Trailing by 39 points at half-time, Collingwood’s round nine side against North Melbourne entered the change-rooms with their heads down.
They’d kicked just five goals for the half, while allowing the Kangaroos to dominate the half and score ten majors of their own.
A comeback of epic proportions was required and a cloudy MCG provided the perfect setting to do it.
An inspired Magpies outfit appeared a different team in the second half, kicking 9.2 to 0.3 in the third quarter to wipe away North Melbourne’s lead and create one of their own.
The Kangaroos had life left in them. Robin Nahas ended Collingwood’s goal streak four minutes into the final term before Drew Petrie put North Melbourne back in front at the 17 minute mark.
The following 15-minute frenzy saw Collingwood once again reclaim the lead, with goals to Dane Swan, Jarryd Blair and Jamie Elliott sealing a 17-point victory.
Three weeks on from this famous win and the 2015 playing list is still thinking about it.
77.8 per cent of players surveyed in Collingwood Media’s mid-season player poll ranked the comeback as the side’s best win this year.
An emotional ANZAC Day victory over Essendon in round four was nominated, while spoiling Mick Malthouse’s record-breaking coaching game on a Friday night against Carlton was also a favourite.
Players appreciated a hard-fought win against Brisbane as an ideal way to kick off the season, in addition to Collingwood’s most recent win over the Greater Western Sydney Giants.
With the Magpies sitting in fourth spot on the ladder at eight wins and three losses, there hasn’t been many sources of disappointment in 2015.
70 per cent of players nominated Collingwood’s round seven loss to Richmond as the worst defeat of the season.
The Magpies sat third on the ladder going into the highly-anticipated game, despite losing to Geelong the previous week.
Collingwood led by a point at three quarter time, as the game ebbed and flowed with neither side able to control the contest.
Jarrod Witts cut the margin to five points 29 minutes into the final term before the final siren cut short the Magpies chances of victory.
20 per cent of players hated losing to Geelong in round six, while 15 per cent nominated the round two loss to Adelaide.
With only three losses to choose from, some players elected to go left-field with their answers.
Ben Reid may be making a successful return to football in the VFL, but his hair was an unfortunate nomination for the worst loss of the season.
Best win
COLLINGWOOD 1.2 4.3 13.5 17.10 (112)
NORTH MELBOURNE 4.4 10.6 10.9 14.11 (95)
GOALS
Collingwood: Elliott 5, Fasolo 2, Swan 2, Witts, Grundy, White, Pendlebury, Cloke, Crisp, Sidebottom, Blair
North Melbourne: Waite 3, Nahas 3, Higgins, Goldstein, MacMillan, Petrie 2, Gibson, Bastinac, Thomas
BEST
Collingwood: Elliott, Sidebottom, Swan, Adams, Pendlebury, Fasolo
North Melbourne: Goldstein, Harvey, Gibson, Waite, Nahas
INJURIES
Collingwood: Nil
North Melbourne: Andrew Swallow (thumb) replaced in the selected side by Kayne Turner
SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Adam Oxley replaced by Jordan De Goey in the third term
North Melbourne: Luke McDonald replaced by Kayne Turner in the third term
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Nicholls, Schmitt, Mitchell
Official crowd: 43,452 at the MCG
Worst loss
RICHMOND 1.2 9.5 12.6 16.9 (105)
COLLINGWOOD 4.4 7.5 12.7 15.10 (100)
GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 4, Vickery 3, Grigg 2, Cotchin 2, Deledio 2, McIntosh, Morris, Maric
Collingwood: Cloke 3, Elliott 2, Crisp 2, Swan 2, White 2, De Goey, Broomhead, Blair, Witts
BEST
Richmond: Cotchin, Deledio, Riewoldt, Maric, Grigg, Rance, Vickery
Collingwood: Swan, Cloke, Adams, Crisp, Williams, Pendlebury
INJURIES
Richmond: Houli (shoulder), Edwards (calf) replaced in the selected side by Menadue
Collingwood: Toovey (knee)
SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Connor Menadue replaced Liam McBean at three-quarter time
Collingwood: Patrick Karnezis replaced Alan Toovey (knee) in the second quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Farmer, Stephens, Schmitt
Official crowd: 59,034 at the MCG
