Melbourne has prolonged Collingwood's mid-season from hell, inflicting the Pies' sixth straight defeat to push Nathan Buckley's side even further away from finals contention.
Bernie Vince dominated with 30 disposals and three goals to drive the Demons to a 13.13 (91) to 7.12 (54) win.
The 37-point win is the Demons' sixth for the season, and will restore confidence in the club's supporters after their heavy loss to the rebuilding St Kilda a week ago.
But questions about where the Magpies are at are going to come thick and fast this week, after succumbing to a team that won't play finals this year.
Seven weeks ago, the Pies were entrenched in the top eight and looked September bound after winning eight from 11 games.
Saturday's loss – which came after the Pies failed to kick a goal in the final quarter – leaves them a game-and-a-half adrift of eighth-placed Geelong.
Collingwood's forward line struggled, with the decision to start Jamie Elliott in the green vest in his first game in three weeks surprising.
Travis Cloke, who kicked seven goals last time the sides met, didn't play because of a calf injury and Jesse White was dropped after indifferent form.
It saw youngster Darcy Moore stationed as the focal point, but Demons defender Tom McDonald ensured Moore didn't replicate last week's bag of five.
Alex Fasolo became the Pies' target when it became obvious Moore was being curtailed, and while the small forward marked strongly and kicked three goals, he was nullified by Neville Jetta after half-time.
"This game would be closest thing to (not producing the effort) that we've seen through the year," - @ncb_cfc.
— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) August 1, 2015
Demons captain Nathan Jones racked up 26 possessions and his side benefited from three goals to Jesse Hogan and two from Jeff Garlett, while the influence of Max Gawn was huge.
The Dees' ruckman looked shot at three-quarter time after chasing around Pies pair Brodie Grundy and Jarrod Witts throughout.
But he ended with 32 hit-outs, 14 of which were in the centre, and won 17 possessions; more than both Grundy (10) and Witts (11).
Pies fans saw Matthew Scharenberg for the first time after he was a late inclusion for Tyson Goldsack, who tweaked a quad in the warm-up.
"Just because we failed to get results in recent times doesn't mean the work we've done is swept away," - @ncb_cfc.
— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) August 1, 2015
The first-round draft pick looked right at home at AFL level after a quiet first quarter and ended with 16 touches across half-back. Skipper Scott Pendlebury collected 24 in a head-to-head battle with Vince.
After doubts were raised this week about how much the Demons have improved under coach Paul Roos, the situation suddenly looks a little better.
And, with Christian Petracca and Jack Trengove to come back in next season, things might not be so bleak for the Demons after all.
COLLINGWOOD 1.4 4.6 7.10 7.12 (54)
MELBOURNE 4.4 6.5 9.6 13.13 (91)
GOALS
Collingwood: Fasolo 3, Pendlebury, Varcoe, Witts, Adams
Melbourne: Vince 3, Hogan 3, Garlett 2, Vandenberg, Watts, Harmes, Jones, Howe
BEST
Collingwood: Swan, Adams, Sidebottom, Scharenberg, Langdon
Melbourne: Vince, Jones, Gawn, Viney, Garland, Watts, Cross,
INJURIES
Collingwood: Nil
Melbourne: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Jamie Elliott replaced Paul Seedsman in the third quarter.
Melbourne: James Harmes replaced Viv Michie in the third quarter.
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Kamolins, Jeffery
Official crowd: 37,894 at the MCG.