap here.