Collingwood use rampant first half to stun Richmond and book Grand Final spot

Incredible, incredible scenes here at the MCG.

Richmond are absolutely gutted, you can tell that even though they'd never admit it, they thought they had one hand on the premiership cup. This has come out of nowhere.

But tonight's about Collingwood.

The Pies came out with manic energy and intensity and they shook the champions early, something no other team has been able to do. Then with the Tigers startled, the Pies hit them with the haymaker in the second term and ultimately that's where the game was lost. 

It was a credit to Richmond that the game was still up for grabs in the final term, but the lead was too far to overcome.

You have to think no matter who wins next week, the Magpies are going to go into the 2018 AFL Grand Final as raging favourites.

Imagine telling someone that sentence last year when the Pies were 2-6 and Buckley was on the verge of getting fired.

Football is incredible. 

What a week it's going to be in the lead up to next Saturday.

When you talk about the best players in the league, Steele Sidebottom's name goes unnoticed a lot of the time. He has been simply imperious tonight. 

40 disposals.
20 kicks.
20 handballs.
12 marks.

He's got a quadruple-double. Russell Westbrook eat your heart out. 

BRILLIANT FROM GRUNDYYYYYYYYYY! 

Okay that's got to be the game! Richmond have been outstanding all year, but those last two goals are the body-breakers.

Incredible ruck work from Grundy, double-palms it to himself and runs through and kicks the goal! 

HUUUUUUUUUGE GOAL BY TRELOAR! 

They just will it forward and De Goey keeps the ball alive and it falls to Treloar and he snaps it through on the left! Massive goal! 

THE CHAMPS ARE COMING OH BOY ARE THEY COMING! 

They are starting to win those contests but more importantly they are hitting the scoreboard. Higgins wins a free kick and drills it. Back to 21!