By Peter Ryan
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.
With momentum their way they kicked two more goals to win with veteran Steele Sidebottom kicking the sealer.
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.
Nick Larkey shone for the Kangaroos.Credit: AFL Photos
It was a cruel result for Noble, who said the team had their chances to win but could not get the job done.
“Overall it was a really encouraging game...improved but disappointed,” Noble said.
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.
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.
“We probably played 30 to 40 minutes of the football we wanted to play,” McRae said. “This is a tough competition, and I don’t want to take anything away from North Melbourne.”
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. McRae refused to buy into the discussion but re-iterated, his view it was a skill to win such free kicks.
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.
Votes
Luke Davies-Uniacke (North Melbourne) 8
Nick Larkey (North Melbourne) 8
Taylor Adams (Collingwood) 7
Josh Daicos (Collingwood) 7
Ben McKay (North Melbourne) 7
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