COLLINGWOOD took a major step towards securing a top-four berth with an emphatic 54-point win over Carlton in a Friday night scrap at the MCG.

In front of a monster crowd of 84,938, the Magpies kicked 14.10 (94) to 4.16 (40) in a polished display that saw it lead from start to finish.

Seven of the Magpies 14 goals were scored in a 30-minute first-half burst highlighted by two brilliant goals to Leon Davis, who ended with three in another exciting performance.

While Davis dazzled, Dane Swan continued his exemplary midfield work to grab 38 possessions, Scott Pendlebury (28) and Tarkyn Lockyer (24) were superb while Nick Maxwell and Heath Shaw were impenetrable across half back.

Simon Prestigiacomo restricted Brendan Fevola to one goal to stake further claims to an All Australian jumper.

Fevola kicked his only goal of the match at the 15-minute mark of the final term and ended a dirty night with just seven possessions. 

With anticipation hanging thick in the crisp night air the Magpies moved quickly to dull Carlton’s senses with a mix of pressure and run that gave it an ascendancy it enjoyed for most of the match.

Through the middle Swan, Pendlebury and Lockyer were doing as they pleased – they had 34 possessions to quarter-time - while down back Prestigiacomo had the better of Fevola who was starved of opportunities by the incessant Magpie pressure.

A five-goal to one opening term did justice to the flow of the game, with the Magpies dictating play while pressuring the Blues who struggled to find ways out of defence.

Davis, as he so often does, produced the highlight of the opening term when, from hard up on the boundary, and off two steps, he somehow dribbled through a goal from 25 metres to the delight of nearby fans who lapped up the flamboyant Pies equally flamboyant celebration.

The Magpie maestro was at it again 30 seconds into the second term when he maintained control of a loose ball, brushed off a Ryan Houlihan tackle and produced a trademark snap from close to the boundary that left fans salivating.

With arms raised, Collingwood was right on top.

Eddie Betts did his best to keep the Blues in touch with the sides only two goals of the opening half, but with its midfield well down, Fevola struggling and a number of key players, namely Marc Murphy, Shaun Grigg and Bruce Gibbs having little or no impact, the Blues were finding the going tough.

The fact it was able to stem the flow in the run to half time was the only positive to an otherwise disappointing half.

Having conceded a lead the Blues needed something special in the second half, and while the effort was there, the polish, skill, decision making and game-winning ability was not.

Both sides managed a goal apiece in a third term that ran just 24 minutes as the Pies flooded heavily to defend their lead.

The tactic frustrated Carlton which, despite enjoying more of the play in the third term, looked decidedly toothless without a firing Fevola.

Alan Didak, who’d been relatively quiet in the opening three terms, sealed the win four minutes into the final term when he accepted an Alan Toovey pass, took three bounces and drilled a running goal to put the issue beyond doubt. He ended with 24 possessions.

Collingwood rubbed salt into the wound late with six of the games final seven goals, many scored as Carlton fans headed for the nearest exit.

Travis Cloke grabbed eight marks and had 26 touches in a pleasing display while Maxwell’s ability to stand in the hole in front of Fevola, and Carlton’s inability to counter it, proved decisive.

Chris Judd (20 possessions) had a quiet night and spent much of the last term on the bench with an ankle injury, while Gibbs, Murphy and Heath Scotland couldn’t hit targets when it counted.

Bret Thornton did well to restrict John Anthony to a single goal, but for the Blues there was little to smile about.

MATCH DETAILS

Carlton             1.5    2.9    3.13    4.16 (40)
Collingwood    5.4    7.6    8.8    14.10 (94)

GOALS
Carlton: Betts 2 Bentley Fevola
Collingwood: Davis 3 Beams 2 Anthony Barham Cloke Dawes Didak Lockyer Swan Thomas Toovey

BEST
Carlton: Gibbs Murphy Thornton Scotland Houlihan
Collingwood: Cloke Shaw Davis Swan Pendlebury Prestigiacomo Maxwell

INJURIES
Carlton: Jamison (groin) replaced in selected side by Hartlett, Judd (ankle).
Collingwood: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: McLaren, Wenn, Ryan
Official crowd: 84,938 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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