It seems strange to write that a game pitting one team with five-and-a-half wins against another with four wins was considered a big game at this stage of the season. However, with the new finals system implemented this year, and the narrow losses piling up for Port, this genuinely felt like a must-win game for the Collingwood Football Club.
And in Port Adelaide, they had a dangerous opponent.
If you live in Melbourne, you’d know that when the Pies are in a must-win situation, the game takes on a life of its own. It may have “only” been 40K in the house, but it just felt like there was a lot riding on this
Of course, the Melbourne weather failed to come to the party. Or rather, the Melbourne weather decided to spoil the party, providing wet and horrible conditions for the game, but the teams rose above the conditions to play a fierce brand of footy. It was a brand that sadly left Esava Ratugolea clutching at a knee after a heavy collision in a marking contest
Jordan de Goey continued his sparkling form, Nick Daicos was finding the footy for fun, and Jason Horne-Francis was crashing and bashing ;like he always does. However, in the end it came down to composure, and a tiring Port found themselves unable to go with the Pies late in the game. Collingwood turned a one-point halftime deficit into a 27-point win through sheer perseverance in this one, and sent a reminder that any reports of their 2026 demise might have been premature.
Your old pal, HB, complete with the remnants of a migraine, has his loves and hates from this one.
This is just the introduction – the remainder of this article is for our members. They support me, and I provide for them. It’s a good deal.
Oh… a Mongrel paywall… the worst of all paywalls. We’re all in on the 2026 AFL season. Player articles, stats, awards, game coverage. Dump the mainstream lip service and dive into articles like this – you will never look back. If you don’t want to, that’s fine. I consider it your loss as we get into the grind of the season, and you’re stuck with the stuff that’s frustrated you for years.
