So,m where are we ranking this one then?

A lot has been said, and written, about Nick Daicos this week. But the milestone man was never going to let a bit of extra attention faze him. Amid a controversial finish, it was Collingwood's little master that ultimately created yet another work of art to help down the old enemies Carlton in game No.100.

Daicos was the game's most influential figure as his team withstood Blues youngster Talor Byrne's misdirected effort after the final siren to win 13.10 (88) to 12.11 (83), after his brother Josh had threatened to ruin his party by giving away a contentious free kick within range with just seconds on the clock.

But, hoping to tie the match with his effort after time had expired, Byrne saw his kick fade to the left. It sparked scenes of jubilant Magpies celebrations as they clung to the narrow triumph, and conversely saw the Blues fall to yet another devastating loss in a season that is starting to fill up with them.

While prolific, Daicos had spent much of Thursday night's clash on the outskirts of the contest. That was until the final term, when his influence – measured by 39 disposals, eight clearances and a goal – reached its peak. He was at the centre of the quarter's defining moments, always making his mark.

His smarts on the goal line to kickstart the last term helped the Magpies overturn an 18-point deficit at the final change, before his brilliance in other areas catapulted them home. All told, he won 13 disposals for the quarter alone to be the game's standout player in a thrilling five-point win.

For Carlton, it was … oh, you know the story. The Blues led big, couldn't capitalise, then lost. Having burst into a 23-point lead midway through the second half, Michael Voss' team had the stink of a side waiting for that familiar tale to repeat itself once again. Only this time, it came in far more devastating circumstances.

The bout had pitted a Collingwood team lacking a cutting edge against a Carlton outfit with its confidence fraying further by the week. It showed early, as well. While the Pies controlled the contest, strangling the Blues with 34 extra disposals and 15 more marks in the first term, they had no tangible reward for their possession.

Instead, after trading goals for the entire opening term, it was Carlton that began to show some penetration after the first change. Five straight goals on either side of the break finally released the game out of its malaise and threw the gauntlet down for a Collingwood response.

There were periods of that run where the Blues flew by the seat of their pants, with their willingness to randomly take the game on perhaps inspired by a determination to not revert back into their shell like previous weeks, but the Pies couldn't capitalise on the sporadic errors that accompanied their opposition's style and fell 14 points down at half-time.

Carlton couldn't have started the second half better when Mitch McGovern converted in less than 20 seconds. But then, for a side with nerves like jelly, what followed was torturous. Adam Cerra missed, Brodie Kemp missed, Harry McKay missed. So, when the sucker punch arrived at the other end through Jamie Elliott, it felt inevitable.

But rather than spark any sort of Collingwood comeback, it instead led to a sustained patch of ugly football. There were missed kicks, turnovers, bad decisions, dropped marks, fumbles, the lot, and neither side could capitalise as the contest eventually arrived at the final quarter precariously placed.

It was precarious in the sense that, even though the Magpies' deficit was 18 points, they were up against a Blues outfit that had been in this exact position – and lost – many times before. Indeed, it took only four minutes for that deficit to be wiped out. It took five for them to be in front.

The run was inspired by Daicos' craftiness on the goal line and resulted in five straight Collingwood majors, a tidal wave of momentum that a brittle Carlton simply couldn't stop. A 6-6-6 infringement, having already had a warning, resulted in Jamie Elliott's third and added another forgettable moment in their poor run of form.

But it would only get worse. Having pegged the deficit back to six points with 15 seconds to play, Josh Daicos' free kick put fourth-gamer Byrne on track to become a hero. But he couldn't capitalise, with his kick floating wide of the target and resulting a fifth defeat in the last six matches for the Blues.

CARLTON             2.3   6.5   9.9   12.11 (83)
COLLINGWOOD   2.4   3.9   6.9   13.10 (88)

GOALS
Carlton: McGovern 3, Kemp 2, Ainsworth 2, Carroll 2, Hayward, McKay, Evans
Collingwood: Elliott 3, McStay 2, Steene 2, Membrey 2, McCreery, N.Daicos, Hayes, Lipinski

INJURIES
Carlton: McKay (head)
Collingwood: Nil

Crowd: 78,058 at the MCG