The Suns champion managed 53 disposals in the previous encounter between the two teams (in round 10, 2012 at the MCG). At half-time on Saturday, he had 26 disposals, a goal and a goal assist. His influence grew in the second quarter as he began to win clearances and space. Luke Ball was sent to him at the stoppages and then Dayne Beams, but Ablett just kept getting free. His last-quarter goal was the sealer and when he took a mark on the wing to bring up his 49th disposal his game was complete.
2. Trent McKenzie commanded a tag, Ablett didn't
Collingwood's Brent Macaffer has had many jobs this season running with players but the Magpies decided it was more critical for him to cover Trent McKenzie's long left foot kick out of defence rather than the Suns' champion Gary Ablett. McKenzie still had 18 kicks and gave plenty of drive to still sit among the club's best.
3. Jaeger O'Meara is the heir apparent and Tom Nicholls has stood up
In the third quarter, O'Meara shifted the game's flow. He kicked the first goal of the half from the pocket and two for the quarter. He signed a contract to stay with the club until 2016 during the week and seemed to propel him to greater heights. The 19-year-old was all class and ended the game with 23 disposals. The 21-year-old Nicholls has played just seven games but he can leap, has courage and was well deserving of his NAB Rising Star nomination last week. He has taken the chance the injury to Zac Smith has provided.
4. Is Travis Cloke's inaccuracy the difference?
In the first quarter he kicked three behinds from set shots to make it 2.8 in his past five quarters and just two goals from his previous 15 shots. It has been a perennial problem for Cloke and one that might bedevil him for the rest of his career. To date, he has kicked 326.279 behinds and this year he sits on 43.39. With the Magpies' goalkicking accuracy hovering at 217.208 - slightly better than 50 per cent - his inaccuracy is an issue. He kicked his first goal four minutes into the third quarter and then a second from the goalsquare late in the quarter but he did not have the scoreboard impact he should.
5. Gold Coast beats a top eight team for the first time
The Suns have broken through to beat a top eight team in their 60th game and they chose powerhouse Collingwood to make a statement. Close observers have noted that the Magpies have been playing patchy football in recent weeks and the Suns have not dipped below being competitive. But they knew they needed a big scalp and with the Magpies being perennial finals performers in recent seasons, the Suns have shown they are on the way as quickly as many Victorians feared.
