LAST time North Melbourne met Collingwood, Shannon Grant was the villain. On Saturday night, he was one of their heroes as the Kangaroos pulled off a sensational comeback win at the MCG.
North came back from 21 points down midway through the final term to boot six of the last seven goals and win 16.16 (112) to 15.15 (105).
In an agonising last quarter which lasted almost 35 minutes both sides missed numerous scoring chances, with the Kangaroos in particular botching some straightforward shots to seemingly sabotage their hopes of a comeback.
But in the end they prevailed through weight of ball into their attack in the final quarter, as well as some clever goals from crumbing forwards Lindsay Thomas, Matt Campbell and Ed Lower.
Thomas and Campbell finished with three goals each, including two each in their side's late onslaught.
Grant also finished with three majors, and combined with some fine early work in the midfield, was close to his side's best player.
It was the veteran who put his side in front in a style that brought back memories of the two clubs' last clash, in round one last season.
On that occasion, Grant was handed a 50m penalty in the dying moments which took him to within 15m, but he missed his set shot.
Tonight he again received a 50m penalty with the Kangaroos within a kick in time-on in the last term. Grant had marked about 60m out when Collingwood defender Harry O'Brien crashed into his back.
This time Grant made no mistake, slamming through his shot from 15m to put the Roos up by two points.
Lower, who had struggled early in defence against Paul Medhurst, then put through a lucky left-foot snap out of a pack, which took a fortunate bounce through the goals to put North up by eight points and seemingly seal the game.
But there was more drama to come, with Medhurst capping a fine game with his fifth goal after the quarter had ticked past the 30-minute mark, again with the help of a 50m penalty after defender Daniel Pratt encroached over the mark.
Magpies half-forward Alan Didak, normally one of the best kicks in the competition, then missed a golden chance to put Collingwood back in front when he ran into an open goal but failed to convert from about 30m.
It was to prove Collingwood's last chance, with Campbell providing the sealer with a roving snap from the top of the goal square after Grant had centred the ball from the pocket.
Earlier, Collingwood had taken the ascendancy with a five-goal burst heading into half time after both sides made lacklustre starts to the match.
Medhurst kicked two goals in two minutes to help the Magpies to a 15-point lead at the long break and they still led by five points heading into the last quarter.
The Kangaroos also wasted some chances in the second term, with their last three shots of the quarter behinds to Corey Jones, who had 1.5 on the board by half time.
Midfielder Brent Harvey was a standout for the Roos throughout the match, while Didak and Lockyer were very good for the Magpies in the middle and Medhurst was a shining light up forward.
NORTH MELBOURNE 3.4 5.9 9.12 16.16 (112)
COLLINGWOOD 2.4 8.6 10.11 15.15 (105)
Goals: North Melbourne: S Grant 3 L Thomas 3 M Campbell 3 E Lower 2 N Thompson 2 A Simpson C Jones D Hale. Collingwood: P Medhurst 5 J Fraser 4 L Davis 2 A Didak S Pendlebury R Shaw A Rocca.
Best: North Melbourne: B Harvey S Grant L Harding L Thomas D Wells M Firrito. Collingwood: A Didak J Fraser T Lockyer P Medhurst R Shaw S Pendlebury.
Report: North Melbourne – Daniel Pratt reported by umpire Hayden Kennedy for charging Josh Fraser in the first quarter.
Umpires: C Donlon H Kennedy D Sully.
Official crowd: 51,990 at the MCG.
