Collingwood recruit Dan Houston faces match-review scrutiny over a high bump after the Magpies turned up the blowtorch on Carlton with a 17-point win over their arch-rivals.
Two-goal forward Lachie Schultz was best afield as the Magpies seized control during the third quarter of an 8.15 (63) to 6.10 (46) victory in front of 82,058 fans at the MCG on Thursday night.
But Houston, who served a five-match ban for last August's brutal hit on Adelaide's Izak Rankine, could be in more trouble for his high contact with Blues forward Lachie Fogarty.
The All-Australian defender left the ground and connected with a forearm to Fogarty's head as the ball bounced over the players.
Lachie Fogarty left the field following this incident involving Dan Houston.#AFLPiesBlues pic.twitter.com/G8GVYzRKtR
— AFL (@AFL) April 3, 2025
Fortunately for both of them, Fogarty was not seriously hurt and played out the match.
"I thought I had a fair play on the ball and obviously I've gone to protect myself and those things happen," Houston told Seven post-match.
Houston (23 disposals) was one of the Pies' best, showcasing his elite kicking skills in wet and windy conditions.
Schultz had 18 disposals and seven tackles, winning the Richard Pratt Medal as Collingwood retained the Peter Mac Cup.
Steele Sidebottom (24 disposals), Nick Daicos (27), Josh Daicos (31) and Scott Pendlebury (30) were all busy and Darcy Cameron fought hard in his ruck battle with Tom De Koning.
Jordan De Goey kicked two important majors from his seven disposals before his planned substitution at three-quarter time.
Collingwood (3-1) have now won six of their seven meetings with Carlton (0-4) since great mates Craig McRae and Michael Voss took over as coaches of their respective clubs.
For the fourth time in as many outings this season, the Blues led at halftime - this time by four points - but were overrun when the game was there to be won.
Magpies coach McRae admitted his side used that record during their discussions at the main break before putting the result to bed with the first five goals of the second half.
"We mentioned that our second halves have been reasonably strong and theirs (have not)," McRae said.
"It's only a small sample size but you reach into those things if you think there's opportunities there, just to give belief, potentially, in what we have been doing.
"It's not quite a pattern yet, but we stepped into that."
Sam Walsh (31 disposals), George Hewett (29) and De Koning (18) were among the Blues' best on a tough night as they lost Lachie Cowan to a hamstring injury before quarter-time.
Zac Williams also appeared to hurt a hand just before the final siren.
Tension rises between the Pies and Blues at quarter-time.#AFLPiesBlues pic.twitter.com/QW2uhaeF2y
— AFL (@AFL) April 3, 2025
Carlton coach Voss conceded his side was comprehensively outplayed during the decisive third quarter, when Collingwood piled on 4.6 to 0.1 to turn for home 25 points in front.
"The way we played in the first half gave us encouragement to suggest we could continue it," Voss said.
"There were certainly no signs to suggest that was going to drop off, but ultimately the third quarter was unacceptable.
"We talk about this game and about styles, but the reality is the game is played at contest first.
"We absolutely were disappointing in that area in the third quarter.
"They were cleaner, they were tougher around the ball, they dialled up the pressure and we didn't handle it."
Hewett and Ollie Hollands finished with two goals each for Carlton, who produced their third-lowest score in 75 games under Voss.
