Collingwood have staged an astonishing AFL comeback to beat Hawthorn by 18 points at the MCG.

The Magpies followed their worst first quarter under coach Nathan Buckley with the best fightback of his six-year reign, winning on Saturday night 13.12 (90) to 11.6 (72).

Collingwood’s third win for the season eases the pressure slightly on Buckley – a marked contrast to how it had been looking for him early in the match.

In the week he became a dad for the first time, captain Scott Pendlebury led Collingwood’s unstoppable charge with a best-afield performance.

Pendlebury was sublime with 36 disposals and a goal – plus a stoush late in the last term with Luke Hodge.

The Hawks’ veteran became incensed after a jumper punch from Taylor Adams and clashed heatedly with Pendlebury, among others.

There was no apparent bad blood between the two stars as Pendlebury and Hodge chatted immediately after the final siren.

Hawthorn stumbled despite an outstanding 50-possession game from midfielder Tom Mitchell – equal-fifth in AFL history for the most in a game and a club record.

The Magpies kicked nine goals to one in the second half.

The win came three days after Collingwood legend Lou Richards was farewelled with a state funeral and the Magpies had a touching pre-game tribute to him.

But as soon as the game started, the night had a funereal feel for the Magpies.

Hawthorn were as well-organised and ruthless as Collingwood were awful in the first quarter.

The Hawks kicked 6.1 to a behind – Collingwood’s lowest first-quarter score under Buckley and also their biggest deficit at the first break in his reign.

Hawks midfielder Tom Mitchell had 14 disposals in the first term – 12 Collingwood players could only manage a combined total of 19.

Collingwood finally kicked their first goal at the start of the second term, but two more majors to the Hawks gave them a game-high lead of 43 points.

Then slowly, awkwardly, the Magpies started working their way back into the game.

They reduced the margin to 28, but an accurate snap from Ben McEvoy seconds before halftime took the margin back out to 34.

It proved a temporary reprieve for the Hawks. They have developed a bad habit this season of poor second halves.

Now it was Collingwood’s turn to pile on the pressure, kicking 5.5 to Hawthorn’s solitary behind in the third term.

Magpies utility James Aish summed up their desperation when he cannoned into Daniel Howe as they contested a third-term ground ball.

Aish was holding the right side of his face as he left the field, his game over.

Hawthorn had to make two late changes when in-form forward Tim O’Brien was ruled out with hip soreness and Kaiden Brand fell ill.

That meant Hawthorn had made six forced changes for the match.

One of the late recalls, James Sicily, kicked three goals.