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Goldsack gamble pays off despite Pies loss

Tyson Goldsack, take a bow.

Eyebrows were raised when Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley selected Goldsack for Saturday night's qualifying final against West Coast in Perth.

Goldsack, who tore the ACL in his left knee in March, had played just two VFL matches before Buckley rolled the dice and selected him.

The 31-year-old paid back his coach in spades, holding star Eagles forward Josh Kennedy to just two goals in his side's 16-point loss.

Kennedy failed to kick a goal in the first half, with Goldsack thwarting the two-time Coleman medallist time and again.

The Eagles forward managed to kick two goals in the second half, but Goldsack also came up with some vital spoils.

Another of Buckley's gambles - Adam Treloar - also paid off.

Treloar hadn't played since tearing both of his hamstrings in the round 14 win over Carlton.

But the 25-year-old was right in the thick of the action from the outset, finishing with 24 possessions and six clearances.

Defender Jeremy Howe, who missed the final four matches of the season with a thigh injury, committed a host of early defensive errors.

But he was solid when he was sent to Jack Darling in the second half.