live afl scores turned sharply at the MCG on Thursday night as Nick Daicos drove Collingwood to a five-point win over Carlton. The milestone man delivered an extraordinary final quarter, and live afl scores showed the Magpies seize control just when the game was slipping away from the Blues. Carlton had a late chance to level after the siren, but Talor Byrne’s kick drifted left and Collingwood escaped 13. 10 to 12. 11.
Daicos changes the game late
Daicos’ final term was the difference. He finished with 13 disposals, including nine contested possessions, one goal and two goal assists, and was rewarded with the Richard Pratt Medal for his impact on the result. Collingwood kicked the first five goals of the last quarter after Daicos inspired a relentless surge that turned an 18-point three-quarter-time deficit into a 13-point lead midway through the term.
Carlton had opened the door earlier, then struggled to close it. The Blues led by 18 points at the last change, but the match slipped away as Collingwood lifted its pressure and maintained the tempo through the decisive passage. For Carlton, it was another painful finish in a season defined by missed opportunities late in games.
Key moments and immediate reaction
The match was not short of turning points. Carlton forward Harry McKay required a HIA in the final quarter, adding an injury concern to the Blues’ frustrations. Earlier, Jeremy Howe was pinged for a dangerous tackle, and the resulting 50m penalty handed Carlton a simple major.
There was also a composed finish from Brodie Kemp, who plucked a clean one-handed grab and converted with class, while Oscar Steene marked strongly and kicked truly in just his fourth game. Mitch McGovern’s two crucial goals in the third quarter had briefly steadied Carlton and checked Collingwood’s momentum before the final-quarter avalanche.
Commentators praised Daicos throughout the night, highlighting his tireless work rate and composure under pressure. The reaction reflected the scale of his influence: a game that had been drifting one way was pulled back by one player’s running power, decision-making and timing.
What the result means
Collingwood’s comeback showed how quickly a contest can flip when momentum and execution align. The Magpies’ final-quarter burst was built on repeat effort, clean ball movement and the ability to punish Carlton when it could not settle after the three-quarter-time break.
For the Blues, the loss will sting because the structure for a win was there, but the finish was not. live afl scores now carry the story of another late Collingwood rise, and the night will be remembered for Daicos’ influence, Carlton’s missed chance after the siren and a result that tilted in the closing minutes.
