RUCKMAN Max Gawn has laid claim to being the game's best ruckman after leading Melbourne to its first win on Queen's Birthday since 2007, with the Demons destroying Collingwood by 46 points.
As the Demons kicked seven goals in the second quarter, Gawn had 10 disposals and kicked two goals.
Such was his presence and influence, he made the Magpies' decision to add Jarrod Witts to the line-up to support Brodie Grundy and Mason Cox a failure.
Melbourne dominated uncontested possession and had 125 more disposals than Collingwood to win 16.8 (104) to 8.10 (58).
After wasting opportunities early, Jack Trengove started the ball rolling for Melbourne in the second quarter with his first goal since round 19, 2013.
The Demons kicked seven of the next eight goals until Levi Greenwood broke the run and kicked one for the Magpies five minutes into the third quarter.
Demons skipper Nathan Jones - the only remaining Demon from that Queen's Birthday win in 2007 - inspired the turnaround, breaking Greenwood's tag and using his muscle around the stoppages to win vital contests.
He then watched on as Gawn and midfielder Bernie Vince exposed Collingwood's weaknesses to be the best two players on the ground.
Gawn finished with a career-high 27 disposals and three goals, ensuring he cashed in on the exposure gained by being on the front cover of the AFL Record.
Melbourne coach Paul Roos said the Demons focused on bringing the ball to ground in order to gain a tactical advantage.
"I made a focus of it before the game and at half-time, not to expose it but just to say 'Guys, we can't get outmarked. Our strength is going to be on the ground,'" Roos said.
"There were a lot of different turning points in the game but that was one of them. Once we were able to bring the ball to ground, it looked a different game from our point of view.”
Vince was relentless with an amazing 42 disposals and he had good support from Tomas Bugg, who restricted Steele Sidebottom to just 17 disposals, while Dom Tyson (29 disposals) was excellent from start to finish.
Tom McDonald was brilliant, erasing the memory of last Queen's Birthday when the absent Travis Cloke kicked seven goals against the defender.
He took nine marks and restricted the Magpies' attack to just 13 marks inside 50.
His brother Oscar was also very good in defence, playing his best game for Melbourne, outpointing the Magpies' tall forwards when the football hit the ground.
Melbourne's forward line looked potent with key forward Jesse Hogan good in the air, taking six marks and kicking three goals.
He enjoyed good support from Chris Dawes who ran hard to create space, Jack Watts kicked two goals and Dean Kent had three majors.
Collingwood had few winners with Travis Varcoe battling hard as Scott Pendlebury and Adam Treloar put in their normal serviceable performances, but they could not compete with Melbourne after quarter-time.
Disappointed Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said the Magpies failed to win key contests.
"Their contested method versus ours was the difference in the game. Their forwards got the benefit of that and our forwards weren't able to take advantage of the haphazard ball that was coming the other way," Buckley said.
"We weren't able to put enough to put enough pressure on that ball carrier.”
Melbourne now has six wins and six losses after 12 rounds while Collingwood's finals hopes are gone with just four wins as it heads into the bye in 14th position.
MEDICAL ROOM
Melbourne: Aaron vandenBerg was on and off the ground throughout the day with what appeared to be a shoulder problem but he played out the game, ending the match with taping below his eye. Jack Viney got through the game well after returning from a fractured hand in just two weeks.
Collingwood: Scott Pendlebury had his foot iced after the game but Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley was vague after the game on whether the captain had suffered an injury. He played out the game and did not appear in discomfort during the match. Ben Reid had ice on his left knee too but should be fine, while Jack Frost returned to the ground after having his shoulder assessed. The Magpies don't have any players of note returning from injury and the bye will help teammates recover from niggles.
NEXT UP
Melbourne has a huge test against the Sydney Swans as Paul Roos, the former Swans coach, returns to the SCG for what is likely to be his last appearance at the venue as coach. They get the injury-hit Swans at a vulnerable time however, while Collingwood has a bye this week before it meets Fremantle in a danger game at the MCG in round 14.
MELBOURNE 2.4 9.6 11.7 16.8 (104)
COLLINGWOOD 4.4 5.4 6.6 8.10 (58)
GOALS
Melbourne: Hogan 3, Kent 3, Gawn 3, Watts 2, Viney, Trengove, Petracca, N Jones, Kennedy
Collingwood: Cox 2, Maynard, White, Sidebottom, Varcoe, Greenwood, Grundy
BEST
Melbourne: Gawn, Vince, N Jones, Kent, T McDonald, Tyson, Hogan, Bugg, Kennedy
Collingwood: Treloar, Pendlebury, Howe, De Goey, Varcoe
INJURIES
Melbourne: vandenBerg (nose)
Collingwood: J Frost (shoulder), Reid (left knee), Pendlebury (left ankle)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Nicholls, Jeffery, Wallace
Official crowd: 60,158 at the MCG
