GEELONG has eventually worn down a battle-weary Collingwood, holding firm to record a 21-point victory in a scrappy contest at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.
The Cats separated themselves from the Magpies in what was largely a dour affair, with consecutive goals to Sam Menegola in the third term opening up a game-high 27-point lead.
However, to their credit an injury-depleted Magpies hung tough and at least made the Cats work for the 9.12 (66) to 5.15 (45) victory that propelled them to third spot on the ladder.
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With Gary Ablett and Patrick Dangerfield spending plenty of time up forward, Tim Kelly (22 touches and six clearances) continued his superb run of form through the midfield with his instinctive stoppage craft a real highlight.
Menegola proved to be the circuit-breaker for the Cats with the hard-bodied high half-forward gathering 24 disposals (13 contested), taking 10 marks and kicking three of Geelong's nine goals for the afternoon.
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Tom Stewart's ascension to being one of the AFL's top defenders continued in earnest, with the 25-year-old winning critical contests at crunch times for his side. Stewart, who collected 28 disposals against the Magpies, would have to be in All Australian contention at his point of the season.
Returning from a hamstring injury, Gary Ablett racked up 32 disposals and did enough to suggest he will be an extremely important weapon for Geelong to rely on in the second-half of the year.
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With Tom Hawkins missing through suspension, exciting young forward Esava Ratugolea also displayed incredibly encouraging signs as the predominant target inside 50 with his one-grab marking (three contested) a feature.
Cats coach Chris Scott said he never felt safe with the lead his side maintained throughout the game.
"It never really felt to us in the box like we had the game completely in control, even though the scoreboard, especially in the last quarter, reflected that," he said.
"We also acknowledge they played their fourth game in whatever it was, 20 days, and lost two players as well. It's not a performance we'll be getting too carried away with because we acknowledge the difficulties for the opposition but once again we had some younger players really stand up when it counted."
The Magpies were down to two men on the bench for the majority of the second half when Darcy Moore (hamstring) and Tom Phillips (concussion) were ruled out of the game and it hurt as they tried to mount a charge late in the game.
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Despite its lack of rotations, Collingwood, which lacked potency up forward as it managed just 5.15, did its best to remain in striking distance and closed the gap to 21 points at the final change.
Emerging defender Matthew Scharenberg was outstanding for Collingwood in what was his best game at AFL level, notching 29 disposals at 82.8 per cent efficiency to go with 14 marks.
Adam Treloar amassed 34 disposals and Jack Crisp had 32 touches, although at times the pair were the biggest culprits as Collingwood torched the football through the middle of the ground – the Magpies recorded 18 midfield turnovers in the first half.
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Jeremy Howe was also as solid as ever in the backline with the high-flying defender waging an entertaining battle with Dangerfield when he was stationed up forward.
The Pies desperately tried to stage a late comeback, but with their run and energy sapped by having two men on the bench proved to be too big of a hurdle to overcome.
"It was a dour old game, bit of cat and mouse in it, both defensive structures pretty strong. I thought they (Geelong) defended the ground really well," Magpies coach Nathan Buckley said.
"We didn't use the ball very early and time ran out (on us in the end)."
As such, the final margin remained the same as what it was at three-quarter time – 21 points – as the final siren sounded.
WATCH: Menegola goals on the left
MEDICAL ROOM
Collingwood: Darcy Moore came off the ground in the second quarter complaining of a hamstring injury. The club confirmed it was the same hamstring he injured earlier in the season against Greater Western Sydney in round two. Tom Phillips left the field groggy after his head collided with teammate Chris Mayne's leg when he kicked a goal in the third quarter. Not long after he was ruled out of the game.
Geelong: Geelong skipper Joel Selwood copped a big corkie in a marking contest in the third term. The star midfielder received some treatment on the bench but returned to the field soon after. Jed Bews also suffered a corkie, but played out the game.
NEXT UP
The injury-hit Magpies will face off against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium next Saturday night, while Geelong will do battle with a struggling Essendon at the MCG next Saturday afternoon.
COLLINGWOOD 1.3 1.6 4.11 5.15 (45)
GEELONG 2.4 4.7 7.10 9.12 (66)
GOALS
Collingwood: Phillips 2, Hoskin-Elliott, De Goey, Grundy
Geelong: Menegola 3, Ablett, Horlin-Smith, Dangerfield, Crameri, Thurlow, Ratugolea
BEST
Collingwood: Scharenberg, Howe, Treloar, Sidebottom, Mayne, Grundy
Geelong: Menegola, Stewart, Kelly, Duncan, Dangerfield, Ablett
INJURIES
Collingwood: Pendlebury (ankle) replaced in the selected side by Crocker, Moore (hamstring), Phillips (concussion)
Geelong: Bews (corked thigh)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Nicholls, Findlay, Wallace
Official crowd: 44,602 at the MCG
