JUST NOW: Collingwood send’s a very devastating news about star who sustianed a fatal injury
JUST when Denis Pagan and most of North Melbourne’s 1999 premiership team started to enjoy themselves inside Marvel Stadium on Sunday, Collingwood flicked a switch to ruin the 25th anniversary of the Kangaroos’ fourth and most recent flag in dramatic fashion.
But you had to see it to believe it.
Collingwood recovered from 54 points down early in the third quarter to soar to third on the ladder, spoiling a day that looked like being one to remember for North Melbourne.
And the Magpies did it by the narrowest of margins to win 18.11 (119) to 19.4 (118) to record the second biggest comeback victory in their history.
Without four of its best forwards – Brody Mihocek, Dan McStay, Jamie Elliott and Mason Cox – Collingwood’s small forwards fired with Bobby Hill booting five goals and taking a Virgin Australia AFL Mark of the Year contender, while recruit Lachie Schultz slotted four goals in his best outing yet in black and white.
Like so many of Craig McRae’s first 65 games in charge of Collingwood, it went down to the final seconds and was full of defining moments late. Bailey Scott should have been paid a 50m penalty, while Zac Fisher’s snap with six seconds left just missed after a desperate final two minutes.
Alastair Clarkson’s side will be devastated. It looked on from the outset, carrying the momentum of getting its season off the mark at Optus Stadium last Saturday night.
After kicking five goals in each of the past two games against the Magpies, Nick Larkey kicked two goals in quick succession to provide the Kangaroos with the perfect start, before adding a third after Paul Curtis got involved. By quarter-time, the 2023 All-Australian key forward had four on the board and the Kangaroos led the reigning premiers by a staggering 35 points.
