IT HAD all the makings of a fairytale finish but Melbourne’sbid to honour skipper David Neitz in his 300th appearance fell 11 points shortin a classic backs-to-the-wall effort at the MCG, 11.16 (81) to 9.16 (70).

Trailing by 35 points at half time, and with only one fitplayer available for most of the second half, the Demons kicked six goals totwo in a gallant second half that averted what looked to be a disaster in themaking early on.

Neitz kicked three goals in his historic match, and hadchances to add more but was inaccurate, while a bevy of Demons lifted after themain change in the face of some stern words from caretaker coach Mark Riley.

Collingwood’s early pressure was enormous.

Seven minutes in, the Pies had registered three unansweredgoals while Melbourne struggled to get clear possession, let alone trouble thescorer.

Just finding an avenue inside 50 was proving difficult asCollingwood clamped down all over the field.

Finally Lynden Dunn steadied the ship with a brilliantrunning banana goal that underlined his untapped talent as a rangy midfielder.

But the flow of the game remained with the Magpies throughthe likes of Scott Burns, Dane Swan and Leon Davis, who relished his chance toroam free in the midfield.

His pace and ability to break the lines had the Deesscrambling for answers.

Neitz momentarily stemmed the tide with a lucky free and50-metre penalty to kick his first of the game but by the first change the Pieshad drawn to a 19-point lead.

Needing a spark, the second term couldn’t have been any moredisastrous for a side desperately trying to honour its skipper.

The harder it tried, the worse Melbourne got as Collingwoodwent hard man-on-man to restrict the run and space afforded to an oppositionwhose decision making at times was abysmal.

The cause wasn’t helped when Ben Holland, who was doing asolid job on Magpie forward Anthony Rocca, dislocated his left shoulder and washelped from the ground.

Despite the efforts of James McDonald, Nathan Brown, NathanJones and Paul Wheatley, the Dees failed to kick a goal in the second termwhile conceding three to the Pies as the margin blew to a precarious 35points. 

Given the enormity of the occasion for the club, Melbourne’sfirst half was as bad as it’s been all season.

How it was going to get back into the game was anyone’sguess given the Pies domination of the opening 60 minutes.

Things got worse in the opening minutes of the third termwhen tenacious defender Daniel Bell was knocked out by a head-high charge fromMagpie Ben Johnson.

The game was stopped for five minutes as Bell was taken fromthe field on a cart as players pushed and shoved in the middle of the groundbefore huddling on opposite wings.

Moments after the restart, Scott Pendlebury goaled tofurther dent the Dees’ confidence.

Fittingly, it was Neitz who tried to lift his teammates withhis second goal of the game at the 10-minute mark and to at least keep the Pieshonest.

With just one interchange player to call on, the taskconfronting Melbourne was a massive one.

Somehow, and from nowhere, it clawed its way back into thegame.

Colin Sylvia took a leaf out of Neitz’s book and accepted apass from the skipper to goal at the 17-minute mark and when the skipperslotted his third from the paint of 50, the margin was back to 24 points.

Sensing the momentum had shifted, the Dees midfield startedto win the battle, its undermanned defence, minus Holland and Bell, stood firm,and across half-forward Michael Newton was working hard to provide a contest.

A lucky free and brilliant set shot goal from a tight angleby Brock McLean maintained the heat on the Pies and when Byron Pickett, who haddone nothing all night, burst through 50 to goal a minute later, it was atwo-goal ball game at the final change.

The first goal of the final term was as good as gold forwhichever team was able to snaffle it and after some tense minutes a Brad Greenchase and tackle set up Newton to ram home his first of the night to reduce themargin to seven points.

The Dees had the next three shots at goal but could onlymanage two points which left the door open for Paul Medhurst to kick his thirdto take the wind out of the Melbourne sail.

Trailing by 10 points with six minutes remaining the Pieslooked to milk the clock while the Melbourne players looked out on their feet.

Finally, time ran out for the gallant Demons who will rue apathetic first half that netted just three goals.