The Magpies kicked the first four goals of the game in greasy conditions and were rarely troubled thereafter, running out 16.14 (110) to 10.12 (72) winners to even their record at 2-2.
Captain Scott Pendlebury, Dayne Beams, Jesse White and Brent Macaffer were instrumental for the victors, while there were few positives for a Tigers outfit that continually butchered the ball.
The Tigers managed just a solitary goal in each of the first three quarters as they dropped to 1-3 for the season, continuing an unwanted run of outs against the Magpies. Richmond last beat Collingwood in round 19, 2007.
"Overall, it was another step forward," Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said after the match.
"They're a good football team. They haven't had a great start to the year – they're capable of being very damaging offensively. "To keep them to three goals in those first three quarters was the strongest aspect of our performance."
Richmond captain Trent Cotchin could only manage 13 disposals, his lowest tally since round 16, 2010, after being well held by Pies tagger Macaffer.
Macaffer was criticised by former Carlton coach David Parkin during the ABC's coverage for using "illegal" tactics to negate Cotchin.
After the match, Tigers coach Damien Hardwick said there were "some people out there that do give the protection" to Cotchin, but refused to be drawn on whether he was referring to his captain's teammates or the umpires.
"Don’t get me in trouble,” Hardwick said.
“I'll leave that one to your imagination."
The Tigers have just one victory from their first four games, and already their finals aspirations are on shaky ground; just two teams in the past five years have recovered from a 1-3 start to the season to finish in the top eight.
In 2010, Hawthorn scraped into the finals after registering just one win in the first seven rounds, while last season Carlton made the top eight after a 1-3 start, although they were gifted their spot with Essendon excluded as a result of the supplements saga.
Former Sydney Swan Jesse White was impressive up forward for the Pies, taking seven marks and kicking three goals, but star teammate Travis Cloke continued to struggle, held goalless in his 200th game.
Cloke's quiet start to the season has generated plenty of discussion this week, and he did little to quieten his critics, Richmond defender David Astbury doing well to limit his impact.
The Pies spearhead has kicked only two goals this season, both coming in Collingwood’s round two win over the Sydney Swans, and he finished with just three marks and two behinds against the Tigers.
The Pies flew out of the blocks in the opening quarter, and despite the Tigers leading the inside 50s 14 to 10 in the first term, they could only manage just the one goal for the quarter through debutant Sam Lloyd.
Mature-aged recruit Lloyd was the shining light for the Tigers, kicking their only two goals for the first half and finishing the game with 22 disposals and three goals.
The Pies led by 28 points at half time, and extended that margin to 42 points at the final change as the Tigers recorded their lowest three-quarter time score (3.10) against Collingwood since 1989.
Vote for your top three players in Collingwood's 38-point win to help decide the winner of the Magpie Army Player of the Year Award.
With the heat out of the contest, the Tigers booted seven goals in the final term to add some belated respectability to the scoreboard, spearhead Jack Riewoldt finally impacting the scoreboard with two goals.
Nathan Brown is a chance to return to Collingwood's defence for next Saturday's clash against North Melbourne at the MCG.
The Tigers now have a six-day break before heading to Brisbane on Wednesday to face the Lions on Thursday night at the Gabba.
Collingwood 4.3 7.5 10.10 16.14 (110)
Richmond 1.4 2.7 3.10 10.12 (72)
Goals - Collingwood: Beams 3, Pendlebury 3, White 3, Swan 2, Elliott 2, Sidebottom, Blair, Ball
Richmond: Lloyd 3, Riewoldt 2, Martin, Arnot, Newman, Edwards, Thomas
Best - Collingwood: Beams, Pendlebury, Macaffer, Sidebottom, White, Fasolo, Witts
Richmond: Lloyd, Astbury, Martin
Injuries - Collingwood: Nil
Richmond: Vickery (left quad)
Substitutes - Collingwood: Brodie Grundy (replaced by Josh Thomas in the third quarter)
Richmond: Tyrone Vickery (replaced by Matthew Arnot at half time)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Fleer, Findlay, Pannell
Crowd: 62,100 at the MCG
