While it was not the result the club was after, Port Adelaide showed spirit in responding to last week’s disappointing loss and trailed by just 14 points at the final change before being outclassed in the last term.
Shaun Burgoyne, who starred with 33 possessions and a game-high 18 clearances, worked beautifully with rejuvenated big man Brendon Lade and consistent contributor Dom Cassisi.
Brett Ebert, Toby Thurstans (both two goals) and excitement machine Robbie Gray (one goal, two assists) were prominent up forward.
Travis Cloke (four goals) and Dane Swan (three goals) were the main destroyers for the Pies.
The Power were dealt a blow before the opening bounce losing key duo Daniel Motlop and Dean Brogan to injury, but the two massive outs failed to derail the Michael Wilson-inspired outfit.
Matthew Westhoff, who looked lively on debut, narrowly missed out on joining the elite group of players to kick a goal with their first kick in AFL, when he pushed a set shot across the face, but Cassisi made amends with the opening major of the game just moments later.
The two sides traded blows with goals to Josh Fraser and Brett Ebert, but bustling Collingwood forward Cloke proved the difference.
Cloke out-pointed two different opponents on his way to a two-goal term and when speedsters Marty Clarke and Dale Thomas both found the middle of the big sticks, Collingwood had skipped away to a 19-point lead.
Port Adelaide, keen to make amends for last week’s capitulation, responded courtesy of solid efforts from leaders Cassisi, Lade and Shaun Burgoyne.
Lade, who was back in the side after a stint in the AFL, dominated the hit-outs and the Power capitalised, going more direct into their forward line.
Birthday boy Jacob Surjan was gifted a goal from a Brett Ebert hand pass and Thurstans, who was a late replacement for Brogan, reduced the margin to five points at quarter time with his first goal of the season.
The second quarter was entertaining affair with both teams threatening to runaway with the game at different stages.
The Power again got the jump on Collingwood with a desperate Shaun Burgoyne tackle resulting in Ebert’s second goal, but the Pies, with their season on the line, rallied with four straight majors to restore some breathing space.
Youngster Ryan Cook marked strongly and slotted his first goal of the season, but John Anthony provided the highlight of the term.
Anthony appeared to have been knocked out after inadvertently using his head to smother the ball off the boot of Cassisi and was making his way off the ground in the arms of the trainers when a teammate spotted him opponent-less inside 50m.
The dazed forward managed to not only, mark the ball but also kick the resulting goal before proceeding to come off the ground where he went straight down to the rooms.
The courageous effort triggered goals to Nick Maxwell and Swan, while Cloke continued to prove a handful for Damon White.
Rain set in late in the term, but it didn’t dampen the home side’s spirits.
Shaun Burgoyne maintained his dominance in the centre with a massive seven clearances for the quarter and, along with Gray, who came into the side for the injured Motlop, dragged the Power back into the contest.
Gray showed a piece of individual brilliance to stem the tide of Collingwood goals when he backpedalled to take a solid overhead mark and rewarded his effort with a goal.
The impressive youngster also played a role in a second major to Thurstans and a first career goal to Matthew Westhoff, which helped the Power claw within seven points at the main change.
Ball magnet Dane Swan, who escaped the grasp of Kane Cornes, was the architect behind Collingwood’s impressive third term with six possessions and two majors.
The Pies arrested the ascendancy in the middle and, again, pulled away from the home side with a third goal to Cloke and a second to comeback kid Anthony.
Danyle Pearce offered some resistance with a clever goal for the Power and when Kane Cornes got one back on his opponent Swan, Port Adelaide had cut the lead to 13 points at the final change.
Port Adelaide continued to battle in the last quarter, but goals to Leon Davis, John McCarthy and a fourth to Cloke proved too much to overcome.
Port Adelaide 4.4 8.5 10.12 10.15 (75)
Collingwood 5.3 9.6 13.7 16.10 (106)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Ebert, Thurstans 2, Surjan, Pearce, M Westhoff, Gray, Cassisi, K Cornes
Collingwood: Cloke 4, Swan 3, Anthony 2, Fraser, Thomas, Clarke, Maxwell, Cook, Davis, McCarthy.
BEST
Port Adelaide: S Burgoyne, Cassisi, Lade, Surjan, Boak, Gray
Collingwood: Davis, Swan, Cloke, Maxwell, Clarke, Lockyer, O’Bree
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Motlop (adductor) replaced in selected side by Gray, Brogan (shoulder) replaced in selected side by Thurstans.
Collingwood: Anthony (shoulder/head), Thomas (left knee) -- both returned
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stevic, McLaren, Wenn
Official crowd: 23,694 at AAMI Stadium
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
