AFL: Magpies cruise to big victory over Demons in Queen's birthday clash

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

Cox took the individual honours with five goals and was well supported by Jaidyn Stephenson and Will Hoskin-Elliott (four apiece) and Josh Thomas (three). In contrast, Tom McDonald played pretty much a lone hand up forward for Melbourne with six goals, including five of his team’s seven majors after halftime.

Collingwood jumped out of the blocks with five of the first six goals, which set the tone for the day. The Magpies led by 19 points at halftime and extended that advantage in each of the two remaining quarters.

Both teams have the bye in round

13.