Collingwood outpointed a wayward Bendigo Bombers in the second half to score a 43-point away win.
The Magpies victory at Queen Elizabeth Oval was set-up by Brad Dick (two goals), Anthony Corrie, Ryan Cook and new skipper Damien Peverill.
Statistically, the Magpies were the stronger outfit all day, winning the inside 50m count (45-31), clearances (23-14) and centre breaks (14-10). Despite this, the Bombers managed to have the same number of scoring shots (15) as the Magpies to three-quarter time. But they failed to use the wind when kicking to the Barnard St end.
In the opening quarter, the Magpies nailed 3.4 into the breeze while the home side could only manage a paltry 1.2. After closing the gap to nine points, it was a similar story for Bendigo in the third. They had all the play but could not nail a major, insteading misfiring with six behinds. Collingwood, meanwhile, added two goals and built a 21-point gap heading into the last.
The final quarter was all the Magpies, as they piled on four more goals while restricting the Bombers to just one behind.
Bendigo's best was key tall Blair Holmes, who was relentless in his chasing and provided hard running out of defence.
"The guys showed some real good fight in the second quarter to come back against the wind, but in that third quarter we just couldn't put scoreboard pressure on, which hurts," Bombers coach Adrian Hickmott told the Bendigo Advertiser.
"Collingwood was able to capitalise with their run and carry and make us pay after we had our opportunities."
Despite the result, Hickmott was pleased to see so many supporters pay their repsects at the Bombers traditional ANZAC fixture.
"Being our traditional Anzac day match, we began the day with a solemn start; we paid respect to the fallen diggers as they played the last post," Hickmott told essendonfc.com.au
"It was good to see a lot of locals at the game, there was a great turnout of supporters."
The Magpies play North Ballarat on Saturday at Visy Park while the Bombers have the bye.
Bendigo Bombers 1.2 6.3 6.9 6.10 (46)
| Collingwood 3.4 7.6 9.6 13.11 (89)
GOALS:Bendigo Bombers: Slattery 2 Neagle 2 German Magin
Collingwood: Bennell 3 Francis 2 Dick 2 Rounds Sidebottom Corrie Frost Bryan Stanley
BEST:Bendigo Bombers: Holmes Houli Hooker Slattery Scanlon Williams
Collingwood: Dick Corrie Cook Wood Peverill Francis
REPORTED PLAYERS:Bendigo Bombers: Nil
Collingwood: Nil
Last Modified on 28/04/2009 10:52