An undermanned Demons' side, compromised by injuries to Travis Johnstone and David Neitz, was spurred by a seven-goal contribution from Russell Robertson on their way to the 13.16 (94) to 11.15 (81) victory.
The Pies lost Harry O'Brien early with a dislocated shoulder, while Johnstone strained a hamstring and Neitz hurt his knee, but returned for the final term.
Melbourne led all afternoon but was challenged by the Pies in the fourth when the margin was brought back to seven points, after the Demons' lead stretched to 34 points in the second term.
However, the Magpies left their surge a little too late and were beaten by the clock as well as the resurgent Demons, with Robertson capping off his afternoon with a goal after the siren.
Ben Johnson was terrific for the Magpies while Heath Shaw and Josh Fraser fought hard throughout the game. For the Demons, Ben Holland kept Anthony Rocca to two possessions and Robertson flew the flag in attack.
The Demons got the jump and consequently took a 27-point lead into the second term after dominating play and getting on top of the Magpies' defence.
Both sides lost key members before the first bounce with the Pies running out minus Rhyce Shaw, who injured his groin at training on Sunday and wasn't risked in the slippery conditions, while a ongoing groin complaint stopped Adem Yze from joining the Demons.
Shaw's omission allowed the Pies to blood their sixth new player for the season, Danny Stanley. Holland came in for Yze.
The Pies' problems early in the first were compounded by the loss of O'Brien, who dislocated his shoulder in a marking contest with Robertson midway through the term.
O'Brien left the field with a visibly contorted shoulder, which left debutant Stanley to contend with Robertson, Shane Wakelin to mind Neitz, Alan Toovey to contend with Aaron Davey and Nick Maxwell to take Paul Johnson.
The Pies appeared rattled after O'Brien went off, allowing the Demons to pile on four unanswered goals that blew the margin out to 32 points. With five minutes to go, the Pies slowed the tempo and managed to peg back a goal through Johnson.
Veteran midfielder Scott Burns got the most posessions for the Pies in the first term after starting at full forward, while Johnson was prolific with two goals opposite Brock McLean.
The momentum shifted slightly in the second quarter and the Pies, who lifted their work rate as far as contested footy was concerned, kicked four goals to the Demons' two.
Travis Cloke threatened to put the Pies within three straight kicks but shanked a set shot from the top of the goal square, which had the coach send the frustrated young forward to the bench for a spell.
Robertson booted his fourth just as red time ticked over, but was denied another opportunity minutes later when Stanley executed an impressive spoil. Fraser won a wrestling match with Nathan Carroll up the other end to take a difficult grab.
Fraser slotted his set shot, with Tarkyn Lockyer following it up with another a minute later, and the difference was 16 points at the main break.
Inaccuracy plagued both sides early in the third after Cloke started off proceedings with a goal – the only one in the first 18 minutes.
The Demons suddenly lacked potency in their forward set-up with Neitz going off with the knee injury and Robertson missing two set shots within a minute.
With Johnstone resigned to spending the afternoon in a tracksuit, the Demons were down to two men on their bench, which took its toll as the Pies inched their way back into the contest.
Cloke kicked a long goal but then turned villain when he handed Clint Bizzell a 50m penalty for arguing with the umpire, while Leon Davis ignited the crowd with a trademark snap late in the term to make the three-quarter-time difference a mere three points.
Neitz started the final term on the ground but was upstaged in the opening moments by Robertson, who propelled the Demons to a 14-point lead with two goals.
The Pies got two goals back with a major to Johnson courtesy of a 50m penalty paid against McLean and another to Davis after the livewire was pushed out of a marking contest, which made the margin seven points.
Little time remained, however, and the Demons' day out at the 'G was capped off when Robertson took a mark on the siren and slotted his seventh.
The Magpies will now go on their mid-season break before they meet the Swans at Telstra Stadium in the second week of the split round.
MELBOURNE: 6.6 8.9 9.14 13.16 (94)
COLLINGWOOD: 2.3 6.5 9.11 11.15 (81)
GOALS
Melbourne: Robertson 7, Bate 2, McDonald, Johnstone, Godfrey, Davey
Collingwood: Cloke 3, Johnson 3, Davis 2, Medhurst, Fraser, Lockyer,
BEST
Melbourne: Robertson, Holland, Wheatley, Bruce, McLean, McDonald
Collingwood: Johnson, Fraser, H. Shaw, Holland, Burns
INJURIES
Melbourne: Yze (groin), replaced in selected side by Holland, Neitz (knee), Johnstone (hamstring)
Collingwood: R. Shaw (groin), replaced in selected side by Stanley, O'Brien (shoulder)
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: McLaren, Grun, Jeffery
Official crowd: 70,660
