Shannon Grant hit the post from 10 metres as the Kangaroos suffered a heartbreaking round one loss to Collingwood at the MCG.

Grant won a 50m penalty late in time-on with the Roos trailing by three points, but slewed his kick from the point of the goalsquare.

The Kangaroos had led at every change, including by 25 points at three quarter-time, but wastefulness in front of goal kept the Magpies in touch.

And they had no answers as a seven-goal final term saw Collingwood home 12.10 (82) to 10.19 (79).

Three goals to Brent Harvey and big games by fellow veterans Shannon Grant and Adam Simpson had earlier appeared to have secured a deserved victory.

Led by a strong ruck performance by Hamish McIntosh, the Roos beat their opponents to the ball. They controlled possession for much of the first three quarters, winning the majority of contested balls and stifling Collingwood up front.

But a string of gettable misses kept the Magpies within reach on the scoreboard. First-gamer Lindsay Thomas was the main offender, as he finished with five behinds.

In a low-scoring game marked by tough, scrappy football, the margin at the final change appeared enough.

But early goals in the last quarter fired up the Magpies, and Grant’s miss sealed a desperately disappointing defeat.

KANGAROOS 3.4 7.10 8.15 10.19 (79)

COLLINGWOOD 2.1 5.5 5.8 12.10 (82)

Goals:
Kangaroos: B Harvey 3 S Grant 2 C Jones 2 L Brown D Hale D Trotter.
Collingwood: P Medhurst 2 L Davis T Cloke S Pendlebury J Clement P Licuria T Lockyer D Thomas N Maxwell S Burns B Johnson.

Best:
Kangaroos: B Harvey A Simpson S Grant H McIntosh M Firrito L Thomas D Pratt.
Collingwood: J Clement T Lockyer H Shaw R Shaw D Thomas S O'Bree P Medhurst.

Umpires: C Hendrie K Nicholls S Wenn.

Crowd: 44,760 at MCG

Injuries: Nil.

Reports: Nil.