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Writer's pictureChris Nice

Magpies Storm Towards September


Taylor Adams slots a crucial goal before half-time. Photo: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images AsiaPac

Collingwood has guaranteed itself a place in September for the first time since 2013, after dismantling Port Adelaide by 51 points at the MCG in a stunning display.


The Magpies looked far more dangerous for most of the day, convincingly winning the physical battle to secure their 14th win of the year.


Despite Port's intense efforts into the third quarter effort - in which they kept the Magpies to two goals in 60 minutes - Ken Hinkley's men completely dropped out of the contest in the final term, falling victim to a seven-goal barrage.


At one point, the margin rested at five points midway through the third term.


It was a full team effort from the Magpies, yet Steele Sidebottom (33 disposals) and Taylor Adams (30) were prolific throughout the afternoon, while Travis Varcoe pieced together a sound effort in his 200th game.


For the Power, Paddy Ryder (three goals) and Steven Motlop (28 disposals) were influential, yet their efforts weren't enough to keep Port Adelaide alive for season 2018.

The Power and Magpies were evenly poised throughout the first term, with both sides putting through four goals apiece, despite the slippery conditions and intermittent rain.


Collingwood looked to be quite comfortable regardless, with Jordan De Goey putting through the Magpies' first off the back of some crafty forward work, much to Tom Jonas' chagrin.


But it didn't take much time for the visitors to reply, with Ryder, Jack Watts and Justin Westhoff putting three the next three goals of the game, the latter's the result of a costly turnover across half-back from Adam Oxley.


For Watts however, it was his only major influence for the game, with the ex-Demon going down with an ankle injury midway through the term.


Ryder's however showed no signs of injury, despite his hip troubles last week, with his ruck duel against Brodie Grundy the most exciting aspect of the game's opening stages.


Winning the centre clearances 6-1 thanks to Ryder's dominance in the ruck, the Power found themselves with the ability to continually push forward, yet the stout Collingwood defence held firm during all 14 entries.


With Port controlling the tempo of the game early on, the visitors found themselves far more efficient by hand and foot, yet only managed to score the one more goal through Travis Boak.


Collingwood at last managed to find their feet around the clearances, with Tom Phillips the final piece in a seamless chain forward, before Brayden Sier was rewarded with a goal after putting Riley Bonner under all sorts of pressure.


Despite trailing for most of the quarter, a last-gasp goal from Brody Mihocek put the Magpies up by a point as the quarter came to a close.


While the Magpies threatened to blow the Power out of the water with three goals in the in as many minutes at the onset of the second term, Ken Hinkley's men bounced back with three majors of their own.


Collingwood once again didn't take long to kick off proceedings, with Collingwood's surging forward attack of Varcoe, Jaidyn Stephenson and Mihocek placing the Power on the back foot early.


With Jonas and Bonner already under some duress, Jared Polec similarly found himself the victim of the nifty Collingwood forward line, with Stephenson's major the result of him snatching the ball out of Polec's hands on the goal line.


Some excellent run and evasive skills from Polec quickly made amends for the earlier blunder, with his goal putting the Power on the board.


As the Power leaders in Robbie Gray, Chad Wingard and Boak lifted, the visitors found themselves armed with dare and intensity, with the latter kicking Port's second in a row.


An equally bold passage of play from the Pies along with the wing - coupled with some Varcoe brilliance as he charged through several Port defenders with ease - gave Phillips his second major, before Ryder trimmed the margin once more.


Grundy's presence became even more prominent throughout the quarter, with Ryder becoming increasingly ginger and spending most of the term deep in the forward line.


With both sides locked in a fierce battle for the remainder of the quarter, Collingwood's contested possession dominance (83-64) ultimately saw them make it through, with Taylor Adams (23 possessions) keeping the Magpies well within the thick of the contest.


Adams' major in the final seconds of the term allowed the black and white army to go into half-time with a 17-point lead, with the stage set for a dramatic second half.


The Power certainly played a massive role in creating a tense atmosphere throughout the third term, with their exceptional pressure limiting the Magpies to just the one goal for the term.


With the rain teeming down, Gray gave the Power the perfect start, before Ryder soon jagged his third, his influence on the game growing to epic proportions despite his injury concerns.


Port Adelaide's intensity continued to manifest, with Westhoff the Powers' front-runner for tackles (eight) while Steven Motlop utilised his speed and ferocity to become the leading disposal-winner on the ground (28).


The pressure from the Power subsequently forced the Pies - who had been composed all day - to panic, with several of their forays forward being haphazard hacks rather than precise kicks.


Oxley finally put Collingwood on the scoreboard after 23 minutes of play and 12 inside 50s, at long last bringing the margin back out to double figures.


The goal however came off the back of a contentious 50m penalty from Motlop, with his round-arm strike being of minimal impact, yet relinquishing Port's dominance for the entire term.


With neither side able to score for the rest of the term, the Magpies headed into three-quarter time with a 13-point lead, with the Port Adelaide's season well and truly on the line.


Although the stakes were high, the Power failed to muster a significant response to will themselves back into the game, succumbing to a superb seven-goal onslaught as the Magpies stormed home.


With Sidebottom booting the first of the quarter from the square, De Goey followed in identical circumstances as Mason Cox similarly worked his way onto the scoreboard.


Depleted of morale, the Power dramatically dropped out of the contest, as it soon became a percentage-boosting party for the Magpies, who stacked on 26 inside 50s for the quarter.


With Port retreating into their shells and becoming far more conservative in their general play, Grundy, Stephenson and Chris Mayne - who enjoyed a brilliant 27-disposal game while tagging Polec - each piled on goals to break their opposition.


As Josh Thomas put through the last for the Magpies before Sam Gray kicked a final consolation major, Collingwood ran out as 51-point victors, earning themselves a spot in the top-four in the process.


Collingwood will have an opportunity to cement their spot in the top-four when they head to Optus Stadium to face Fremantle on Saturday, while Port Adelaide will have six days to prepare for their clash against Essendon at Adelaide Oval.


COLLINGWOOD 4.2 9.7 10.11 17.13 (115)

PORT ADELAIDE 4.1 7.2 9.4 10.4 (64)


GOALS Collingwood: Stephenson 2, Phillips 2, De Goey 2, Mihocke, 2, Varcoe, Mayne, Oxley, Cox, Thomas, Grundy, Adams, Sidebottom, Sier

Port Adelaide: Ryder 3, Boak 2, Polec, Watts, Westhoff, S. Gray, R. Gray


BEST

Collingwood: Adams, Phillips, De Goey, Stephenson, Grundy, Mayne

Port Adelaide: Motlop, Ryder, Wines, Westhoff, Boak, Polec INJURIES

Collingwood: Nil Port Adelaide: Watts (ankle)

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