The performance of Collingwood halfback Heath Shaw summed up his side's comfortable AFL victory over Richmond at the MCG on Sunday.

The Magpies won 18.14 (122) to 11.12 (78) in a match that was over as a contest part way through the second quarter, by which stage Collingwood had built a 56-point lead after kicking 11 of the first 13 goals.

The Tigers won more than their fair share of the ball in the middle of the ground, but their forward line operated like a trampoline, serving as a springboard for most of Collingwood's attacking moves.

Shaw was the chief figure in that rebound, picking up a game-high 33 touches, on top of soundly thrashing Richmond star forward Nathan Brown in their one-on-one duels.

He was on the end of many of the Tigers' tentative attacking moves, turning them into sweeping Collingwood forays, with the ball racing to the other end time and again for easy goals.

Scott Pendlebury, Leon Davis, Tarkyn Lockyer, Ben Johnson and Dale Thomas were instrumental in running the ball through the midfield, with Thomas also providing the highlights up forward, including a brilliant snap in the third term.

By halftime, Shaw had 19 touches to his name, while Brown had just seven and was yet to register on the scoreboard.

Tigers coach Terry Wallace admitted his team's attack had little impact.

"It didn't function, (Collingwood) were able to take the ball out of there far too easily all game and we'll certainly look at that part of the game," Wallace said.

"Again, unless you're kicking the footy, giving the blokes good one-out opportunities, getting it in there quicker than what we are today it will never work."

He conceded Shaw's dominance over Brown was a major factor.

"He's developing as a fantastic player in both roles, when he was playing across halfback I thought his ability to rebound off halfback was magnificent," Wallace said.

"When he was one-out deep towards goal I thought his defensive work, which was probably not a strength of his early in his career, I thought that improved dramatically.

"He had a good game and he was one of the very best players."

The notable difference between Shaw and the main Richmond possession-winners - midfielders Nathan Foley, Shane Tuck and Kane Johnson and Jake King - was his creative and assured use of the football.

Shaw was full of purpose with his 23 kicks, while the Richmond trio had just 26 kicks between them, but a whopping 58 handballs.

Wallace noted they appeared to lack the confidence to move the ball quickly, preferring the conservative option of inching their way forward rather than bursting into attack.

"In fairness it comes from opposition pressure, being under pressure in footy makes you make the wrong decisions," Wallace said.

"It comes from blokes losing a bit of confidence early in matches and not wanting to turn the ball over.

"What is the best retention rate? Hit the ball three metres rather than try to take a 60m kick.

"It comes from blokes not being brave enough to step out and break out of packs."

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse was baffled that his side was "smashed" at the clearances, despite performing well in the ruck, but said football was turning into a game of capitalising on other teams' mistakes.

"I hate saying it, but one of the things we are seeing with the game is it is starting to turn into a basketball shootout from time to time," Malthouse said.

"If you don't put it through the hoop, they take it down the other end."

Among the highlights for Malthouse was that the Magpies won with John Anthony making his AFL debut - kicking two goals as a late inclusion - while fellow youngster Alan Toovey was playing his first game for the year.

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