Collingwood has moved into the AFL's top four for the first time this season after accounting for arch-rival Carlton by 20 points at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.
After surrendering the lead briefly to an injury-hit Carlton in the third term, the Magpies regathered their composure in the last quarter to hold the Blues at bay and close out the 11.13 (79) to 9.5 (59) victory.
The win did not come as easily as some expected, with the Blues, whose list rebuild was widely questioned after the demoralising 57-point loss to Fremantle last weekend, bringing a much-improved effort and discipline to the contest.
Young Magpie Jaidyn Stephenson was a lively force in the Collingwood forward line, booting three goals and providing a constant hit-up target.
Stephenson, one of the favourites for this year's NAB AFL Rising Star award, has now kicked 21 goals in his last nine games after going goalless in his first three matches at AFL level.
Scott Pendlebury was asked to run with Patrick Cripps for much of the afternoon, and although he did not quell his influence entirely, the Magpies skipper was able to work off the Blues star in transition and do damage that way.
Pendlebury gathered 29 disposals and kicked a goal, while Steele Sidebottom (31 and nine clearances) and Tom Phillips (28) worked overtime in the midfield.
Brodie Grundy's influence increased the longer the afternoon went on, with the Magpies ruckman benefitting from a Matthew Kreuzer ankle injury that saw the Blue take little part in the game after half-time.
Coach Nathan Buckley said his team "won ugly".
"We just didn't defend as well as what we have. We didn't control the field or the pace of the opposition ball movement as much as we would have liked," Buckley said.
"We just did enough to win on the day against an opposition we thought played some pretty good footy."
The Blues were reduced to two men on the bench after the major break after Lachie Plowman injured his right knee and was stretchered from the field, while Levi Casboult broke his finger in the final warm-up and was replaced by Cam O'Shea in the starting line-up.
After a series of spot fires through the second quarter, tempers flared at half-time as a melee broke out, with former Pie Dale Thomas and Mason Cox among the chief participants.
Thomas is likely to face match review scrutiny for a shepherd on the mark that saw Levi Greenwood sidelined with concussion.
Clearly affected by a lack of rotations (62-80), the Blues hung in the contest thanks largely to the impact of Cripps (28 touches, including 19 contested) in the midfield, the steadiness of Kade Simpson (31) down back and the highlight reel that is Charlie Curnow.
"I was pleased all game that they dug in," Blues coach Brendon Bolton said.
"With limited rotations and some injuries, they gave their all. But I think by and large, there is a lot going right if we look at the last month of footy versus a half (against Fremantle)."
If Blues fans wanted some affirmation for the direction the club was heading in, they needed only look to Curnow, who signed a four-year contract extension during the week, to give them hope for the future.
The superstar in the making was simply outstanding against the Magpies, booting three goals from 19 disposals, hauling in 10 marks (five contested) and constantly sparking his team when they needed him most.
Former Giant Matthew Kennedy (21 touches) also played his best game for the club, providing Cripps with much-needed support on the inside of the contest.
MEDICAL ROOM
Collingwood: Collingwood is hopeful Adam Treloar has escaped a serious hamstring injury after the midfielder went down grabbing his leg and writhing in pain. The Magpies believe the onballer succumbed to a severe bout of cramp. Defender Levi Greenwood was placed in the concussion protocol after a high hit from Blue Dale Thomas, with coach Nathan Buckley saying he would be assessed during the week.
Carlton: Key forward Levi Casboult broke his finger in the warm-up and was a late out, replaced by Cam O'Shea. Lachie Plowman injured his right knee in the second quarter and was taken off on a stretcher. The club provided an update after half-time that Plowman had suffered bone bruising to his knee. Matthew Kreuzer rolled his left ankle but after spending time in the rooms in the second term, he returned to the field of play. Kreuzer, though, was forced from the ground just after half-time and did not play any further part in the game.
NEXT UP
Collingwood will travel to Metricon Stadium to take on Gold Coast next Saturday night, while the Blues return to the MCG to take on Port Adelaide on Saturday afternoon.
COLLINGWOOD 3.2 5.8 8.12 11.13 (79)
CARLTON 3.2 4.3 7.4 9.5 (59)
BEST
Collingwood: Pendlebury, Sidebottom, Stephenson, Phillips, Grundy, Treloar, Hoskin-Elliott
Carlton: Cripps, C.Curnow, Simpson, Thomas, Kennedy, Dow
GOALS
Collingwood: Stephenson 3, Hoskin-Elliott 3, Pendlebury, Mihocek, Treloar, Cox, De Goey
Carlton: C.Curnow 3, Cripps 3, Rowe, Kreuzer, Mullett
INJURIES
Collingwood: Greenwood (concussion), Treloar (hamstring)
Carlton: Levi Casboult (finger) replaced in selected side by Cameron O'Shea, Plowman (knee), Kreuzer (ankle)
Umpires: Margetts, Dalgleish, Brown, Findlay
Crowd: 53,706 at the MCG
