No club has defined the term 'roller coaster' like Collingwood in 1997.

The Magpies were on top of the ladder with six wins and two losses after eight games but then went on a six-game losing streak to have their season sitting precariously in 12th place after 14 rounds.

The side rallied late in the year and was in contention for the finals right up until the dying moments of its round 21 loss to Adelaide on a Monday night at Football Park.

But long before the season went off the rails, Collingwood rattled North Melbourne's cage with a 43-point win in round seven, 1997, under lights at the MCG.

The reigning premiers were totally outgunned in the second half by a high-scoring Collingwood outfit that had Sav Rocca firing in attack and Scott Burns marshalling the backline in one of his finest matches for the club.

Gavin Brown, Alex McDonald, Chris Curran and Robbie Ahmat also figured heavily in the win, while a 19-year-old full back named Mal Michael became the first player to debut via the AFL's latest initiative - the rookie list.

Collingwood 2.3, 5.5, 12.7, 17.9 (111)
North Melbourne 2.5, 3.7, 7.10, 9.14 (68)

Goals - Collingwood: S.Rocca 4, Ahmat 3, Curran 2, Osborne 2, Patterson, Williams, A.Rocca, Wright, Monkhorst, Wild
North Melbourne: Mellington 4, Sholl 2, Bell, Archer, Rock

Disposals - Collingwood: Burns 28, Williams 25, Russell 25, McDonald 21, Patterson 20
North Melbourne: Stevens 32, Bell 20, Rock 18, McKernan 17, King 16

Brownlow Medal: 3. S.Burns (Coll), 2. G.Brown (Coll), 1. A.McDonald (Coll)