Collingwood have produced a strong defensive performance to brush North Melbourne aside by 35 points in their Easter Saturday AFL clash at the MCG.

Leather poisoning: Dane Swan had 35 touches. Photo: Getty

The Magpies led by 33 points at halftime and cruised to victory 13.15 (93) to 8.10 (58).

Big Collingwood forward Travis Cloke found form after just four goals in the opening four rounds with a four-goal haul, all in the first half.

North’s defeat ends a three-match unbeaten run and the report of All-Australian fullback Scott Thompson adds to the Kangaroos’ concerns.

Dane Swan, Steele Sidebottom, Scott Pendlebury and Alex Fasolo were dominant for the Magpies, and tagger Brent Macaffer kept North’s Nick Dal Santo quiet in front of a crowd of 57,116.

Onballer Ben Cunnington was one of North’s better contributors in a poor display overall for a side with finals hopes.

Thompson was booked after punching Cloke in the stomach during a marking contest in the first quarter. Cloke scored a goal from the subsequent 50m penalty and had two by quarter-time as the Magpies led 5.4 (34) to 2.3 (15).

Two goals to onballer Dayne Beams and another two to Cloke helped the Magpies put another five majors on the board to hold a 10.6 (66) to 5.3 (33) advantage at halftime.

North failed to kick a goal in the third term and restricted Collingwood to a solitary major, as the Kangaroos trailed 11.9 (75) to 5.7 (37) at three-quarter time.

In another scrappy term, North outscored the Magpies three goals to two in the last quarter.

However, in another possible blow, small forward Lindsay Thomas ended his two-goal performance by limping off the field with an apparent knee problem after colliding with teammate Cunnington.

Both sides face six-day turnarounds. Collingwood host Essendon at the MCG in their Anzac Day blockbuster, and North travel to Perth to play Fremantle.

AAP