The vast gulf between the Western Bulldogs' best and worst left Rodney Eade scratching his head after their 48-point AFL loss to unbeaten Collingwood.

In a Sunday twilight game of stunning momentum swings at the MCG, the Magpies eventually smashed the Bulldogs in the last quarter to win 15.15 (105) to 8.9 (57).

The Bulldogs kicked the first three goals in the opening 12 minutes, then did not score again until six minutes into the third quarter.

Collingwood were 28 points up midway through the third term and it was a case of the Magpies by how much.

Then the Bulldogs lit up a wet MCG with three goals in four minutes to trail by only eight points at the last break.

They drew level early in the last term, although Liam Jones' two set shots at the start of the quarter were bad misses.

Magpies ruck-forward Leigh Brown then capped a solid game with three goals in five minutes, including a great left-foot snap.

He ended up with four final-term goals in a match-winning performance as the Magpies kicked the last eight.

"It's an interesting one isn't it? I spoke to the players about that - just it's mixed, I suppose," Eade said.

"It's certainly disappointing the way we finished and disappointing to lose by that much.

"The positives are there for everyone to see, but you need to be more consistent with it and to be able to play out a full game."

While the reigning premiers go into the bye with a pristine 6-0 record, the Bulldogs are 2-3 and are in the midst of a horror stretch.

They were coming off a six-day break after the narrow Anzac Day loss to Fremantle in Perth and now have another six-day gap before playing Sydney in Canberra.

"Most other teams who have a bye played Thursday and we have to play on the Monday, so it puts us a bit behind the eight ball," Eade said.

"We have to regroup and make more changes so we have fresh players playing next week."

But he said it was still early in the season.

"I keep saying, four points is gold and we missed a chance on Monday, we have to grab them when we can," he said.

"But it's a long year - I wouldn't be throwing the baby out with the bathwater yet."

Bulldogs ruckman Will Minson was credited with an amazing 56 hitouts, yet the Bulldogs still lost the clearances.

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse said his team was in a "handy" position, but like Eade stressed there was still plenty of football to come.

The Magpies lost Ben Johnson during the match with back spasms and Malthouse was cheekily evasive when asked why Chris Tarrant was a late withdrawal.

"Do you want me to become Pinocchio ... just make it up, surprise me when we read it tomorrow," Malthouse said with a grin.

Half back Heath Shaw was superb for Collingwood and Robert Murphy starred in defence for the 'Dogs.

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