Demons v Magpies - snippets

Star Man: Scott Burns (Collingwood) - The Queen's Birthday clash was tailor-made for the Magpies courageous skipper. Not only is Burns at his best on the big occasion but once morning drizzle had made the ground slippery, you just knew the Pies' skipper would be in his element on a day that called for no frills football with the lights on by quarter-time in the murky conditions. And it was Burns that constantly kept winning the hard ball and forcing his team forward at all costs in an inspirational display as he finished with 36 possessions.

What a Goal! Collingwood veteran Tarkyn Lockyer made the impossible look ridiculously easy late in the third term when he produced one of the goals of the year. Lockyer somehow kicked a miracle goal over his head while sitting on the ground in the goalsquare with Daniel Bell virtually on top of him, after just having been bumped to the ground as he ran onto a loose ball.

Classic Grab: This category seems to belong to Dale Thomas in Collingwood matches and the Magpie excitement machine delivered again in the second term with a 'speccy' high over Melbourne's Matthew Bate right in front of the Melbourne members' stand.

Turning Point: The Demons had been gallant in the opening half and trailed by just seven points at half-time but the Magpies' class told in the third term. From the moment Daniel Bell's errant handpass was intercepted, leading to a goal to Nathan Brown in the opening minutes, Melbourne was under the pump and the Pies slammed on seven goals to four for the quarter to lead by four goals at the last change.

Absolute Shocker: Is it any wonder fans and players get so frustrated by the umpiring in the modern game? In the opening minutes on Monday, the umpires paid a free kick against Melbourne's James McDonald for the most minor of infringements in a marking contest yet just moments later, Collingwood's Alan Didak was allowed to get away with an identical push on Melbourne's Jace Bode resulting in the opening goal of the game.

Unsung Hero: Tarkyn Lockyer (Collingwood) - Does this man ever play a bad game? It doesn't matter whether he is forward, back or in the middle and Lockyer keeps leading by example, wracking up possessions and using the ball with precision. And it was third quarter miracle goal on Monday (see above) that really lifted the Pies just before three-quarter-time and helped set up a matchwinning lead at the final change.