Cats v Pies prove why footy is the best game in the land

On a night where Australian’s were considering who might be our new political leader, a sporting league itself rose to the occasion. Some might say the battle at the MCG was far more thrilling than what played out on election day.

Geelong players get around Oli Wiltshire after he kicked an important goal. Photo credit - AFL/Getty Images.

For the footy faithful, there’s no mistaking that their love for the game was bright before Saturday night’s blockbuster clash between Geelong and Collingwood. But what was undeniable afterwards was that the game reigns supreme for the masses in so many ways.

It was like a script had been written. After a back of forth encounter, where Collingwood seemed often to have the edge over Geelong, the Cats fought back to take the lead in the last, seeming likely they would storm home with the win.

However, in true Collingwood fashion, they weren’t having a bar of it. The team who have become well known over recent years for unlikely comebacks were roaring home in the last few minutes, and the game was going down to the wire.

On the edge of their seats, supporters were drawn to their screens, their apps, or taking it all in amongst an 80,000+ crowd at the mighty G.

Cue the dramatic music and the game was taken to new heights as consecutive games record holder Jack Crisp took a mark 45m from goal, with a chance to win it for the Pies after the siren.

Jack Crisp kicks for goal after the siren with a chance to win it for the Pies. Photo credit - AFL/Getty Images.

It didn’t matter at that point who was barracking for who. The Pies supporters were buoyant that another chapter in Pies folklore was about to be upon us, the Cats supporters were crossing their fingers that they hadn’t let another important four points slip. And, well, the rest of us who barrack for neither team were loving the moment.

Crisp didn’t kick the goal. But it didn’t actually matter. In fact, the scenes that followed when his teammates got around him in that moment just highlighted how great this magical game of ours really is.

The game was full of everything we’ve come to love about footy. The umpiring decisions were part of the conversation. Controversy surrounding a Lachie Schultz shot at goal that may or may not have been touched was part of the debate.

As was a blistering chase down tackle by pocket rocket Bobby Hill that the umpire deemed a trip. Whether the AFL tick it off or not, the resultant free kick to Shaun Mannagh changed the course of the game, and stole Collingwood’s potential to shift momentum in the dying stages.

It was a night where we saw a Captain grab his team, throw them over his shoulder and say “come with me boys”. Patrick Dangerfield was simply outstanding with the game on the line. Courageously driving himself through packs of players, taking big contested marks, and finding a way to help the Cats score when most needed.

It begs the question. How does this guy just keep doing this when the game is on the line? Physically, how?

Dangerfield wasn’t the only veteran making waves. Whilst it’s become common in 2025 to see Steele Sidebottom and Scott Pendlebury in the list of best players for the Pies at the end of each round, this week it was amplified in a game that was closely contested.

Pendlebury was the second highest rated Collingwood player on the ground behind only ruckman Darcy Cameron who had 38 hit outs. Sidebottom was fifth, with 25 disposals of his own. But it was their football IQ that stood out. When they needed to, they found space, and they just made the right decisions.

Pendles celebrates as the Pies look on track for victory. Photo credit - AFL/Getty Images.

But wait, there’s more. With Geelong’s new favourite son Bailey Smith a force for the Cats, leading all on the ground for disposals with 34, he was interviewed post-game on the field.

In true Smith fashion, when asked about what it was like playing in front of a big crowd at the MCG, he was quick to respond that “you don’t get that in Ballarat.”

It was in response to his former team the Western Bulldogs playing their earlier in the day fixture against Port Adelaide in front of a max crowd of just over 5,000 in Ballarat.

Bailey Smith quote from the post-game chat on field. Photo credit - Triple M Footy.

Australian rules football is the best game in the land. Period.

We saw the best of the best on display last night.

It wasn’t the hyped-up crowd of a nearly packed house at the G, it wasn’t the display of veteran players taking the game by the horns and dominating amongst their much younger opponents.

It wasn’t the controversy surrounding umpiring decisions. And it wasn’t the after the siren shot at goal from the consecutive games record holder Jack Crisp.

It wasn’t even the colourful interview on the ground with Baily Smith after the game was complete.

It was the whole package. It was the drama. It was the edge of your seat stuff.

Jack Crisp and family leave the field after a night they won't ever forget. Photo credit - AFL/Getty Images.