Magpies outclass Saints

Collingwood has revived its 2008 season while at the same time placing a huge question mark over St Kilda's after overcoming a sluggish start to overrun the Saints in front of nearly 49,000 fans at Telstra Dome on Friday night.

This match shaped as a season-defining game for both clubs, who at the start of the season were considered two of Victoria's leading contenders for the premiership.

The Pies had lost three of their past four going into this match and St Kilda three of their past five yet both sides still sat in the top eight.

Collingwood's 16.7 (103) to 14.10 (94) win consolidates Mick Malthouse's team in the top eight after eight rounds while the Saints - who went into this game in fifth place - could fall from the top half of the ladder by the end of this round after this performance in which they squandered a 15-point lead late in the second term as their attack was again exposed for its lack of potency.

The Saints badly missed injured skipper Nick Riewoldt, although it should also be noted the Pies were without number one ruckman and vice-captain Josh Fraser.

And the Pies' key forwards Travis Cloke and Anthony Rocca, in his return game following an ankle injury, had no influence thanks to the tight marking of Jason Blake and Max Hudghton respectively.

Yet at the other end Justin Koschitzke only floated in and out of the game and ageing spearhead Fraser Gehrig looked every bit of his 32 years of age as he was thrashed by Collingwood's impressive 19-year-old full-back Nathan Brown.

It was certainly not the fault of the Saints' midfield that their team went down as Lenny Hayes, Luke Ball and Leigh Montagna all tried their hearts out but the Magpies' veteran skipper Scott Burns was the game's most important midfielder as he inspired his team's comeback with 22 possessions and two goals and was easily the Pies' best player in the first half when the team was struggling.

The Pies won because unlike the Saints they were able to conjure goals from other avenues on a night when the key forwards of both sides struggled to have an impact under the closed roof.

While the Saints had no forward that looked dangerous the Pies had a match-winning forward in Alan Didak with three goals while Paul Medhurst, although well beaten by Sam Fisher, booted two and Leon Davis showed he is a more complete player now to run Burns close for best afield honours while also kicking a sensational goal to give the Pies the momentum immediately after half-time.

And it was Didak who got the all-important goal of the opening term, after eluding Sean Dempster, to give the Pies' a 17-point lead and as the goals dried up in the final term that break ultimately proved enough to raise question marks yet again as to the Saints' progress under coach Ross Lyon.

ST KILDA: 6.3, 9.5, 12.6, 14.10 (94)
COLLINGWOOD: 5.1, 10.3, 14.5, 16.7 (103)

GOALS: St Kilda: Milne 2, Armitage 2, Dal Santo 2, Birss 2, Gram, Gehrig, Montagna, Goddard, Koschitzke, Harvey
Collingwood: Didak 3, Medhurst 2, Burns 2, Davis, O'Brien, Pendlebury, Thomas, Wellingham, Rocca, Lockyer, Johnson, Bryan
BEST: St Kilda: S Fisher, Ball, Hayes, Blake, Montagna, Dal Santo, Hudghton, Collingwood: Burns, Davis, O'Brien, Didak, Pendlebury, Brown, Swan, Bryan
INJURIES: St Kilda: Nil
Collingwood: Nil
UMPIRES: Rosebury, Stevic, McInerney
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
CROWD: 48,417 at Telstra Dome

Sportal AFL Player of the Year votes:
3: Scott Burns (Collingwood)
2: Leon Davis (Collingwood)
1: Sam Fisher (St Kilda)