Ruckman Max Gawn has laid claim to being the game's best ruckman after leading Melbourne to its first win on Queen's Birthday since 2007, with the Demons destroying Collingwood by 46 points.

As the Demons kicked seven goals in the second quarter, Gawn had 10 disposals and kicked two goals.

Such was his presence and influence, he made the Magpies' decision to add Jarrod Witts to the line-up to support Brodie Grundy and Mason Cox a failure.

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Melbourne dominated uncontested possession and had 125 more disposals than Collingwood to win 16.8 (104) to 8.10 (58).

After wasting opportunities early, Jack Trengove started the ball rolling for Melbourne in the second quarter with his first goal since round 19, 2013.

The Demons kicked seven of the next eight goals until Levi Greenwood broke the run and kicked one for the Magpies five minutes into the third quarter.  

Demons skipper Nathan Jones - the only remaining Demon from that Queen's Birthday win in 2007 - inspired the turnaround, breaking Greenwood's tag and using his muscle around the stoppages to win vital contests.

He then watched on as Gawn and midfielder Bernie Vince exposed Collingwood's weaknesses to be the best two players on the ground.

Gawn finished with a career-high 27 disposals and three goals, ensuring he cashed in on the exposure gained by being on the front cover of the AFL Record.

Vince was relentless with an amazing 42 disposals and he had good support from Tomas Bugg, who restricted Steele Sidebottom to just 17 disposals, while Dom Tyson (29 disposals) was excellent from start to finish.

Tom McDonald was brilliant, erasing the memory of last Queen's Birthday when the absent Travis Cloke kicked seven goals against the defender.

He took nine marks and restricted the Magpies' attack to just 13 marks inside 50.

His brother Oscar was also very good in defence, playing his best game for Melbourne, outpointing the Magpies' tall forwards when the football hit the ground.

Melbourne's forward line looked potent with key forward Jesse Hogan good in the air, taking six marks and kicking three goals.

He enjoyed good support from Chris Dawes who ran hard to create space, Jack Watts kicked two goals and Dean Kent had three majors.

Collingwood had few winners with Travis Varcoe battling hard as Scott Pendlebury and Adam Treloar put in their normal serviceable performances, but they could not compete with Melbourne after quarter-time.

Melbourne now has six wins and six losses after 12 rounds while Collingwood's finals hopes are gone with just four wins as it heads into the bye in 14th position.

MELBOURNE             2.4    9.6    11.7   16.8      (104)       
COLLINGWOOD        4.4    5.4    6.6      8.10     (58)        

GOALS

Melbourne: Hogan 3, Kent 3, Gawn 3, Watts 2, Viney, Trengove, Petracca, N Jones, Kennedy
Collingwood: Cox 2, Maynard, White, Sidebottom, Varcoe, Greenwood, Grundy

BEST 

Melbourne: Gawn, Vince, N Jones, Kent, T McDonald, Tyson, Hogan, Bugg, Kennedy
Collingwood: Treloar, Pendlebury, Howe, De Goey, Varcoe 

INJURIES 

Melbourne: vandenBerg (nose)
Collingwood: J Frost (shoulder), Reid (left knee), Pendlebury (left ankle)

Reports: Nil 

Umpires: Nicholls, Jeffery, Wallace

Official crowd: 60,158 at the MCG