1. Captain Fantastic leads from the front
Scott Pendlebury was used as a tagger the last time Collingwood played Carlton. But on Sunday, the Magpies skipper was let off the leash and was back to his best. Delivering a typically classy performance, Pendlebury made the difference out of the middle of the ground. A cut above every time the ball was in dispute, his quick hands and composure with the footy was the defining factor in an otherwise scrappy encounter. He finished with 29 disposals, a goal and a goal assist in his side's 20-point win. He was well and truly the cream on top for Collingwood in a trying, yet satisfying victory.

MAGPIES FLY HIGH Full match coverage and stats

2. Charlie provides Blues with a beacon of hope
Just days after signing with Carlton for a further five years, Charlie Curnow again gave Blues fans plenty to smile about. The athletic forward delivered the type of performance reflective of why many believe he could be the game's most exciting young player. Taking spectacular grabs and pushing forward to impact on the scoreboard, the 21-year-old was a standout on a tough day for the Blues. He finished with 19 disposals, 10 marks, five contested marks and three goals in another standout display.

3. Break glass in case of emergency
There was a little bit of everything about Sam Rowe on Sunday. He started the game as a defender, soon turned into a forward and then finished as a ruckman. A late change forcing Levi Casboult from the match meant Brendon Bolton had to improvise. He flipped the magnets, sending late inclusion Cameron O'Shea down back and throwing Rowe forward. Then Matthew Kreuzer went down. With the 199cm Rowe the last man standing, he was asked to compete with Brodie Grundy. Ultimately, he gave a pretty good effort. Though it largely went unrewarded as Collingwood comfortably came out on top.

4. Arrive early for an early pick
Carlton fans might have thought about arriving at the MCG a couple of hours early to see under-18 guns Sam Walsh and Bailey Smith in action. The pair of likely early draft picks were among the best as Vic Metro took on Vic Country in Sunday's curtain-raiser. Walsh finished with 29 disposals and five clearances, while Smith racked up 20 touches to go with his three goals. Carlton will almost certainly have a top-three pick in next year's NAB AFL Draft and both could be right in the club's sights.

5. Should the traditional rivals go untraditional?
Is it time for the traditional rivals to don untraditional jumpers? Both the Pies and the Blues wore their home jumpers on Sunday, though the predominantly dark uniforms meant there was some confusion – both in the stands and on the ground. The biggest differentiator between the two was their shorts, with Carlton wearing white and Collingwood black. It led to a couple of stray kicks into contests and a few mix-ups from fans at the ground. Perhaps it's time for the AFL to suggest the away side wears its away jumpers the next time they meet.