Collingwood has given themselves a handy percentage boost and set the stage for a massive Queen's Birthday clash following a comprehensive 61-point victory over the visiting Fremantle at the MCG.
Tom Phillips (36 disposals, three goals) and Steele Sidebottom (37) each enjoyed splendid days in the midfield, while Will Hoskin-Elliott finished with a career-high six majors in what was a field day for the Magpies for three and a half quarters.
Debutant Brody Mihocek similarly pieced together an outstanding debut, finishing with four goals, three of which were kicked in the final term.
The day was not so sweet for the Dockers - despite a seven-goal final term - with superstar Nat Fyfe potentially in hot water after making high contact with Levi Greenwood midway through the third term.
Similar to last week in which they scored 1.1 in the opening term, Collingwood failed to jump out of the blocks from the get-go, allowing Fremantle's Darcy Tucker to get proceedings underway.
Running rampant and dominating the uncontested ball, the Dockers' dominance around the footy was ulitmately unable to yield another major, with debutant Stefan Giro only managing to sneak one through the behinds in Freo's purple patch.
But the Magpies soon hit their straps through a Mason Cox major - his goal kickstarting the home side's counterattack and put the Dockers on the back foot.
Smacking the visitors around the clearances (8-3) and repeatedly banging the ball inside 50, it would still take another seven minutes before Josh Thomas put through Collingwood's second.
Although presented with numerous opportunities to extend their total, the Magpies wasted their chances in front of goal, not recording another major until the 24-minute mark of the term through Hoskin-Elliott.
Fremantle conversely were more deliberate in their approach, yet only managed to squeeze in one of their own via Tommy Sheridan, ending the term just nine points down.
But coming into the second quarter, the Magpies found their feet with an impressive five-goal term against the Dockers' one.
The quarter did little to improve the spirits of the visitors after Michael Walters was taken from the field with a leg complaint.
Walters however returned to the field later on in the term seemingly unfazed.
First-gamer Brody Mihocek proved to be a valuable asset up forward, getting Collingwood's five-goal term underway with a classy snap of his own, but it would be yet another dry spell before the Magpies were rewarded with their second.
Jordan de Goey was nevertheless integral in moving the ball forward, assisting in three scoring opportunities early in the second term.
A major from Bailey Banfield had the potential to slice back the margin and reinvigorate the Dockers, yet four successive majors from the home side quelled any such thoughts of a fightback.
As Hoskin-Elliott, Josh Thomas, Brayden Maynard and Jaidyen Stephenson all added their names to the scoresheet within the space of six minutes, the Dockers struggled to find a response to their opposition's surge.
With the Magpie midfield of Taylor Adams (seven clearances), Sidebottom and Phillips slicing through Fremantle like butter, the margin sat at a comfortable 34 points at the main break.
Yet all the scoring in the second quarter must have tired out Collingwood, with eight minutes elapsing before their first major.
Much like the previous term, the Magpies took some time to hit the scoreboard while the Dockers suffered more injuries, this time to Alex Pearce and Connor Blakely.
Although the scoring was initially minimal, Collingwood's presence certainly was not - their immense tackle pressure (10 in the first five minutes) pushing them forward into the forward line on multiple occasions.
It would take some Scott Pendlebury composure to get the black and white army started, with the skipper given ample time to wheel around, evade his opponents and boot a classy goal from outside the 50.
A David Mundy goal in identical fashion to Pendlebury's would put an end to the Magpies' five-goal streak, yet it wouldn't take long for the home side to hit back.
Nat Fyfe provided an accidental high hit of his own on Levi Greenwood - an incident which will likely come under MRO scrutiny given the head-high contact.
Yet it did little to trouble the Magpies as they began yet another five-goal streak against their hapless opposition, who couldn't contain Collingwood's blitz into the forward line - the inside 50 count at the end of the third resting at 18-5 .
De Goey's goal sense paid dividends with a classy snap, before Hoskin-Elliott and Josh Daicos buried Fremantle's defence.
Yet the show undoubtedly belonged to Phillips, who finished the term with 32 possessions and four clearances, along with two out-the-back majors to cap off Collingwood's second five-goal haul.
Mundy would again play spoiler and cease the Magpies' scoring run in the final minute of the term, cutting the margin back to 59 points with one quarter left to play.
Although the visitors strung walked away without the four points in the end, they were nevertheless able to string together a seven-goal term to mitigate the embarrassment, while also dishing some out to the Magpies.
The start however belonged to the Pies, and it looked as if a bloodbath was on the horizon.
As Mihocek's debut got even better after the 25-year-old went back-to-back to take his tally to three, while Hoskin-Elliott went one with his fourth goal well and truly sinking the deplorable Dockers.
Michael Apeness and Brennan Cox would be the Dockers' reprieve from the Collingwood onslaught, with the two each kicking goals to temporarily stop the bleeding.
Hoskin-Elliott resumed the goal-fest just minutes later with his fifth and then sixth, before the debutant in Giro put another major on the board for the Dockers.
As Phillips put through his third on the run, Lachie Neale's back-to-back majors saved the visitors from some humiliation, much to the annoyance of the Collingwood cheer squad.
