COLLINGWOOD is back in business and the minor premiership is all but confirmed for the first time since 2011 after the Magpies put Geelong away at the MCG on Friday night. 

After conceding six first quarter goals, including three off the boot of Geelong forward Jeremy Cameron, the Magpies looked on course for trouble when Darcy Moore was substituted out of the game due to hamstring tightness.

But everything changed from that moment. 

Collingwood rediscovered its mojo in the second quarter, then put the foot on the throat during a six-goal third quarter blitz, before handling the Cats late to bank a crucial 16.13 (109) to 15.11 (101) win. 

Craig McRae's men will wake up on Saturday morning three games clear on top of the ladder, ahead of the chasing contenders – Melbourne, Brisbane and Port Adelaide – who are all hunting a crucial home qualifying final next month. 

While the external focus had been squarely on his younger brother all week and what the hairline fracture in his knee means for his Brownlow Medal hopes, the famous Daicos name should collect some votes on that famous Monday night in September, after Josh produced a brilliant performance from a wing, amassing 37 disposals, nine contested possessions, eight score involvements and 564m gained. 

Brody Mihocek also roared back to life with an equal personal best haul of five goals, combining with Dan McStay, Jeremy Howe, Jamie Elliott and Beau McCreery who all kicked two goals each. 

Patrick Dangerfield was maximum impact for the Cats, but it was Jeremy Cameron who produced a vintage performance to jump the Pies early and then threaten late, finishing with 7.4 in a brilliant return to form.  

Cameron made the perfect start, snapping the first goal after two minutes. Geelong looked on early, and so did the box office star.

Gryan Miers' had a strong first quarter- the 24-year-old banked two before the first break. The first a penetrating 40m kick, the second a precise chip that only just covered the required distance. 

When Jeremy Cameron's kick carried centimetres over the line before Billy Frampton got a glove on the ball, the Geelong tall had his second and then a third when he finished a shot on his left to make it three in a quarter. Geelong had six goals to three on the board by the first break when Darcy Moore was ruled out due to hamstring tightness. 

Enter Jack Ginnivan, much to the delight of the Collingwood army.

Ginnivan got involved straight away but missed his target inside 50 and the Cats swept coast-to-coast, with Jeremy Cameron kicking his fourth. But then Jeremy Howe crunched Jack Bowes in a clean bump and Ginnivan flicked out a clever handball to Mihocek who dribbled a neat goal. Minutes later, Mihocek snapped another goal, this time on his right from a set shot that sailed through from deep in the pocket. After trailing by four goals, the Magpies reached the main break only a point behind after rediscovering their mojo.

After being beaten at the centre bounce in the first half, Jordan De Goey produced a clean exit in the opening seconds of the third quarter, hit a leading Dan McStay who put the Magpies back in front. The perfect start.

Jamie Elliott added the next four minutes later, then Ginnivan landed the next punch by dishing off another goal to McStay. When Bobby Hill sweetly hit a kick on the run from outside the arc, the Magpies had seven on the trot. 

Just when the game looked over at three-quarter time, Dangerfield and Cameron did what they do best. The Geelong captain kicked the first goal of the fourth quarter, before Cameron kicked his sixth.

But it wasn’t enough, with the Magpies rounding out winners by eight points.

COLLINGWOOD    3.4    7.8    13.11   16.13 (109)
GEELONG              6.2    8.3    10.5     15.11 (101)

GOALS
Collingwood: Mihocek 5, Elliott 2, Howe 2, McCreery 2, McStay 2, Adams, Hill, Pendlebury
Geelong: Cameron 7, Henry 4, Close, Dangerfield, Z.Guthrie, Stengle

INJURIES
Collingwood: Moore (hamstring)
Geelong: Rohan (adductor)

SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Jack Ginnivan (replaced Darcy Moore at quarter-time)
Geelong: Brandan Parfitt (replaced Gary Rohan in the second quarter)

Crowd: 78,749 at the MCG