DREW Petrie's story is a well-known one now. During his 147-game career, he has played as a key forward, as a key back and also as a ruckman. In all three spots — wherever needed — he has adjusted and played well.

On Friday night against Collingwood, Petrie again played in all three positions, this time within the one game. He had more hitouts than anyone else on the ground, he laid tackles and even smothered a ball in the final quarter.

He kicked two long goals, and grabbed marks dropping back in defence. He did virtually all the things a person can do in a game, and his team beat a good team by 18 points. But Petrie, as is his nature, wasn't claiming too much credit.

"That comes from other guys doing their job as well," he explained in the rooms after his perfect night. "You can't play a reasonable game and contribute these days if other guys aren't doing their bit as well.

"The guys in the centre were great in the second half, the back line was super and held up really strong, and then the forwards finished off the work.

"We were pretty accurate tonight in front of goal, so when all those things go well for the team, that's what helps the individual, I guess."

While a quick Collingwood goal opened the game, that was it for either team for a while, the first term quick and action-packed but with little actual outcome.

The Magpies kicked their third goal, and moved ahead by two, after Scott Pendlebury deftly sidestepped two approaching tacklers on the half-forward line, slipping the ball to Alan Didak with two seconds left on the clock.

North had trouble containing Collingwood's second-quarter run too, with Didak proving especially damaging, and the Magpies found late ways to goal through Sharrod Wellingham, Shane O'Bree and Pendlebury, despite Travis Cloke having fallen well under Michael Firrito's control.

After half-time, the match became even more dynamic. Within eight minutes, the Kangaroos had not only worn down the two-goal margin but stormed past it.

Inside the packs, Adam Simpson and Daniel Harris worked harder to get the ball out; on the run, Brent Harvey, the rapidly improving Matt Campbell and Daniel Wells were devastating, youngsters Lindsay Thomas and Ben Ross adding some dash of their own.

Collingwood pushed ahead again midway through the term — after Campbell scored from the pocket to put North 11 points up, goals to Nick Maxwell and Dane Swan wrenched the lead back — but the Kangaroos were able to reassert themselves.

Young ruckman Todd Goldstein kept his balance to snap a goal with five minutes left in the term, Gavin Urquhart's well-placed high kick found Scott McMahon for another, and then Ross bounded in to goal, collecting a Shannon Grant handpass on his way. Collingwood hung on within a few goals throughout the final quarter, sneaking to within two goals twice after two Jack Anthony goals but, aside from Didak, its better players this year — Cloke and the Shaws, for starters — were well held and couldn't edge their way in.

Petrie is in his eighth season now, as are a number of his teammates, and knows that for his side to cling to its spot in the top eight, he and his peers are the ones who need to make sure of it. "I suppose there's a few of us in the same bracket there," he said.

"Leigh Harding, Corey Jones, Daniel Pratt, Daniel Harris as well. We're all in our eighth year of senior footy, so it's time we really stood up.

"Guys like Adam Simpson, Brent Harvey and Shannon Grant aren't going to be here forever, so we've got to really step up and they've got to pass the baton to us, I guess."