AFL.com.au last week revealed the top run-with players in the competition and Collingwood's Brent Macaffer was a key part of that list. Champion Data figures showed he had won seven of his nine direct one-on-one matchups this year. Having already put the muzzle on Trent Cotchin and Steve Johnson among others, Macaffer turned his attention to Demons young gun Dom Tyson on Queen's Birthday. Tyson had been averaging 24.2 disposals leading into the game, but Macaffer limited him to 16 on Monday. The Pies' tagger also had an offensive presence as well, collecting 19 touches to stamp himself as one of the best on the ground.

Talk to anyone at Melbourne and they will tell you how important an influence Daniel Cross has been in his first year at the club. The consummate professional held Dayne Beams in check for one of the few times this season, mustering just 19 touches. The former Bulldog also set the example in his attack on the football and on the man, helping himself to 21 disposals to clearly be one of Melbourne's best players. His off-field example will continue to be a factor in Melbourne's gradual turnaround.

For all their industry, it was was easily the Demons' worst scoring tally of the year. Three goals for the game - including one that came inside the first 20 seconds - made the club's marquee home-and-away game a dour affair. It was also the Demons' lowest score against Collingwood since 1960. They had the defensive side of the game covered, but if they are to take the next step as a team, Paul Roos' side needs to find viable attacking options. Cam Pedersen was easily Melbourne's most dangerous option but he went scoreless for the game. The Dees will look forward to hopefully having Jesse Hogan back at the back end of this season, as he continues his comeback from a back injury.

In a game as static as we've seen all season, the line-breaking ability of Heritier Lumumba, Paul Seedsman and Clinton Young was important on Monday. With Collingwood fully prepared to flood numbers back and clog up space in defence, the three flankers became the Magpies' go-to players coming out of the backline. Seedsman's run and carry was exactly what the Magpies had been lacking at the start of the season, when he missed almost the entire first-half of the year with a hip complaint. Lumumba's ability to sidestep opponents and make something happen was an essential ingredient in the victory, and Young's precise kicking was also a deadly weapon. 

All week Melbourne had been talking up its hopes of a crowd in excess of 80,000. While not quite to that level, the Demons faithful certainly turned up in numbers as the MCG hosted a crowd of 68,124. They were loud, boisterous and, at times, disgruntled as the Demons eventually battled towards the final siren.