1. Magnificent Pies keep finals chances alive
Collingwood was so brave. With Darcy Moore and Travis Varcoe ruled out of the game by three quarter time, it seemed the Pies would be left short of run. Instead, they came hard and nabbed an eight-point victory after trailling by 24 points early in the final term. They just never gave up. Nathan Buckley's master move to deploy Jordan De Goey up forward in place of an injured Darcy Moore was a pivotal decision. De Goey finished with four goals in what was probably the best match of his career, and his brilliant chase down tackle on Liam Duggan helped set up Jamie Elliott's goal, which put the Pies three points ahead late in the contest. Perhaps it's not yet certain that Buckley's sixth season in charge will be his last.

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2. Dismal ending costs West Coast
The Eagles have copped plenty of criticism for not being able to travel. That didn't seem to be the problem on Sunday. Instead it was a terrible final quarter that cost them victory. They led by 24 points early in the final term and even though Collingwood was missing Darcy Moore and Travis Varcoe, they couldn't hold on for victory. Several players had forgettable moments. Lewis Jetta could have taken a shot at goal in the final term but chose to snap the ball to the top of the goalsquare, an inexcusable decision that allowed Collingwood to spoil the ball through. Later in the quarter, West Coast was streaming into goal and Elliot Yeo missed from about 30m out, straight in front, when he should have either nailed the goal or passed to Josh Kennedy. This will likely be a game West Coast rues if it misses out on either the finals or the top four. 

WATCH: De Goey's second-half heroics

3. Pendlebury-less Pies do the job
The onus was on some of the Magpies' midfielders to stand up in the absence of their skipper, who was missing after surgery on the middle finger on his right hand after he broke the digit against Gold Coast last week. They started the game well and Brodie Grundy made his influence felt. Adam Treloar took his time to get going but was important with 34 disposals. Jack Crisp butchered the footy on several occasions in the first half but improved to finish with 33 important disposals. Stand-in skipper Steele Sidebottom was largely well-held by a Mark Hutchings tag and Daniel Wells was classy but quiet.

4. Gaff kept quiet
Andrew Gaff did not live up to his usual high standards against Collingwood. With tough left-footer Levi Greenwood handed the assignment of nullifying Gaff, the Eagle picked up just 16 disposals for the game and didn't offer his customary drive. The fourth person drafted in 2010 is developing something of a reputation for being able to be stopped, which will only increase the attention he garners from opposition coaches. He will want to shake that notion to ensure he is not regularly targeted, with Brisbane Lions stopper Nick Robertson a chance to return from suspension next Sunday at Domain Stadium to do the job on Gaff.

5. Kennedy can win his third-straight Coleman Medal
When the big Eagle went down with a right calf injury in round 10 against Greater Western Sydney, it seemed he wouldn't be winning the AFL's goalkicking award. There were fears he might have ruptured his Achilles tendon but instead, Kennedy returned to kick three goals in the derby last week and remarkably, seems half a chance to again win the Coleman. Playing in his 200th match against Collingwood on Sunday, he booted four goals in the first half before finishing with six, bringing him into fourth spot on 43 goals with five rounds to play. Sydney superstar Lance Franklin leads the way with 50 goals but in a year with some low tallies, and with the Eagles to face the Brisbane Lions next week, don't rule out Kennedy just yet.

WATCH: Kennedy's killer bag