Fair to say that game very much lived up to the billing. Fantastic footy from two teams I expect to see threatening in September, and in the end Collingwood and their brilliant young tyro Nick Daicos took the spoils.

The weekend is only just getting started though! I'll be back tomorrow arvo as Sydney and GWS play a local derby not to be missed. I hope you'll join me tomorrow for that one and for the rest of Saturday's action. Until then, have a good one.

He wins the medal to put the icing on the cake of his brilliant night.

Until Nick produced his last-gasp heroics, Collingwood's story of the night was looking like being debutant Lachie Sullivan who came on as the sub earlier than expected and kicked a critical goal.

Daicos spoke to Channel 7 about his impact and Collingwood's mindset for this game:

"We had obviously some superstars out this game. I think our ability for that next-up mentality, we had Lachlan Sullivan debut on the bench — when he kicked his first goal, I said good luck on the bench, next minute he was kicking his goal with his first kick.

"I think it is such a great story. I think it's been seven or eight years. Didn't get drafted, has come in, played such an integral role for us in front of 90,000. It's pretty special."

What an unbelievable game of football, and what a win for Collingwood.

It ebbed and flowed all night, but on the balance of play the Magpies really did control that second half. The problem was putting that on the scoreboard and stopping the Blues' big boys at the other end.

In the end, in those thrilling final minutes, the game was crying out for someone to produce a moment of class and quality to separate the teams. That man was Nick Daicos, whose crumb and snap and goal was the moment of this fantastic match.

It's a heartbreaker for Carlton, who have been on the wrong end of a couple of these now after a good run of wins in close ones. Collingwood, on the other hand, are looking a hell of a lot like the team of 2022 and 2023.

How good's footy?

The boy wonder! The man born to lead the Magpies! He slips out the back of the stoppage, bursts into space and snaps a beauty!

This is his stage, and with a minute to play he might have just won the game for Collingwood.

Half-chances at either end without any shots on goal. Even a behind would be critical right now.

Breathless stuff in front of more than 88,000 at the 'G.

Cottrell brings the house down with his first of the night, but how about the work from Charlie Curnow in the build up?!

He had to beat three at half-forward and promptly did so, shrugging off the Pendlebury tackle with ease before spearing a pass to Cottrell inside 50.

What a game. We're all square with 3:52 to play.

Jack Crisp dribbles through a behind.

Has anyone ever played back to back draws before? It could be on the cards for Collingwood here.

It's a five-point game now after behinds to Harrison and Cox. Collingwood are dominating the inside 50s in this quarter but Carlton are hanging on, and threatening every time they do go forward.

It's about to get serious out there. Game is up for grabs.

There is still some life in that old left leg! He has slotted that comfortably on the set shot from the best part of 50 out to give his Magpies a three-point lead.

He slipped into space too easily in the build up, a costly error from the Blues defence.

Mason Cox thought he was infringed in the contest, but the umpire disagreed. The result was a juggling mark to De Koning behind him and another goal for the big blonde Blue.

Another swing in this gripping game. Carlton lead again.

The Pies have dominated this quarter so far, but with one entry the Blues are able to hit the scoreboard.

I'm not sure how De Koning was in so much space inside 50 (turns out it was because Moore left him to double up on Curnow), but as soon as the Blues won one contest at half-forward the whole forward line opened up. De Koning bangs it home, it's back to three points.

It was meant for him, but he will take it! And so will every Collingwood fan inside the MCG and across the country.

Jamie Elliott was the target of the kick but it went over his head, and over the heads of all the Carlton defenders. Waiting at the back was Hoskin-Elliott, who had all the space he needed to take the ball and snap the goal.

Pies by seven.

The Carlton defender is off the field with ice on his hamstring. Matt Kennedy is on to replace him.

He makes it look so easy! Running away from goal in the pocket, Hill threads the needle with a drop punt that straightens late and splits the middle.

The Pies strike after just 33 seconds and have a one-point lead.

Here we go. Massive 30 minutes ahead of us.

It's still anyone's game at the MCG.

Collingwood enjoyed their best spell of pressure and field position of the game for most of that quarter, but failed to kick a single goal from it.

Carlton got three the other way and turned a half-time defecit into a three-quarter-time lead. The big boys Curnow and McKay are looking ominous, and perhaps too much for the Pies to handle.

But if it gets chaotic in the final term, the Pies might just find a way. It's been a game of dramatic swings one way then the other, and I don't think we've seen the last of them.

Will Hoskin-Elliott at one end, and now Orazio Fantasia at the other. Crucial set shots at goal late in the third quarter gone begging.

If Carlton end up winning this, McKay and Curnow will be the difference. The pair have linked up again with a couple of big contested grabs, with McKay snapping the Blues' third of the term.

It did feel like Collingwood might have been wasting their dominance, and it certainly feels like that now. The Blues are making a move.