Scott Pendlebury kicked four goals, including the one that sealed victory, as Collingwood triumphed by two goals over Geelong in their Friday night blockbuster at the MCG.
In a match played in front of 75,650 fans at the MCG, last year's runners-up Collingwood led by 17 points at three-quarter time and slowed to almost a walk but held on to win 14.12 (96) to 11.18 (84).
Both sides kicked four goals in a tense final term.
With scores level and less than two minutes remaining, Collingwood's Alex Fasolo marked on the wing and was handed a 50-metre penalty after he shaped to play on and was tackled by Josh Hunt.
"I knew Josh Hunt grabbed me and I just milked [the penalty] for all it was worth ... I hope it was there," Fasolo laughingly told Grandstand.
"Obviously [got a] 50-metre penalty and all the boys got around me ... so I just went back and slotted it and gave it a fist and ... come on the Mags."
Fasolo's third goal sealed the victory for the Magpies and Pendlebury's fourth goal from the next centre bounce added to Geelong's misery.
Fasolo said he would have loved to kick the winner but was happy to defer to Pendlebury in the end.
"I think it's every kid's dream isn't it?" he said.
"But it would have been nicer if we'd been down by five points, the siren had gone and then I'd slotted it.
"That'd have been a little bit better, but it was great to be out there and happy to have a win."
Fasolo said there was no looming pressure on the Magpies camp coming into the clash in the rematch of last year's losing grand final.
"It's great to get the four points and at the same time we're moving forward and we're not thinking about the past," he said.
"We're aware that they beat us three times last year and it was great to put that to bed and have a win and ... tell everyone to stick it up 'em."
Defending premier Geelong is now on a 4-4 win-loss record while first-year coach Nathan Buckley has steered the Magpies to a 6-2 start.
Steele Sidebottom with a game-high 38 disposals was a star for the Magpies alongside Pendlebury, who had 30 touches.
Ben Reid did a brilliant job to keep Geelong big man Tom Hawkins to 2.4, after Hawkins had been a match-winner against Reid in last year's grand final.
Defender Heath Shaw was also a good contributor for the Magpies.
Geelong centre half-back Harry Taylor had a big game on Travis Cloke (two goals).
Pendlebury kicked two of his side's three goals in the opening term as the Magpies took an eight-point lead into the quarter-time break.
After a see-sawing second term in which the Cats drew within two points of the lead late in the quarter through some brilliant work from Jimmy Bartel, Pendlebury took two bounces and scored a fabulous goal on the run from 52 metres out shortly before half-time.
The Magpies steadied with 3.2 to Geelong's 1.6 in the third term to lead by 17 points at three-quarter time.
Collingwood suffered a blow when Dane Swan left the field clutching his right hamstring.
Geelong small forward Mathew Stokes' third goal levelled the scores in the closing stages before Fasolo and Pendlebury allowed the Magpies to skip clear.
Cats skipper Joel Selwood dragged his side towards the final siren with 36 touches, 20 of which were contested, but it was not enough.
Matthew Scarlett (ankle) was a late withdrawal from Geelong's selected side.
Western Bulldogs host Geelong at Docklands next Friday in round nine while Collingwood faces Adelaide at Football Park the following night.
Collingwood: 14.12 (96) - S Pendlebury 4, A Fasolo 3, T Cloke 2, T Goldsack 2, D Swan, C Dawes, J Blair.
Geelong: 11.18 (84) - M Stokes 3, T Hawkins 2, J Podsiadly 2, M Duncan 2, P Chapman, S Motlop.
ABC/AAP
Tags: australian-football-league, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia, geelong-3220, collingwood-3066 First posted May 18, 2012 22:39:16