Mason Cox, a six foot ten Texan, has ended Richmond's premiership defence after a stunning first half at the MCG on Friday night.
Collingwood were well and truly the underdogs heading into the preliminary final against the reigning premiers but no one told Cox.
The big man lit up the near-capacity crowd at the MCG as Collingwood took an unbelievable 44-point lead into the main break, eventually running out 39-point victors.
Pies fans even broke out into chants of "USA!" as Cox kicked three goals in the second term.
MORE: Sam Powell-Pepper: Port Adelaide responds to star's lewd Instagram image
He went into the sheds at the end of the amtch with three goals and 11 marks, eight of them contested, in a performance that will be sure to give Damien Hardwick nightmares.
David Astbury was given the job on Cox after being in hospital earlier in the day with a bout of gastro and he was exposed by the clean hands of the Pies forward.
Along with Cox, Jordan de Goey and Jack Crisp both kicked multiples goals in the first half that left the hot-favourite Tigers shell-shocked.
The Magpies midfielders dominated the opening stages, with Steele Sidebottom and Taylor Adams in particular doing plenty of damage.
The Varcoe pick-up and the De Goey finish 🔥
— AFL (@AFL) September 21, 2018
Follow #AFLTigersPies on the Macca's Match Centre: https://t.co/UwlP2AqA6G pic.twitter.com/dEFXcF27ko
Mason Cox with the speccie and the strut!#AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/7O3LTeNJIl
— AFL (@AFL) September 21, 2018
I am unashamedly admitting that i am a massive fan of Cox. #AFLTigersPies
— Ryan Fitzgerald (@FitzySA) September 21, 2018
Hey,@realDonaldTrump Texan Mason Cox is Making America Great Again in Melbourne tonight! Check it out. 🇺🇸#AFLTigersPies
— Michael Rowland (@mjrowland68) September 21, 2018
Jack Riewoldt played virtually a lone hand for Richmond, kicking five goals and leading the charge as they got to within 21 points in the final term before the Pies wrestled back the ascendancy to kick the final three goals.
They will now await the result of tomorrow's preliminary final at Optus Stadium between West Coast and Melbourne to find out who they will take on in next Saturday's decider.
