Collingwood and St Kilda squeezed through cut-throat elimination finals by less than a kick in the tightest first week of AFL finals on record in the final-eight era.
Thrilling contests on show in four matches over three days was the tonic the competition needed at the business end of a compromised season littered with dour spectacles since the restart in June.
Fans responded in huge numbers, with host broadcaster Seven boasting of ratings up 24 per cent on last year’s figures with an overall reach of 5.2 million across the four finals.
The results culminated in the lowest combined margin – just 35 points – for the first week of finals since the AFL moved to a final-eight system in 1994.
Minor premiers Port Adelaide produced the biggest margin of the lot in outlasting Geelong by 16 points, while Brisbane knocked off reigning premiers Richmond by 15 points.
On Saturday, Collingwood upset West Coast by one point and St Kilda held off the fast-finishing Western Bulldogs by three points.
“Finals footy is about taking opportunities,” Saints coach Brett Ratten said.
“In all the finals so far, all the teams have had an opportunity to win the game and it’s just taking them that counts.
“That’s the critical part.”
There was heartbreak for the Western Bulldogs and West Coast, who were both eliminated in tense battles, and for St Kilda ruckman Paddy Ryder.
The veteran’s first finals victory in 257 games ended a few minutes short of the siren when he suffered a hamstring injury.
His tears as Saints teammates celebrated told the story.
Ryder had been the star man at the Gabba, leading St Kilda to their first finals win in 10 years, while Steven Motlop’s three goals against his old side helped fire Port Adelaide past Geelong.
A second-quarter blitz of goals to Cam Rayner, Charlie Cameron and Lachie Neale gave Brisbane the upper hand over Richmond as they ended a 15-match losing streak against the Tigers in fine style.
Collingwood had Brody Mihocek and Jordan De Goey to thank after their late goals led to an upset in the west despite Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui’s dominance in the centre square.
“It’s validation for us, it’s nothing we’re surprised by,” Magpies coach Nathan Buckley said.
“We’ve always had great belief in ourselves (but) it really hasn’t been reciprocated.
“I suppose you can only be judged on your performances, but we know we’re capable of that type of performance and better.
“We were really focused on a strong performance, and to be able to hold our nerve and play it out right to the end was clearly important in the result.”
Port Adelaide and Brisbane both now enjoy a week off and will have home ground advantage for their preliminary finals against rivals from other states.
But Richmond and Geelong, both flag favourites at different stages of the season, will have to do it the hard way if they are to win the premiership after squandering their chances to move directly into the penultimate week of the season.
They now meet St Kilda and Collingwood respectively in do-or-die semi-finals.