First quarter: Melbourne 4.4 (28) to Collingwood 1.4 (10)
Melbourne produced an impressive opening term, booting four goals to one to lead by 18 points at quarter-time.
Jesse Hogan kicked two for the Dees, while Bernie Vince, who registered the first goal for the match, and Jeff Garlett were Melbourne’s other goalkickers.
Alex Fasolo, who booted 1.2 for the term, posted Collingwood’s only major for the quarter.
Second quarter: Melbourne 6.4 (41) to Collingwood 4.6 (30)
The Magpies started the second term in strong fashion, booting three in a row to hit the front by a point.
But when Garlett registered Melbourne’s first for the term – and landed his second – at the 18-minute mark, the Demons regained the lead.
And when Aaron vandenBerg kicked truly in time-on, the Demons took an 11-point advantage into half-time.
Third quarter: Melbourne 9.6 (60) to Collingwood 7.10 (52)
The Demons led by 23 points at the 12-minute mark of the third term, when they kicked three of the first four goals of the second half.
Hogan booted his third, as Vince snagged his second and Watts got on the board.
But the Pies hit back with two late goals, reducing Melbourne’s lead to eight points at the final break.
Final quarter: Melbourne 13.13 (91) d Collingwood 7.12 (54)
Although the game was in the balance entering the last quarter, Melbourne never looked like letting this one slip with a fine performance in the final term.
The Demons booted four goals to zip to run out 37-point winners.
Vince added his third for the match, while James Harmes, Nathan Jones and Jeremy Howe added one each to help record Melbourne’s first win over Collingwood since 2007.