Pies smash Cats to go top

Collingwood continued to press their top-four claims by handing premiers Geelong a 31-point drubbing in their Saturday night blockbuster at the MCG.

The Pies asserted their dominance early with an eight-goals-to-two opening quarter and were never headed on their way to a 17.8 (110) to 10.19 (79) triumph.

The victory was a welcome rebound for Nathan Buckley's side after their shock loss to embattled Carlton last week and temporarily moves them to the top of the ladder.

Geelong, missing suspended wet weather specialist Jimmy Bartel, fought hard on a wet night to win an equal share of key statistics like inside 50s and overall possessions but it was the class of Collingwood's midfield and the efficiency of their forwards that proved the difference.

The Magpies had winners all over the ground but Dane Swan (39 touches), Dayne Beams (37 disposals) and Heath Shaw (30 possessions) were the driving forces behind their second win this season over their 2011 Grand Final conquerors.

The Pies welcomed back three key inclusions in Scott Pendlebury, Chris Tarrant and Nathan Brown and each yielded strong returns.

Tarrant, in just his third match in 2012, badly sprayed a simple shot at goal in the match's opening minutes but continued to present strongly in the Pies' forward half throughout the night to finish with five contested marks and two goals.

Pendlebury, back after missing four matches in five weeks with a fractured leg, gathered 36 disposals despite having frequent stints on the bench.

And tall defender Brown held his own against Cats forward powerhouse Tom Hawkins, who managed just one goal.

Down by 46 points at the main break, the Cats shifted to a more accountable style in the second half and they were much more competitive, particularly in their attack where the influence of Collingwood's running defenders Harry O'Brien and Shaw was quelled.

They booted the opening two goals of the third term through skipper Joel Selwood and Paul Chapman but any hope of a Cats comeback was thwarted as the Magpies piled on the next four goals to create a 48-point buffer at the last change.

Geelong rounded out the match by outscoring Collingwood four goals to two in the last quarter.

James Kelly (38 disposals), Steve Johnson (36) and Corey Enright (25) were Geelong's leading ball-winners while forward Chapman and ruckman Trent West tried hard.

Tom Lonergan was arguably the best player for the losers. The backman restricted power forward Travis Cloke to just one goal and tellingly the out-of-contract Magpie took just one mark for the night.

Debutant Josh Walker showed potential with a couple of strong marks in the first half. Fellow first-gamer Jackson Sheringham started as Geelong's substitute but made the most of his chance by contributing a goal in the final term after Mathew Stokes suffered a corked thigh and was forced to don the red vest.

The loss leaves the seventh-placed Cats in danger of dropping out of the top eight. Chris Scott's men, just one win ahead of a four-team chasing pack, face a difficult run to the finals. They meet Essendon at Etihad Stadium next Friday night followed by a run of tough assignments against Adelaide, Hawthorn, West Coast and St Kilda.

Collingwood return to the MCG on Saturday afternoon to play Hawthorn.

GEELONG: 2.4, 3.8, 6.13, 10.19 (79)
COLLINGWOOD: 8.2, 11.6, 15.7, 17.8 (110)

GOALS: Geelong: West 2, Selwood 2, Motlop 2, Stokes, Chapman, Hawkins, Sheringham
Collingwood: Thomas 3, Goldsack 2, Dawes 2, Fasolo 2, Beams 2, Tarrant 2, Elliott, Maxwell, Jolly, Cloke
BEST: Geelong: Lonergan, Kelly, Johnson, Selwood, West, Scarlett
Collingwood: Shaw, Swan, Beams, Tarrant, Pendlebury, Elliott
INJURIES: Geelong: Nil
Collingwood: Buckley (corked hip)
SUBSTITUTES: Geelong Sheringham replaced Stokes (third Qtr)
Collingwood:Clarke replaced Buckley (half-time)
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: Rosebury, Stewart, Nicholls
CROWD: 61,717 at the MCG