Has Collingwood been knocked off the perch as the AFL's Kings of the Close Finish?
Over the past four seasons, Collingwood coach Craig McRae has developed an uncanny ability to secure unlikely come-from-behind wins and narrow victories that had the competition in awe.
But in recent weeks, that narrative has seemingly been flipped on its head, with the Victorian powerhouse receiving a taste of its own medicine.
Adelaide's three-point victory was the third instance in the past seven weeks where Collingwood has failed to secure a win, albeit from winnable positions. This has been a marked shift.
In the two seasons prior, Collingwood had revelled in tight games, acting as "the grim reaper", a term coined by celebrated commentator Gerard Whately.
In 2022, McRae's first year in charge, the Pies went 9-3 in games decided by single-digit margins, including a remarkable streak from Round 16 to Round 21.
Notably, two of the three losses were breathtaking finals against Geelong (six points) and Sydney (one point).
The following campaign saw the trend continue, as Collingwood recorded seven wins from eight close finishes (single-digit margins), including a clutch finals campaign, where they won three games by a combined margin of 12 points.
Last year, the Pies won six from nine tightly-contested matches, which included two draws. The shared points with Essendon and Fremantle played a pivotal role in preventing McRae's men from qualifying for the finals, denying them an opportunity to defend their title.
But this year, as noted, it has taken a turn for the worse, and the club's aura as comeback kings amid tight finishes has ultimately diminished.
Collingwood's record in close games in 2025 is 2-4, but what's more damning is the context behind this.
They lost to Geelong despite leading by 20 points midway through the third term. In stark contrast to a wretched first half, the Pies jumped Gold Coast to briefly steal the lead halfway in the final quarter.
They cost themselves against Fremantle by kicking inaccurately at the death, coughing up i a 22-point buffer in the fourth quarter to lose by a solitary point.
And more recently, amid one of the biggest form slumps that saw Collingwood go from leading the competition by two and a half games on the ladder to slipping among the chasing pack, they failed to capitalise on a plus-34 inside 50 differential against Adelaide.
With blood pressure and tension up, Collingwood had previously been at their best, prevailing in some of the most nail-biting games in recent years, while leaving their opponents dejected.
But as they say, what comes around, goes around.
