A SIX-GOAL haul to star Collingwood forward Anthony Rocca capped a 16.15 (111) to 13.7 (85) win over Fremantle at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.
In a closely-fought match, the Magpies trailed by eight points entering time-on in the third term before kicking the final two goals of that quarter, then the opening three of the last term to pull away.
Rocca booted three in the final quarter to help seal the match, pumping his fist to the crowd after slotting through the first from a difficult angle.
His next, the third goal of the quarter, was a clever snap after new Collingwood ruckman Cameron Wood dispossessed Fremantle's Aaron Sandilands with a strong tackle.
It put the home side up by 24 points and while Freo’s Luke McPharlin replied minutes later, Rocca responded by marking strongly to kick his sixth and seal the match.
Small forwards Alan Didak kicked three goals and Leon Davis two goals for Collingwood, with both among the Magpies' best.
Davis also did some good work in the midfield, while Didak showed his class in setting up several other goals for teammates.
Collingwood would also have been delighted with the performance of first-gamer Nathan Brown, who lined up on Fremantle superstar Matthew Pavlich.
The key defensive positions had been seen as a weakness for the Magpies, after James Clement's retirement and with Simon Prestigiacomo out injured, but Brown kept Pavlich to just one goal.
Former Collingwood forward Chris Tarrant was also kept very quiet by Magpies veteran Shane Wakelin, meaning Fremantle had to work very hard for their goals throughout the match.
The one major downside for Collingwood was a shoulder injury to forward Sean Rusling late in the first half after he received a heavy hip-and-shoulder from Freo defender Antoni Grover.
Rusling has already had two shoulder reconstructions in his brief career.
Rusling's opponent McPharlin was one of Fremantle's best, keeping the Magpie forward quiet early, then going forward in the second half and kicking three goals.
Running players David Mundy and Peter Bell also performed well for the visitors.
COLLINGWOOD 3.3 7.6 10.10 16.15
FREMANTLE 3.1 7.2 10.4 13.7
Goals: Collingwood: Rocca 6, Didak 3, Thomas 2, Davis 2, Cloke, Lockyer, Medhurst. Fremantle: McPharlin 3, McManus 2, Headland, Farmer, Mundy, Pavlich, Crowley, Mark Johnson, Bell, M Carr
Best: Collingwood: A Rocca A Didak D Swan H Shaw L Davis R Shaw. Fremantle: L McPharlin D Mundy P Bell D Headland A Sandilands M Pavlich.
Injuries: Collingwood: S Rusling (shoulder). Fremantle: H Black (blurred vision).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: S McLaren R Chamberlain C Kamolins.
Crowd: 45,383 at MCG.
