PORT ADELAIDE has claimed the AFL’s minor premiership after a 16-point win over Collingwood to end the home and away season.

The 9.7 (61) to 7.3 (45) win at the Gabba in Brisbane ended a remarkable campaign where Port sat top throughout the entire season.

Port was red hot in the opening ten minutes, getting on the scoreboard within 20 seconds.

Brad Ebert found himself free to pick up the ball and snap a goal after two opponents collided and the Pies seemed shellshocked.

Port controlled possession and territory for the opening stages and Xavier Duursma was the beneficiary, marking on his chest and goaling from a set shot 25 metres out to put his side two goals to the good within five minutes.

Fellow 2018 draftee Connor Rozee found himself on the end of a chain of handballs after his side forced a turnover in the middle of the ground but his shot from about 40 metres out faded for a behind.

It provided the impetus for Collingwood to respond and the home side slowly gained control.

It booted the next two goals, the first through Brody Mihocek after a mark inside 50 and the second through Adam Treloar, who burst through a pack with strength to snap home a quality goal.

Tom Rockliff was busy in the middle with a game-high eight disposals, three clearances and a tackle at the first change as his side went in with a two-point advantage.

The Pies came out with renewed vigour in the second term and controlled the play for much of the opening. Jamie Elliot goaled after four minutes but Port responded through Steven Motlop, who marked after a turnover and nailed the set shot from right on 50 metres.

Mihocek had his second after a teammate played on and handed it to him to snap home but again the Power had an answer, this time through Ebert who marked Ollie Wines’ centre clearance just inside 50 and goaled from just beyond the arc.

A quiet Charlie Dixon was well held until late in the quarter when he roved a Brodie Grundy ruck tap inside 50 and snapped his first major of the game to extend the lead out to nine points at half time.

The Pies were dominating the hit-outs 29-10 but Port was winning the clearances 19-18 and dominating the inside 50s 24-15 at the main break.

Again the home side came out firing, nailing the first two goals to take back the lead but Port would respond once more as the see-sawing contest continued.

Rockliff, continuing to find plenty of the ball, got a bit of luck when his quick snap kick bounced kindly past a couple of opponents to get his side back the lead and then Motlop cleverly finished off the side of his boot after roving off Pete Ladhams’s attempted mark.

When Sam Powell-Pepper was on the end of a chain of kicks after skipper Tom Jonas intervepted the ball strongly on half back and switched play, Port had a 17-point advantage. It would be 18 at the final break with Port thoroughly on top in the middle of the park.

Despite still trailing the hit-outs 35-20, Rockliff, Wines, Travis Boak and Gray were winning the clearances 30-24 including 11-4 out of the centre.

Dan Houston was a rock at half back, winning twelve marks including a competition-high eight intercept marks and the rest of the backline was performing admirably without the injured Tom Clurey.

Players were out on their feet in the humid conditions but still the pressure continued in the final term. Jordan De Goey got the first major of the quarter for the Pies after a turnover going forward but Todd Marshall marked after a precise pass from Karl Amon and nailed a 25-metre set shot.

It was a mature performance from there with Port continually repelling Collingwood attacks. Jarrod Lienert, who came into the side for Clurey, was also superb. His effort when outnumbered on half back to not only win the ball but retain possession was an example of his determination to be in contention for selection come finals time.

The final result was a dogged confidence-boosting 16-point win and a fifth straight victory to give Port Adelaide plenty of confidence heading into finals.

SCOREBOARD

PORT ADELAIDE  2.2    5.3        8.7    9.7     (61)             

COLLINGWOOD   2.0   4.0        6.1      7.3      (45)              

Goals

Ebert, Motlop 2, Duursma, Dixon, Rockliff, Powell-Pepper, Marshall

Best

Rockliff, Houston, Gray, Wines, Lycett, Lienert

Crowd

Approx. 5500 at the Gabba