With their AFL finals hopes in tatters, Collingwood coach Craig McRae has lamented an unpaid 50m penalty in their three-point loss to Sydney. McRae's Magpies led by 21 points at three-quarter time at the SCG on Friday night but were overrun by a surging Swans unit.
The league leaders slammed five unanswered goals in the final, condemning the visitors to a 13.11 (89) to 12.14 (86) loss.
With less than a minute on the clock, the in-zone umpire did not pay a 50m penalty against McCartin.
"I reckon if it was at the MCG it would have been paid," McRae said.
"There's definitely an advantage with a home ground. I thought it was a 50m penalty to letter the law.
"I'm sure the AFL will come out and say it's a free kick or a 50m penalty.
"There were a lot of deliberates tonight, too. That was a bit of a circus so I'm sure they'll come out and justify that too. The umpires don't always get it right. That's fair."
Collingwood, who sit 11th on the ladder, are unlikely to make the top eight. The reigning premiers must defeat flag favourites Brisbane and 12th-placed Melbourne but other results will need to fall their way.
"I'm sure our fans at home are hurting and we're no different. We're human," McRae said.
"We have emotions to attach to this. It means a lot to a lot of people.
"It doesn't feel comfortable right now sitting in this chair because there's a lot at stake in these games."
McRae then added he was "wrestling" with blame after the loss.
"We've openly talked about what winning looks like and behaviours like that and then losing behaviours," he said.
"I think blame is a real losing behaviour so I'm wrestling with that at the moment. Wrestling with trying to blame others or blame umpires or blame whatever, because that's really difficult when you lose.
"Maybe there are consequences at the end that may cost us. Time will tell on that. For most part of the night, we did a lot right and maybe that's what's hurting us the most."
Sydney's Thrilling Comeback
A late Errol Gulden goal launched Sydney to the thrilling win.
A 21-point three-quarter time deficit was quickly shaved to two points in 10 minutes courtesy of goals from Will Hayward (three goals), Logan McDonald, Chad Warner and Isaac Heeney, before Gulden kicked the match-winner.
It marked the league-leading Swans' first win since Round 18, and marked a swift response to their 112-point loss at Port Adelaide last Saturday.
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Speaking after the game, Swans co-captain Luke Parker described the win as "one for the ages", while Heeney was visibly emotional after playing a huge role in helping his team arrest its recent slide.
"I'm actually a bit emotional to be honest," Heeney told Channel Seven after the game.
"You get patches in the season where you grind for it, and the last six weeks have been like that.
"Hopefully we can start to roll into the end of the season nicely now.
"We've always got that belief, last week was a bit of an outlier."
Nick Daicos faced close attention from Sydney tagger James Jordon all night but managed to shine with 25 disposals and seven clearances.
Meanwhile, Collingwood's Lachie Schultz could be in trouble for a dump tackle on Heeney that left the Sydney star dazed in the first quarter.
Final Moments of the Game
It'll be interesting to see what Collingwood coach Craig McRae has to say about this moment.
Dan McStay took a mark 65m out from goal and Tom McCartin looked to have run well over the mark, but the umpires were lenient and deemed that he'd simply gone forward due to the momentum of getting to the marking contest.
Here's the moment, let us know what you think!
Kangaroos great David King adamant that it should've been a 50m penalty to the Pies there.
Had that happened, surely McStay would've kicked the goal from around 15m out directly in front to win the game.
Heeney and Warner Lead Sydney's Resurgence
Sydney goes as far as Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner and Errol Gulden take them.
Heeney and Warner each picked up 14 disposals in the final term, while Gulden added four.
It was a tough evening for Gulden, but he fought hard and eventually kicked the game-winner at the death.
Very fitting for Sydney that this trio kicked the final three goals of the match.
The Swans' Final Quarter Surge
That quarter from Isaac Heeney was deadset one of the best quarters of footy we've seen from a single player all season.
The Swans star racked up 14 of his 32 disposals in the final term to go along with four marks, three clearances and four inside 50s while also kicking a crucial goal.
"Everything you can do in a footy game, he did. An unbelievable quarter," said Matthew Richardson on Channel Seven's coverage.
A Thrilling Finish
THEY'VE DONE IT!
Siren sounds and the ball rightfully ends up in Isaac Heeney's hands on the siren, what a mammoth final term that was from the Swans star.
Sydney comes from 27 points down to kick the final five goals of the match to win it.
A Close Contest Throughout
What a game that was!
Glad you've enjoyed our coverage, unbelievable stuff from the SCG.
I can't quite believe what I've just watched.
Also, I want to apologise to Collingwood's fans for my jinx midway through the final term.
A Magnificent Quarter From Heeney
That quarter from Isaac Heeney was deadset one of the best quarters of footy we've seen from a single player all season.
The Swans star racked up 14 of his 32 disposals in the final term to go along with four marks, three clearances and four inside 50s while also kicking a crucial goal.
"Everything you can do in a footy game, he did. An unbelievable quarter," said Matthew Richardson on Channel Seven's coverage.
"I'm actually a bit emotional to be honest," Heeney told Channel Seven after the game.
"You get patches in the season where you grind for it, and the last six weeks have been like that.
"Hopefully we can start to roll into the end of the season nicely now.
"We've always got that belief, last week was a bit of an outlier."
