The date is Sunday the 26th of February, 2006. Collingwood meets St Kilda in what is expected to be a routine NAB Cup game at a Docklands stadium then known as the Telstra Dome.

Collingwood has named a side without stars Nathan Buckley, James Clement, Shane Wakelin and Scott Burns, but is about to unveil its highly touted first draft pick – Dale Thomas.

With cricket still on the agenda and some big names missing, there’s still not much of an appetite to fully embrace the new season.

Despite these facts, over 24,000 people still decide to spend their Sunday afternoon at the footy.

What they were about to witness to this day remains one of the most exciting pre-season games Collingwood has been a part of.



St Kilda's players warm up on a sunny Sunday afternoon at the Telstra Dome.

What started as a slow, unenthused contest quickly gathered momentum as both sides remained within kicking distance of each other throughout the contest.

Tarkyn Lockyer was comprehensively beating Steven Milne, while Paul Licuria and Jason Cloke were also among the best in the Black and White.

Lenny Hayes and Luke Ball gained control of the midfield for St Kilda in the final term and after the Saints kicked the first two goals of the quarter, it appeared as though a 20-point lead would be too much for the Magpies to overcome.

Dane Swan, Josh Fraser and Anthony Rocca all kicked goals to once again ignite the contest. It was enough for fans and experts alike to dive into their records to fine-tune their knowledge on the potential of extra-time.



Anthony Rocca kicked a last-quarter goal to keep Collingwood in the contest.

Collingwood led by a point as the seconds ticked down and the play became more frantic. This was the first competitive hit-out of the season, and four quarters in the sun was more than enough for the players to fatigue.

Simon Prestigiacomo had been one of Collingwood’s best performers and had successfully kept St Kilda’s mulleted spearhead Fraser Gehrig away from the action.

However with the game nearing its conclusion, Prestigiacomo was penalised for a ruck infringement against Gehrig.

The reigning Coleman Medallist missed the shot from 30 metres out and the match was sent into overtime.



2005 Coleman Medallist Fraser Gehrig missed a goal from 30m out to win the game for St Kilda.

Extra time was no less entertaining than the game proper.

St Kilda led by five points at the end of the first five-minute period of extra time. They would add just two more behinds to their total by the end of the game.

After only playing five games due to injury in 2005, Fraser showed touches of his athletic best to kick the goal to put the Magpies in front with four minutes remaining.

The last roll of the dice belonged to the Saints with exactly a minute remaining.

Swan dropped a chest mark in defence, Gehrig fiercely fended off Alan Didak and kicked to Nick Riewoldt who was millimetres away from hanging onto a diving mark.

Riewoldt recovered and took an opportunistic snap towards goal. If it wasn’t for the goal-saving leap from Jason Cloke on the goal-line, St Kilda would have been victorious.



Jason Cloke enjoys that final siren feeling.

The scenes following the final siren resembled more of a finals victory rather than a February practice match.

After being deprived of wins in the previous years, Collingwood fans saw hope in their Magpies of 2006.

Even the players allowed their emotions to overflow. The song was sung with gusto, with debutant Thomas the man in the middle.

While the form wouldn’t be replicated the following week against Fremantle, that one Sunday 10 years ago remains one of Collingwood’s finest NAB Challenge memories.



Dale Thomas stands in the middle as the Magpies sing the team song.

Match details

Collingwood    2.8.8 (74)
St Kilda          1.9.10 (73)

GOALS
Collingwood: Licuria 2, Fraser 2, C Cloke 1 (Super Goal), Lonie 1 (Super Goal), Didak, Tarrant, Swan, Rocca
St Kilda: Riewoldt 3, Harvey 2, Goddard 2 (1 Super Goal), Gehrig, Watts, Murray

BEST
Collingwood: Lockyer, Licuria, J Cloke, Fraser, O'Bree, Prestigiacomo
St Kilda: Riewoldt, Hayes, Ball, Fisher, Hudghton

CROWD
24,567 at Telstra Dome