COLLINGWOOD has broken Melbourne's four-year stranglehold on the Queen's Birthday blockbuster, beating the Demons by 21 points at the MCG on Monday.
The Magpies also extended their run to four consecutive victories with the 17.14 (116) to 13.17 (95) triumph, and will surpass the Brisbane Lions on the ladder with a push into sixth position.
Collingwood captain Scott Burns was terrific with 36 touches, while Alan Didak (22, two goals) and Tarkyn Lockyer (20, two goals) were also prolific in the win that was set up with a nine goal to six second half.
Martin Clarke also found plenty of the ball with 21 disposals, while Nick Maxwell led in defence. Chris Bryan offered another solid performance.
The Magpies were dealt a blow before the game with Anthony Rocca (ankle) and Scott Pendlebury (back) late omissions, with Shannon Cox and Ryan Cook gaining last-minute call-ups.
The Demons also took in an emotional advantage after a weekend of celebrations honouring their 150th year, as well as chairman Paul Gardner's pre-match resignation.
But it was a match the Pies won beyond the main break after being challenged early on, although the Demons were credible in refusing to allow a blow-out defeat with only two fit men on the bench.
In the first half, Melbourne contested hard and benefited from their influential players, including Brock McLean, Cameron Bruce and Nathan Jones, performing well.
On the contrary, the Magpies' usual stable of workmanlike stars struggled to get into the game, with Dane Swan restricted to just four possessions by Lynden Dunn and Paul Medhurst and Travis Cloke kept to 10 disposals and one goal between them.
Nathan Brown started at full-forward in the absence of Rocca, but was soon moved down back in order to assist in the number of inside 50s the Demons were managing.
Two first quarter goals to Didak weren't enough to hand the Pies the quarter-time lead, as Brad Green and Colin Sylvia rounded out the term with a pair of red-time majors that ensured Melbourne a five-point advantage at the change.
Collingwood looked better in the second and scored the first two through Josh Fraser and Lockyer, but the Demons responded smartly through youngster Austin Wonaeamirri, which narrowed the Pies' advantage to a single point.
The Demons rallied with Adem Yze collecting plenty of it and McLean working hard at the stoppages, but the Pies held on to their lead with late goals to Medhurst and Heath Shaw nullifying a 31-minute effort by Jones.
Collingwood took a seven-point lead into the third and looked intent on breaking the Dees early with Brown and Leon Davis booting two goals in two minutes. But the Demons held firm again and reduced a 20-point deficit to just a goal midway through the quarter.
A three-goal Collingwood flurry ensured the Pies got out to the biggest lead of the game of 25 points, which they capitalised on in red time to move 31 points in front.
A pair of points and a goal to Brad Green had the difference at the final change set to 23, but the Demons were struggling with numbers after Jared Rivers was benched with a hamstring injury, which was compounded when Brent Moloney went off with a hand injury early in the fourth.
From there, Collingwood went about maintaining the distance between the two sides to go on and claim its first Queen's Birthday holiday win since 2003.
Collingwood 3.2 8.5 15.8 17.14 (116)
Melbourne 4.1 7.4 11.9 13.17 (95)
GOALS
Collingwood: Didak 2, H. Shaw 2, Lockyer 2, Davis 2, Fraser, Johnson, Medhurst, Brown, Swan, Wellingham, O'Brien, Cox, Thomas
Melbourne: Wonaeamirri 3, Sylvia 3, Yze 2, Green 2, Dunn, Jones, McLean
BEST
Collingwood: Burns, Didak, Lockyer, Maxwell, O'Brien, Bryan
Melbourne: McLean, Jones, Bruce, Yze, Warnock, Dunn
INJURIES
Collingwood: Rocca (ankle), Pendlebury (back) replaced in selected side by Cox, Cook
Melbourne: Rivers (groin), Moloney (shoulder)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Vozzo, Farmer, Meredith
Official crowd: 59,548 at the MCG
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
