Collingwood ruckman Darren Jolly believes the Magpies are still building towards their best ahead of an opportunity to move to the top of the AFL ladder on Monday.

The Magpies can go a win clear atop the table if they beat Melbourne at the MCG in their Queen’s Birthday clash after Essendon stumbled and West Coast and Adelaide had weekend byes.

Sydney’s four-point win over the Bombers on Saturday night lifted them to top spot, but it will be temporary if the Magpies can beat the Demons.

Ominously, Jolly believes Collingwood, who have won their past seven matches, are yet to peak – and are primed to do so at the right time of the year.

“The start of last year, we were peaking really early, and … we tapered off towards the end for whatever reason,” Jolly told the Seven Network’s AFL Game Day.

“But at this stage of the year, we’re building. We’ve still got a lot of improvement to go – we’ve blooded a lot of young guys into the team.

“I think we’re peaking in the right order and we’re certainly excited about it.”

Essendon powered back from 47 points down at three-quarter-time to come close to pinching the match from the Swans with a nine goals to two last quarter at Etihad Stadium.

But after taking a mark near the 50-metre arc, Bombers defender Courtenay Dempsey played on as the fulltime siren sounded, denying his side an opportunity to win the match.

It gave the Swans a 13.8 (86) to 11.16 (82) victory, lifting them to an 8-3 win-loss record.

Gold Coast remain the only winless side after 11 rounds with a pitiful 95-point loss to St Kilda at Metricon Stadium on Saturday.

Suns coach Guy McKenna labelled his side’s performance “totally unacceptable” and accused them of giving up before halftime in the 21.18 (144) to 7.7 (49) thrashing.

“That final period of 10 to 15 minutes before halftime, it certainly looked like they gave it in – they turned their toes up,” he said.

Fremantle jammed a stick in the spokes of in-form Richmond’s bandwagon with a 12-point upset in miserable conditions at the MCG.

The Dockers are 6-5 going into their bye, while Richmond remain stranded outside the top eight despite some excellent performances this season.

But Fremantle will be sweating on ruckman Aaron Sandilands’ fitness after he was injured early in the match.

The Dockers say he has a foot injury.

Carlton fell to a fourth defeat in their past five matches, losing by 12 points to Geelong at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

The Cats have moved to 7-4 and remain in the top eight, while Carlton are just outside.