Bobby Hill has led Collingwood to a thrilling qualifying final win over Melbourne on Thursday with a game-high three goals, guiding the Pies to a 9.6 (60) - 7.11 (53) triumph.

The 23-year-old capitalised on the Pies' hot start, kicking the opening two majors while the Dees were starved of the ball.

His side took a 20 point lead into the opening break before Melbourne stemmed the flow and threatened an unlikely comeback to take the match down to the wire.

Hill's work up front kept Melbourne's defence on high alert, before putting the third term's first major on the board on the end of a Pies rebound from their own half into a paddock of space.

He went back and slotted it through from 60 out to give Collingwood their sixth.

His efforts to remain busy, including sticking a huge tackle late, went a long way to entering the rooms with a home preliminary final locked in and made a huge impact throughout the contest.

Hill told Fox Footy he was "soaking it (the win) in" following the match.

While the outcome didn't go Melbourne's way, Kysaiah Pickett equally presented as his side's most likely to break the game open as they took to pegging a win after trailing from the bounce.

An attempted banana from distance early in the second term, and a missed chance in open play from distance later in the term sat either side of hitting the scoreboard after a strong mark 20 metres out.

He later sprayed a pair of chances in the second half, but was valiant in keeping busy during a Dees fightback.

A shirtfront on a Magpies defender could have him in trouble with the MRO for next week's semi.

Melbourne face the victor of Friday's elimination final between Sydney and Carlton in a semi final in the second week of finals.