MELBOURNE has snapped Collingwood's eight-game winning streak, knocking off the ladder leaders by four points in an MCG slugfest.
The Demons overcame both the Pies and their own goalkicking issues, clawing their way to the front in the third quarter and holding their nerve to close out the 8.18 (66) to 9.8 (62) victory.
Collingwood – as is now tradition – put everyone on edge with two quick goals from Brody Mihocek and Nick Daicos in the final 90 seconds, closing the margin to four points with 26 seconds left, but Jack Viney (32 disposals) won his ninth and final clearance to bomb the ball to the safety of a vacant Melbourne forward line.
Viney was named Neale Daniher medallist as best-afield in the tough-fought win.
Returning Pie Pat Lipinski had cut the margin to one point at the start of the final term with his second goal, and the Dees appeared to blow chance after chance to create a buffer, kicking three straight behinds from set shots before Alex Neal-Bullen finally saluted.
Collingwood had jumped out to a three-goal lead to open the game, and for a moment it looked like there was a chance of a rout, but Melbourne steadied and held up the Pies' overlap run.
The Demons ended up with the final seven inside 50s of the first quarter, but kicked 1.3 with another Kozzy Pickett shot falling short.
Melbourne was certainly sharper going into attack in the first half than it was last week against Carlton, but it still wasn't at its very best, and the likes of Darcy Moore and Nathan Murphy made life difficult at times for the Dees forwards.
Bayley Fritsch was locked in an intriguing battle with Moore, the taller Pie occasionally having the edge overhead, but the Demons’ leading goalkicker proving difficult to beat on the lead and kicking 3.3.
Collingwood found it difficult to find room to move in attack at times, with Melbourne quick to run back and clog up leading lanes, forcing the Pies to enter inside 50 round the boundary.
Joel Smith completed his own seven-point play after a stilted opening 10 minutes of the third quarter, missing a shot from 40 but capitalising from 20 just a minute later to cut the margin to one point.
It opened the gates to release, if not a flood, then a creek in a low-scoring affair, while Reef McInnes had a moment he'd like to forget down the other end, missing his boot when running into an open goal.
As the game progressed, Collingwood seriously struggled with its forward structure. The Pies would finally get a fast break, only to find an attacking line stacked with Melbourne players, and they took just seven marks inside 50.
Adam Tomlinson received treatment on his hand and Viney on his shoulder, but both played the game out.
For the Pies, Moore spent some crucial final-quarter minutes in the rooms with a left ankle issue, while Jack Ginnivan was a late withdrawal due to load management and team balance.
MELBOURNE 1.4 3.8 6.11 8.18 (66)
COLLINGWOOD 3.1 5.4 6.5 9.8 (62)
GOALS
Melbourne: Fritsch 3, Viney, Smith, Grundy, Neal-Bullen, van Rooyen
Collingwood: Lipinski 2, Crisp, Harrison, Cox, Hill, McCreery, Mihocek, N.Daicos
INJURIES
Melbourne: Tomlinson (hand), Viney (shoulder)
Collingwood: Moore (ankle)
LATE CHANGES
Melbourne: Nil
Collingwood: Jack Ginnivan (managed), replaced in selected side by Reef McInnes
SUBSTITUTES
Melbourne: James Jordon (replaced Charlie Spargo in the third quarter)
Collingwood: Oleg Markov (replaced Ash Johnson in the third quarter)
Crowd: 83,578 at the MCG
