COLLINGWOOD has notched its fourth win of season seven, defeating Essendon by 11 points at the AIA Centre on Friday afternoon.

The Bombers got the early jump, with Sophie Alexander booting the game's first goal against her old side, but the Pies' defenders held firm for the remainder of the 4.4 (28) to 2.5 (17) contest.

MAGPIES v BOMBERS Full match coverage and stats

05:57

AFLW Rd 5 | Match highlights

it was tough conditions in the wet as our AFLW Bombers battled hard against the Magpies in round five.

Essendon's Maddy Prespakis racked up an astonishing 31 touches and a goal, while Collingwood's Mikala Cann continued her excellent season with 20 touches and nine tackles.

Ex-Magpie Sophie Alexander drew first blood for the Bombers before defender Lauren Butler levelled for Collingwood with a clean opportunistic snap.

The Bombers' ball movement was superior early but they were unable to adequately capitalise on their territorial dominance.

Collingwood opted for an ill-advised dry-weather method in the slippery conditions but they changed that up in the second term, out-tackling Essendon 18-7, after trailing that stat in the opening quarter 19-28, and getting on top at the clearances.

Prespakis, uncharacteristically quiet last week against West Coast, was everywhere in the second period and her goal midway through the quarter gave the Bombers the lead.

The Magpies responded through a moment of sheer brilliance from Molloy.

She sharked a throw-in inside Collingwood's attacking 50, zigzagged her way past two would-be tacklers, sold some delicious candy and finished expertly on the outside of her magical boot.

The Magpies were seldom threatened from that point onwards, Essendon's prospects dimmed by defender Elise Gamble's calf injury.

Prespakis continued to prosper, despite Cann's attempts to fashion a tighter rein. The Bombers had more inside-50s but Collingwood, with Eliza James conjuring back-to-back goals either side of three-quarter time, were more efficient.

Up next
The Pies take on St Kilda at RSEA Park on Saturday, while the Bombers will head across the Nullarbor to take on Fremantle in Perth on Sunday.

01:55

AFLW Rd 5 | Toogood post-game

Bombers co-captain Bonnie Toogood reflects on the hard-fought contest against the Magpies in round five.

COLLINGWOOD      1.0     2.2    3.3    4.4 (28)
ESSENDON              1.1     2.1    2.4    2.5 (17)

GOALS
Collingwood: James 2, Butler, Molloy
Essendon: Alexander, Prespakis

BEST 
Collingwood: Cann, Brazill, Butler, Molloy, Schleicher
Essendon: Prespakis, Cain, Phillips, Bannister 

INJURIES 
Collingwood: Nil
Essendon: Gamble (calf)