Fast-starting Geelong will feel they have the momentum to do some damage at the pointy end of the season after beating Collingwood by 25 points to climb into the AFL top six.
The Cats nabbed five goals to one in the first quarter and nine of the first 10 and led by as much as 49 early in the second term.
Collingwood kicked five consecutive goals to claw their way back before Geelong settled to win 15.7 (97) to 10.12 (72) at the MCG and snap the Magpies' six-game winning run.
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The Cats have now won three consecutive games, despite being without Jeremy Cameron, Max Holmes - and for this match, Patrick Dangerfield.
"Look it gives us confidence, but we're not overconfident," coach Chris Scott said.
"One thing we've seen, not just this year but a side that gets some momentum can be hard to stop.
"So we've given ourselves at least the chance to be one of those teams with a bit of momentum."
Geelong tagger Oisin Mullin went to Magpies gun Nick Daicos while Cats star Bailey Smith (28 disposals) had Ed Allan for company
Daicos had 12 disposals in the opening term but few in attacking spaces.
The Collingwood superstar grabbed his right foot, which coach Craig McRae said had been stomped on.
Daicos had his foot assessed and treated but played on and had 35 disposals, nine clearances and some pivotal moments.
"The numbers suggest that Nick won that battle," McRae said.
Scott noted: "Statistically Nick was very good. Best player in the comp in my opinion - very, very difficult to take him out of the game completely.
"I thought he came into it a little bit more - I tend not to count the stats - I thought he didn't have as much penetration as he normally does early in the game.
"I really liked Oisin's game as well."
Magpie veteran Jeremy Howe came off at three-quarter time and went to hospital after fracturing the same arm he horrifically broke in 2023 while Harry Perryman (left hamstring) was forced off in the second term.
Geelong's Ollie Dempsey (29 disposals and two goals) was sensational, Tom Stewart (25 possessions) was influential, while James Worpel (10 clearances), Smith and Tom Atkins were all busy.
Ollie Henry (three goals), Shannon Neale (two) and Jay Polkinghorne (three) helped the Cats compile a winning score.
Howe worked hard defensively along with Josh Daicos (33 disposals) and Isaac Quaynor, while Dan McStay (five goals) and Beau McCreery (two) gave the Magpies a spark.
Collingwood tested out a new pre-game routine where players ran out shortly before the bounce, the lights were turned off and the traditional team songs were removed.
But it was Geelong who seized the ascendancy, suffocating Collingwood defensively and picking off turnovers at will.
When Dempsey flew over Jack Crisp then kicked truly, it sent Geelong on their way.
Geelong led by 24 points at quarter-time and nudged out to a game-high 49-point lead in the second term.
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But Collingwood stopped the rot, lifting their pressure and tightening up defensively to cut the halftime deficit to 29 points.
Collingwood trailed by just 17 at the final change.
But the Cats held their nerve to move to 12-8 for the season.
"I was proud of how we did fight back ... great fight in our group, great spirit in our group, they just don't want to give up," McRae said.
"... Nine goals to one and got back within 16 points and looked like it was a chance somewhere and didn't quite capitalise on our chances in the end."
Geelong next host Essendon at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday while ninth-placed Collingwood (11-1-8) travel to face West Coast on Sunday.
