THE Northern Blues produced a stunning four-point victory against Collingwood at the Holden Centre on Sunday.

Down to two on the bench for the majority of the second half, the Blues played out a thrilling second half to snatch a 11.10 (76) to 10.12 (72) victory.

Two goals inside 60 seconds to Jesse Palmer and Jarrod Pickett got the Blues over the line on the scoreboard after some tense final minutes.

The win marked an incredible turnaround from the last time the two sides met in Round 1, while the Blues did it tough with reduced interchanges.

Tom De Koning, Kym Lebois and Angus Schumacher didn’t return after the midway point of the third quarter through injury.

Pickett kicked the first goal of the game via a snap, before young Northern Blues forward Jason Wililams marked his return to senior VFL football with two goals in the first term.

It was an electric opening from the Blues, with five of the opening six goals the catalyst for a quarter-time lead of 19 points.

However, the second-quarter response from the Magpies was swift, on the back of three goals to AFL-listed forward Ben Crocker.

Northern’s lead was whittled away with Crocker playing a leading hand up forward to give the Pies a nine-point lead heading into the main break.

The Blues battled bravely in the third term to give themselves a huge chance of victory, leading by four points heading into the last. 

That would be the final result, but not without some momentum shifts throughout the final term.

All looked lost for Northern when Blue-turned-Pie Andrew Gallucci dribbled in a miraculous goal to give the Magpies a seven-point lead late in the match.

In spirited fashion, however, Northern rolled the sleeves up and dug deep.

Goals to Jesse Palmer and then Pickett’s third goal from close-range wrestled back the lead for the Blues in the dying minutes.

Northern then stood up under a Collingwood barrage, with two big marks from Andrew Phillips and a chase-down tackle from Pickett sealing the result.

It would be Northern’s second win for 2018, holding on for a memorable win.

Nick Graham was a clear standout all day, amassing a game-high 38 disposals to go with nine clearances and eight tackles.

Darcy Lang’s return to the VFL side was also a positive one, picking up 25 handy disposals of which 12 were clearances.

Palmer, Pickett and Williams combined with great effect inside forward 50, kicking eight between them, while Mason Blakey, Josh Hill and Matthew Shaw were crucial in defence.

Northern will look to follow up against Footscray at Ikon Park, with the game scheduled for 10am next Saturday.

COLLINGWOOD VFL         2.3         7.9         8.9               10.12 (72)
NORTHERN BLUES          5.4         6.6         9.7                 11.10 (76)

GOALS
Northern Blues: Pickett 3, Williams 3, Pickett 2, Fisher, Lobbe, McKay

BESTS
Northern Blues: Graham, Hill, Shaw, Phillips, Penrith, Federico