Collingwood defeat St Kilda in epic finale to inaugural Gather Round

A top of the table clash didn’t fail to deliver on Sunday as the AFL’s inaugural Gather Round wrapped up in nailbiting scenes.

MELBOURNE . 15/04/2023. AFL . Round 5. Gather Round. Collingwood vs St Kilda at the Adelaide Oval. Jack Ginnivan of the Magpies celebrates a 4th quarter goal . Pic: Michael Klein

Talk about saving the best until last.

Gather Round held the cards close to the chest before going all out on the final day of round 5 action on Sunday.

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The GWS Giants hurdled Hawthorn in the dying minutes to claim a two-point victory, but it was a top of the table battle that had fans on the edge of their seats.

Collingwood looked like they’d wrapped up victory in the final quarter against the undefeated Saints, but Ross Lyon’s troops refused to go away.

After squandering their chances in front of goal throughout the fourth quarter, the Saints found their kicking boots in the latter stages.

Three goals in three minutes brought the crowd to life as the margin came crashing down to only six points with less than a minute to play.

St Kilda surged out of the middle of the ground and towards goal as they threw everything they had at the Collingwood defence.

In the end it wasn’t to be as Collingwood held on, handing the Saints their first taste of defeat in 2023.

Crouch makes it a one-goal game 👀#GatherRound#AFLPiesSaintspic.twitter.com/K90UWqzFWY

— AFL (@AFL) April 16, 2023

Nick Daicos continued his masterful start to his second season as he once again brought his own ball to the game.

The 20-year-old, who is currently the Brownlow Medal favourite, finished the contest with a career-high 42 disposals.

It makes it five straight games with 30 plus disposals for Daicos to start the season, he’s currently averaging an absurd 36 disposals per game.

The win launches Collingwood into third spot on the ladder, joining St Kilda and Essendon at 4-1 with the three teams only separated by percentage.

HOLY SH*T PIES HOLD ON. #GatherRound#AFLPiesSaints

— Sportsbet.com.au (@sportsbetcomau) April 16, 2023

The win becomes an AFL dream for round six with a top of the table clash set to take over the MCG next Tuesday.

Collingwood and Essendon will duke it out on Anzac Day in front of what is expected to be a sold out MCG.

For the first time since 2000, both clubs will square off one of the AFL’s biggest days while sitting inside the top four on the ladder.

St Kilda will look to get back on the winners list when they take on Carlton at Marvel Stadium next Sunday.

It means the top four teams on the ladder will all be facing off when round six gets underway next week.