COLLINGWOOD has shown that it remains a premiership contender by scoring an upset six-point win over Geelong in front of almost 67,000 fans at the MCG on Saturday night.

Having begun the contest in ferocious fashion, the Magpies were 28 points up late in the second quarter, only to see their lead evaporate when the Cats booted eight goals to two in the third term.

Nathan Buckley's men then slipped 13 points behind five minutes into the final quarter, but two late goals to Andrew Krakouer and another to Jamie Elliott powered them to a 15.12 (102) to 14.12 (96) victory.

It was Collingwood's fifth win of the season and its third consecutive victory over Geelong since the 2011 Grand Final.

Scott Pendlebury (31 possessions, six clearances), Harry O'Brien (31 touches, six clearances) and Dane Swan (29 possessions, five clearances) were among the heroes for the Magpies.

Krakouer, Elliott and Sam Dwyer did the damage on the scoreboard with three goals each.

Dwyer was also a star in the middle of the ground, amassing 27 disposals.

Brent Macaffer was another Magpie who played a key role. He limited Geelong skipper Joel Selwood to just seven possessions in the first half and 20 for the game.

The Cats' first loss for the year has cost them top spot on the ladder, with Hawthorn now sitting pretty atop the table.

Midfielders Matthew Stokes and Joel Corey, half-backs Andrew Mackie and Corey Enright, and swingman Jimmy Bartel were the best players on the losing side.

Bartel started the game in horrible fashion, gifting Collingwood its opening goal when a routine handball failed to find teammate Allen Christensen.

But after making four clangers in the opening 10 minutes, the Brownlow medallist gritted his teeth and made a positive impact.

Having spent time in defence, attack and the midfield at various stages, Bartel finished with 23 possessions at 78 per cent efficiency and booted two goals.

Tom Hawkins, who was picked up by Ben Reid for the entire game, was Geelong's leading goal scorer with four.

The big forward moved freely and appeared to have shrugged off the back stiffness the curtailed his output against Essendon a week earlier.

James Podsiadly, Christensen and speedster Steven Motlop both chipped in with two majors.

Geelong will be confident that it can return to the winners' list when it plays Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium next Saturday afternoon.

Collingwood faces another huge test next Friday night when it hosts the Sydney Swans at the MCG.

COLLINGWOOD          5.7       9.9       11.10   15.12 (102)
GEELONG                    3.1       5.7       13.11   14.12 (96)
GOALS
Collingwood: Dwyer 3, Elliott 3, Krakouer 3, Pendlebury 2, Sidebottom, Lynch, Cloke, Seedsman
Geelong: Hawkins 4, Bartel 2, Christensen 2, Motlop 2, Podsiadly 2, West, Mackie

BEST
Collingwood: Pendlebury, O'Brien, Cloke, Sidebottom, Elliott, Dwyer
Geelong: Stokes, Hawkins, Mackie, Motlop, Bartel,Corey, Enright,

INJURIES
Collingwood: Nil
Geelong: Smedts (ankle), Johnson (calf) replaced in selection side by Caddy,

SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Ben Kennedy replaced Jarrod Witts at three quarter time
Geelong: Josh Hunt replaced Billie Smedts in the second quarter

Reports: Darren Jolly (rough conduct) on Mathew Stokes
Umpires: Chamberlain, McInerney, Mollison
Official crowd: 66,768 at the MCG