Collingwood has given its season a shot of life with an impressive 36-point win at Optus Stadium over Fremantle on Sunday.
 
The Magpies produced their finest win of the season to go 5-5, upsetting the fancied Fremantle 12.8 (80) to 6.8 (44). 
 
It was a win built on hard-work at the contest, relentless tackling and discipline in the slippery conditions, with Collingwood’s no-fuss style prevailing against Fremantle's overuse and inability to adjust sufficiently to the conditions. 
 
Midfielders Jack Crisp (28 disposals, eight clearances and seven inside 50s) was immense, with support from Taylor Adams (20 and eight tackles) and Patrick Lipinski (29 and six clearances).
 
Medical substitute Ollie Henry was a star after being injected into the game in the second quarter for the injured Mason Cox (finger), booting four goals and kicking accurately.
 
It was the work of all Magpies when they didn't have the ball, however, that was a defining feature of the win, with no passengers in the pressure stakes, laying 88 tackles to Fremantle's 61
 
For Fremantle, an immediate response will be needed to avoid a third straight loss, with reigning premier Melbourne waiting at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.  
 
Already facing questions about how their high-skill, transition game style would hold up in the wet after last week's loss to Gold Coast, they failed to adjust sufficiently on Sunday.
 
The difference between the teams' approaches to the conditions was best summed up by Collingwood forward Brody Mihocek's two early goals, which came through scrapping at ground level in the goalsquare.
 
By handling the ball cleaner at the contest and taking the most direct route forward, the Magpies got control of the game in the second quarter, kicking 3.1 to 0.2, with Will Hoskin-Elliott and Jack Ginnivan each converting set shots to give the visitors a 17-point lead at the main break. 
 
In contrast, Fremantle racked up uncontested ball (100-62) and marks (37-20), but overused the ball out of defence and fumbled at critical moments.
 
When they did go forward, Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe were significant factors in the game, intercepting Fremantle's entries and frustrating their opponents, who were starved of opportunities in the first half.
 
Freo coach Justin Longmuir said at half-time his team needed to "trust the contest" forward of the ball, but Fremantle were unable to shift the momentum of the game, with Will Brodie's snap in traffic their only goal of the third quarter before the Magpies rattled home.

FREMANTLE                     2.2   2.4   3.6   6.8 (44)
COLLINGWOOD              2.2   5.3   7.4   12.8 (80)  
 
GOALS
Fremantle: Brayshaw, Brodie, Lobb, Mundy, Switkowski, Walters
Collingwood: Henry 4, Ginnivan 2, Hoskin-Elliott 2, Mihocek 2, Cameron, Crisp
 
BEST
Fremantle: Brodie, Mundy, Darcy, Young
Collingwood: Crisp, Henry, Adams, Howe, Lipinski, De Goey, Cameron
 
INJURIES
Fremantle: Nil
Collingwood: Cox (finger)
 
SUBSTITUTES
Fremantle: Neil Erasmus (unused)
Collingwood: Ollie Henry (replaced Mason Cox)

Crowd: 35,534 at Optus Stadium