St Kilda will take a couple of off-the-ball free kicks to the AFL for explanation as Nick Daicos shone in Collingwood's 34-point win.
Daicos' booming goal in the last quarter was a crucial moment as the ladder-leading Magpies shook off a determined challenge from the Saints on Saturday night at Marvel Stadium and won 16.12 (108) to 11.8 (74).
There had been plenty of pre-game commentary about tagger Marcus Windhager going to the Magpies star and their duel did not disappoint.
While the younger Daicos was best afield with 30 possessions and his crucial last-term goal, Windhager - like his teammates - did not die wondering.
Collingwood coach Craig McRae had spoken pre-game about the attention Daicos receives.
Post-game, Saints coach Ross Lyon was unimpressed about a couple of off-the-ball frees paid against his team early in the game as spot fires broke out and the Magpies worked to protect their star onballer.
"They both had their moments - Daicos had a fair bit of ball," Lyon said.
"We'll look at a couple of those free kicks ... we'll take that in and ask the question."
McRae was proud of how Daicos' teammates did their best to look after him.
"There was always going to be a lot of cameras on it (the tag). The spotlight was on it," he said.
"We don't want him to fight the battles, we'll fight them for him.
"He didn't need to get caught up in the wrestle of that. As a team, we want to look after him.
"You'd say his performance was pretty impactful and then the way we looked after Nick, I was more proud than what we have (done) in recent times."
The ladder-leading Magpies often looked rusty coming off the bye, and St Kilda only trailed by 10 points early in the last quarter.
But with Windhager hard on his tail, Daicos snapped an outstanding goal midway through the final quarter and it proved the turning point.
Collingwood kicked the last four goals of the game, with the younger Daicos more prominent in the second half.
St Kilda suffered a blow immediately before the first bounce when Mattaes Phillipou, recalled for this match, had to pull out when a lower-leg injury flared as he warmed up.
Beau McCreery was prominent early for the Magpies, but he also left the game at quarter-time because of a hamstring problem.
St Kilda drew first blood, but Collingwood quickly steadied and took a two-goal lead at quarter-time.
The Saints lost clearances 10-5 in the opening quarter and won that critical stat 16-7 in the second as they kept pace with the Magpies.
St Kilda drew level early in the third quarter, before the Magpies kicked the last three goals of the term.
In-form Magpies small forward Jamie Elliott, who only had three disposals in the first half, kicked the last two of those goals in a crucial cameo.
But the Saints were not done. Trailing by 21 points, they surged with two goals to keep the pressure on Collingwood.
Then Nick Daicos, despite pressure from Windhager, snapped his superb long-range goal and Brody Mihocek put through another a couple of minutes later to kill off St Kilda's impressive challenge.
Speedy Saints defender Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera racked a game-high 35 possessions, while teammate Mason Wood kicked three goals.
Daicos's older brother Josh also had 30 possessions and, like Wanganeen-Milera, gave his side plenty of drive off half-back. Ruckman Darcy Cameron kicked two goals and was high among Collingwood's best.
