1. Pies pass big test ...
Last week, Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley declared the clash against North the Pies' biggest test yet of the season. In their first game this season against a top-four side from last year, the signs looked ominous early. The Pies were wasteful by foot in the opening half and applied little pressure, allowing Brad Scott's men to do as they pleased. But mainly thanks to a blistering third term, the Pies stunned the Roos, turning a 39-point deficit into a 17-point victory. The brilliant win cemented their place in the top eight - the Magpies now sit fourth with a 6-3 record.
2. ... but North’s season hangs in the balance
For the Roos, at 4-5 after nine rounds and sitting 13th on the ladder, their season sits in a perilous position with crucial games against West Coast (Blundstone Arena), the Sydney Swans (Etihad Stadium) and the Giants (Spotless Stadium) coming up before their bye in round 13. Approaching the half-way point of the season, not many would have predicted last year's preliminary finalists would be so low on the ladder with a percentage of just 89.7. With the competition so even, North Melbourne has a huge fight on its hands to push its way into finals contention.
3. Elliott's big day out
It was Elliott's five-goal second half which turned the game on its head. After a slow start, the exciting forward suddenly looked dangerous at every turn in front of goal, or up the ground. The young Magpie kicked 5.2, had two score assists, seven marks, 18 disposals and four inside 50s. Elliott's third goal in the third term drew the Pies level late in the quarter, while his first of the final term was a brilliant soccer off the ground. Fittingly, with rain bucketing down at the MCG, it was the 22-year-old who marked uncontested in the last seconds of the game and kicked the final goal, to cap off an amazing comeback from Collingwood.
4. Magpies surge in premiership quarter
After a dominant first half, North Melbourne had etched out a 39-point lead. The Pies were all over the shop. But led by skipper Scott Pendlebury, they were sparked into action in the third term, kicking nine unanswered goals to head into the final break with a 14-point advantage. Pendlebury, who was quiet in the first half, had eight disposals, and kicked a goal in the third quarter, while Steele Sidebottom and Jack Crisp also stood up. But the biggest hero for Collingwood was small forward Jamie Elliott, who electrified Pies fans with three goals in the term.
5. Young Kangaroo shows promise
After being the substitute for his first two games of AFL football, young Roo Trent Dumont relished playing his first full game. In the opening term he was handed the task of running with Pendlebury. Recruited from Norwood at pick No.30 in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft, the 19-year-old kept Pendlebury to just five lacklustre touches in the first term, and managed to gather five of his own and two inside 50s. Aided by teammate Ben Cunnington at the stoppages, Dumont was able to restrict Pendlebury's influence in the first half, restricting the Magpie to just nine disposals. Coach Brad Scott allowed Dumont off the leash in the second half and he made the most of the opportunity, finishing the game with 18 touches, seven clearances and an impressive 10 tackles.
