MELBOURNE has prolonged Collingwood's mid-season from hell, inflicting the Pies' sixth straight defeat to push Nathan Buckley's side even further away from finals contention. 

Bernie Vince dominated with 30 disposals and three goals to drive the Demons to a 13.13 (91) to 7.12 (54) win.

Five talking points: Collingwood v Melbourne

The 37-point win is the Demons' sixth for the season, and will restore confidence in the club's supporters after their heavy loss to the rebuilding St Kilda a week ago.

But questions about where the Magpies are at are going to come thick and fast this week, after succumbing to a team that won't play finals this year.

Melbourne coach Paul Roos was proud of his side's response after such a poor showing against the Saints.
 
"It's good for us to get some reward and play some young kids and get some good habits, and [we were] well led by the leaders, which makes a big difference," Roos said.

Tigers' win inspired the Dees, says Roos
 
"There were some real positive signs. It wasn't like they were playing that poorly.
 
"They came back a couple of times and to finish off the game really well was a big positive."
 
While the Demons are off the hook for the time being, questions about where the Magpies are at are sure to come thick and fast this week after they succumbed to a team that won't play finals this year.

Seven weeks ago, the Pies were entrenched in the top eight and looked September bound after winning eight from 11 games.
 
Saturday's loss – which came after the Pies failed to kick a goal in the final quarter – leaves them a game-and-a-half adrift of eighth-placed Geelong. 

Collingwood's forward line struggled, with the decision to start Jamie Elliott in the green vest in his first game in three weeks surprising.

Dees 'worked harder for longer' than Pies

Travis Cloke, who kicked seven goals last time the sides met, didn't play because of a calf injury and Jesse White was dropped after indifferent form.
 
It saw youngster Darcy Moore stationed as the focal point, but Demons defender Tom McDonald ensured Moore didn't replicate last week's bag of five.
 
Alex Fasolo became the Pies' target when it became obvious Moore was being curtailed, and while the small forward marked strongly and kicked three goals, he was nullified by Neville Jetta after half-time.

Post-match, Buckley backed the decision to start Elliott as the substitute, but admitted it didn't pay dividends with the small forward goalless with eight touches in a quarter-and-a-half.

"There was two options; either have 'Billy' go through a five or six kilometre session away from the game to get the progression to get him back to full fitness, or there was the option today," Buckley said.

'As a team we weren't connected': Fasolo

"Worst case scenario, he comes on and plays 75 per cent of game time.

"It was clearly pretty beneficial to have a sub we know we can inject to provide legs through the middle or forward.

"It wasn't to be but that will work well for 'Billy'."

Demons captain Nathan Jones racked up 26 possessions and his side benefited from three goals to Jesse Hogan and two from Jeff Garlett, while the influence of Max Gawn was huge.

The Dees' ruckman looked shot at three-quarter time after chasing around Pies pair Brodie Grundy and Jarrod Witts throughout.

But he ended with 32 hit-outs, 14 of which were in the centre, and won 17 possessions; more than both Grundy (10) and Witts (11).
 
Pies fans saw Matthew Scharenberg for the first time after he was a late inclusion for Tyson Goldsack, who tweaked a quad in the warm-up.
 

The first-round draft pick looked right at home at AFL level after a quiet first quarter and ended with 16 touches across half-back, after being given 30 minutes' notice of his call up.

Goldsack complained of a tight quad, which will be assessed further on Sunday.

Skipper Scott Pendlebury collected 24 in a head-to-head battle with Vince and Dane Swan had 36 in what Buckley described as the Pies' only four-quarter performance.

After doubts were raised this week about how much the Demons have improved under Roos, the situation suddenly looks a little better.
 
And, with Christian Petracca and Jack Trengove to come back in next season, things might not be so bleak for the Demons after all.  

Skippers Nathan Jones and Scott Pendlebury wrestle on Saturday. Picture: AFL Media. 

COLLINGWOOD  1.4  4.6  7.10   7.12   (54)
MELBOURNE       4.4  6.5   9.6   13.13  (91)

GOALS
Collingwood: Fasolo 3, Pendlebury, Varcoe, Witts, Adams
Melbourne: Vince 3, Hogan 3, Garlett 2, Vandenberg, Watts, Harmes, Jones, Howe

BEST
Collingwood: Swan, Adams, Fasolo, Sidebottom, Williams, Langdon
Melbourne: Vince, Jones, Gawn, Watts, Viney, Garland, Cross

INJURIES
Collingwood: Goldsack (tight quad) replaced in the selected side by Scharenberg
Melbourne: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Jamie Elliott replaced Paul Seedsman in the third quarter.
Melbourne: James Harmes replaced Viv Michie in the third quarter.

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Donlon, Kamolins, Jeffery

Official crowd: 37,894 at the MCG.