'Definitely unsettling': Blue Bombers clean out lockers after falling short of making Grey Cup game as hosts

The Blue Bombers were finding it extra difficult to clean out their lockers on Sunday.

That's because the empty stalls will be filled in just over a week with gear from another team competing in the Grey Cup game Winnipeg is hosting on Nov. 16.

"It's definitely unsettling," Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros said. "It doesn't feel great.

"On the ride over, I picked up (defensive tackle) Jake (Thomas) and that was one of the things we talked about briefly. Obviously losing and not coming to work today is difficult. Just the thought of having another team in your locker room is tough."

The game that could have advanced the Bombers one step closer to leaving their stuff in their lockers and competing in a sixth consecutive Grey Cup was a roller-coaster ride.

When it stopped, the Montreal Alouettes had defeated the visitors 42-33 in Saturday's CFL East Division semifinal.

Winnipeg was down 25-3 late in the second quarter when Sergio Castillo kicked off a rally with a 37-yard field goal at 14:45.

With the boost from a pair of Montreal turnovers, the Bombers added three touchdowns and led 27-25 at 6:16 of the third quarter. But the Alouettes, led by quarterback Davis Alexander, regained the lead and never let go.

Montreal will travel to Hamilton to play the Tiger-Cats in Saturday's East final, while the Saskatchewan Roughriders are hosting the B.C. Lions in the West final the same day.

The Bombers finished fourth in the West with a 10-8 record and had to cross over to play the Alouettes. They're now the 13th crossover team to fail to advance to the Grey Cup.

Collaros, who entered the CFL in 2012 and is under contract for next season, was asked if the season was his most frustrating.

"It probably was because of, just again, how high of expectations we had for the team and, obviously, the expectations for myself never changes," he said.

Collaros joined the Bombers in a trade in late October 2019. The team went on to win its first of back-to-back Grey Cups, but lost the last three.

Knowing the Grey Cup was in Winnipeg didn't add pressure, but it was always in the back of players' minds, he said.