FULL TIME! PIES WIN! PIES WIN! 

Collingwood have booked their place in the grand final through a one-point win over the Giants! A thriller. A classic. What a contest.

2:00 - Two minute left on the clock! Pies by one point.

CROWD: 97,665

4:56 - A HUGE tackle from O'Halloran on Hoskin-Elliott on the wing. The Magpies were looking to attack and he won back the ball with a holding the ball free kick against the Magpie.

6:49 - GOAL: After a long stalemate on the score, the Giants get some clean ball movement on the wing and Lachie Ash drills a pass to Hogan 35m from goal. The GWS spearhead nails the set shot and narrows the lead to a single point.

SUB CHANGE: GWS' Xavier O'Halloran has replaced Callan Ward

13:00 - BEHIND: The Magpies will themselves into another opportunity, with Elliott getting a close look on goal in the pocket only for his snap to hit the post.

14:42 - GOAL: Cox gets room on the lead and takes a mark following a lace kick inside 50 from Elliott. The American goes back and slots it from 45m out before getting stuck into his direct opponent in Taylor.

16:06 - GOAL: Daniel Lloyd levels the scores after being awarded with a 50m penalty in his side's attacking arc after Sidebottom moved from his mark. He walks to the goalsquare and sends the Sherrin through the sticks.

18:50 - BEHIND: The Magpies are on top to start the final quarter, with a snap toward goal awkwardly bouncing near the line before being rushed over by the Giants.

19:32 (remaining) - BEHIND: An early chance missed by the Magpies' tactical sub, with Ginnivan unable to slot home an immediate shot on goal.

Three-Quarter Time

Collingwood: 7.7.49
GWS: 6.9.45

We're set for an enthralling final term after a back-and-forth premiership quarter saw Collingwood claw back in front. The Pies took hold of the game through the middle period of the term but the Giants stemmed the flow. It's going to go down to the wire this one.

SUB CHANGE: Collingwood's Jack Ginnivan has replaced Dan McStay (knee).

1:08 - BEHIND: Keeffe doesn't lower his eyes and instead of passing to his captain his shot hits the post. Another chance missed for the Giants.

INJURY NOTE: Collingwood forward Dan McStay has exited the ground and headed down to the rooms after a suspected quad issue following a contest in attack.

.@timmyhodges reporting that Dan McStay has come from the ground with a suspected quad injury.

Looked emotional and in a bad way physically.

Heartbreaking.

— Ben Cameron (@BenCameron23) September 22, 2023

2:35 - Josh Kelly's attempt from the flank falls short to the right and is rushed over after Riccardi struggled to get two hands to the ball.

5:18 - BEHIND: The Pies almost make it two goals in half a minute, but Jack Crisp's long-range attempt on the run hags to the right for a point.

5:33 - GOAL: Collingwood make the Giants pay through Mihocek, who gathers, spins and drills home another for the black and white to see the MCG erupt.

6:08 - BEHIND: Bedford is the next Giant with a chance, but his attempt on the run falls to the near side.

6:40 - BEHIND: Lloyd tries to get the lead back for the Giants but his rushed shot falls short and hits the post.

7:09 - GOAL: The Magpies are in front! An intercept mark from Jeremy Howe gets Collingwood on the counterattack, with the backman finding Jamie Elliott in the middle. Pendlebury gets the hands and kicks it long to McStay, whose dropped attempt lands in the lap of McCreery and is snapped through from close range.

8:33 - GOAL: Another for the Magpies as this game begins to turn into a shootout. Brayden Maynard's sublime ball into attack to Jamie Elliott breaks open the Giants' defence before the Magpies sharpshooter drills home his first of the night. Collingwood cut the lead to five.

9:40 - GOAL: Brown makes up for his fumbled chance, getting on the end of a Bedford handball in the pocket and bending one through on a tough angle. The Giants have managed to halt the Pies' run.

