Bobby Hill flies high as Collingwood Magpies pull off crazy comeback

Collingwood have moved into the AFL’s top four with a stunning comeback from nine goals down in a heart-stopping one-point win over North Melbourne.

The Magpies coughed up eight goals in the first quarter and looked gone for all money when they fell 54 points in arrears early in the third term at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.

But they surged back into the contest as Brownlow Medal fancy Nick Daicos starred, helping the reigning premiers to a 18.11 (119) to 19.4 (118) victory.

Trailing by 31 points at the final change, Collingwood kicked six goals to one in the last quarter, which featured three lead changes in time-on in a thrilling finish.

Pies goal-sneak Bobby Hill took a courageous mark and kicked a go-ahead major at the 27-minute mark, but the gripping contest wasn’t settled until Zac Fisher’s last-gasp snap shot floated agonisingly wide for North Melbourne.

Fisher’s kick drifted narrowly to the right with just three seconds left to play in one of the best games of the season so far.

The result lifted the Magpies (8-4-2) into third spot ahead of their mid-season bye, while North Melbourne (1-12) remain anchored to the foot of the ladder.

Controversy erupted in the final minute when North’s Bailey Scott took a mark on the wing but was not paid a 50-metre penalty when Magpies players ran over the mark, amid confusion over whether the ball travelled far enough.

A 50-metre penalty would have put Scott within scoring distance and given him the chance to kick what could have been a match-winning goal.

Daicos starred with 29 disposals, six clearances and two crucial third-quarter goals despite close attention from Will Phillips for three quarters.

Jack Crisp (27 touches, six clearances), Steele Sidebottom (23, six) and Josh Daicos (20, four) were also important, while Hill finished with five goals and fellow small forward Lachie Schultz kicked four.

Brayden Maynard produced a desperate late spoil to deny Nick Larkey a mark, celebrating his 200th Collingwood appearance in fine style.

Larkey kicked four goals for North Melbourne - all of them in a red-hot first quarter - as new rising star favourite George Wardlaw (30 disposals, six clearances) and Luke Davies-Uniacke (31, seven) shone in the midfield.

Cameron Zurhaar kicked three goals for the Kangaroos, who had a sense of deja vu when they relinquished a huge lead in the final quarter.

Like the previous week against West Coast, they hit the front again when mid-season recruit Brynn Teakle accepted a gift from Larkey in the goal square to mark his club debut with a goal.

But this time they couldn’t hold on, with Hill’s fifth major ultimately deciding the contest.

Not even a ground invader could halt Collingwood’s momentum as they surged over the top in the final term.