Saints v Magpies, snippets

Star Man: Scott Burns (Collingwood) - The Magpies' veteran skipper was at his inspirational best on Friday night as he showed just how much his team has missed him during his recent injury problems. Burns kept the Pies in the game in the opening half when he gathered 14 touches before kick-starting his team's comeback late in the second term with a great goal from 50 metres. Then in the final term it was Burns that bobbed up with another vital goal as the Magpies just held off the Saints.

What a Goal! Collingwood defender Harry O'Brien is not noted as a goalkicker, having kicked just one in his previous 43 games prior to Friday night. And it is doubtful he will ever kick a better one in his entire career than the one he conjured out of nothing at the six-minute mark of the opening term. After following his man Steven Milne down into the Pies' forward line, O'Brien produced a great spoil on Milne to force the ball to the ground then just as Milne looked set to grab the crumbs, O'Brien tackled him to again forced the ball to the ground where he then gathered it on hands and knees, broke clear of the pacy Saint and produced a team-lifting goal on the run from near the boundary line for one of the goals of the season.

Turning Point: The Saints looked to have the game in control when they led by 15 points just as time-on began late in the second term. But the Pies kicked the last three goals of the first half against the run of play to lead at the major break and when they booted the first two of the third term to get out to a three-goal lead, the momentum had changed and the Saints were never able to regain the lead from that point.

Absolute Shocker: Collingwood veteran Shane Wakelin will not want to see a replay of his howler late in the opening term, which gifted a goal to the Saints. Wakelin ran onto a loose ball in his defensive goalsquare and should have easily been able to clear the ball only to take his eyes off the ball and fumble it. As a result Wakelin was tackled by Justin Koschitzke with the ball then spilling to Milne, who snapped a goal over his shoulder for the Saints to leave Wakelin shaking his head in disbelief at his schoolboy error.

Unsung Hero: Chris Bryan (Collingwood) - The former Carlton ruckman was only in the side because of the knee injury to Fraser yet up against veteran pair Michael Gardiner and Steven King he was easily the best big man on the field. Bryan ended up with a more than handy 15 possessions as well as winning five clearances while he also booted a goal in the second term to highlight the Pies' big man depth.