Collingwood recruit Dan Houston faces match-review scrutiny over a high bump after the Magpies turned up the blowtorch on Carlton with a 17-point win over their arch-rivals.

Nick Daicos and Steele Sidebottom led a dominant Magpies engine room as they took control during the third quarter of an 8.15 (63) to 6.10 (46) victory in front of 82,058 fans at the MCG on Thursday night.

But Houston, who served a five-match ban for last August’s brutal hit on Adelaide’s Izak Rankine, could be in more trouble for his high contact with Blues forward Lachie Fogarty.

The All-Australian defender left the ground and connected with a forearm to Fogarty’s head as the ball bounced over the players.

Fortunately for both of them, Fogarty was not seriously hurt and played out the match.

Houston (23 disposals) was one of the Pies’ best, showcasing his elite kicking skills in wet and windy conditions.

Sidebottom (24 disposals), Nick Daicos (27), his brother Josh Daicos (31) and Scott Pendlebury (30) were all busy for Collingwood and Lachie Schultz (18 touches, seven tackles) kicked two goals.

Jordan De Goey also kicked two important majors from his seven disposals before he was subbed out at three-quarter time.

Collingwood (3-1) have now won six of their seven meetings with Carlton (0-4) since great mates Craig McRae and Michael Voss took over as coaches of their respective clubs.

In continuation of a worrying trend this season, the Blues led by four points at halftime but fell away badly after the main break, despite the efforts of Sam Walsh (31 disposals) and George Hewett (29).

Carlton conceded the first five goals of the second half and have been outscored after the main break in all four games this season.

Their tough night included Lachie Cowan being subbed out with a left hamstring injury.

The Blues kicked the first two goals of the match, lost Cowan midway through the opening term and took a three-point lead into quarter-time after Charlie Curnow kicked his only goal of the match.

A melee broke out on the siren when Nick Daicos and Walsh tangled off the ball, with most players involved in the brief scuffle.

Collingwood went goalless in the second term but had five scoring shots to one - 0.5 to 1.0 - in a sign of what was to come.

A four-point halftime deficit quickly vanished as the Magpies piled on 4.6 to 0.1 during the third quarter to take control and turned for home 25 points in front.

Carlton outscored their opponents in the final term - 2.4 to 1.2 - but never threatened to mount a serious comeback.

They managed just one goal during the middle two quarters and took just four marks inside-50 for the entire game.

Hewett and Ollie Hollands finished with two goals each for the Blues.