Collingwood storm home to avoid upset against North Melbourne

Coach David Noble looks safe for another week after North Melbourne nearly pulled off a stunning AFL upset win over Collingwood.

The Magpies kicked 5.5 to two behinds in the last quarter on Saturday at the MCG for their seventh straight win, 13.10 (88) to 12.9 (81).

Speculation was rife in pre-game radio shows that this would be Noble’s last game as coach.

The Kangaroos were a vastly different team compared to last week’s 112-point mauling from Geelong and this was their highest score of the season.

While it was also their 14th straight loss as they head to the wooden spoon, it was North’s best effort of the season.

North midfielder Luke Davies-Uniacke was best afield with 33 possessions and key forward Nick Larkey kicked five goals.

Midfielder Taylor Adams, Collingwood’s best player, went off late in the last quarter with a head knock.

The Kangaroos started brilliantly, dominating the centre clearances and taking an early two-goal lead.

After Ben McKay’s move forward last week against Geelong failed, he started as usual in defence.

Scores were level at the first change and captain Jack Ziebell, back from a nasty facial fracture, sparked his team with the opening goal of the second quarter.

The Kangaroos kicked four goals to one for a 20-point lead and put Collingwood firmly on the back foot.

That lead was extended to a game-high 28 points in the third term before the Magpies inevitably hit back with two goals, but North steadied to lead by 26 at three-quarter time.

The Magpies then stormed home as Jeremy Howe and Scott Pendlebury took big marks in defence.

Josh Carmichael made his debut after Jordan De Goey was ruled out on Friday with a quad strain.

Carmichael was picked up last month in the mid-season draft and had a raucous fan club in the crowd as he had 14 disposals.