Clarkson defended his decision, but admitted that, given the result didn’t land his way, questions would be asked.

“We had the freshness of the sub, and Will was starting to fatigue a bit, and we just thought the freshness of the sub [and] Liam Shiels going to finish that job off,” Clarkson said.

“When you don’t win and you then say ‘Oh, geez was that pivotal?’ I don’t think it was pivotal in terms of the final result ... you take some punts sometimes.

“Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and sometimes you make the right decision, and sometimes it doesn’t work for you.”

In the end, the margin was a single point after a snap from North’s Zac Fisher drifted wide with less than 30 seconds remaining.

They were also unlucky not to receive a 50-metre penalty directly in front of goal earlier in the final minute when Bailey Scott was paid a mark and Collingwood players charged over the mark.

Clarkson refused to discuss the umpire’s non-decision when asked about it post-match.

In a good sign for the Kangaroos, Collingwood defender Jeremy Howe said the pressure North Melbourne applied was the fiercest the Magpies had faced all season. He said it was obviously good to win, but the Magpies would not win many games if they continued to allow opponents to open up nine-goal margins on them.

Howe, who moved forward in the second half and put the Magpies in the lead with his 100th career goal, described the first half as disappointing.

“[At half-time] ‘Fly’ [McRae] used the word disappointing, and I don’t reckon I have ever heard him say that,” Howe said. “That cut pretty deep for the playing group, so it was like ‘get to work in the second half’.”

McRae also praised North Melbourne, with second-year player George Wardlaw the dominant player on the ground in the first half and Luke Davies-Uniacke and Nick Larkey winning their positions.

“That was a struggle, that really was a struggle,” McRae said. “Their midfield was exceptional, their work rate, their energy ... there is a lot of excitement I’m sure for North out of today.”

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There is also plenty of excitement at the Magpies. Howe, sporting a swollen nose, admitted the bye had come at a good time for the club.

“The selection dilemma will come, but the bye comes at a good time, not only for the guys who have been getting opportunities and been really influential in what they are doing, but a week off will be nice,” Howe said.

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