At the start of this season, Friday night's fixture between Collingwood and Fremantle – on paper at least – would have read as an important clash.
The Magpies, armed with new recruits, entered the year as one of the teams tipped to be on the rise and the Dockers, last year's minor premiers, were primed for another premiership tilt. Or so we thought.
But for the 20,320 fans who braved the chill at the MCG to watch the game, there would have been no expectations of September success upon leaving the venue.
The Magpies won comfortably by 48 points but the only thing colder than Melbourne's weather was Fremantle's performance.
The 12.13 (85) to 5.7 (37) score line represented the flat nature of the contest, which was all but over at quarter-time after Collingwood's early dominance, and very nearly sealed by the half-time break when the Pies led by 40 points with Fremantle stuck on just one goal.
The Dockers were more competitive in the third term, but fell into their first-half habits in the last quarter to be blown away as Collingwood secured its fifth win of the season.
Fremantle recorded its lowest score of the season, the fifth-lowest score in its history, and narrowly avoided the lowest total in nearly five seasons under coach Ross Lyon (a disappointing Derby result of 5.6.36 against West Coast in 2012).
Star Magpie Adam Treloar was Collingwood's best and most consistent player across the contest, gathering 33 disposals, seven tackles and a goal, while Jack Crisp collected 24 touches in a typically hard-at-it effort.
In a further positive for the Pies, first-year pair Josh Smith (25 disposals and a goal) and Tom Phillips (19, one goal) impressed, while American convert Mason Cox (two goals) continues to show exciting signs despite the inclement weather not helping taller types.
Conditions were also not ideal for returning premiership forward Travis Cloke, but the full-forward worked hard across the night and finished with 13 disposals and 2.2.
Michael Barlow's form resurgence continued with 31 disposals, Hayden Crozier was active with 23, and Connor Blakely continued his emergence as a long-term midfielder for the club with 24.
The damp conditions (it was just six degrees in Melbourne at the opening bounce) didn't stop Collingwood's big forwards from having an early impact, with the recalled Cloke and then Cox booting the first two goals of the game.
It set the tone for a first-quarter domination for the Pies, who recorded 20 inside-50 entries to seven, and restricted the Dockers from entering their forward-50 at any stage from the third minute of the game until the 19-minute mark.
Collingwood kept Fremantle goalless for the first term, but also rendered Lyon's team impotent. After three straight wins, the Dockers started the contest looking like the side that limped to round 11 before securing a victory.
Michael Walters' goal in the opening minutes of the second term provided only a short-term relief for Fremantle, as Collingwood powered to a 40-point advantage at the main break after a four-goal quarter.
The Dockers' worst first half of the year again exposed their shortcomings as they embark on a serious rebuild: their forward line lacked bite, the midfield is stagnant without Nat Fyfe, and the absence of Aaron Sandilands in the ruck is as large as the man himself.
Collingwood also hasn't had a good season – its run of form will see it miss the eight for the third straight year unless it can produce a miracle run of wins in the second half of the season – but it was made to look like top-four contenders against the Dockers, such was the lack of pressure forced upon the Pies.
The Dockers lifted in their intensity in the third term, and had 13 inside 50s to 14 to cut the deficit to 29 points at three-quarter time. The Pies didn't kick a goal for the term, but Fremantle's struggling forward line meant Collingwood's lead appeared safe heading into the last term.
And so it proved. Fremantle champion Matthew Pavlich, in what will likely be his final game at the MCG, snapped a goal early in the last quarter to edge the Dockers to within 22 points.
But back-to-back goals to Treloar and then Jesse White ended any chance of a Dockers revival, and they conceded another three goals to be on the end of a margin that befitted their lack of contest across the night.
MEDICAL ROOM
Collingwood: The Pies got through the game unscathed, which is a bonus given the rugged conditions.
Fremantle: A bad night could have gotten worse for the Dockers in the third term when Lachie Neale left the field with a sore shoulder after being tackled to the turf. He returned to the field that quarter, however, and played out the game.
NEXT UP
Collingwood will be hoping it can continue its form against archrivals Carlton next Saturday night at the MCG, while Fremantle has the bye before returning in round 16 to face Melbourne in Darwin.
COLLINGWOOD 3.4 7.8 7.10 12.13 (85)
FREMANTLE 0.1 1.4 3.5 5.7 (37)
GOALS
Collingwood: Cox 2, White 2, Cloke 2, Greenwood, Phillips, De Goey, Treloar, Smith, Aish
Fremantle: Pavlich 2, Ballantyne 2, Walters
BEST
Collingwood: Treloar, Pendlebury, Crisp, Reid, Smith, Howe
Fremantle: Barlow, Walters, Neale, Crozier, Hill, Collins
INJURIES
Collingwood: Nil
Fremantle: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stephens, Ryan, Pannell, Mitchell
Official crowd: 20,320 at the MCG