It was the Magpies who were similarly red-faced by the end, with Scott Jones and Tucker making it four in a row for Fremantle, before Mihocek restored the Collingwood dominance with his fourth.
The final margin resting at 61 points, the Magpies will nevertheless be content with their sound victory, as they move to seventh on the AFL ladder.
Collingwood will be ready to take centre-stage in what will be a massive Queen's Birthday clash against Melbourne next Monday, while Fremantle will be back home to do battle with Adelaide in another Sunday twilight.
COLLINGWOOD 3.6 8.8 14.9 21.12 (138)
FREMANTLE 2.3 3.4 5.4 12.5 (77)
GOALS
Collingwood: Hoskin-Elliott 6, Mihocek 4, Phillips 3, Thomas 2, Daicos, Maynard, Stephenson, de Goey, Pendlebury, Cox
Fremantle: Neale 2, Tucker 2, Mundy 2, Giro, Cox, Apeness, Sheridan, Jones, Banfield
BEST
Collingwood: Phillips, Hoskin-Elliott, Sidebottom, Mihocek, Treloar, Adams, Pendlebury, Grundy
Fremantle: Neale, Walters, Sheridan, Tucker, Mundy, Blakely
INJURIES
Collingwood: Nil
Fremantle: Pearce (ankle)
TALKING POINTS
1. FYFE IN STRIFE
He's a talking point every single week due to his freakish ability and game-changing tendencies, yet Nat Fyfe finds himself in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
A high bump on Levi Greenwood in the third term marred what was already a lacklustre game for the Freo skipper, who ended his day with 24 touches - a number far below his normally lofty figures.
What's worse is that should the high contact result in a suspension, the Brownlow favourite will be ineligible for the AFL's most coveted individual honour.
Fyfe may have some luck on his side, as Greenwood picked himself up and played out the rest of the game, finishing with 13 disposals and five tackles in what was just his second game for the season.
An interesting week at the Tribunal all the same.
2. WILL HOSKIN-ELLIOTT WONDERS AS MIHOCEK MARVELS
No Elliott, no Reid, no Moore, no Fasolo... no worries.
Six goals to Will Hoskin-Elliott alleviated fears that Collingwood would have trouble sourcing consistent majors, with his efforts earning him best on ground honours.
Presenting at the ball strong and clunking everything that came his way, Hoskin-Elliott was near unstoppable, making the Collingwood forward line look as potent as ever.
Six marks inside 50 to go alongside his career-best six straight majors emphasised the sheer growth of the 24-year-old, who now has now kicked 23 goals for the season; his previous season-best a three-goal bag against Carlton.
The ex-Giant has been an absolute pearl of a recruit for the Magpies, but the homegrown talent too performed on their outing against the Dockers.
25-year-old debutant Brody Mihocek was just as damaging up forward with four majors of his own - three of which were kicked in the final term - with the VFL Magpie bringing his blistering form to the elite level of competition.
Four goals from eight kicks with 100 per cent efficiency will see Mihocek most definitely get a crack at another bag on Queen's Birthday.
With a seemingly undermanned forward line producing 21 goals in a game, opposition teams should be fearful of what the Magpies can muster when they're at full strength.
3. MAGPIE MIDFIELD AS MIGHTY AS EVER
Solid defence, tick. Solid forward line, tick. Solid midfield, tick, tick, tick.
Whoever thought the Magpies would have trouble competing with the elite midfields of Richmond, West Coast and Sydney need to have another glance at the A-grade names on Collingwood's list.
Tom Phillips was the cream of the crop against the Dockers, finishing with 36 touches and three goals in what was the best game of his very short 35-game career.
The more seasoned Steele Sidebottom (37 disposals), Adam Treloar (34), Scott Pendlebury (30) and Taylor Adams (28) similarly pieced together exceptional games, with the latter racking up a team-high eight clearances.
With all midfielders wielding the ability to kick goals and working in perfect harmony alongside ruckman Brodie Grundy, the Magpies will certainly be feared through the centre of the ground come September.
Yes, we're calling it now - how can't you with such talent?
4. A DISAPPOINTING FINISH?
One slight issue with the Magpies otherwise perfect match was that of their finish, in which they conceded seven goals within the space of 20 minutes.
A 100-point flogging was certainly on the cards for the Magpies, yet their slip in the final term saw them run out as just 61-point winners.
Collingwood's last terms have shown to be a problem this season, with the black and white army conceding a season-high eight goals against the Tigers, albeit the Magpies trailing for the whole match.
It's no doubt a compelling victory, but it really could have been that much better had the Magpies had that added finesse to finish strongly.
5. QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY CLASH IS GOING TO BE A BLOCKBUSTER
With Melbourne firing on all cylinders following their 49-point dismantling of the Western Bulldogs this week and their 91-point flogging of Adelaide the week before, the Queen's Birthday clash is set to be a spectacular affair.
Both sides raring to prove themselves in front of a massive crowd, the stars have aligned for a Monday afternoon blockbuster which will have big implications on the rest of the season.
And with Neale Daniher's annual Big Freeze at the 'G of equal importance, next Monday could not be more grand an occasion for either side.
The stage has been set - this is one not to miss.
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