COLLINGWOOD has marked Scott Pendlebury's 400th game in the most dramatic fashion possible with a pulsating three-point win over Carlton after Mitch McGovern missed a shot after the final siren.
Carlton had come from the clouds to almost ruin the milestone game and end the Magpies' premiership defence, but McGovern sprayed his shot wide as Collingwood held on to salute one of the greatest players in the club's history.
MAGPIES v BLUES Full match coverage and stats
The Magpies led by 32 points three minutes into the fourth quarter when Jamie Elliott nailed the first goal after the final break and looked home, before Michael Voss' side kicked the final five goals of the game to storm home.
But it wasn't enough.
McGovern almost made Collingwood pay for some last-quarter mistakes after Marc Pittonet found the defender inside 50 with a quick kick forward with 22 seconds left on the clock. With so much on the line, McGovern's shot from just inside 50 sailed right.
The Magpies haven't produced many performances to remember since last September, but Saturday night's 12.12 (84) to 11.15 (81) win at the MCG has breathed life into their slim finals chances.
After finishing June at 11-4 to sit firmly in the top four, the Blues could end the weekend in eighth place after dropping a fourth game from their last five appearances.
With three rounds to play in 2024, both clubs could be without an important midfielder for the rest of August after Adam Cerra and Jordan De Goey were substituted out due to hamstring injuries. Charlie Curnow ended the game dealing with an ankle injury, while Matt Cottrell hurt his shoulder.
Pendlebury became just the sixth player in VFL/AFL history to reach the milestone and showed he isn't slowing down, completing six days of celebration in style by collecting 27 disposals, 14 contested possessions, nine clearances and six inside 50s.
Nick Daicos continued his brilliant season by finishing with 28 disposals, 15 contested possessions and seven intercepts and you could throw a blanket over the rest, with the Magpies rediscovering their 2023 DNA.
The game lived up to the occasion from the outset. No one kicked a goal early, but it felt like a final. Pendlebury set the tone in his milestone game, throwing his body in and dancing through traffic like he has done since 2006. He was the only one on the ground with time early. It took 18 minutes for De Goey to put the first goal on the board after the Magpies swept coast to coast courtesy of a shrewd Jeremy Howe kick-in.
Pendlebury then hit the post from deep in the pocket that almost erupted the MCG. When the Magpies swept out of defence again later in the quarter, Daicos finished the work, making Carlton pay for starting the game with eight consecutive behinds, before Harry McKay dribbled a mercurial goal from the boundary to level the scores on the siren.
The game didn't need it, but Mason Cox incited the Carlton faithful with a cheeky celebration after slotting a set shot at the city end. Daicos put the ball down Dan McStay's throat 20 seconds later to create some early headaches for Michael Voss. With Beau McCreery back in the side after missing five weeks with a calf strain, Collingwood had its pressure game back. Bobby Hill and Lachie Schultz bought in. McCreery was the one. The South Australian's breakneck speed was infectious.
But just when the Magpies had control, Carlton kicked back-to-back goals in minutes, the first via a Elijah Hollands set shot, the second from Lachie Fogarty's smother and follow up. Collingwood responded on the back of the two players that inject energy into the group. McCreery nailed Jesse Motlop holding the ball in a crunching tackle. Then Cox kicked a second and let Nic Newman know all about it.
Collingwood has been a shadow of the side that went all the way in 2024, but rediscovered its mojo on Saturday night. Jack Crisp kept the pressure on to start the second half, sweeping through from a stoppage to give Collingwood the first goal. Then McCreery's elite pressure created a second minutes later. With its season hanging in the balance, Collingwood showed up.
Both clubs had plenty on the line. Carlton gunning for a double chance. Collingwood fighting to stay alive. The Magpies absorbed the Blues' punches, but then De Goey hopped 50m off the ground deep in time-on and went straight downstairs into the rooms, departing for potentially the last time this season. The game changed in the final 30 minutes.
Patrick Cripps stepped up, almost dragging the Blues over the line. But the game finished on McGovern's boot and didn't finish with a score. Carlton no longer looks like the premiership threat it did at the start of winter.
Another injury for box office star
Jordan De Goey has missed most of this season due to groin and abdomen issues. The box office star was never going to miss this one to celebrate his great mate. But he didn't finish the game. The 28-year-old hopped off the ground on one foot late in the third quarter and was instantly substituted out of the game, replaced by Pat Lipinski. With only three games left in the home and away season, Collingwood might need to play finals for De Goey to play again.
Déjà vu for star Blue
Adam Cerra was in the hunt for his first John Nicholls Medal before he strained his hamstring last year. Since then, the former Docker has endured a nightmare run. Five hamstring strains in just over 12 months. Cerra didn't reach half-time on Saturday night and might not feature until September – if the Blues get there.
COLLINGWOOD 2.2 6.6 11.9 12.12 (84)
CARLTON 1.8 3.11 6.14 11.15 (81)
GOALS
Collingwood: Cox 2, Hoskin-Elliott 2, De Goey 2, Schultz, Hill, McStay, N.Daicos, Crisp, Elliott
Carlton: Fogarty 2, Martin 2, E.Hollands 2, Cripps, Owies, O.Hollands, Acres, McKay
BEST
Collingwood: N.Daicos, Pendlebury, Cameron, Howe, Hoskin-Elliott, Hill
Carlton: Cripps, Newman, McGovern, Hewett, E. Hollands, Walsh
INJURIES
Collingwood: De Goey (hamstring)
Carlton: Cerra (hamstring), Curnow (ankle), Cottrell (shoulder)
SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Pat Lipinski (replaced Jordan De Goey in the third quarter)
Carlton: Matthew Kennedy (replaced Adam Cerra in the second quarter)
Crowd: 86,879 at the MCG
