Collingwood completely outplayed the Cats in running out 20.14 (134) to 7.6 (48) winners.
The Magpies were superb, outscoring Geelong in every term and showing greater intensity and commitment to the contested footy. In many ways, the tackle count – which was won by Collingwood 85 to 49 – told the story of the match.
By the time Dale Thomas (17 possessions, one goal) provided the icing with a brilliant, bending grubbered goal in the last quarter, the cake had already been baked and eaten by the Pies, whose unrelenting attack on the football worried the Cats into constant errors and uncharacteristic indecision.
After being labelled a 'bunny' of Geelong defender Matthew Scarlett in the lead-up to the game, Anthony Rocca (nine marks, one goal) had a significant match. He not only out-pointed his tormentor of recent times but created space for his fellow forwards by selflessly taking the Cat danger man away from play.
Travis Cloke with four goals was the major benefactor, dominating his opponents, most notably young Cat Harry Taylor.
But Taylor was far from alone. Geelong could not find a clear winner on the night although Gary Ablett (29 possessions and two goals) was by far its best contributor.
The task of minding the star Cat was given to youngster Sharrod Wellingham who ended the night with 19 touches and seven tackles, five of which came in an outstanding first quarter. Only the tireless Tarkyn Lockyer (nine tackles) had more for the night.
After being completely out-pointed in the first half, Geelong came out with a spring after the major break, kicking three goals in lightning time and instilling a belief that an amazing comeback was possible.
Collingwood needed a steadier and Alan Didak (two goals, 26 possessions) provided it. Didak, close to best on ground after running rings around opponents including Tom Harley, goaled on the back of an outstanding mark from Rocca.
When Travis Cloke kicked his fourth only moments later, the Cat surge appeared to have been halted; when the Pies added the next three to take a 63-point lead into three-quarter time, Geelong's hopes had been completely snuffed out.
Collingwood began the game ferociously, racking up the first 10 tackles of the match and startling the Cats by jumping out to an early 20-point lead. Seventeen minutes had elapsed before Travis Varcoe, a late call-up for the injured Paul Chapman, got Geelong on the board.
David Wojcinski followed up for the Cats but Cloke kicked back-to-back goals before Didak made it a 26-point break in favour of the Pies at quarter time.
When Rocca and Paul Medhurst kicked the first two goals of the second quarter, Collingwood had five in a row and the signs of Geelong's first defeat of the season where there for all to see.
The Pies closed out the half strongly, racking up 55 tackles to the Cats' 27 and leading by a massive 51 points.
Irishman Marty Clarke (28 disposals, one goal) had possibly his best game for the club, and Harry O'Brien did a magnificent job in defence for Collingwood.
Although some confusion was evident on the interchange bench, no free kicks were awarded to either team for infringements of the new rules.
Geelong's Josh Hunt and Collingwood's Leon Davis both left the field for treatment in the first half but returned later in the match despite not looking 100 per cent.
Collingwood 6.4 11.6 16.7 20.14 (134)
Geelong 2.2 3.3 6.5 7.6 (48)
GOALS
Collingwood: Cloke 4, Medhurst 3, Didak 2, Davis 2, Shaw, B. Johnson, Rocca, Fraser, Clarke, Lockyer, Pendlebury, Bryan, Thomas
Geelong: Ablett 2, Varcoe, Wojcinski, Gamble, Mooney, Hawkins
BEST
Collingwood: M Clarke, D Thomas, T Cloke, T Lockyer, D Swan, S Pendlebury, A Rocca
Geelong: G Ablett, J Corey
Umpires: S McBurney, H Kennedy, S Jeffery.
Official crowd: 78,206 at the MCG.
Reports: Nil
Injuries: Nil
The views expressed in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or clubs.
