A perfect drop-punt from a deep pocket at the MCG to close the gap on Carlton with just five minutes remaining in an epic encounter.
Jamie Elliott would put the Magpies in front a few minutes later to secure a famous one-point win, lock up a top-four spot and eliminate their arch-rivals from the finals race in brutal fashion.
McCreery, the no-frills pressure forward, reflected on his 23rd, and most important, goal of his burgeoning AFL career.
"The next training me and Jamie Elliott had a few pings from there but I don't reckon I kicked another one, I had four or five shots and didn't get anywhere near it," the 21-year-old told AAP this week.
"As soon as Pendles (captain Scott Pendlebury) handballed it to me, I thought I'd have a ping.
"I didn't kick through it so I didn't think it was going to make the distance but we got there in the end, which was pretty exciting."
McCreery is pinching himself to be part of a finals campaign after being drafted by Collingwood in 2020.
Growing up in Hallet Cove, a coastal suburb of Adelaide, McCreery has embraced playing for one of Australian sport's biggest clubs.
McCreery managed a respectable 13 appearances in his debut season, but the Magpies endured a tumultuous 2021 from start to finish, on and off the field.
"It was a bit of a strange year last year, I was just happy to be here to be honest," McCreery said.
"Obviously it was a tough year, we had a lot going on and didn't play the footy we were wanting to play.
"But I think the new coaching staff and the belief we've got now is unreal, playing well and kicking goals and getting the wins."
McCreery can't wait to take on minor premiers Geelong in Saturday's qualifying final at the MCG.
"I don't really know much about footy, I don't know much about them, they probably don't know much about me either," he said.
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