Collingwood has opened its account for 2014 and left premiership fancies the Sydney Swans still winless after a 20-point Magpie victory at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.
Lance Franklin indicated there is plenty of life left in his $10 million legs, kicking two goals for the Swans including a trademark left-foot cannon on the run from 55m in the third term.
But the Pies continued their love affair with Sydney's Olympic stadium, winning 12.17 (89) to 10.9 (69) for their ninth triumph in their past 10 trips to the venue.
The result eliminates any pressure on coach Nathan Buckley ahead of next week's clash with Geelong, with the Swans now under the pump and facing a trip to Adelaide next up to meet the Crows.
Collingwood skipper Scott Pendlebury lifted after half-time to be best on ground with 33 touches, 10 tackles and nine clearances, ably supported by Dayne Beams and Heritier Lumumba.
Jamie Elliott kicked a game-high three goals and Brent Macaffer blanketed Kieren Jack.
Buckley only rated his team a "five or six out of 10", but was nonetheless thrilled with the way it bounced back from last week's 70-point mauling against Fremantle.
"It was a stronger defensive performance," he said.
"I think we saw elements we’ve been working on through the pre-season tonight that we missed in the last three quarters of the Freo game.
"To get the win is clearly what we're looking for, but the actual way we played and structured up was really pleasing as well."
Dan Hannebery bounced back from a quiet performance in week one, finishing with 29 possessions, backed up by Ben McGlynn and Josh Kennedy, with Franklin their only multiple goalkicker.
The Swans were left to rue some terrible entries into their forward line before being overrun and out-enthused by the visitors.
"(The game) was lost with a bit of polish going forward," coach John Longmire said.
"We didn't have the polish we wanted going forward, particularly in the second half, and didn't use the ball when we had it.
"Towards the back end of the game that's what cost us.
"We blazed away too many times and didn't use the extra number and really kicked it back to them too many times."
Franklin got off to a rough start, finishing second best in a number of early marking duels with Jack Frost and caught holding the ball the first time he touched the Sherrin.
But he battled on, taking a strong contested mark on the wing, and then had his first key contribution when he got on the end of a McGlynn pass and nailed the set shot from around 45m.
In the third term he then had his best moment in his new colours, receiving a pass from Luke Parker and kicking truly on the run from 55m in a vintage moment that brought the Swans within four points.
He faded in the final term but it was still an improvement for the superstar key forward.
The game got off to a terrific start, with one-on-one contests all over the ground amid the type of intensity you would expect from two teams desperate to open their accounts for 2014.
Elliott got things underway with an opportunistic goal, but the home side responded through Sam Reid, Dane Rampe and Nick Malceski to take an 11-point lead into quarter-time.
Two quick goals to open the second term gave the Swans a 23-point edge as they tried to seize control, but the Pies bounced back strongly and could have been in front if they'd taken more of their chances.
Hannebery then slotted his first on the run and leapt high into Franklin's arms, a 'Kodak moment' for all the media coverage that followed confirmation of the midfielder's prang in his good mate's Mercedes.
Franklin then slotted his first goal with a booming set shot and was met by a sea of teammates, with Ryan O'Keefe first on the scene in another poignant moment following the unsubstantiated rumour of their training-ground dust-up.
The Pies then sprung into life, kicking four straight goals across the second and third terms to suddenly earn a double-digit lead.
Franklin's moment of magic closed the gap once more and he then set up Harry Cunningham as the match moved towards a nail-biting conclusion, the visitors leading by three points at the final change.
From there it was all the Pies as they claimed an important victory early in the new campaign.
SYDNEY SWANS 3.1 7.1 9.7 10.9 (69)
COLLINGWOOD 1.2 5.5 9.10 12.17 (89)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Franklin 2, Rampe, Malceski, Pyke, McGlynn, Hannebery, Reid, Cunningham, Jetta
Collingwood: Elliott 3, Goldsack 2, Cloke 2, Pendlebury, Sinclair, Swan, Beams, Young
BEST
Collingwood: Pendlebury, Beams, Lumumba, Elliott, Macaffer, Grundy
Sydney Swans: Hannebery, Kennedy, McGlynn, Jetta, Mitchell, McVeigh
INJURIES
Collingwood: Witts (tactical) replaced in selected side by Dwyer, Brown (shoulder)
Sydney Swans: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Taylor Adams replaced Nathan Brown at three quarter-time
Sydney Swans: Craig Bird replaced Gary Rohan at three quarter-time
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Farmer, Rosebury, Foot
