The Queen’s Birthday clash brings something out in me that no other match (unless it’s a final) does. There’s something so satisfying in beating Collingwood. Something so enjoyable about watching their supporters think they’ve got it in the bag, then start streaming out of the ground when they realise they don’t, and something so powerful about unleashing your inner Demon in their face.

Emotions/tensions amongst the crowd were running high and unfortunately we were far too close to row upon row of Collingwood supporters for my liking. We are positioned right next to the AFL members, so apart from the narrow wire you’re basically sitting in their laps.

One word about the game – ROBBO! From the get-go the man had come to play and Pies can rue all they want about not having Clement or ‘Presti’ to do the job on him. But truth be told Maggies, no one would have done the job on him yesterday, you can’t tamper with fire and Robbo was burning.

Ok so more words on the game then, but Robbo was sensational and it lifted everyone’s spirits to see him getting back to some of his best footy.

From forward I will head back – Ben Holland, another super performance on Anthony Rocca, whose final stats were – one kick, one handball, one mark and six frees against.

Excellent work Dutchy, there’s nothing more pleasant than seeing old Rocca self- implode and then witness his own supporters turn and threaten to lynch him.  

The whole back line was tops, considering the Pies entered their forward fifty 61 times, for only 11 goals, is telling of the pressure applied down there.

From the start, we were looking the goods and jumped them early. Despite some wasted opportunities in the first a handy lead had been created. I had a little voice in my head say “we might beat them by 50,” but it was a bit premature.

I know I say it every week, but the youngsters again were fantastic. Jones is the little engine that could, who continually keeps at it and I loved his fancy footwork in the middle. And it was extra satisfying to eavesdrop on Magpies asking amongst themselves “who is that damn number two?”

Who? It’s the boy Jones, that’s who! Then add the likes of Brock, Bate, Petterd, Bell and Sylvia, and wow the young Demon brigade provide reason to get rowdy.

To the Pies’ credit though they did come back, pegged away at it in the second and third, and by three-quarter time it was anyone’s game.

It was at this stage I honestly sensed we might be run over as it seemed like the Pies had the momentum, we were a skipper down, and Trapper was also warming the bench.

Yet as we banged on the first three and Neitz returned to the field through sheer guts and dedication to his team mates and Club I sensed the match was ours. Although he didn’t score a major, he worked brilliantly off the 50 – 70 meter mark and his presence alone sends a telling message to all.

It was fitting that the final passage of play was from Neita to Robbo. As the siren sounded and the smile spread across Robbo’s face, Magpies close enough to see it went ballistic and all Demons went berserk. Causally going back and slotting his seventh for the afternoon was like salt in Magpie wounds, and an epic way to end.

Please Note:The views and opinions expressed in the above article are that solely of the author and do not reflect the opinions of MELBOURNEfc.