It meant that the match was more of a contest than it was a spectacle. But it was no less compelling for that. David Parkin would have loved it. Josh Fraser were fanatical for the Magpies, Porter, McKay and Camporeale no less driven for the Blues. This victory would always be hard-earned.
Many matches are great in anticipation, but few are remembered as great.
A twist helps, and in this match there were several. One was the re-emergence of the enigmatic Anthony Rocca to kick five goals, including one from all of 60 metres out to break open the game, and a sixth to seal it. Koutoufides and Whitnall featured prominently, but the most eye-catching player was Ryan Houlihan, whose handballs were like dabs of an exotic new color on the day's broad canvas. The last twist was for the Magpies somehow to stem this Carlton tide when it was its peak, kick the last two goals of the day and hold out for the win. The match reached a critical pitch in its last 10 minutes, when every half-touch mattered, good players made elementary mistakes, and when every spectator's heart stopped with each whistle.