ON A DAY to celebrate one of the game's greatest heroes, it was fitting there were so many ready to put their hands up in the football sense.
First, it looked like Bayley Fritsch had won it for Melbourne, with two stunning fourth-term goals. Then Angus Anderson the unlikely Collingwood match-winner.
But Jordan De Goey fluffed his set shot, as did Jacob van Rooyen.
Harvey Langford ran down Nick Daicos mid-bounce, while Kozzy Pickett firstly kicked the ball out on the full, then the game-sealing major to record the Dees an eight-point win over Collingwood, 12.11 (83) to 11.9 (75).
Punters and commentators alike leaned forward in their seats when uber-talented duo Nick Daicos and Kozzy Pickett lined up against each other at the first centre bounce, and unsurprisingly, the two were involved in deciding the match at the other end of the game.
Kozzy booted two goals in the first seven minutes of the game, finding oodles of space, and Nick Daicos followed up with an absolute stunner a few minutes later, evading three players at once.
The two then drifted apart, with Ed Allan responsible for Pickett for the remainder of the game.
They were clearly the best players on the park for their respective teams, Daicos with 22 disposals to half-time and Pickett with 17, but Allan's clamps were crucial in slowing down the Dees.
Debutant Mitch Podhajski, playing his first AFL game at the ripe old age of 27, brought the heaving MCG down with his maiden elite-level goal, opting to play on from tight in the pocket to give Collingwood the lead for the first time late in the opening term after Melbourne's hot start.
Both sides were eager to move the ball through grid defences by hand, which led to an entertaining mix of superb goals, baffling fumbles and turnovers.
Brayden Maynard spent just 10 minutes on the bench in the first quarter after dislocating his right shoulder. He played out close to another quarter before his arm popped out again and he was ruled out for the game.
After taking a narrow two-point lead into the second half, Collingwood blew a few opportunities to build a commanding gap, kicking 3.3, with Melbourne responding with three of its own.
COLLINGWOOD 4.2 6.3 9.6 11.9 (75)
MELBOURNE 3.4 5.7 8.7 12.11 (83)
GOALS
Collingwood: De Goey 2, N.Daicos 2, McStay 2, Buller 2, Podhajski, Steele, Anderson
Melbourne: Fritsch 3, K.Pickett 3, Petty 2, van Rooyen, Kentfield, Langford, Cross
BEST
Collingwood: N.Daicos, J.Daicos, Allan, De Goey, Lipinski
Melbourne: K.Pickett, Gawn, Steele, Langford, Fritsch, Chandler
INJURIES
Collingwood: Maynard (shoulder)
Melbourne: Mihocek (neck/head knock)
Crowd: 88,019 at the MCG
