Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020
Kysaiah Pickett kicked the final goal as Melbourne beat Collingwood by eight points in a tense King’s Birthday clash at the MCG.
The Melbourne star marked inside 50 with under 40 seconds left and, instead of using the clock, played on and snapped the goal that sealed a memorable Big Freeze win.
For more NRL coverage, read Stephen Crichton Penalty Goal Lifts Canterbury Bulldogs Past Parramatta Eels.
Pickett Delivers In Final Minute
Pickett had already missed two late chances before his match-winning kick, including a short set shot that failed to make the distance and another attempt that went out on the full.
Jordan De Goey then had a chance to put Collingwood ahead at the other end, but his set shot drifted wide.
“Wow. He could have taken the full 30 seconds and iced the game ... he has (iced it) anyway,” Nick Riewoldt said.
Hamish McLachlan added: “Does that make any sense what he just did?”
Pickett finished with 28 disposals, five clearances and three goals, earning the Neale Daniher Trophy.
Melbourne Holds Nerve At The MCG
Melbourne trailed by five points at three-quarter time, but Bayley Fritsch kicked two final-quarter goals before Collingwood answered through Angus Anderson.
Paddy Cross then put Melbourne back in front in the 11th lead change of the match.
Max Gawn admitted the finish felt tense after Pickett’s earlier miss and De Goey’s late chance.
“Kozzy put that one on the full, De Goey went down the other end and luck was on our side,” Gawn told Channel 7.
“I’m just super proud. Last year we were in a lot of these close games and we weren’t winning them, and we needed to learn how to win.
“Hopefully you saw it today, we didn’t shut down, we kept taking the game on ... we might have lost it, but we would have lost it trying to win, which is a much better way to play.”
Melbourne moved to 8-5 and back into the top six. Official AFL updates are available through the AFL website.