Melbourne turned up pressure in second half and Collingwood wilted, writes Mark Robinson

SIMON Goodwin would have been furious with Melbourne’s first half. That all changed in the third quarter and Collingwood wilted, writes Mark Robinson.

Simon Goodwin chats to Jack Watts.

WOULD love to have had a go-pro with volume on the head of Simon Goodwin at halftime.

The Demons live and die by their pressure and at the long break they were dead.

The much heralded hard nuts of Melbourne’s midfield was found wanting in the heat of the Queen’s Birthday clash and it was never more telling in the second quarter, when Collingwood kicked 6.2 to 2.3.

MATCH REPORT: DEMONS’ RAGING BULL SPARKS CLASSIC WIN

EIGHT YEARS ON: WATTS GETS HIS QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY REVENGE

THE TACKLE: QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY LIKES AND DISLIKES

It was the second-best scoring quarter of the year by the Pies and all apparently was Jim Dandy.

Goodwin would’ve been furious.

The second half was full of effort and intent, but the first half was full of passengers and half-hearts.

In close games, it seems every touch and tackle and disposal in the final quarter seemingly decides the result.

Jack Watts and coach Simon Goodwin during Melbourne’s win over Collingwood.

Jack Viney’s final quarter, Clayton Oliver’s second half, Jack Watts’ last goal, Michael Hibberd’s final spoil, Nathan Jones’ four quarters, Petracca’s final quarter, Watts’ last touch ... the moments piled on top of each other as both teams traded goal for goal.

Petracca is a beauty. He had a role in two goal just before halftime to reduce the margin from five goals to three. He kicked one himself and won the intercept before that to get the ball to Jeff Garlett, and kicked a critical goal in the final quarter.

The other is Jack Watts. Without Jesse Hogan he seems to be the sole target. He competed, he looked out sorts, he looked tired, yet when the whips were cracking at their most fiercest, it was Watts who had the composure to kick the winner with minutes to play.

What was most admirable about that moment, which began when Hibberd got to the contest to spoil on the back flank, was the fact Watts took responsibility. He gathered just inside 50m on the flank and instead of kicking inside to a teammate with hope more than vision, he charged towards goal.

As teammates ran for space, and noise engulfed the stadium, Watts kept running, kept his awareness and kept his confidence.

GWS’s Toby Greene couldn’t get it done the day before at Etihad but Watts could the day after.

Toby Greene after GWS’s loss to Carlton.

Jack Watts after kicking the match-sealing goal.

The result was defeat or victory and for Watts, is was a moment to cherish.

If pressure is the gauge for both teams, firstly Melbourne, then Collingwood failed, before an enthralling final quarter form both teams made the game a classic.

The midfield battle was equally as compelling.

At halftime, the Pies lead by 23 points, dominated clearance and uncontested possession and the inside 50 count.

The pressure ratio was 175-166 in the first quarter and 218-171 in the second quarter, a phenomenal figure in the second term for the Pies.

That’s why Goodwin deserved to be angry.

Queen’s Birthday Monday is blockbuster territory and Melbourne was playing like it was building blocks of Lego. All careful and watching and not getting the clothes dirty.

Clayton Oliver looks to dish off a handball under pressure.

The third quarter was a reversal.

Melbourne won the pressure rating 202-181 and kicked 6.3 to 2.3 to virtually level the match.

Tom McDonald in the ruck helped stem the midfield savaging and young Oliver, Christian Salem and Jayden Hunt led all disposal winners. It was a strange quarter because Collingwood won the hit-outs 18-0, yet Melbourne won clearances 11-6.

The final quarter was a battle of wills and tired bodies and amid the sloppiness with the ball from both teams, Melbourne fractionally remained more composed in the big moments.

Gee, it was a match of mistakes.

For a time, Melbourne couldn’t kick a goal unless Collingwood coughed it up and Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley will have had nightmares reliving some of the mistakes made in the back half.

He might not sleep on Tuesday either.

Because Melbourne is eighth and Collingwood is in 11th with a 5-7 record and, but for a couple of mistakes, could’ve been 6-6 and into the bye with momentum.