They did it again.
Collingwood – the AFL’s great escape artists – stole victory from the jaws of defeat again at the MCG on Sunday, ruining a potential statement win for Adelaide in the process.
The Crows were left to rue wastefulness in front of goal at both ends of the game after roaring to the front with an electric seven-goal third term where they cut the premiership favourites to shreds with scintillating ball movement.
Bobby Hill celebrates during the Pies’ latest win.Credit: AFL Photos
Adelaide were as many as 14 points clear late in the third quarter, after trailing by almost six goals nearing half-time, but the Magpies – inspired by the Daicos brothers – dug in, snatched back the lead and hung on for dear life.
Coleman Medal frontrunner Taylor Walker’s fifth goal – all in the second half – cut the difference to one point with barely three minutes on the clock, but that was close as the visiting Crows could get.
The only score after that was a close-range miss from Brody Mihocek that meant Collingwood scored a two-point triumph to avoid back-to-back defeats after losing to Melbourne on King’s Birthday.
Nick Daicos starred for the Pies.Credit: AFL Photos
It was the second thriller between the sides in as many meetings this season, after the Pies climbed out of a 26-point hole to edge out their rivals by one point at Adelaide Oval in round seven.
Nick Daicos won a match-high 37 disposals, to go with 15 contested possessions, nine score involvements and nine clearances in his latest brilliant performance.
His brother Josh was almost as good with a career-best 33 touches to ensure Collingwood took back first place on the ladder.
Adelaide have now lost five of their six matches away from Adelaide Oval, but proved once and for all they can perform outside of South Australia – and might be headed back to the finals for the first time since their infamous 2017 grand final defeat.
Taylor Walker got the Crows to just a point down with three minutes on the clock.Credit: AFL Photos
Red-hot captain Jordan Dawson and evergreen forward Walker inspired the Crows’ second-half assault, as did super-sub Ned McHenry, who came on at half-time in place of injured key defender Nick Murray (hamstring).
Matthew Nicks’ men have re-emerged as finals contenders this year after a bleak few seasons but will need to correct their away record to seal their finals berth.
The match also marked Jeremy Howe’s long-awaited return from his broken arm, and he slotted in seamlessly, amassing 20 disposals and eight marks, including a trademark leap to bring down the ball between two Crows in the third quarter.
(Belatedly) bursting out of the blocks
Brownlow Medal favourite Nick Daicos spent the first eight minutes of the match on the bench before urging Scott Pendlebury to come off.
The Sherrin being stuck on the opposite side for much of that time contributed to Daicos’ delayed start, but he wasted no time making an impact once he ran on.
Collingwood’s wonder kid racked up 10 disposals by quarter-time, and doubled that by half-time – a total only his in-form older brother Josh (21) trumped among Magpies. Coach Craig McRae might consider holding his young gun back more often.
Goggle box-on
Mason Cox was at the centre of a final-quarter melee that threatened to get ugly.
The American Pie received a free kick against Adelaide defender Josh Worrell and subsequently kicked his second straight goal to slash the deficit to one point.
Ben Keays removes Mason Cox’s glasses as tempers flare at the MCG.Credit: AFL Photos
But after Cox’s subdued celebration from his previous major, this time he ran directly at Worrell and let him know all about it. Ben Keays ran in and ripped Cox’s specially designed glasses off, only heightening the angst between the two teams.
A big group of Crows turned up and sent Cox – without his glasses by this point – to the ground. They can probably all expect a minor fine on Monday, but the crowd loved it.
COLLINGWOOD 2.4 7.5 7.8 12.10 (82)
ADELAIDE 1.5 2.8 9.9 11.14 (80)
GOALS Collingwood: Elliott 2, Cox 2, J. Daicos, Johnson, Adams, Hill, Mitchell, Harrison, Hoskin-Elliott, N. Daicos. Adelaide: Walker 4, Thilthorpe, Soligo, Pedlar, Rankine, Murphy, Fogarty.
BEST Collingwood: N. Daicos, J. Daicos, Maynard, Mitchell, Pendlebury, Cameron. Adelaide: Dawson, Walker, Laird, Keays, Jones, McHenry.
INJURIES Collingwood: None. Adelaide: Murray (left hamstring).
UMPIRES Stevic, Gavine, Hosking, Meredith.
CROWD 65,930 at the MCG.
