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COLLINGWOOD experienced a rare joy yesterday as the club's wayward pre-season finally found some direction.
The Magpies' first triumph of the year was a 34-point win over an uninspired St Kilda at North Ballarat yesterday.
The wash-up was encouraging on several fronts for the Magpies, emerging injury free and playing Shane O'Bree (achilles) and Anthony Rocca (osteitis pubis) back into form.
Rocca started in the ruck and moved forward in the second half.
He was strong in the air and mobile across the field while O'Bree, minus dreadlocks, continually found the ball and racked up 20 possessions. He added his name to the goalkickers' list with two in the second quarter, including a freakish snap on the left foot from the boundary line.
Both were rested towards the end of the first and third quarters, and coach Mick Malthouse indicated they would line up next week for Williamstown against Essendon.
The Magpies had been so dominant during the...