Collingwood is slowly lurching out of its form slump in time for finals.
Nathan Buckley's men were slow out of the blocks again on Saturday at the MCG, but a five-goal-to-one second term instigated a 10.10 (70) to 7.11 (53) victory over struggling Melbourne.
A late red-and-blue flurry reduced the margin after it stretched to 42 early in the fourth quarter.
The second-from-bottom Demons took a narrow lead to quarter-time and kicked the first goal of the following term, after last-placed Gold Coast jumped the Pies at the same venue last week.
However, Collingwood responded with the next seven goals either side of half-time – five crucially from Melbourne turnovers – until Bayley Fritsch nailed a set shot 14 minutes into the third term.
The Magpies were never seriously threatened thereafter, with Brody Mihocek, Scott Pendlebury and Travis Varcoe all slotting multiple goals as the Dees' wastefulness haunted them once more.
Collingwood had lost four of five matches before these past two games, so a date with the AFL's cellar-dwellers could not have come at a better time ahead of a more difficult upcoming fortnight.
The Pies provisionally returned to the top four, in a none-too-subtle reminder of what's still at stake as they try to go one better than last year's heartbreaking Grand Final defeat.
Mihocek booted four for the day and looms as an even more vital piece in Collingwood's attack with Mason Cox out for the rest of the season because of a torn retina in his left eye.
Former Bulldog Jordan Roughead's been a Godsend for the Pies' injury-ravaged defence this season, but joined Mihocek up forward with limited success against Melbourne.
Any hope of the Demons recovering from the second quarter avalanche was shot once Jack Crisp waltzed to the cusp of his attacking 50 and bounced through a brilliant goal.
That came in time-on of the third term and gave Collingwood a then-match-high 36-point edge.
The competition's leading ball-winner, Adam Treloar (31 disposals), ignited after a slow start by his standards, Pendlebury (23, two goals) was sharp, Steele Sidebottom (28) was typically prominent and Jeremy Howe (22, eight marks) was a rock in defence.
Brodie Grundy also bounced back from a one-disposal opening quarter to comfortably take the honours against fellow All Australian ruckman Max Gawn in their latest high-profile encounter.
Melbourne's bright start was long forgotten by day's end, but it was built on heightened defensive pressure and improved ball movement going inside 50.
Part of the problem was an inability to translate that to the scoreboard, with Christian Petracca, Corey Wagner, Gawn and Fritsch among the early culprits.
Neither team kicked a goal until Demon Harry Petty marked and goaled from close range more than 25 minutes into the contest, thanks to a nice pass from Petracca.
There were some new looks for Melbourne, which sent usual-defender Oscar McDonald to the forward line, while Angus Brayshaw (26) started the game without his trademark helmet.
But it was the same old result for the 2019 Dees, who also lost defensive recruit Steven May (left hamstring) in the fourth quarter and his on-again, off-again season looks over.
MEDICAL ROOM
Melbourne: Steven May appeared to hurt his left hamstring early in the final term after landing from a defensive contest, in his first game back from the same issue. Oskar Baker and Harry Petty also came from the ground with leg problems during the match.
Collingwood: Josh Daicos twice left the field in the third quarter and was ruled out after failing a concussion test. Scott Pendlebury (ankle) went to the bench in the fourth term.
NEXT UP
Melbourne's disastrous season will continue under the Friday night lights against Sydney at the MCG in round 22. Collingwood will gun for three wins in a row when it travels to Adelaide Oval next Saturday to face the Crows.
MELBOURNE 1.4 2.6 3.8 7.11 (53)
COLLINGWOOD 0.5 5.6 9.8 10.10 (70)
GOALS
Melbourne: Petty, Brayshaw, Fritsch, Petracca, Hunt, O.McDonald, Gawn
Collingwood: Mihocek 4, Pendlebury 2, Varcoe 2, Thomas, Crisp
BEST
Melbourne: Brayshaw, Petracca, Harmes, Frost, Oliver, Fritsch
Collingwood: Treloar, Grundy, Mihocek, Pendlebury, Sidebottom, Howe
INJURIES
Melbourne: May (hamstring)
Collingwood: Daicos (concussion)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Harris, Gianfagna, McInerney
Official crowd: 31,903 at the MCG