10:50 - GOAL: A crucial 50-50 ground ball is won by Markov against Callum Brown, with the Magpies flicking the switch and finding McStay in the forward 50. The ex-Lion nails his set shot from 40m out to make it two in a row.

Superb from Markov to win the 50/50 and McStay finishes it off. The Pies are within a goal!

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12:00 - GOAL: The Pies get one back after winning a turnover on the wing and quickly moving the ball forward, finding Dan McStay at half-forward. The tall Magpie turns and hits up an open Bobby Hill in the pocket, who makes no mistake of his set-shot.

14:35 - GWS defender Jack Buckley left hampered after his left was caught under a Collingwood player, with the Giants backman left limping on the ground. He remains on the field behind the play.

17:22 - BEHIND: A one-two link-up between Whitfield and Daniels sees the former dash toward attack before finding the chest of Lloyd. The veteran Giant's shot from 45m out falls short and is punched over the line by Cox.

18:28 - GOAL: Greene makes up for his recent mistakes, collecting the ball from a boundary throw-in 25m from goal and bends it through with a left-foot snap.

19:13 (remaining) - A poor choice from Greene as he attempts to dribble home a goal while Quaynor is manning the goalsquare. The Giants skipper had a man open at the hot spot.

Half Time

Collingwood: 2.6.18
GWS: 4.4.28

A dominant term for the Giants, who kept the Magpies goalless as Greene, Green, Cumming and Riccardi each put their name on the goalkicker's column. The NSW side have fought back on the pressure front and are transitioning the ball well, while Collingwood have missed some good opportunities on goal and were battling in the air as well when entering 50.

0:55 - An injury concern for GWS forward Jake Riccardi, who got up from a tackle with a suspected hamstring complaint. He remained on the field but was left in some discomfort. The Giants have Xavier O'Halloran on standby.

1:14 - The Giants again look threatening on the transition but it's an opportunity missed as Greene decides to shoot from distance rather than lower the eyes to Hogan. The captain's kick goes out on the full and his tall forward isn't happy.

2:25 - BEHIND: Daicos misses a chance on the run after receiving the ball from McCreery in the pocket. The Pies might end this term goalless the way their kicking on goal is going.

4:08 - BEHIND: Mihocek misses another chance on goal with a rushed kick under pressure from distance, with the ball shanked to the left and only just managing to register a score.

4:35 - GOAL: The Giants' transition and contest has given them the upper hand this quarter, with an entry inside 50 falling Coniglio's way before the Giants onballer drills a pass to an open Riccardi atop the goalsquare. The GWS forward makes no mistake of the easy chance on goal.

6:25 - Toby Greene again gets a handball from a teammate taking a set shot but his kick falls short of the goal and is punched over the line, only for the umpire to pay a free kick to the Magpies.

7:30 - BEHIND: The Magpies manage to find some teammates through the middle of the ground from their back half before Jack Crisp enters the attacking 50 with a pass to Beau McCreery 45m from goal on a 45-degree angle. His set shot starts and stays on the right-hand side.

10:34 - GOAL: Thee Giants link up inside 50 near the boundary before Toby Greene sends a high pass to the hot spot where Isaac Cumming takes a contested chest mark. The defender goes back from 25m out and slots a third straight for the Giants.

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13:16 - GOAL: The Giants almost lose the ball in the middle of the field with a risky kick from Ash, but Himmelberg recovers and his blind kick forward finds Daniels at the top of the arc. The Giant forward moves quickly and spears a short pass to Tom Green. The GWS star goes back from 45m and slots his side's second i na row.

15:25 - GOAL: The Giants get their first through their skipper Toby Greene! Jesse Hogan took a strong grab 50m out on a 45-degree angle and handed the ball over to his captain after going back on his mark, with Greene sailing the ball between the big sticks.

16:45 - BEHIND: A beautiful kick inside 50 from Lachie Whitfield finds the chest of Brown, but the Irishman can't capitalise and misses his second chance of the night.

