Collingwood vs. North Melbourne: Live Updates and Analysis

It's Daicos! Of course it is!

By Kyle Pollard

Scott Pendlebury roves the pack in the F50 and pumps out a quick handball to the speeding Nick Daicos, who hooks the goal!

Pies down by two!

You knew he was going to do something special!

Crisp might be OK

K

By Kyle Pollard

Just had a frame by frame look at Jack Crisp’s tackle. He doesn’t wrap Tom up ( Tom’s left arm is completely free and Jack takes him shoulder high on right arm) nor does Jack ride him to the ground . I think Tom let his right arm collapse which caused him to roll over and hit his head. Whilst I’d never try to read MRO logic I think Jack might be ok with this.

- Phillip

A fair assessment from Phillip here, but who knows how the MRO will take the concussion.

Larkey gives North the break!

K

By Kyle Pollard

Moments ago Nick Larkey hit the post for a third time.

This time he clunks a big contested mark and Docklands holds its breath as he shoots from 30m out on a slight angle.

It's right through the middle! He punches the air! Crucial goal!

Kangaroos in front!

K

By Kyle Pollard

We're straight out of the middle to start the final term and it's a chaos ball out the back of the pack.

Charlie Spargo puts a nice little boot on it into the path of Paul Curtis, who taps it through the goals!

North lead!

The run home

K

By Kyle Pollard

Keep in mind this is a super important game for both teams, with Collingwood currently 7th on 38 points and North in 11th on 32.

Collingwood's run home is: Blues (MCG), Crows (AO), Cats (MCG), Eagles (PS), Hawks (MCG), Lions (MCG)

North's is: Demons (Dock), Saints (Dock), Hawks (YP), Bulldogs (Dock), Cats (Dock), Swans (SCG)

Tough runs for both.

3QT: Collingwood 10.7 (67) leads North Melbourne 9.10 (64)

K

By Kyle Pollard

It's another odd quarter where North Melbourne dominated field position but just couldn't get on the board when they went inside 50.

Collingwood was the better team around the stoppages and it looked like that was going to be enough for them to potentially put a decent lead on the Kangaroos, but North just kept working and working to grind out a few late goals to make it a one kick game heading into the final quarter.

Josh Daicos (25 disposals) and Jy Simpkin (23 disposals) have found the ball the most, but there hasn't been one dominant force in this game yet.

Who can break this open in the final term?

The Xerri on top!

K

By Kyle Pollard

I hate that I used the pun but I had to!

It's Tristan Xerri straight out of the ruck after a boundary throw in, as he tosses Darcy Cameron aside and then awkwardly throws the pill onto his left shoe!

It's all thanks to Finn O'Sullivan who made the desperate spoil to force the throw in.

McStay answers straight back!

K

By Kyle Pollard

They have all the answers, Collingwood.

This time they're straight out of the middle via Darcy Cameron and Jordan De Goey, launching long to Dan McStay who flies and takes the grab!

He kicks truly and settles the Pies.

It's a bomb from Hardeman!

K

By Kyle Pollard

Riley Hardeman has his first AFL goal and he wasn't even trying to kick one!

He launches from well outside 50 to the top of the goalsquare where a pack forms. Jeremy Howe flies over the top and just misses the punch altogether! The ball goes over the top and rolls untouched through the goals!

Sheezel goal!

K

By Kyle Pollard

But I think this is touched! Let's see!

Confirmed! Touched! Awesome from Harry Perryman who lunged desperately to get a finger on that.

How important might that fingernail be?

North finally gets one!

K

By Kyle Pollard

It's Charlie Spargo who snaps the goal and this time it's great strength and vision from Paul Curtis to break through the pack and handball to the free Spargo.

The handball was ... interesting ... but I'd need a good replay to confirm that it might have been a bit of a fling.

Either way, we're back to 10 points and the game is on!

Cameron makes it 17 points!

K

By Kyle Pollard

It's the biggest lead of the match now as Darcy Cameron converts the set shot!

The big ruck just found himself without a tall opponent and Tim Membrey spotted it well.

What can North do from here?

Lipinski gives the Pies the break

K

By Kyle Pollard

Finally we have a goal after nine minutes and it comes via a lovely inside 50 kick from Dan Houston. Pat Lipinski takes the mark and he's met in the back by Charlie Comben.

Oh and it's a 50m penalty! Gee I don't know about that.

Lipinski has the shot from the goalsquare and converts.

Tough for the Roos, who have dominated with real estate this quarter.

Billy Frampton down

K

By Kyle Pollard

The Magpies defender is only down briefly but he's copped a Jack Darling knee in the back of the head after a marking contest. It's surely enough to require a test.

We're back underway

K

By Kyle Pollard

Who needs the win more here? Both teams have tough runs home, so you'd have to think it's going to be a difficult task to make September for tonight's losing team.

It's all on the line here at Docklands.

HT: Collingwood 7.5 (47) leads North Melbourne 6.6 (42)

K

By Kyle Pollard

It's been a cracking game so far with the lead changing back and forth throughout the quarter, but there are two major talking points out this first half.

The first is the Lachie Schultz injury, with the small forward appearing to jar his ankle badly in a contest, limping off and then appearing back on the bench with an ice pack on.

The second is the failed concussion test of Tom Blamires. The North Melbourne player was caught in a Jack Crisp tackle and his head hit the ground. There was no malice in the tackle, but the concussion doesn't bode well for Crisp escaping sanction.

Is the Collingwood veteran's record run of 279 consecutive games set to come to an end?

Based on the available evidence I would suggest the question will at least be asked by the MRO.

Lachie Schultz is done for the night

K

By Kyle Pollard

That's a big loss for Collingwood.

Schultz is on the bench with ice on his ankle.

His night is done.

Swadling kicks the go ahead goal

K

By Kyle Pollard

As the dad of a six-month old the name Swadling gives me some flashbacks.

It's a 50m penalty against Charlie Comben for not standing the mark, and he's furious with his smaller teammates who didn't really need to run back to goalsquare as much as Comben did.

Sam Swadling converts and the Pies are back in front!

Tom Blamires is done for the game

K

By Kyle Pollard

The North Melbourne youngster is done for the night due to a failed concussion test.

Is Jack Crips in trouble for the tackle?