The sliders have all slid - and survived. The sun is receding behind the members’ stand. The rest of the ground is filling fast, blue beanies as far as the eye can see. Melbourne’s greatest stage is set again for another big Queen’s Birthday bash. Cold is the new hot.

Surprisingly, Melbourne’s recent form has been dead cold. Collingwood’s, on the other hand, has been counter-intuitively hot. Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin says this is a chance for his Dees to re-set after a turbulent week. Collingwood’s Craig McRae says that considering where the clubs began this season, this was a free hit for the Pies.

To add to the confusion, there’s unexpected oodles of snow on the mountains on Queen’s Birthday, which might be an omen, but of what? Go pick a winner out of that lot.

While you’re deciding, here again are the sliders in order. Eddie Betts, Rhonda Burchmore, Andy Maher, Jakara Anthony, Hamish Blake, Terry Daniher, Justin Langer (who knows a thing or two about being out in the cold), David Neitz, Bec Maddern and the great Ash Barty, melter of the coldest hearts.

We’ll leave the last word to the ageless and irrepressible Burchmore as she emerged from the ice floes: “I’m just freezing my bits off here.”