In a dramatic clash at the MCG, Collingwood’s Tom Crisp made history by playing his 245th consecutive game, breaking the record previously held by AFL legend Jim Stynes. Crisp made a historic accomplishment on the court during the game. In those dying seconds, opposition Geelong got the better of him, denying him his fairytale ending and leaving supporters and teammates alike holding their breath.
With only four seconds remaining in regulation, Crisp stood over the ball just inside the 50. He suddenly had a dramatic opportunity to win the game with a set shot. He misstepped and shanked the ball wide for a behind. This fumble was the error that won Geelong the championship, ensuring they kept their three-point buffer.
In that same fourth quarter, Patrick Dangerfield of Geelong lit up the game. His extraordinary leadership inspired his team to win. Looking back on that difficult moment, Dangerfield said he remembers feeling “helpless” while watching Crisp make history.
“It was like a footy gods sort of moment, wasn’t it?” – Patrick Dangerfield
After falling behind Collingwood put forth a heroic effort, trying to fight their way back into the game in the closing moments of the fourth quarter. And Brody Mihocek delivered when it mattered most. With less than 20 seconds remaining he did just that after a kick from forward Jamie Elliott went awry, booting truly from the goal square. The ever dangerous Bobby Hill was instrumental, bringing the Pies back into it, closing Geelong’s advantage to only 10 points at halftime.
As the seconds ticked down, Crisp was jubilated with constant attention from the rest of his squad following the shot heard around the world. Bailey Smith captured the tension of the moment, stating, “I thought he was going to have a fairytale ending. My heart was in my mouth, I was so scared.”
Crisp’s coach at Collingwood, Craig McRae, commended Crisp’s ability to bounce back and even gave the player’s record-breaking performance a celebratory cake with his teammates.
“We just celebrated the incredible 245 games in a row in the rooms with his family and gave him the match ball,” – Craig McRae
In the closing minutes of the game, two very blatant and controversial calls went Geelong’s way. One of them was a goal review that reverted back to an umpire’s call of touched. This crucial call kept Geelong’s narrow advantage intact and proved to be a factor in their eventual victory.
Crisp’s record, and the thrilling finish of the game, will go down as one of the rarest and most memorable occurrences in AFL history. Crisp may not have won on such a historically important evening, but his accomplishment still sparkles with victory. If nothing else, it proves his level of commitment and endurance in the sport.