18:27 - BEHIND: Markov sends a long ball to the hot spot but it can't be claimed by Darcy Cameron, the ball spills to Jamie Elliott who volleys the ball mid-air and it sails through the left side.

Quarter Time

Collingwood: 2.2.14
GWS: 0.3.3

A fierce and fiery opening term with both sides bringing the heat but also missing gettable chances on goal. Despite the goalless start, the Giants haven't allowed the Magpies to blow out to a strong early lead. The Magpies' pressure has been immense, while the Giants are working the ball from one end to the other with efficiency.

2:45 - BEHIND: Daniels finds space 45m from goal and takes a mark on the lead. His kick starts and stays left.

3:57 - Another chance gone missing for GWS as Briggs drops an uncontested mark not far from where Keeffe should've had his set shot.

4:46 - BEHIND: A missed chance for the Giants after Keeffe won a free kick from a good spot 35m from goal but Bedford takes the advantage in a tough spot and hands it over to Riccardi whose banana kick hits the post from the pocket. Magpies by two goals.

8:38 - BEHIND: Jake Riccardi is late to the contest and cleans up Lipinski after the Magpie had taken the mark, with the Giant penalised with a 50m advance for the Pies. The ball works its way up the wing before a deep entry falls in the hands of McStay through a strong contested grab. His kick is skewed to the right.

10:18 - Bobby Hill strips Sam Taylor of the ball at the top of the Pies' goalsquare but is forced to the boundary, with a difficult shot from the Collingwood forward landing short and in the arms of an opponent.

11:31 - Collingwood's pressure not giving the Giants an inch in their forward third, with De Goey winning a free kick after a missed opportunity in front of goal for Finn Callaghan and Toby Bedford.

12:40 - BEHIND: Mihocelk gets on the end of a Sidebottom ball as the Sherrin bounces around the contest, with the forward throwing the ball on his boot from 45m out only for it to fade to the left. After a review, the behind is confirmed.

13:48 - BEHIND: GWS worked the ball from their last line to find Callum Brown on the wing, he takes a contest one-on-one mark before a 50m penalty is paid against the Magpies. Brown walks to a 30m set shot on a 45-degree angle but his kick starts and stays on the right side of the goalposts.

15:49 - GOAL: A ruck contest lands at the feet of Jack Crisp 35m from goal. The Collingwood onballer throws the ball on his left boot for a check-side kick and with no defender on the line it lands through the middle of the big sticks.

18:23 - GOAL: The Magpies move the ball from the wing into the corridor, with a long kick to the hot spot claimed by Dan McStay. The Collingwood recruit goes back and slots a kick 25m out with next to no angle.

19:45 (remaining) - Bobby Hill has set to the tone early, landing a big bump on Cal Ward after the opening bounce.

Pre-Game

7:49pm - With the National Anthem sung, the coin tossed and the players heading to their final huddle, it's game time!

Coin Toss - The Giants have won the toss and elected to kick to the city end (right of screen).

7:40pm - Just 10 minutes until the game is underway, with a packed MCG already rocking as players commence their warmups. Nick Daicos is set to start the match from the interchange, while Adam Kingsley has stated Kieren Briggs is cherry-ripe despite a shoulder concern.

Hello and welcome to Zero Hanger's live coverage and commentary of Friday's preliminary final between Collingwood and GWS at the MCG. The Magpies booked their spot in the penultimate week of action with a qualifying final victory against Melbourne over a fortnight ago, while the Giants claimed the scalps of St Kilda and Port Adelaide to secure an unlikely top four finish.

Selection at Collingwood has seen second-year superstar Nick Daicos confirmed for his first game since Round 21 after battling a knee injury, with Taylor Adams and Jack Ginnivan making way.

GWS will go into the preliminary final unchanged, with last week's tactical sub Xavier O'Halloran falling out of the 23-man side.

TACTICAL SUBS
Collingwood: Jack Ginnivan
GWS: Xavier O'Halloran