On the surface, Friday night’s Western Bulldogs v Sydney match wouldn’t have appeared to affect Collingwood.

But once you dig a little deeper into the stats, the Bulldogs’ 46-point loss to the Swans at the SCG leaves the Magpies with unique bragging rights over the rest of the competition.

The Magpies are the only club remaining to have lost by fewer than four goals in the 2017 home and away season.

The Magpies’ slightest loss came in round eight when they travelled to Western Sydney to face the Giants. The Magpies were minutes away from recording a stunning victory when a little bit of Stevie Johnson magic secured the win for the home side.

Archrivals Carlton boast the biggest winning margin over Collingwood this season, with the Blues claiming a 23-point victory over the Pies on the eve of the 125th anniversary celebrations in round seven.

Every team’s biggest loss in 2017

1. Gold Coast – 102 points (def by. GWS in round two at Spotless Stadium)
2. Fremantle – 100 points (def by. Adelaide in round 10 at Adelaide Oval)
3. Carlton – 90 points (def by. Port Adelaide in round five at Adelaide Oval)
4. Hawthorn – 86 points (def by. Gold Coast in round three at Metricon Stadium)
5. Brisbane – 83 points (def by. Port Adelaide in round six at the Gabba)
6. Richmond – 76 points (def by. Adelaide in round six at Adelaide Oval)
7. Essendon – 65 points (def by. Adelaide in round four at Adelaide Oval)
8. West Coast – 61 points (def by. Essendon in round nine at Etihad Stadium)
9. Adelaide – 59 points (def by. North Melbourne in round seven at Blundstone Arena)
10. GWS – 56 points (def by. Adelaide in round one at Adelaide Oval)
11. St Kilda – 50 points (def by. Sydney in round nine at Etihad Stadium)
12. Western Bulldogs – 46 points (def by. Sydney in round 12 at the SCG)
13. North Melbourne – 43 points (def by. West Coast in round one at Etihad Stadium)
14. Sydney – 42 points (def by. GWS in round five at the SCG)
15. Port Adelaide – 31 points (def by. GWS in round four at UNSW Canberra Oval)
16. Geelong – 29 points (def by. Collingwood in round six at the MCG)
17. Melbourne – 29 points (def by. Geelong in round three at Etihad Stadium)
18. Collingwood – 23 points (def by. Carlton in round seven at the MCG)

Beware of Adelaide Oval

Five of the season’s biggest losses have been recorded at Adelaide Oval.

And while the Magpies play both Port Adelaide (twice) and Adelaide in the remaining 11 rounds, only one of these games will be played at the South Australian fortress.

Since 2014, the Magpies have a 0-3 record at Adelaide Oval, albeit with mixed final results.

The biggest losing margin was 28 points at the hands of the Adelaide Crows in round 17 last year, while the Magpies came so close to stealing victory from Port Adelaide in 2015, when they fell to the Power by three points at Adelaide Oval.

On Monday, the Magpies meet the Demons in their annual Queen’s Birthday clash at the MCG.

The Magpies haven’t beaten the Demons in the past three meetings.

Will it be another close call or can Collingwood return to the winner’s list against their Olympic Park neighbours?