Collingwood have left Essendon in the dust with a 20-point victory to get their AFLW campaign back on track.
Coming off two consecutive losses, the Magpies responded with a 6.8 (44) to 3.6 (24) win over the Bombers at Punt Road Oval as their men's side prepared for Saturday's AFL grand final.
"It's a big day for our club so to get off to a good start for the day is really positive," Collingwood coach Steve Symonds said.
"We've been a bit hit and miss so it's just nice to play four consistent quarters together."
Collingwood captain Bri Davey battled through nursing an ankle injury from last weekend but still delivered six clearances and eight tackles, while Brit Bonnici and Sarah Rowe also stood up for the Pies.
Maddy Prespakis once again showed her class, collecting 30 disposals, eight clearances and six tackles as she fought to keep Essendon in the game.
Bombers skipper Bonnie Toogood, with 22 disposals and a match-high three goals, again dominated and was supported by Georgia Nanscawen and Georgia Gee.
Recording the first three inside-50s of the match, Essendon started on the front foot with a goal from Toogood but the Magpies swooped back to steal the show.
Ashleigh Brazill broke away from the pack and bombed the ball to an empty forward 50, Alana Porter working overtime to outpace Georgia Clarke and find goal to grab a seven-point lead for the Magpies before quarter time.
In an attempt to light a spark for the Bombers, Toogood kicked truly for her second major to open the second term but her strike was quickly countered by goals from Erica Fowler and Emily Smith.
With the Magpies ahead by 15 points, Porter again flaunted her speed to weave out of the contest and slot the only goal of the third term.
Davey was taken off in the final quarter to rest her ankle as Eleri Morris bagged another six points to seal the win.
Unwilling to go out quietly, Toogood snatched her third major to give the Bombers a late consolation.
"Being new to the competition, we've got high expectations. We're really going to stretch ourselves and try to be able to compete with the best," Essendon coach Natalie Wood said.
"We set out to make a really strong contest and we did at times, particularly early.
"But then Collingwood found a way to really raise their pressure and their method around the ball and we didn't have answers for that."
With the looming return of Ruby Schleicher to boost their defence, Collingwood (2-3) will go head-to-head with the Brisbane Lions next round while Essendon (3-2) host Geelong in Warrnambool.
The Bombers will face the Cats without Sophie Alexander, who was stretchered out of Saturday's game with a concussion.
