Collingwood has kept its teetering top-four hopes alive with a nailbiting win over Melbourne on Friday night, prevailing 11.16 (82) to 11.10 (76).
The fast-finishing Pies booted four final-quarter goals after trailing by 10 points at the final change to run out six-point victors.
The nerve-wracking triumph means the Magpies momentarily shift up to third on the ladder and will hope for a Gold Coast loss in its final two games.
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When Christian Petracca goaled at the three-minute mark to make it a 15-point lead in favour of Melbourne, Collingwood’s top-four dream looked in tatters.
But majors from Ned Long, Jamie Elliott, Lachie Schultz and Dan McStay helped ensure a double-chance remains well and truly within the realms of possibility for Craig McRae’s men.
The win, however, appears to have come at a significant cost, with luckless intercept defender Jeremy Howe pulled from the game at half-time with a groin injury. He looked to have uttered the word ‘pop’ while in discussion with medical staff.
But the Magpies did capture a glimmer of its best and the best of superstar Jordan De Goey in a time of desperate need.
The Pies were floundering when Melbourne went 15 points up early in the final quarter but, as they’ve done routinely under Craig McRae, they flicked the comeback king switch.
It was led by De Goey and classy veteran Scott Pendlebury who lifted right as the occasion demanded.
De Goey was as subtle as a sledgehammer in the contest, rediscovering a power and polish Collingwood was void off for much of the night.
He finished with 26 disposals, an equal game-high six clearances, six inside 50s, eight score involvements and a crucial goal.
Pendlebury, meanwhile, was more composure than collection. He was cool under the heat of finals like pressure as he repelled the Demons’ forays forward.
— with NCA NewsWire’s Tyler Lewis
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The Magpies currently sit fourth but even with a victory on Friday will need to rely on Gold Coast either losing one of their two very winnable remaining games or not making up enough percentage in order to secure a double-chance.
The Demons, meanwhile, are playing for pride and have been competitive under caretaker coach Troy Chaplin; looking to spoil the Pies, who could crash to as low as eighth with a loss and if other results go against them this weekend.
At selection, the Pies recalled Jeremy Howe and Roan Steele — who’ll start as the sub — for Ed Allan and Wil Parker, while the Demons go in unchanged, with Harry Sharp starting as the sub.
The match gets underway at 7:10pm AEST from the MCG.
Watch it live on Fox Footy (channel 504), and streaming on Kayo, from 6:30pm AEST.