The Magpies triumphed 22.20 (152) to 8.11 (59) in their biggest win for the year, with the margin falling just eight points short of their biggest-ever margin over Richmond.
The Pies took the lead 11 minutes into the game and didn't look back from there, ruining Richmond veteran Joel Bowden's final game in the yellow and black in the process.
After a quiet afternoon, Bowden stood up in the fourth to rack up 14 touches, and a tally of 24 for the game.
Travis Cloke worked hard in the forward line for two goals, 10 marks and six tackles, Dayne Beams was terrific again for 30 touches, and Dane Swan did his Brownlow Medal chances no harm with a 34-possession game.
Leon Davis had some brilliant moments in front of goal and Shane O'Bree had plenty of the ball, while Leigh Brown had a quiet afternoon but was able to celebrate his 200th league game in style.
After the Magpies got the first goal of the game through Jack Anthony, the Tigers made it appear as though a contest was looming with the next two through Jack Riewoldt and Mitch Morton.
When Paul Medhurst converted after winning a free kick two minutes later before Heath Shaw pushed up into the forward line to goal, the Tigers lost their only lead of the game.
The Magpies won three shots at goal in a row when the Tigers repeatedly turned the ball over in their defensive arc, but Tarkyn Lockyer added the only major to their tally with Anthony spraying two chances.
With Collingwood outweighing Richmond heavily in disposals and forward entries, it was no surprise the Tigers were denied another score for the quarter.
From 17 forward entries the Pies managed to score 7.8 for the term while the Tigers remained stranded on 3.3 despite the efforts of Cousins (nine touches) and Daniel Jackson (three clearances).
The second term was when the real damage to Richmond's chances was done. Chris Newman's ugly kick at goal in the opening minute set the scene for the quarter, which began with the Magpies a handy 37 points in front.
An all-in melee – sparked when Jake King collected Alan Didak behind play – was the only thing that interrupted a Collingwood goal-kicking spree.
The Pies already had another two majors on the board when the trouble broke out nine minutes in, which saw every player on the field involved and left King reported for his initial strike on Didak.
The Tigers initially responded better to the halt in play and got the next goal through Nahas, but the Magpies were able to compose themselves.
From the 17-minute mark onwards, the Tigers remained scoreless while the Pies added majors through Ben Johnson, Beams, Swan and Didak to take a 70-point lead into the second half.
Richmond mounted a minor charge in the third and got the margin to 63 points after kicking back-to-back goals in the opening 10 minutes.
However, the Magpies again got on a roll and kicked the next four – the first of which was the most impressive when Davis scooped the ball up at full pace and flicked it onto his boot.
Nahas kicked the Tigers' only other six-pointer for the term, but Brad Dick and Davis rounded it out with another two that saw the three-quarter time margin at 97 points.
The Tigers won the last quarter 2.6 to 2.2, but all that did was prevent the Pies from registering a record score against one of their traditional rivals.
Collingwood will now host the Sydney Swans next Sunday while Richmond will play Hawthorn on Saturday night, with both games scheduled at the MCG.
Richmond 2.1 3.3 6.5 8.11 (59)
Collingwood 7.8 13.13 20.18 22.20 (152)
GOALS
Richmond: Nahas 2, Hislop 2, Riewoldt, Morton, Deledio, Tambling
Collingwood: Davis 4, Anthony 3, Cloke 2, Swan 2, Didak 2, Dick 2, Medhurst, Shaw, Lockyer, Johnson, Beams, O'Brien, Pendlebury
BEST
Richmond: Deledio, Nahas, Edwards, Newman, Jackson
Collingwood: Cloke, Beams, Swan, Davis, O'Bree, Pendlebury, O'Brien
INJURIES
Richmond: White (hamstring tightness) replaced in selected side by Coughlan
Collingwood: Nil
Reports: King (Richmond) reported for striking Didak (Collingwood) by umpire Donlon in the second quarter, Hislop (Richmond) reported for rough conduct against O'Bree (Collingwood) by umpire Avon in the fourth quarter
Umpires: Donlon, James, Avon
Official crowd: 63,366 at the MCG
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
