Collingwood have been in preliminary finals three times in Craig McRae’s four years as coach, winning the 2023 premiership, while the Saints have finished 12th twice, eighth and 10th over those seasons, seemingly mired in a pit of mediocrity.

Yet, the Saints are marginally favoured on Sunday night when they “host” Collingwood at the MCG in a game that might bust the club’s record for a home-and-away attendance of 81,386, also against the Magpies in the 2010 season, which was the year of St Kilda’s last........

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