Collingwood’s commanding 45-point victory over North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Saturday was overshadowed by a cascade of late roster chaos and a concerning injury to vice-captain Brayden Maynard, with coach Craig McRae labeling the unprecedented changes a “once-in-a-thousand” scenario.
The Magpies’ triumph (108-63) saw standout performances from Nick Daicos (38 disposals, 12 score involvements) and Ned Long (29 touches, 15 score involvements), while Jamie Elliott starred with five goals. However, the post-match focus shifted to Maynard, who aggravated a pre-existing plantar fascia injury early in the game and was substituted out.
The defender later revealed to Channel 7 he could face up to six weeks sidelined, admitting:
“It’s been lingering for weeks, but tonight felt like a pop. We’ll see if that’s a good or bad sign.”
Maynard wasn’t the only absence. Chaos erupted pre-game when Scott Pendlebury (illness) and Bobby Hill (personal reasons) were late withdrawals, forcing the AFL to approve Oleg Markov’s inclusion despite him not being listed as an emergency. McRae defended the moves, stating:
“Pendles had gastro, and Bobby’s situation is private. The league understood—this rarity might not happen again in a thousand games.”
The last-minute shuffle saw untried youngsters Harry DeMattia and Charlie West miss selection, while Markov slotted in seamlessly. McRae praised his team’s adaptability:
“Some guys weren’t playing until an hour before bounce. To adjust like that shows our depth.”
Amid the turmoil, Collingwood’s on-field dominance shone. Tim Membrey (three goals) and Brody Mihocek (two) bolstered the attack, while Daicos, serving as stand-in captain, cemented his Brownlow credentials with a masterclass in midfield control.
What’s Next?
The Pies face Hawthorn in a Friday night MCG blockbuster, but all eyes remain on Maynard’s scan results and whether Pendlebury and Hill will return. With Collingwood sitting second on the ladder, their resilience faces another test—both on and off the field.
