Time stakes a claim on all of us, but it doesn’t deny ex-league footballers the touch of magic that propelled them into the big time.

The hardy Princes Park crowd that braved Melbourne’s wet weather will tell you as much, having watched Collingwood’s past players down their Carlton opponents by 20 points in Sunday’s Battle of the Old Foes.

Leigh Brown looked as if he had never retired, working his way into front position effortlessly and showing a strong pair of hands overhead in conditions that certainly didn’t suit the key forwards.

As a result, he later received the Eddie McGuire Medal as his side’s best from Past Players committee member Mark Orval.

Paul Williams and Stephen Patterson were busy around the packs, Damian Monkhorst’s clean hands below his knees were a highlight and Jason Cloke kept the Blues at bay on the last line of defence.

Brodie Holland, still looking as fit as he did during his playing days, was important in the centre while late arrival Shane Wakelin teamed with Simon Prestigiacomo as they did week in, week out between 2001 and 2008.

It didn’t start that way, though, as Presti began his afternoon at centre half forward and even kicked the first goal of the day on the run from 35 metres.

Pies tragics will remember that Prestigiacomo kicked his third and final AFL goal in a 108-point win against Carlton back in round 18, 2002.

Coached by Mick Irwin, Collingwood came out of the blocks strongly through Paul Tuddenham, Patterson and Andrew Tranquilli, who wore his customary long sleeved No. 37 jumper.

Former Blue Bagger Anthony Raso and premiership rover Adrian Gleeson, who is still serving as a Carlton board member, helped get the Blues back into the match late in the opening term and closed to within seven points at the first change.

The match then remained close for the duration, until Brown got off the chain late in the final quarter when he peppered the goal face to no avail.

Finally, with the game still in the balance, ‘Leroy’ had the final say, receiving a handball from Mark Beers before sending through a long, flat torpedo from 55 metres out off two steps on the boundary line.

Sunday’s Clash of the Old Foes helped raise funds for the Peter McCallum Cancer Foundation and the EJ Whitten Foundation for Prostate Cancer Awareness.

To learn more about the Collingwood Past Players Association, head to collingwoodpastplayers.com.au.

Collingwood       4.2    5.2    6.9      9.15 (69)
Carlton               3.1    4.3    6.4        7.7 (49)

Goals – Collingwood: L.Brown 2, Prestigiacomo, P.Tuddenham, Patterson, Tranquilli, Holland, C.Cloke, T.Russell

Collingwood Squad
Doug Barwick, Mark Beers, Rupert Betheras, Leigh Brown, Cameron Cloke, Jason Cloke, Ian Cooper, Gavin Crosisca, Mark Fraser, Mick Gayfer, Brodie Holland, Shane Kerrison, Mark Lawson, Damian Monkhorst, Shane Morwood, Simon Prestigiacomo, Frankie Raso, Tony Russell, Matt Ryan, Andrew Tranquilli, Paul Tuddenham, Shane Wakelin, Paul Williams

Guest Players: Rob McKenzie, Daniel Lamanna

Coach: Mick Erwin

Assistant Coach: Peter Daicos

Trainers: Col Arnell, John Wassell