After declaring that his players wanted to 'see where they're at' against one of the competition benchmarks, Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse now knows the answer - not in the same league - after Hawthorn thumped the Pies at the MCG on Saturday.
The Hawks, deploying their much talked-about 'cluster' to good effect, had the superstars to complement the system in getting home by 65 points - 24.10 (154) to 13.11 (89), which included a 10-goal final term.
The Hawks made light of the loss of Luke Hodge, who was close to best afield in the first-half, with a hamstring strain just after half-time.
Sam Mitchell did as he pleased for four quarters in racking up 39 disposals and Brad Sewell (27 with seven tackles) was just as effective around the packs.
The mercurial Lance Franklin's six goals all came in the second half, though Jarryd Roughead, who also finished with six, was probably the Hawks' best four-quarter forward.
Mark Williams chipped-in with a lazy five.
Heath Shaw battled hard for Collingwood and won his usual swag of stats rebounding from defence but, at the other end, Travis Cloke and Paul Medhurst, who scored 11 goals between them on Anzac Day, managed just the one combined on a dismal afternoon.
The Hawks go into the break for the Origin match in fantastic shape, unbeaten from seven starts and suggesting they haven't come close to achieving their potential.
There were late changes for both teams. Magpie utility Ryan Cook came in for Anthony Rocca while Chance Bateman was replaced by Stuart Dew who looked as though he may have eaten Bateman for breakfast.
After Leon Davis had put Collingwood ahead with his team's second goal mid-way through the first term, the Hawks responded by slotting the next five without reply, the best of them a right foot snap at top pace from hard on the boundary line by Hodge.
It was two goals apiece in the second term as forwards for both teams of whom so much was expected struggled to get into the contest.
Dale Thomas, Cloke, Alan Didak and Medhurst were rarely sighted for the Pies while Franklin was forced to roam well out of goal-scoring range for his 10 first-half touches.
Malthouse persevered with Scott Burns in the middle on Mitchell who had a hand in virtually every foray forward for Hawthorn and whose 21 first-half disposals included eight clearances.
The Hawks' 21-point half-time lead was extended to a match-winning 39 by midway through the third quarter when Franklin, who inevitably found his range, landed the first of three majors for the quarter.
The Hawks needed to cover the early loss of Hodge and were kept honest by the persistent Pies for whom Tarkyn Lockyer matched Franklin by bagging three for the term including two deep into time-on.
Lockyer notched another in the final quarter to finish as the Pies' top-scorer, but Franklin led the way with another three of the Hawks' sensatiional 10.1 for the term.
HAWTHORN: 5.4, 8.6, 14.8, 24.10 (154)
COLLINGWOOD: 2.0, 5.3, 10.8, 13.11 (89)
GOALS: Hawthorn: Franklin 6, Roughead 6, Williams 5, Hodge 2, Dew, Rioli, Young, Campbell, Ladson
Collingwood: Lockyer 4, Davis 2, Clarke, O'Bree, Medhurst, H.Shaw, Johnson, Maxwell, Swan
BEST: Hawthorn: Mitchell, Sewell, Franklin, Roughead, Hodge, Williams, Birchall
Collingwood: H.Shaw, Lockyer, Pendlebury, Swan, Clarke
INJURIES: Hawthorn: Hodge (hamstring), Taylor (concussion)
Collingwood: Pendlebury (concussion)
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Chance Bateman (broken bone in hand) replaced in Hawthorn's selected side by Stuart Dew; Anthony Rocca (ankle) replaced in Collingwood's selected side by Ryan Cook
UMPIRES: Donlon, McBurney, S.Ryan
CROWD: 76,048 at the MCG
Sportal AFL Player of the Year votes:
3. Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn)
2. Jarryd Roughead (Hawthorn)
1. Lance Franklin (Hawthorn)