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Smith excited for MCG return

August 24, 2022 1:55 pm in by

ISAAC Smith is excited at the prospect of running on to the MCG for a final for the first time in four years when Geelong meets Collingwood in next Saturday’s qualifying final.

The triple-premiership-winning Hawthorn great played 19 of his 21 finals in the brown and gold at the home of football.

However, with the Hawks missing the finals in his final two years at the club and the Cats interstate in September in 2021, Smith is relishing the chance of returning to the ‘G.

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“I’d be lying if I said I fully enjoyed the Covid period and having no fans,” he said.

“I went through bit of probably a rough patch there, and I just can’t wait to have a full MCG.

“That’s why you play footy: that’s what you dream (of) as a kid growing up.

“It should be unreal.”

Smith admits the chance to play Collingwood in front of a massive crowd as opposed to Fremantle, which would have finished fourth had the Magpies lost to Carlton, had him hoping they would get over the top of the Blues.

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“It’s probably the biggest home-and-away game in the last five or ten years,” he said.

“So, it was pretty exciting, especially post-Covid, to see the MCG full.

“If I had a little personal sway in the game, it was probably (a) Collingwood win because it meant we played them in front of 90,000 in the first final.

“So, a massive crowd, and I can’t wait to get out there.”

The match-up will be the first between the two clubs since Geelong overcome a 30-point three-quarter time deficit to win by 13 points at the MCG in Round 3.

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Smith believes that result is irrelevant heading into next Saturday.

“That much has changed in the season,” he said.

“We’ve changed the way we’re playing; Collingwood have probably changed the way they’re playing.

“Maybe certain players that were factors then aren’t playing.

“We’ll probably look at their last 3-4 weeks, I would think, rather than the game we played five months ago against them.”

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Click below to listen to the entire media conference with Isaac Smith.

Twitter: @krockfootball

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