Finals like? It was not.
Ideal preparation for Collingwood in the lead up to September? Perhaps it was.
Having faced bona fide premiership contenders Hawthorn and Sydney in the previous two weeks, the Magpies would have licked their lips at the chance to click into cruise control.
On a night when the TAC was promoting its wipe of five campaign with the 50-metres arcs dropping the five from the number 50, the Magpies could have driven 20km/h under the speed limit and still beaten the West Coast Eagles by the length of Smith Street.
The Magpies won by 62 points in front of just 41,198 on Friday night at the MCG, but you got the sense they were showing mercy on the pitiful Eagles after booting the opening five goals of the match.
This was a bruise-free encounter that most clubs would yearn for two weeks out from the finals.
The Magpies came out scot-free, save for a calf niggle to veteran midfielder Luke Ball, who should take his place in the side in the final round.
It was a game that won and lost in the opening quarter.
The Eagles might as well have started their end-of-season trip in Melbourne because they did not deserve to return to the finals on what was an insipid showing.
Even with the possibility of Essendon dropping out of the top eight as a reported punishment for the supplements saga, the Eagles minds were strangely elsewhere and their endeavour did not match the potential reward.
Collingwood was ferocious early, and had to be to atone for last week’s defeat to Hawthorn.
The Magies were as good as home and hosed at quarter time when they held a 37-point lead.
It was a lead manufactured by the usual suspects Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan and Ball, along with youngster Josh Thomas, in the midfield. The Magpies fast hands and silky link-up in the first half was too much for the Eagles to handle.
The Eagles had few winners with the hard working Matthew Priddis and Scott Selwood in the midfield, along Matt Rosa across half back, the ones who could hold their head up.
The crowd was almost silent until the Magpies activated the sub, bringing on Alan Didak for Ball.
Didak boosted the voice of the Magpie Army as he was cheered with every one of his possessions and his sealing his game with a goal would see almost every Magpies player pat him on the back, perhaps an indication he could be headed for retirement at the end of this season.
Youngsters Paul Seedsman, Ben Kennedy, Brodie Grundy and Marley Williams showed how deep the talent pool is at the Magpies.
Seedman was energetic, offering plenty of run off half back.
Kennedy displayed his smarts, punching crafty short passes to forwards in better position after sensing his usually long range left foot was off early in the game.
Grundy had a battle royal with Dean Cox, one of the best ruckman of the modern era, and came out with honours even, no mean feat.
Williams was the best of the lot, rebounding out of 50 effortlessly to turn defence to attack in the blink of an eye.
Staring at a 70-point deficit at three quarter time and facing the prospect of scoring their lowest total at the MCG, the Eagles made one last junk time push to avoid the ignominy.
Sub Brad Dalziell and prolific ball winner Chris Masten kicked the Eagles fourth and fifth goals, but the final score of 5.9 (39) would be a new record low for the interstate club at the home of football.
Ben Reid booted four goals for the Magpies and began to show what could be possible in his twin towers forward partnership with Travis Cloke, who booted three.
Cloke was offered more freedom, plucking marks across half forward, while Reid was damaging close to goal.
The Magpies will round out the regular season in a clash with North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, while the Eagles host Adelaide Crows at Patersons Stadium on Saturday night.
