It takes a lot to surprise Mick Malthouse but Collingwood's stunning burst of 11 consecutive last-quarter goals did the trick.

The Magpies mentor was staring down the barrel of two losses in two weeks as 12th-placed Adelaide led by 23 points early in the final term on Sunday.

But the defending premiers produced an incredible late surge to win 20.15 (135) to 14.8 (92) at Etihad Stadium in front of 38,849 fans.

Andrew Krakouer and Luke Ball each kicked three second-half goals, while Krakouer also took a high-flying contender for mark of the year in the final term.

"No one - not me, the players, no one - expected to kick 11 goals," said Malthouse, a veteran of 28 years as an AFL coach.

"I don't think I've ever been part of a side that's kicked 11 goals."

Malthouse said the second-placed Magpies had been disorganised and he didn't know why.

It came down to pride to spark Collingwood's fightback.

"It wasn't one magical click the fingers and all of a sudden it happened," Malthouse said.

"But somehow or other football finds a way of surprising us all.

"I don't think we did anything exceptional, outside the fact that they showed an enormous amount of pride.

"Good football sides must have that pride of performance.

"When you're challenged and we were absolutely challenged today, this is not a 43-point victory, this is a get out of jail."

The Magpies have kicked at least six last-quarter goals in six of their eight matches.

More than 83,000 fans packed into the MCG on Saturday night for the annual Dreamtime clash between Richmond and Essendon as the Tigers roared to their fourth win in five matches.

Midfielder Trent Cotchin played a starring role in ninth-placed Richmond's 16-point win.

Losses to Carlton and Essendon allowed the Hawks to soar into third spot after they crushed the Swans by 46 points at the SCG on Sunday.

Lance Franklin kicked six goals for Hawthorn, moving to 32 to trail Richmond's Jack Riewoldt by one in the Coleman Medal. West Coast's Josh Kennedy bagged a career-high 10 to take his tally to 26.

Kennedy's Eagles jumped one spot to sixth with a devastating performance in Perth, smashing the 11th-placed Western Bulldogs by 123 points on Sunday.

Collingwood host the Eagles at the MCG next Sunday.

Fremantle forced Port Adelaide to the bottom of the ladder as the seventh-placed Dockers cruised to a 52-point victory at AAMI Stadium on Saturday.

Brisbane skipper Jonathan Brown made an inspirational comeback from facial surgery, kicking four second-half goals at the Gabba.

The Lions came from 19 points down late in the third term against North Melbourne to claim a 13-point win, their first of the year.

St Kilda (13th) notched just their second victory as they defeated Melbourne (10th) by 20 points at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Importantly for the Saints, Brendon Goddard returned to form with 37 touches while Leigh Montagna was best-afield.

Geelong coach Chris Scott admitted the ladder leaders were lucky to escape with a two-point victory over Carlton on Friday.

The Blues have dropped one spot to fifth and face an anxious wait on skipper Chris Judd's sprained ankle.

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