The unlikeliest contest of lopsided opponents produced the unlikeliest outcome – the game of the year to date. But the most remarkable thing about this match was not that Collingwood came back and won a close one. After the past three years of Collingwood games under Craig McRae, that is the least-noteworthy aspect to the match.
The more compelling thing was that North, the worst team to date this year, who had won only six games in the past two and a half years, got nine goals up on last year’s premiers and did it in a thrilling, authoritative fashion. For Collingwood, the significance was more in the consequence of if they lost, rather than the fact they chased down a lead and won. Of the McRae era, this was as big and consequential a come-from-behind win as they have had – not in spite of it being against the bottom team, but because it was against the bottom team.
In the context of this season, a loss here would have been devastating for Collingwood’s top-four hopes. In the context of 2024, a loss for North was inconsequential given their season is already done, but getting nine goals up on the reigning premier and playing the way they did was enormously consequential. This was the clearest indication yet that North will be good again, sooner than many expect.
Collingwood had their injuries, but so too did North – to the likes of Zane Duursma, Colby McKercher and Jy Simpkin. Lionhearted North Melbourne youngster George Wardlaw reacts to his team’s loss to Coll.
