COLLINGWOOD has held on against an inspired Hawthorn with an 11.11 (77) to 11.6 (72) win at Adelaide Oval on Sunday night, winning two in a row and getting its season back on track.
However, there was a downside for the premiers with veteran and club icon Scott Pendlebury subbed out in the first half after a heavy knee to his ribs.
The Hawks had plenty of moments, the earliest being Jack Ginnivan's first goal against his old side.
From there it seemed the Magpies was determined to deny their former premiership player any more pleasure, but control slipped out of their hands the longer the game went.
Sam Mitchell revealed at half-time he was swinging Blake Hardwick into attack as an alternative scoring option, as the regular defender kicked three goals for the term and another early in the fourth.
Ginnivan's second minutes later brought the Hawks within three goals, followed by two to Dylan Moore and the difference was inside one straight kick.
The ball spent the final minute inside Hawthorn's forward 50, but the underdogs just couldn't find space to score.
Box office star Jordan De Goey rose to the occasion, producing his best showing of the season to date, finishing with 31 disposals, 11 contested possessions, seven tackles, six clearances, 791 metres gained and a goal in a standout performance.
Brownlow Medallist Tom Mitchell fired against the side he left 18 months ago, amassing 30 touches, 18 contested possessions, 10 tackles and seven clearances.
John Noble continued his redemption tale with another eye-catching display off half-back, backing up a strong return to the 22 on Easter Thursday after being dropped on the eve of last September and missing out on a place in Collingwood's flag-winning side.
After starting the season without a win across the first three rounds, following losses to Greater Western Sydney, Sydney and St Kilda, the Magpies head to the bye with their season back on track after back-to-back away trips.
Hawthorn had won 14 of the past 17 games between the clubs dating back to the 2011 preliminary final, but it was fighting out of its weight division at Adelaide Oval. With a wide gap in experience – 66 average games to 144, and seven players with less than 20 games compared to the Magpies' one – the Hawks were gallant but exit round four without a win to start 2024.
COLLINGWOOD 4.1 9.4 11.6 11.11 (77)
HAWTHORN 1.1 3.2 7.5 11.6 (72)
GOALS
Collingwood: Schultz 2, Mihocek 2, Elliott, Pendlebury, McInnes, Hoskin-Elliott, De Goey, N.Daicos, Crisp
Hawthorn: Hardwick 4, Moore 3, Ginnivan 2, Ramsden, Newcombe
