North Melbourne has gone down to a fast-finishing Collingwood by 45 points at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.

There was just three points in it at three-quarter time, but the Pies put the foot down in the final term to run out 15.18 (108) to 9.9 (63) winners in Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

The Magpies turned a grinding contest into an avalanche with eight goals to one in the final term.

Nick Daicos, Collingwood's acting captain, had been quiet in the first half with only 10 disposals.

But he was outstanding after the main break, as older brother Josh continued his strong form with an excellent game off half-back.

Nick racked up 38 disposals - including a whopping 12 inside-50s - and Josh had 31 as the two most prolific players on the ground.

Already missing several players, Collingwood lost Scott Pendlebury and Bobby Hill as late withdrawals, then Brayden Maynard in the first quarter.

After Pendlebury dropped out because of illness, the AFL gave Collingwood permission to bring in Oleg Markov when Hill also became an absentee for personal reasons, understood to be a family matter.

Then Maynard limped to the bench and out of the game before quarter-time with a foot injury.

Markov later joined the final-quarter goal procession, capping off his excellent shot from an acute angle with an exuberant celebration.

KANGAROOS v MAGPIES Full match coverage and stats

The second-bottom Kangaroos, buoyed by some stronger form in the past few weeks, smelled blood early and led by nine points at half-time.

Collingwood key defender Billy Frampton restricted the damage with some crucial spoils as North pressed.

Then, predictably, Collingwood rallied. With Nick Daicos prominent, they kicked the opening three goals of the second half.

North rebounded with two goals to trail by three points at the final change.

After only 21 inside 50s in the first half, the Magpies racked up 20 in the third term, but kicked a wasteful 3.8.

They fixed that with emphasis, blasting through 8.1 in the final quarter.

North forward Cameron Zurhaar kicked his third goal in the last term, while Riley Hardeman impressed off half-back.

NORTH MELBOURNE   1.3    6.6    8.8     9.9 (63)
COLLINGWOOD           2.5    4.9   7.17   15.18 (108)

GOALS
North Melbourne: Zurhaar 3, Xerri, Simpkin, Powell, Larkey, Konstanty, Curtis
Collingwood: Elliott 5, Membrey 3, Mihocek 2, Sullivan, Perryman, Markov, Hoskin-Elliott, Crisp

BEST
North Melbourne: Davies-Uniacke, Powell, Simpkin, Xerri, Daniel
Collingwood: N.Daicos, Long, Elliott, J.Daicos, Quaynor

INJURIES
North Melbourne: Nil
Collingwood: Maynard (foot)

LATE CHANGES
North Melbourne: Nil
Collingwood: Scott Pendlebury (illness) replaced in selected side by Wil Parker; Bobby Hill (personal) replaced in selected side by Oleg Markov

SUBSTITUTES
North Melbourne: Zac Fisher, replaced Finnbar Maley at three-quarter time
Collingwood: Oleg Markov, replaced Brayden Maynard in the first quarter

Crowd: 40,479 at Marvel Stadium