WITH Collingwood pushing hard late against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night, Matthew Broadbent stood up and took his game to a new level.

The Magpies dominated possession in the final term, pumping the ball inside 50 18 times to the Power's eight. 

Yet they managed to boot only two goals and ultimately fell three points short. 

Broadbent was superb with 11 possessions and three intercept marks in the defensive 50 in the fourth quarter. 

With only 90 seconds left on the clock he cleared expertly to Jay Schulz at half-back and then marked the next entry, clearing again to seal the game. 

Speaking to AFL.com.au the always-humble Broadbent preferred to deflect praise to teammate Jack Hombsch.

Hombsch was sublime from the opening bounce, adding Collingwood spearhead Travis Cloke to his growing list of victims this season.

The 22-year-old does not yet have the profile to demand League-wide public praise, but he has been one of the game's most reliable backmen this year.

"We were obviously under the pump for a bit there in the last quarter but I think for the first part of the night we got on top at times and then let it slip and then got on top again," Broadbent said. 

"We knew they were going to come, they're a good side so they were always going to put the pressure on us – I'm just relieved we were able to stand tall and grind out the win.

"That's what we've come to expect from 'Hombschy' – he's a seasoned AFL defender now and he goes up against the top guns in the AFL and shows he can hold his own." 

Broadbent has rediscovered his form after being dropped from the senior team in round eight, averaging almost 23 possessions a game since his return. 

In the opening seven rounds he averaged only 18 a game.

Coach Ken Hinkley has been delighted with the 24-year-old since he has returned to the seniors, while the defender believes he has still got improvement left in him.

"My form's been OK, it's probably still a bit reflective of the team – a bit up and down," he said.

"It wasn't ideal having to have a break, getting dropped, but I suppose you can only respond from there.

"Me included, but the whole team, we're looking to build a really strong second half of the year – we've still got a lot to play for."

The Power have an extended break before their round 16 Showdown against Adelaide on Sunday, July 19.