Was it the moment that Richmond’s back-to-back dreams were dashed?
Five minutes into the second term, Collingwood’s American experiment launched above three Richmond leaders to take a colossal hanger.
Mason Cox soared over Trent Cotchin, Nick Vlastuin and Alex Rance to mark within range of goal.
It wasn’t so long ago that the towering Texan wouldn’t have got near it, let alone grabbed it.
And not only that, Cox went back to slot his set shot, one of his three goals for the quarter.
The American’s efforts pushed Collingwood’s lead from a handy 23-point lead to a shut-the-door 42-point advantage.
By the time Jordan De Goey out-muscled Rance to take a one-handed mark and convert, the margin was 53 points.
Game over.
Collingwood’s first-half dominance started in the middle, where both Steele Sidebottom and Taylor Adams gathered 20 touches.
AFL great Leigh Matthews, who coached the Magpies to the 1990 premiership, said Cox’s 10-minute purple patch was decisive.
“Cox’s middle 10 minutes, he was a colossus,” Matthews told 3AW.
“He set it up.”
Collingwood fans among the 94,959-strong crowd recognised their forward star, chanting ‘USA! USA! USA!’ after each goal.
But Cox did more, taking an astonishing eight contested marks – just two short of the all-time AFL record.
Matthews said the Magpies’ early intensity set them on their way to an unlikely grand final berth.
“Collingwood won the hunt,” he said at half-time.
“Their clearances have been destructive clearances.
“They’ve had 10 marks inside 50 … in a half. In every phase of the game Collingwood have been outstanding.”
Matthews’ premiership skipper, Tony Shaw, said what most at the MCG were thinking as the Magpies denied the minor premiers a chance to defend their flag.
“It looks like they’ve swapped jumpers,” he said.