A scintillating third term and match-winning performance from Rocca gave the black and white army its first win of the home-and-away season.
The Magpies 18.11 (119) defeated the Hawks 12.12 (84) to continue their recent good record over the brown and gold. Remarkably, Hawthorn has not defeated Collingwood since round 12, 2003.
Rocca was inspirational in the third quarter when he booted five of his eight goals for the match. Six of those majors came in the second half, when he took the match by the scruff of the neck.
It was arguably Rocca's greatest individual performance - or at least statistically it was - as his pervious best efforts came in two encounters in 2001, when he booted six goals against Carlton in round six and another half-dozen against Essendon in round 20.
It was also a fitting reward for the giant Magpie, who endured a serious Achilles injury last season - sidelining him nearly the entire 2005 season.
Although there were seven lead changes up until the 16-minute of the third quarter - when Rocca bagged his fifth for the match - the Magpies never looked back. Collingwood's second half was impeccable, registering 14 goals to six.
Hawthorn's Luke Hodge was his side's highest ball-winner with 28 disposals, while Shane Crawford and Chance Bateman both collected 24 touches each. Ben Dixon finished with four goals.
Although Collingwood went on a goalkicking spree after the main change, it was not all smooth sailing early on for either team, as the first half was marred by poor kicking - particularly at goal - while dinky chip passes and wrong options were frequent.
Just 12 minutes into the match, Chris Tarrant had three behinds to his name and soon after shots on the run from Paul Licuria and Hawthorn's Michael Osborne went out on the full.
Hawthorn suffered from a 50 per cent conversion rate in the first half, but Collingwood also failed to maximise its kicking for goal during this period and, consequently, it trailed by three points and nine points respectively at the first two breaks.
Adding further frustration to Collingwoood's cause before half-time was that it had one more scoring shot to Hawthorn and entered the main break with 4.9 to its name.
But all of that changed in the second half when Rocca came to the fore and produced his magic. In just 23 minutes, Rocca booted five goals, while his team rediscovered its poise in front of goal. As a result, the Pies led by 25 points at the final break.
Although Hawthorn was still within reach, Collingwood piled on the first five goals of the last term and the fat lady had well and truly hit the highest of notes.
For Hawthorn, the loss prevented coach Alastair Clarkson from recording consecutive wins for just the second time, while the Hawks have not won at Telstra Dome since round 19, 2004, when Donald McDonald was coach.
Clarkson said Collingwood's ability to kick goals in a hurry was the difference.
"It was a disappointing result for us in the end. We obviously came off a very, very sound performance down in Launceston against Fremantle and we were hoping to acquit ourselves a little bit better than what we did," Clarkson said.
"We thought our first half we were pretty competitive and even the first few minutes of the third quarter, when 'Hodgey' (Luke Hodge) kicked the first goal and put us three goals up … but as so happens with a Collingwood side, they are very much a momentum side."
Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse was happy with the win but said the Pies' 14-goal second half was not a guarantee the Pies would carry winning momentum into next week's clash with the Kangaroos.
"We'd all like to think that (it gives you momentum) but the game doesn't cater for that. It doesn't lay down for you," Malthouse said.
"Next week is a new challenge against a side that was beaten on the weekend by Geelong, so if you were able to style it the way you wanted it, (the second half) is the catalyst for next week and the weeks after.
"We will walk away (today) with a far better attitude to the game than you do when you lose, but it's a long season."
HAWTHORN: 3.1, 6.6, 8.8, 12.12 (84)
COLLINGWOOD: 2.4, 4.9, 12.9, 18.11 (119)
GOALS – Hawthorn: Dixon 4, Williams 2, Lewis 2, Croad 2, Hodge, Campbell
Collingwood: Rocca 8, Fraser 2, Davis 2, T. Cloke, Lonie, Tarrant, Johnson, Holland, Didak
BEST – Hawthorn: Hodge, Dixon, Bateman, Crawford, Lewis
Collingwood: Rocca, Johnson, Lonie, Buckley, Swan, Clement, Holland
INJURIES – Hawthorn: Nil
Collingwood: Nil
CHANGES – Hawthorn: Nil
Collingwood: Burns (ill) replaced in selected side by H.Shaw
REPORTS - Nil
UMPIRES - Chamberlain, Ryan, Avon
CROWD - 43,296 at Telstra Dome
