COLLINGWOOD has recovered from a tardy start to notch its first win of the season over Melbourne at the MCG.

The Magpies trailed at quarter time and led by just one goal at the major break, but kicked away in the second half to win by 53 points, 17.15 (117) to 10.4 (64)

It was a considerable mometum change because, for much of the first half, the Pies battled to contain an enthusiastic Demons side intent on fast ball movement through the corridor.

It took until midway through the second term for Collingwood to find their range and get their skill level up to standard.

The turnaround was swift when it came and it featured arguably the best player on the Collingwood list, Alan Didak.

He booted consecutive goals that launched a six-goal-to-nil run either side of half time.

However, both of Didak’s game turning goals were aided by sloppy play from the Demons.

His first came directly from a clanger from Kyle Cheney after the ginger-haired defender shanked his kick-in straight into the arms of Didak 35 metres out.

Then Didak was allowed to run around on his favoured left foot after initially lining up from the 50m arc on the boundary line.

It was a poor lapse and the resulting goal levelled the scores and heralded a change in momentum.

Just before half time Paul Medhurst made the most of his first possession for the afternoon, marking and converting close to goal to give the Magpies the lead for the first time.

And they never looked back from there.

Star Magpie Dale Thomas fell ill with gastro and was a late withdrawal with Southport youngster Dayne Beams coming in for his first game.

Beams started on the pine and it was the Demons who bounced out of the blocks with the first two goals of the game.

Brad Miller was the dominant force at centre half-forward and the tall Melbourne defenders also started the match well.

The Dees' run-and-stun style through the middle of the ground was complemented by good foot skills from the likes of Cameron Bruce, Matthew Bate and Aaron Davey.

Collingwood, on the other hand, was struggling to hit targets and made a number of errors going forward.

Tarkyn Lockyer kept them in the game with two first term goals and they were fortunate not to be further behind at the first change.

But the complexion of the game changed during the second term.

Josh Fraser provided plenty of drive in the ruck and eventually the Magpies made better use of their possessions.

The Didak show provided the spark and the snowball effect carried through for the rest of the game as Collingwood’s confidence soared and Melbourne’s plummeted.

A six-goal-to-two third term saw the margin blow out to 33 points at the last change and the Magpie army knew they had a win in the bag.

The last quarter was one-sided although Collingwood was wasteful in front of goal.

Travis Cloke also got on the scoreboard after being well held by Matthew Warnock for the first three terms.

The Magpies main concern came with the report of Heath Shaw in the third quarter after a clash with Jared Rivers.

There was plenty of positives though, including the commanding ruck performance of Fraser and the goal kicking of John Anthony (four goals) and Didak.

Collingwood 3.1  8.3  14.7  17.15 (117)
Melbourne  5.2  7.2  9.4  10.4 (64)

GOALS
Collingwood: Anthony 4, Didak 3 Lockyer 2, Cloke 2, Swan, Medhurst, Brown, Fraser, Davis, Beams
Melbourne:  Green 3, Miller, Johnson, Morton, Petterd, Bate, Bruce, McLean

BEST
Collingwood: Fraser, Didak, Swan, Maxwell, Anthony, Lockyer, Davis, Beams
Melbourne: Bruce, Warnock, Green, Davey, Miller, Jones, Morton

INJURIES
Collingwood: Dale Thomas withdrew from the selected side with gastro. He was replaced by Dayne Beams.
Melbourne: Nil
 
Reports: Heath Shaw (Collingwood) for rough conduct (TBC) against Jared Rivers in the third term.

Umpires: Donlon, McLaren, Ryan
Official crowd:  43,176 at the MCG

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.