North Melbourne 5.1 7.7 12.8 12.11 (83) Collingwood 4.7 7.8 15.11 22.12 (144)
Goals
North Melbourne Carey 3, Sholl 2, McKernan 2, Simpson 2, Rock, Archer, Bell
Collingwood Rocca 8, Williams 5, Pitt 4, Monkhorst, T Francis, Patterson, Pyman, Burns
Collingwood trashed North, to reverse their form slump. North, superb last week against Carlton, were unable to stop the avalanche of Collingwood goals in the second half. Anthony Stevens was a late withdrawal, due to flu, and was replaced by Ross Smith. Stevens should be fit for next week. Brett Allison made a successful comeback in the Reserves, kicking 4 goals. Darren Crocker, injured for the last 2 weeks should also be back next week.
First Quarter
North started on fire, Carey goaling twice in the first 4 minutes, and then Sholl putting North 3 goals up. Rocca goaled, but Rock and Bell both goaled, putting North 4 goals ahead. North was playing superb football, and it looked like Collingwood was in for a long day. However, Buckley was moved onto Carey, and Collingwood started to do well in the midfield. Williams, Rocca and Patternson goaled to level the scores at quarter time.
Second Quarter
In an even quarter, Pyman goaled for Collingwood, before Carey kicked his third. It was to be Carey's last goal. Francis and Pitt goaled, and Collingwood was dominating the play, having kicked six of the last seven goals. McKernan goaled at the 27 minute mark, and North trailed by a point at half time.
Third Quarter
Williams was cutting up North. Collingwood kicked the four goals in the first nine minutes of the quarter. North had virtually gone to sleep. The momentum was with the Pies, and it was obvious that that Collingwood had a stranglehold on the game. Simpson goaled twice in 2 minutes for North, before Collingwood answered with 2 more goals. Three goals to North moved them to within 8 points, and it looked that North may be within striking distance for the last quarter. However, Collingwood goaled at the 30 and 31 minute mark. This lapse by North was to prove costly. Instead of trailing by 8 points, they were 21 points behind. A North win looked highly unlikely
Fourth Quarter
Collingwood overran North, kicking 7 goals to none. Collingwood handed a 10 goal trashing to the league leaders, and North plummetted to third.
To make matters worse for North, Stuart Anderson was reported for striking Pyman. It was a forgettable performance by North. It seems that when North loses it is always by a large margin.
Collingwood was superb from the 20 minute mark of the first quarter onwards. They scored 21 goals to 7 from that time to the end of the game. North sorely missed Stevens in the midfield. His return, and the possible return of Crocker and Allison should boost the side's morale. The pacy Saints next week will not be an easy assignment.