Collingwood has snatched a thrilling one-point victory from Richmond at the MCG on Friday night, with ruckman Brodie Grundy snapping the winning goal with just four seconds remaining.
The Magpies had looked dead and buried with 15 minutes to play, but came to life to kick four of the last five goals of the game to notch a memorable 13.9 (87) to 12.14 (86) win.
Small forward Alex Fasolo was the star for the Magpies, kicking three of his six goals in the fourth quarter, while recruit Adam Treloar played a heroic role in the match-winning play.
Treloar, who was booed all night by the Tigers supporters, burst from the centre with seconds remaining to pump the ball inside 50, setting up the final play after Nick Vlastuin was penalised for a deliberate out of bounds.
Darcy Moore took the resulting free and put the ball to the top of the square, with Grundy crumbing and snapping the goal, which saw the MCG crowd erupt.
The final term was the only quarter Nathan Buckley's team has won out of eight this season, but it was enough to provide a much-needed victory after a tumultuous start to the year.
After a first half that will take some beating this season for sheer ugliness and inefficiency, both teams got down to business and delivered a classic ending.
Star Tiger Jack Riewoldt stood up for his team and looked to have played a match-winning hand with three fourth-quarter goals.
But as had been the story all night, skill errors and poor decisions left the door slightly ajar for the Magpies to pounce.
To rub salt into the wound, the Tigers will also have to deal with fresh injuries to Dylan Grimes (hamstring) and Shaun Grigg (rolled ankle), and a possible stint on the sidelines for Nick Vlastuin, who was reported for a high hit on Taylor Adams.
The first half of Friday's primetime clash saw both team's at their worst – butchering the ball in general play, missing opportunities in front of goal and making bizarre decisions under pressure.
Their combined disposal efficiency of 74 per cent didn't do justice to the poor skills on display, with errors at critical times preventing the contest from having any flow.
With the team's combining for just six goals across the first two quarters, the bumper crowd of 72,761 had to look elsewhere for highlights.
There was debutant Jayden Short, who stood under the ball courageously to mark and kick his first goal with his first kick in the AFL.
Collingwood skipper Scott Pendlebury was also a class above at times, not wasting a single one of his 16 first half possessions working across half-back (he finished with 26).
Bachar Houli was doing the same at the other end and entered half-time with 20 possessions.
But for all their control in the second quarter – they had 108 possessions to 71 – the Tigers didn't take their chances, kicking 1.6 and taking a five-point lead into the main break.
Hardwick will no doubt rue that his team couldn't put the Magpies away when they had their chance, leaving Richmond with a 1-1 record and yet to produce a creditable performance.
COLLINGWOOD 2.1 3.3 7.7 13.9 (87)
RICHMOND 2.2 3.8 7.12 12.14 (86)
GOALS
Collingwood: Fasolo 6, Grundy 2, Moore, De Goey, Langdon, Cloke, Aish
Richmond: Short 3, Riewoldt 3, Lambert 2, Vickery 2, Martin, Lloyd
BEST
Collingwood: Fasolo, Pendlebury, Adams, Greenwood, Treloar, Ramsay
Richmond: Martin, Houli, Cotchin, Lambert, Riewoldt, Short, Hampson
INJURIES
Collingwood: Nil
Richmond: Dylan Grimes (right hamstring), Jayden Short (left collarbone), Shaun Grigg (ankle), David Astbury (right hand)
Reports: Jacob Townsend for rough conduct on Jackson Ramsay, Nick Vlastuin for rough conduct on Taylor Adams
Umpires: Foot, Farmer, Rosebury
Official crowd: 72,761 at the MCG
