In a pulsating night thriller at the MCG, Collingwood produced a trademark comeback to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, defeating St Kilda by 11 points in front of a roaring crowd of over 85,000 fans. The Magpies’ 13.9 (87) to 11.10 (76) win was a gritty display of resilience, class, and sheer willpower.
Trailing by as much as 24 points midway through the third quarter, Craig McRae’s men found another gear in the final term, with Jordan De Goey leading the charge and Nick Daicos once again proving why he’s one of the league’s brightest stars.
The Saints looked composed and clinical in the first half, with Jack Steele and Max King imposing themselves early. Their pressure game was suffocating, forcing Collingwood into uncharacteristic errors and silencing the typically raucous Magpie faithful. But as has so often been the case under McRae, Collingwood refused to lie down.
“It’s what this group is built on — belief,” said McRae post-match. “We knew if we stuck to our system and kept coming, we’d give ourselves a shot.”
And come they did. The final quarter was vintage Collingwood: lightning rebounds, relentless tackling, and a deafening chorus of “Good Old Collingwood Forever” echoing as the Magpies surged ahead.
De Goey, with 26 disposals and two clutch goals, was pivotal in swinging momentum. Jamie Elliott’s mark and goal with five minutes remaining brought the black-and-white army to their feet, while Scott Pendlebury — ever the steady hand — iced the game with a composed finish from 40 meters out.
The Saints, for their part, will rue missed chances. King and Membrey both squandered set shots in the fourth, and their midfield tired as the Pies piled on five unanswered goals to close the game.
Despite the loss, St Kilda coach Ross Lyon remained upbeat. “We did a lot right tonight,” Lyon said. “We’ll learn from this. That’s a quality side we played — and we matched them for three quarters.”
The win cements Collingwood’s spot in the top four and reaffirms their reputation as the AFL’s comeback kings. For the Saints, it’s a harsh lesson in closing out games — but one they’ll hope to learn from quickly as finals approach.
For now, though, the Magpies sing once more — their sweet victory song echoing lou
d into the Melbourne night.
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