Jordan De Goey nearly left Collingwood at the end of the last season.
In a sliding doors moment, the Magpie enigma led his team to the grand final after a one-point preliminary final victory against GWS at the MCG on Friday night.
Despite the match being in perfect conditions, Collingwood 8.10 (58) got over the line versus the Giants 8.9 (57).
De Goey's 34 disposals made him the top disposal getter on the ground, while he was supported by Tom Mitchell (10 tackles) and Steele Sidebottom (seven clearances).
The Giants lost no admirers with their gutsy performance - at one stage they looked close to breaking Collingwood in the third quarter as the margin approached 20 points in their favour.
But four late goals in the third quarter saw Collingwood hit the front and a lead that was never headed as the Magpies held on in a scrappy last quarter.
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Jordan De Goey is the man
Ironically, De Goey was stuck on the interchange bench for the last eight minutes of the game because the ball was on the opposite side of the ground.
But the maligned midfielder had already done the damage in an extraordinary performance.
De Goey had 34 disposals, 13 clearances and six score involvements in a game that had to be the best in his career so far.
A feature of De Goey's performance was his consistent ability to break tackles as he drove Collingwood forward from the stoppages at will.
Whoever plays Collingwood next week will certainly have their work cut out in stopping De Goey from having an impact.
Giant lapses cost GWS dearly
GWs certainly left nothing on the MCG and would have been worthy winners of the match and a grand final berth.
But instead they were left with heartbreak and regret through their lapses in the game.
The Giants were goalless in the first quarter as Collingwood steamrolled them and kicked the first two goals of the game.
But GWS absorbed the pressure and managed to not allow the Magpies to kick out to a decent lead.
Through the second quarter and half of the third, it was all the Giants, who looked like they were heading for the season decider.
But again a lapse in the third quarter allowed Collingwood to pile on five goals in the second-half of that period which set up the win for the Magpies.
It was stiff for the Giants, who probably played the game on their terms for longer than Collingwood.
Collingwood set for McStay blow
One of the stories that's set to dominate the next week is the fitness of Collingwood forward Dan McStay.
The former Lion was subbed out of the match with a leg injury after a collision into that region in the dying stages of the third quarter.
McStay would be a big loss to the Magpies as he kicked two goals, took four marks and was a strong target for the team in attack.
Ash Johnson and Billy Frampton might be starting to get perked up with a possible grand final berth on the cards as McStay's replacement.
