Collingwood Breaks North Melbourne Hearts with Historic Comeback
Collingwood’s extraordinary comeback win over North Melbourne on Sunday will be remembered for years, securing the Pies a spot among the biggest comeback victories this century.
Overcoming a 54-point deficit at Marvel Stadium, the Pies’ triumph ranks as the equal seventh largest comeback win in VFL/AFL history. The list is topped by Essendon’s legendary 2001 victory over North Melbourne, where the Bombers came back from a 69-point second-quarter deficit.
This win is also the equal third largest comeback of this century and the biggest of 2024, surpassing Carlton’s 46-point turnaround against Brisbane in the Opening Round.
In the 21st century, Brisbane’s ‘Miracle on Grass’ in 2013, highlighted by Ash McGrath’s famous winning goal, now ranks fifth. St Kilda’s 2015 victory over the Western Bulldogs, overcoming a 55-point third-quarter deficit, ranks higher, as does West Coast’s 2006 comeback against Geelong, where they erased a 54-point deficit early in the third quarter, tying with Collingwood’s recent win.
Interestingly, the Lions have been on the winning side of three of the top 10 comeback victories since 2000, with their loss to Carlton in March marking their first defeat after leading by such a margin.
Biggest Comeback Wins in VFL/AFL History
**Deficit – Side – Opponent – Round – Final Margin**
– 69: Essendon vs. North Melbourne, Round 16, 2001, Final Margin 12
– 63: Hawthorn vs. St Kilda, Round 12, 1999, Final Margin 13
– 60: Collingwood vs. St Kilda, Round 10, 1970, Final Margin 7
– 56: Hawthorn vs. Geelong, Round 6, 1989, Final Margin 8
– 55: St Kilda vs. Western Bulldogs, Round 6, 2015, Final Margin 7
– 55: St Kilda vs. Hawthorn, Round 2, 1937, Final Margin 13
– 54: Collingwood vs. North Melbourne, Round 14, 2024, Final Margin 1
– 54: West Coast vs. Geelong, Round 10, 2006, Final Margin 3
– 52: Brisbane vs. Geelong, Round 13, 2013, Final Margin 5
– 52: Footscray vs. Essendon, Round 5, 1978, Final Margin 17
Biggest Comeback Wins This Century
**Deficit – Side – Opponent – Round – Final Margin**
– 69: Essendon vs. North Melbourne, Round 16, 2001, Final Margin 12
– 55: St Kilda vs. Western Bulldogs, Round 6, 2015, Final Margin 7
– 54: Collingwood vs. North Melbourne, Round 14, 2024, Final Margin 1
– 54: West Coast vs. Geelong, Round 10, 2006, Final Margin 3
– 52: Brisbane vs. Geelong, Round 13, 2013, Final Margin 5
– 51: Melbourne vs. Fremantle, Round 7, 2008, Final Margin 6
– 51: Richmond vs. Hawthorn, Round 5, 2003, Final Margin 20
– 48: Carlton vs. Essendon, Round 3, 2007, Final Margin 3
– 47: Brisbane vs. Port Adelaide, Round 4, 2008, Final Margin 20
– 47: Western Bulldogs vs. Geelong, Round 12, 2001, Final Margin 7
– 47: Brisbane vs. Port Adelaide, Round 21, 2009, Final Margin 15
