FOUR final-quarter goals to Anthony Rocca have seen Carlton go down by 24 points against a determined Collingwood on Saturday afternoon at the MCG.

Final scores were Collingwood 18. 12 (120) to Carlton’s 14.12 (96).

The scores were close all day, and it was a tense final term with the lead changing five times. Collingwood kicked eight goals to three in the final term, relegating the Blues to their fourth loss in a row against the Magpies.

In front of 56,341 fans in overcast conditions (the lights were turned on after two minutes of play) the Blues battled until the end.

For Carlton, Brendan Fevola starred with six goals while Jarrad Waite and Brad Fisher both kicked two.

Andrew Carrazzo picked up 36 possessions in the midfield, while Heath Scotland was equally important across half-back, gathering 32 possessions.

Kade Simpson also put in a good performance, winning 24 possessions while taking the Magpies’ Leon Davis out of the contest after Davis had nine kicks and two goals in an influential second quarter.

A pre-game lap of honour by newly-retired Carlton star Anthony Koutoufides gave the Blues an early lift, with the players lining up on the boundary line as the car passed before making their way out through the banner.

Carlton started the match well, attacking through the midfield. However they struggled to find a target up forward as Collingwood pushed numbers back.

The Blues scored their first goal through Simpson, who pounced on a wobbly kick inside 50 from Luke Blackwell.

In the next six minutes, shots on goal from Blackwell and Brad Fisher hit the post, with both players forced to shoot from difficult angles.

Then Jarrad Waite was awarded a free kick next to the left behind post, after Nick Maxwell pushed him over the boundary line.

Waite calmly kicked the ball along the ground through a vacant square – one of the more spectacular goals this year.

Setanta O’hAilpin followed that up with another stylish goal, kicking around his body after grabbing the football from a ball-up.

Carlton held a four-point lead at quarter time, 4.4 (28) to 4.0 (24).

The game slowed in the second quarter, as the Magpies started to match Carlton in the midfield.

The second term included two goals from Fevola, whose second was a classic 60-metre effort, playing on after out-marking Simon Prestigiacomo.

Fifteen seconds before the half-time siren, debutant Michael Jamison celebrated after mistakenly thinking he had kicked his first AFL goal; his snap from 40m actually went across the face.

A pair of good contested marks from Travis Cloke (who was fighting a close battle with Jordan Bannister) and Leon Davis pushed Collingwood to a seven-point lead at half-time, 8.7 (55) to 7.6 (48).

Cloke and Rocca were well contained in the first half, but early in the third quarter, the signs were ominous.

Rocca took a strong mark and (with his first kick of the match) missed a shot on goal, while Cloke slotted his third goal after picking up a loose ball in the goal square.

At one point, the Magpies’ lead was out to 13 points, but some quick ball movement through the midfield allowed Fevola and Fisher to goal.

When Waite banged one home from the 50-metre arc in the 21^st minute, Carlton had the lead for the first time since the second quarter, and held onto a six-point lead at three-quarter time, 11.10 (76) to 10.10 (70).

In the final quarter, the match revolved around the two clubs’ major spearheads – Fevola and Rocca.

Scores were level after three minutes, with a strong mark and goal from Collingwood’s Dale Thomas, who battled a close-checking Ryan Houlihan all day.

Rocca’s second goal 30 seconds later put the Magpies back in front, and resulted in O’hAilpin relieving Saddington at full-back.

The latter’s goal shortly after brought scores back level, 12.10 (82) apiece, before Travis Cloke again put the Magpies in front with his second goal (and second kick) since half-time.

Cloke had a chance to extend that margin but missed, resulting in a strong leading mark from Fevola, who kicked his fifth goal.

The deficit was again seven points when Rocca goaled after receiving a contentious free kick while Saddington attempted to spoil. With loud boos accompanying his kick, Rocca converted from 30 metres.

Rocca’s final goal came after the siren after marking in space, resulting in a scoreline that didn’t quite reflect how gallant the Blues’ efforts were.

COLLINGWOOD     4.0   8.7   10.10  18.12 (120)
CARLTON      4.4   7.6   11.10  14.12 (96)

GOALS - Collingwood: A Rocca 5, T Cloke 4, L Davis 2, D Thomas 2, T Lockyer 2, H Shaw, S Burns, A Didak. Carlton: B Fevola 6, B Fisher 2, J Waite 2, J Russell K, Simpson, S O'hAilpin, J Saddington.

BEST - Collingwood: T Cloke, S Burns, A Rocca, J Clement, D Swan. Carlton: H Scotland, B Fisher, A Carrazzo, B Fevola, B Thornton.

Umpires: H Kennedy, M Stevic, M Avon.

Official crowd: 56,341 at the MCG.