COLLINGWOOD'S thrilling Anzac Day triumph has the potential to turn the Magpies' season around, says premiership player Sharrod Wellingham.

The Pies outlasted Essendon to snare the one-point win after the Bombers hit the front with two minutes left to play.

Jarryd Blair's kick reversed his team's fortunes 30 seconds later, and the Pies held on to win after his controversial point-blank range goal.

Wellingham said the victory could signal a turning point in the Pies' season after an unconvincing first month.

"When it's hard fought game like that, the emotion really builds and you really get a feeling of camaraderie, especially being on Anzac Day," Wellingham told AFL.com.au.

"We'll definitely take a lot out of a game like that.

"We know that the performances we've dished up so far haven't been 100 per cent.

"We're going to work on improving that. It's a long season, as we've come to know, so we just have to keep building and hopefully we'll be right at the pointy end of the year."

The 23-year-old has also had a stuttering start to the year on a personal level, having been held up by an injury to his medial ligament in the pre-season.

He then missed a rehabilitation session and was found to have been drinking alcohol while out injured.

He was suspended for the first two rounds of the season proper by the leadership of the club, which included the player leadership group. 

After playing his third game for the year against the Bombers, Wellingham said he had moved on and was looking ahead to an on-field challenge of playing predominantly in attack.

"It's well and truly behind me. Everyone makes mistakes and it was unfortunate I made one at the wrong time," he said.

"I've put it behind me and hopefully I can repay the club again at the end of the year.

"I'm feeling really good. I'm feeling pretty fresh and getting more run in the legs each week.

"I'm playing the majority forward now, which is a really good role and I'm liking it and enjoying being out on the paddock.

"It's the structure we've decided to go with. We've got a really strong midfield at the moment and I'll be playing a role as a bit more of a forward this year."

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs.

Jennifer Witham is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow her on Twitter @AFL_JenWitham.