A great escape: Collingwood survives major scare to stun North late

The heartache continued for North Melbourne and coach David Noble after Collingwood roared back from a 28-point deficit late in the third quarter to snatch the lead in the dying minutes of the match at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.

The Magpies – who lost to West Coast earlier in the season – suffered a mighty scare as they only looked like winning when Nick Daicos conjured the type of goal his father Peter was famous for to narrow the margin to eight points.

Steele Sidebottom and his Magpies teammates celebrate a key late goal against North Melbourne.Credit:AFL Photos

The win extends the Magpies’ winning streak to seven and, despite the improved performance, maintains pressure on the Kangaroos’ embattled coach as the club undertakes a review of the football department.

North Melbourne were unlucky not to win as they dominated centre clearances in the first three quarters, leading the count 16-5 at the final break. Their first three goals had come from centre clearances as they made their brightest start to a game this season, with Luke Davies-Uniacke outstanding as he won five centre clearances of his own.

Nick Larkey shone for the Kangaroos.Credit:AFL Photos

Such was their dominance that when Taylor Adams won the first clearance of the final quarter, Collingwood supporters gave a Bronx cheer. However, it was the spark the Magpies needed as Jamie Elliott kicked the first goal of the quarter, which began a run of five unanswered goals in the final term to overrun them. They hit the lead when Josh Carmichael nearly kicked a miracle goal in his first game only for it to be touched on the line.

Nick Larkey kicked five goals and Ben McKay was brilliant in defence, but they could only score two behinds in the final quarter as Collingwood cashed in on their momentum.

It was a lucky escape for Collingwood, but whether it will create a way out for Noble remains to be seen as the Kangaroos kicked their highest score for the season but still couldn’t find a way to win.

High contact free re-interpreted

Jack Ginnivan appears to have pushed the umpiring fraternity over the edge. They paid the small forward a free kick for high contact early in the game but then in the second half decided the free kick was not going to be paid. Midway through the third quarter Ginnivan accepted a handball on the boundary and dived into a North Melbourne tackle where he was clearly taken high. However, the umpire called play on before awarding the Kangaroos’ tackler a free for holding the ball. Ginnivan has made a name for himself in that area and the umpires are telling him to change. It’s a fine balance as he was awarded a free kick late in the game when Aidan Corr attacked him with ferocity.

Collingwood: 4.2 5.2 8.5 13.10 (88)
North Melbourne: 4.2 8.4 12.7 12.9 (81)

Goals

Collingwood: Cameron 3, Ginnivan 2, Elliott 2, Sidebottom 2, Josh Daicos, Mihocek, McCreery, Nick Daicos.
North Melbourne: Larkey 5, Goldstein 2, Ziebell 2, Zurhaar, Taylor, Curtis

Best

Collingwood: Adams, Pendlebury, Howe, Sidebottom, McCreery, Josh Daicos, Maynard.
North Melbourne: Davies-Uniacke, McKay, Larkey, Anderson, Taylor.

Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.

Most Viewed in Sport

From our partners

Source: Read Full Article