Pies stand tall in fight of builders

M Cox 5 J Stephenson 4 W Hoskin-Elliott 4 J Thomas 3 A Treloar B Mihocek S Pendlebury T Adams.

T McDonald 6 M Hannan 2 A Neal-Bullen B Fritsch C Oliver J Harmes J Viney M Gawn

TOWERING American Mason Cox has stood tall with a career-high five goals as Collingwood outgunned Melbourne by 42 points in a Queen’s Birthday shootout.

In an eagerly awaited match between two improving sides expected to feature prominently in the finals action, it was the Magpies who took the honours with a 20.13 (133) to 14.7 (91) triumph before a crowd of 83,518 at the MCG.

Melbourne came into the match riding a six-game winning streak. But there must now by genuine question marks over their premiership credentials after the heavy loss to a Collingwood team that drew level with them on 32 points on the ladder.

The Magpies had most of the best midfielders on the ground, including Steele Sidebottom, Jordan de Goey and skipper Scott Pendlebury.

Their multi-pronged attack also proved too much for the Demons.