Steele Sidebottom inspired Collingwood at the MCG on Sunday night as the Magpies withstood a stiff challenge from Carlton in a 15-point win.
Sixth-placed Collingwood notched their first victory in three weeks and improved their win-loss record to 9-5 with their 13.13 (91) to 11.10 (76) triumph over their traditional rivals.
Both teams will be interested in the results of the match-review panel’s deliberations on Monday after Carlton’s Mitch Robinson and Collingwood’s Dayne Beams were reported for striking incidents in the first and third quarters respectively.
The league’s decision to experiment by staging a blockbuster clash on a Sunday night faces an uncertain future after the two huge rivals drew a crowd of just 40,936 at the MCG.
Sidebottom in his return from suspension was best-afield with two goals and a game-high 33 disposals for the Magpies, while Dane Swan and Scott Pendlebury were also busy in midfield.
Small defender Kade Simpson and onballer Chris Judd were among the better contributors for the brave Blues, who suffered their fifth consecutive loss.
The Magpies’ midfielders were dominant early, led by Pendlebury who booted two of his side’s six goals in the opening term. Collingwood led 6.3 (39) to 2.2 (14) at quarter-time.
Onballers Robinson and Judd sparked the Blues who worked their way back into the game with a four-goal second term. Collingwood were ahead 8.8 (56) to 6.3 (39) at halftime
Sidebottom burst through two tackles to kick a fine goal on the run with less than a minute remaining in the third term as the Magpies steadied to take a 23-point lead into three-quarter time, 10.12 (72) to 7.7 (49). In a tight third term, the Magpies had outscored Carlton 2.4 to 1.4.
The Blues kicked four of the first six goals of the final term to trail by nine points.
A crucial kicking error from Carlton defender Ed Curnow led to Sidebottom’s third goal with less than three minutes remaining, as Blues’ coach Mick Malthouse immediately took Curnow from the field and handed out some advice via the headphones.
Collingwood travel to Gold Coast to play the Suns on Saturday while the Blues will host St Kilda at Etihad Stadium the following day.
