COLLINGWOOD will be a serious contender in September.

That was the clear message emanating from the MCG on Friday night after the Magpies downed an in-form Essendon, 15.12 (102) to 9.13 (67), in front of 77,699 fans.

Inspired by 35 possessions to Alan Didak, another 29 to Dane Swan and a brilliant rucking display from Josh Fraser, the Magpies grabbed control of the game in the second term and never looked like letting go in one of their best efforts of the season.

Travis Cloke ended with four goals and 19 possessions to be a focal point all night while at the other end Harry O’Brien, alongside Nick Maxwell, Simon Prestigiacomo and Tyson Goldsack, was superb in nullifying Alwyn Davey.

The win was the Pies’ sixth in a row and further cements their place in the top four.

The game started like two prize fighters feeling each other out. Essendon did the jabbing with the likes of Brent Prismall and Adam McPhee probing the Magpies at every turn. McPhee was superb early on Cloke while Prismall continued his rich vein of form to gather 12 first-quarter possessions.

While the Bombers jabbed and probed, the Magpies spent much of the first stanza defending with everything they had.

Didak and Swan were at the forefront of the rear-guard action as the Bombers’ run, pressure and ability to find space in the corridor continually opened up the game.
 
Scott Lucas opened the scoring 10 minutes in when he outmarked Nathan Brown and when Davey produced a brilliant banana goal from hard-up on the boundary to counter a Dale Thomas major, the Bombers had the start they wanted.

But, somehow, and in a telling factor in the context of the result, Essendon led by only two points at the first break – a margin that could well have been three goals had the Bombers turned their momentum into goals.

Whatever Magpie coach Mick Malthouse said to his troops at the main break should be bottled.

In one the Pies’ most inspired quarters of football this year, a two-point deficit became a 34-point lead at the main break on the back of individual brilliance, intensity, a miserly defence, tackling pressure and an overall commitment to team-orientated football.

The Pies kicked seven goals to one, highlighted by a brilliant effort from Dale Thomas who kicked the ball soccer-style from the grasp of Dustin Fletcher from a tight angle for goal of the night.

Two goals to Cloke, who got right on top of McPhee; the work rate of Swan and Didak; and Fraser’s tireless work in the ruck were also important.

Fraser’s effort was perhaps most telling. Having been comprehensively beaten by eventual Anzac Medallist Paddy Ryder in the sides’ round 5 epic earlier this year, Fraser hit back with 18 hit outs and 11 first-half touches to set the tone for his team.

The likes of Swan, Didak, Leon Davis, Shane O’Bree and Scott Pendlebury, lapped up the big man’s dominance.

In need of something special just to get back into the contest, Essendon started the second half with a bang when Kyle Reimers drilled a running goal two minutes in.

Davis responded, but when Matthew Lloyd marked and goaled and Lucas produced a trademark left foot snap from a stoppage, the Bombers breathed life into the contest.

However, the Magpies had answers. Livewire Brad Dick produced a classic crumbing effort to stem the tide and minutes later Fraser snatched a boundary throw-in and snapped truly to restore the Magpies’ six-goal lead.

From there the result was never in doubt. Dayne Beams kicked two of the Magpies’ three final-term goals to add icing to the victors’ cake.

Despite the best efforts of Essendon’s McPhee (29 possessions), Courtenay Dempsey (22), Prismall (28), Andrew Lovett (24) and Scott Lucas (three goals), the Magpies were always in control in the run to the wire.

The win sets Collingwood up with a monster clash next Friday night against third-placed Bulldogs while Essendon tackles the Sydney Swans at the SCG on Saturday.

Collingwood  2.3  9.6  12.10  15.12 (102)
Essendon  2.6  3.8  6.10  9.13 (67)

GOALS
Collingwood: Cloke 4, Thomas 2, Beams 2, Swan, Anthony, Lockyer, Medhurst, Davis, Dick, Fraser,
Essendon: Lucas 3, Lloyd 2, Davey, Monfries, Reimers, Lovett

BEST
Collingwood: Fraser, Didak, Swan, Cloke, Beams, Maxwell, Prestigiacomo
Essendon: Prismall, McPhee, Lucas, Stanton, Lovett

INJURIES
Collingwood: Nil
Essendon: Dempsey (eye), Monfries (hamstring)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Kennedy, Meredith, Ryan
Official crowd: 77,699 at the MCG

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