There was hardly a better player on the ground on Thursday night than Jordan De Goey, as he put forward a match-winning performance to help send the Pies into a preliminary final, finishing with 26 disposals and a goal.
But there is a real possibility that Collingwood will enter that preliminary final without their hero from the Adelaide Oval, with a contentious bump in the third quarter on Crow Josh Worrell set to be looked at by the AFL's Match Review.
De Goey attempted to smother a kick from Worrell, before his shoulder grazed him in the head. Working in De Goey's favour though is the fact that Worrell played out the rest of the game unscathed.
Speaking to Seven's Mitch Cleary post-game, De Goey put forward an early defence.
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"It's just a simple one. I actually block the ball with my leg, if you see [the vision] the ball comes off my leg," he said after the win.
"That's just a smother I think. I got to the ball.
"It wasn't like I've just come past and clipped him at all.
"Obviously hit the ball first and then we braced for contact both of us."
"That's just a smother I think. I got to the ball so it wasn't like I've just come past and clipped him at all."
— 7AFL (@7AFL) September 4, 2025
🗣️ Jordan De Goey with Mitch Cleary pic.twitter.com/BPuLSBp02u
Worrell himself had a similar incident with Lachie Schultz, where Schultz beat the Adelaide defender to the ball, resulting in the Crow's arm connecting with Schultz in the head, shaking the Magpie up.
Lachie Schultz received a free kick following this incident with Josh Worrell.#AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/nNJuzp6hwC
— AFL (@AFL) September 4, 2025
Fortunately for fans of both sides, Fox Footy's expert panel was confident post-game that neither play will have a case to answer for.
"I thought the two incidents tonight were very similar, they were very much glancing contact," Hawthorn great Jason Dunstall said.
David King agreed, saying he believes for both players "it's a fine at worse," while Leigh Montagna said "I'd be staggered if these two players get suspended."
Adelaide will play next week in a semi-final against the winner of the GWS-Hawthorn elimination final on Saturday, while Collingwood have the week off before a home preliminary final.