First quarter: Collingwood 4.4 (28) to Melbourne 2.4 (16)
Jack Viney’s return couldn’t have started any better when he toe-poked a goal within the opening minute, giving Melbourne the first for the match.
The red and blue continued to pepper the goals, but managed three consecutive behinds, before Mason Cox kicked Collingwood’s first at the eight-minute mark.
Cox’s major was the start of three in a row by the Pies and entering time-on, they led by 11 points.
Melbourne managed its second goal at the 24-minute mark, when Dean Kent converted, after Magpie Jonathon Marsh ran across the mark and gave away 50 metres.
But when Steele Sidebottom landed Collingwood’s fourth for the term, the Pies took a two-goal advantage into the first break.
Second quarter: Melbourne 9.6 (60) to Collingwood 5.4 (34)
Jack Trengove, who made a remarkable comeback last round, started the second term in top style, when he registered his first AFL goal since round 19, 2013.
Although Travis Varcoe answered soon after to put the Pies back in front by 12 points, when Jesse Hogan landed his first for the day at the five-minute mark, the pendulum swung Melbourne’s way.
The red and blue kicked six in succession to lead by 26 points at half-time.
It could’ve been seven in a row had Nathan Jones’ shot at the 29-minute mark not hit the post.
Hogan and Gawn kicked two each for the term, Kent added his second, as Christian Petracca got in on the act.
Third quarter: Melbourne 11.7 (73) to Collingwood 6.6 (42)
Melbourne continued its fine form early in the second half, when Jones made it seven in a row, giving the red and blue a 32-point buffer.
Collingwood ended the streak via Levi Greenwood at the four-minute mark, as scoring dried up for much of the quarter.
The Magpies added two behinds, before Hogan landed his third early in time-on.
Dean Kent could’ve had three to the final break, but his shot just before three quarter-time went through for a behind.
Entering the last change, Melbourne led by 31 points.
Final quarter: Melbourne 16.8 (104) defeated Collingwood 8.10 (58)
Although Collingwood trailed by more than five goals, it was still in the hunt when Brodie Grundy kicked the first of the final term, just 27 seconds in, reducing the margin back to 25 points.
But when Kent booted his third at the four-minute mark, it was the start of five in a row from Melbourne, which sealed its first Queen’s Birthday win since 2007.
Jack Watts booted two majors in the final term and former Magpie Ben Kennedy also chipped in with one.
And when Gawn kicked his third for the day Melbourne led by 55 points – the biggest lead of the match.
Cox became Collingwood’s only multiple goalkicker when he booted the last goal of the match, but it mattered little as Melbourne ended up winning by 45 points in front of a crowd of 60,158.
