In a game of amazing feats and no less amazing mistakes, the signature moment belonged to a young Melbourne midfielder Harvey Langford.
The Demons led by two points, having recaptured the lead in the final term though, reversing the flow that had seen Collingwood lead by 11 points only several minutes earlier.
Only one minute and about 20 seconds remained.
Nick Daicos, Collingwood’s young champion had taken the football, and was ready to take the Pies forward for a final attempt to win the game.
As Daicos looked ahead, Langford swooped and nailed Daicos in a tackle.
It wasn’t folkloric enough to be known as “the tackle” but it was the most critical moment in a game in which Collingwood led at each change, but were never potent enough to shrug off the Demons, just as Daicos was unable to shrug off Langford, who had booted possibly the game’s most audacious goal at an important stage of the third quarter, when the Demons sorely needed to stay within touch.
Fittingly, after that tackle, the outcome was secured by the player who won the Neale Daniher trophy – not for best afield, but as the one who exemplified the Daniher spirit: Kysaiah Pickett.
Pickett booted three goals – including the first two of the game – but it was his creativity that stood out and apart. Pickett’s class was instrumental.
He mightn’t be the competition’s premier player as yet. “Kosi” though would have claims to being the one who gets more people out of their seats – including those crusty veterans in the MCC members reserve – than any other.
Bayley Fritsch was another mercurial presence. One never knows which Fritsch will appear, the better or bad Bayley. Fortunately for the red and blues, better Bayley became a weapon in the second half, booting all three of his majors – and each of them was special. Twice, his unerring left boot regained the Demons the lead.
Collingwood’s lead at each quarter never exceeded a goal. One felt that Melbourne had the greater upside – certainly more talented youth, as demonstrated by Caleb Windsor (one exceptional running goal), Latrelle Pickett and Langford – but that they were less bankable than the Pies.
And so, when the Pies stretched the lead to a game-high 16 points via a Dan McStay goal in the third term, many of the 88,000 wondered if the Demons were ready to wilt, as they had in 2024 and 2025 as the era that had delivered that exiled premiership faded into the next phase, and another regime change.
But the Demons, as they often have this season under their new coach, chanced their arm and found crucial goals to both Harrison Petty (lead mark) and one literal blinder from Fristch, who completed a blind turn-and snap almost in one motion.
The margin would remain within a kick until three quarter-time.
The Magpies have plenty to rue. McStay had a shot that would have put them 16 points ahead with several minutes left – a tough ask in this game. Jordan De Goey, who had threatened to be the match-winner, couldn’t nail a shot that would have recaptured the lead late, too.
Both sides lost key players in the first half, as Brayden Maynard’s shoulder was twice wrenched – he had put back into its socket once, but on the second occasion when he fell after a Kosi Pickett trip, he could not return. Outside of Daicos, he has been the most consistent player in the side this season.
Brody Mihocek’s head or neck injury was awful to watch, as he lay head down on the turf for seven or so minutes, stopping the game, following an unusual incident in which Billy Frampton tackled him as Mihocek, his former teammate, went low, the veteran Demon’s head striking the ground in a manner that hushed the 88,000.
The Demons were blessed to have Gawn’s leadership in the ruck, and the tandem of Jake Lever and Dan Turner holding up the key defensive posts, and while Petty isn’t Jonathan Brown, he did provide a target (two goals) and enough of a foil for Fritsch to be a game-turner.
One cannot say whether the Demons summoned the Daniher spirit, or if they simply executed their skills better when it mattered.
In 2026 at least, Melbourne has exceeded budget so far. They were not expected to be in the top six at this stage of the season. Collingwood, which most of us felt would lose ground, have probably lost something else – the belief that enabled them to close out games.
If was game was sealed by a Pickett conversion, the decisive moment was a symbolic tackle, as the Demons ran Collingwood down.
Jake Niall is a Walkley award-winning sports journalist and chief AFL writer for The Age.Connect via X or email.