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Collingwood have put a tumultuous 48 hours behind them to beat Carlton by 19 points in the AFL blockbuster at the MCG.
The Blues were brave, but the defending premiers never conceded the lead and extended their advantage at each break to win 13.20 (98) to 11.13 (79) on Saturday before 85,936 fans.
Carlton captain Chris Judd was best afield with 35 disposals, but the Blues lacked enough depth to upset the Magpies.
Midfielders Dale Thomas and Scott Pendlebury were best for Collingwood and key forward Travis Cloke kicked 3.4.
Collingwood’s inaccuracy kept the game tighter than perhaps it should have been, but the Blues never gave up.
Still, Carlton will lose fourth spot if West Coast beat St Kilda on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium.
The win came after Magpies’ coach Mick Malthouse said in an explosive television interview on Thursday night that there was a slight chance he could leave the club at the end of the season.
On Friday, defender Heath Shaw was suspended for eight games and captain Nick Maxwell was fined for betting offences.
After only nine goals were scored in the first half, the game opened up dramatically with an 11-goal third term.
The Blues pressed hard and Eddie Betts’ goal after 17 minutes reduced the margin to only four points.
But Collingwood were up to every Carlton challenge and held their nerve, kicking three of the next four goals for a 17-point lead at the last change.
Early in the third term, Pendlebury snapped a superb goal and, a minute later, teammate Steele Sidebottom snapped freakishly from an acute angle.
Sidebottom’s effort will join the contenders for goal of the year.
Carlton defender Aaron Joseph was subbed off in the third term with a hamstring injury.
Collingwood kicked the first two goals in the opening six minutes of the game to put the Blues under immediate pressure.
While Carlton were not playing well, they managed to keep in touch with the ‘Pies.
Marc Murphy and first-gamer Wayde Twomey goalled to bring Carlton to within four points at the first change.
Collingwood threatened to blow the game wide open with two goals to Cloke at the start of the second term, but their inaccuracy kept Carlton in the hunt.
Again, Carlton were able to conjure goals despite none of their key forwards being able to take marks deep in attack.
A goal to Lachlan Keeffe extended Collingwood’s lead to 18 points approaching halftime, but a great running goal to Murphy and a behind after the siren from Rob Warnock meant Carlton were only 11 points behind at the main break.
Collingwood kicked 5.11 in the first half and could easily have put the Blues out of the contest.
John McCarthy came into the Collingwood side following Shaw’s suspension.
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