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'Absolute garbage': The controversial moment which overshadowed Eagles' win

A hugely controversial moment with just over two minutes remaining in the AFL Grand Final has left Collingwood fans seething.

With the West Coast Eagles down 72-74 and only a couple of minutes remaining in the thrilling final, Dom Sheed took a mark over Collingwood Magpies defender Brayden Maynard.

Sheed did brilliantly to convert the chance from a sharp angle and give the Eagles a four point advantage which they would never relinquish.

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Was Brayden Maynard blocked? Pic: Seven
Was Brayden Maynard blocked? Pic: Seven

However it was the manner in which Sheed claimed the mark that became the big talking point following the crucial moment.

As West Coast’s Liam Ryan kicked the ball to Sheed, Maynard was seemingly being blocked by Sheed’s teammate Willie Rioli.

“Was it a block? It probably was,” Cameron Ling said on Seven’s coverage.

Many Collingwood fans also took notice, taking to social media to share their displeasure at the controversial moment.

Adding to the controversy, many thought Sheed played on past the point of the catch, including Maynard.

However those complaints fell on deaf ears as the umpires allowed the mark to stand, giving the Eagles their shot at victory.

The Eagles went on to win the Grand Final 79-74.

West Coast win fourth AFL premiership

West Coast have won their fourth AFL premiership, holding off Collingwood by five points in an epic grand final.

Dom Sheed’s nerveless goal from an acute angle with two minutes left put the Eagles ahead and they held on to win 11.13 (79) to 11.8 (74).

It is the Eagles’ first flag since 2006 and they have laid to rest the ghosts of their horror grand final loss three years ago to Hawthorn.

Eagles midfielder Luke Shuey won the Norm Smith medal for best afield with 34 possessions, 19 of them contested.

He also took a crucial mark in the last minute as Collingwood desperately tried to clear out of defence for one final scoring chance.

Scores were level at three-quarter time and the last term was full of high drama, with West Coast missing a string of scoring opportunities.

Jack Darling, who was outstanding in the third term after a barren first half, could have put the result beyond doubt after Sheed’s goal.

But Darling dropped a sitter of a mark in the goalsquare and the Eagles scored a rushed behind.

Collingwood had to go long and Shuey took his mark.

The Magpies jumped West Coast with the first five goals of the game in the opening quarter for a 29-point lead.

But West Coast held firm, with key defenders Jeremy McGovern and Tom Barrass immense, and they only trailed by two goals at halftime.

The Eagles won the flag without star ruckman Nic Naitanui (knee) and top onballer Andrew Gaff (suspension), who were out of action for the finals.

Collingwood would have equalled Carlton and Essendon with the most AFL premierships on 16 had they won.

It was an outstanding effort this season from the Magpies, who overcame a horror run of injuries to reach their first grand final since 2011.

Their near-miss came a year after they nearly sacked coach Nathan Buckley.

With AAP