CARLTON has outclassed an undermanned Collingwood outfit to win Sunday's big clash at the MCG by 51 points.

The 238th meeting between the traditional rivals was a lopsided one for the most part with the Pies only really threatening for a brief period in the third quarter before the Blues settled and went on with it to record the 16.8 (104) to 7.11 (53) win.

A bumper crowd of 82,834 filed into the MCG - the highest attendance figure attracted to the big rivalry match since 1995. 

Chris Judd was outstanding for Carlton with 32 possessions, one goal and four goal assists and he had plenty of help with Kade Simpson (29 disposals), Bryce Gibbs (25) and Marc Murphy (24) all prominent.

Matthew Kreuzer and Shaun Hampson dominated the hitouts with 25 and 24 respectively. 

Brendan Fevola monstered the Maggies with 15 goals in their two clashes last year, but the big Blue followed up a quiet game last week with another here.

He was kept goalless with Eddie Betts was the leading scorer on the ground with four goals while John Anthony and Tarkyn Lockyer managed two each for Collingwood.

Dane Swan entered the match under an injury cloud, but his knee didn't appear to hinder him on his way to 30 possessions with Scott Pendlebury also gathering 30 touches.

Jarrad Waite started up forward and made an immediate impact with the first two goals of the game – the first coming after an excellent contested mark and the second from a superb chase and tackle on Heath Shaw.

The Pies struggled to move the ball effectively by foot early with their few forward forays generally swept away by Carlton's half-back flankers as Betts put his side further up nine minutes in.

Collingwood's first shot on goal didn't come until the 13-minute mark when Anthony registered a behind and it didn't get any better as the Pies missed three more times to record their first goalless quarter against the Blues since 1981.

Regular defender Mark Austin found himself in unfamiliar territory to kick his first goal in AFL footy, with Judd again instrumental, and when Murphy dribbled through his first the Blues led it by 27 points at the first break.

The Pies were on the ropes, but they managed to clog the game up in the second with congestion their friend as scoring slowed for both sides.

Kreuzer extended the lead to 32 points before Ben Reid finally broke the drought from a free kick, but that was to be the only black and white goal of the half.

Chris Yarran benefitted from another brilliant Judd dish-off to score his second goal in the big league to see Carlton up by 32 points at half-time.     

Hampson and Judd appeared to put the game in their side's keeping with the first two majors of the second half, but Lockyer edged Collingwood closer when he converted a set shot and a Leon Davis provided a bit of brilliance to put the game back in the balance.

Gathering a loose ball tight against the boundary Davis accelerated away from Nick Stevens and bombed through a contender for goal of the year from outside 50.

But with the Magpie army in full voice the Blues steadied with Stevens and Waite snapping truly to put their side up by 45 points at three-quarter time.

Betts added the first two goals of the final term as Carton set about enjoying its dominance over the arch-rival on the day.

Mitch Robinson joined in the fun as Murphy added his second and, despite some late consolation goals to the Pies, the final siren brought sweet relief to the largely black and white crowd.

Paul Medhurst was a late withdrawal for the Pies with Alan Toovey called up his place with Simon Wiggins also pulled from the team late to be replaced by Steven Browne.

Collingwood    0.4 1.7 3.9 7.11 (53)
Carlton         5.1 7.3 11.6 16.8 (104) 

GOALS
Collingwood: Lockyer 2, Anthony 2, Reid, Davis, Beams
Carlton: Betts 4, Waite 3, Murphy 2, Austin, Kreuzer, Yarran, Hampson, Judd, Stevens, Robinson

BEST
Collingwood: Pendlebury, Clarke, Prestigiacomo, Swan, Lockyer
Carlton: Judd, Gibbs, Waite, Murphy, Betts, Thornton, Simpson

INJURIES
Collingwood: Medhurst (ankle) out, replaced in selected side by Toovey
Carlton: Wiggins (hamstring tightness) out, replaced in selected side by Browne, Scotland (concussion)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: James, Grun, Ryan

Official crowd: 82,834 at the MCG

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.

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