Collingwood puts premiership rivals on notice with come-from-behind victory over Port Adelaide
Scott Pendlebury is poised to break another record on Anzac Day after Craig McRae’s surprise move in the final stages of Collingwood’s come-from-behind win over Port Adelaide.
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All that was needed was a dose of Saturday afternoon sunshine at the MCG for the Party Pies to warm up – and maybe a bye.
Collingwood had scored consecutive wins entering its break last weekend, following a spluttering 0-3 start to the season.
But coach Craig McRae hinted on Thursday that the Magpies probably needed the bye “more than we realised”.
It didn’t look like that break had helped much when the reigning premiers were rag-dolled by Port Adelaide in a sluggish first quarter on Saturday.
Collingwood found itself 31 points down just 23 minutes into the contest after the Power put away six of the first seven goals.
Port could do no wrong with ball in hand and consistently chopped off slow footy going forward from the Magpies.
But there was no panic from McRae or anyone else in the quarter-time huddle.
“He’s not a panic kind of guy. He’s always very calm under pressure, Craig,” Collingwood forward Mason Cox said.
“He said we have just got to stick to the process and stick to what we know. We know how we scouted Port and how we wanted to play them.”
The response from Collingwood sent a clear message to the rest of the competition: We’re back.
The Magpies’ pressure lifted in the second quarter and they put more speed on the ball to get over the back of the Port Adelaide defence.
It started in the middle as the home side won the inside-50 count 19-9 in the second term, dominated contested possessions 45-29 and came out on top in clearances 11-9.
All that culminated in kicking six unanswered goals heading into half-time – which became eight on the trot when Cox converted his second major eight minutes into the third quarter.
That would be Cox’s last goal for the game, but he clunked five marks – four of those contested – and recorded 11 disposals and seven score involvements playing an important role forward.
The big game from the 211cm giant coincided with him wearing a white glove on his right hand – but it wasn’t a fashion statement.
“I’ve just had a few issues over the last kind of three weeks,” Cox said of his hand, which was on ice after the game.
“I’ve had a little bit of a cast made up and found a golf glove that was sitting around the house and decided to ask the AFL if I could wear it.
“I’ve got enough accessories, to be honest, that I play with. I don’t need any more.”
The usual stars led the way in the 73-point turnaround.
Nick Daicos was quiet early before exploding to finish with a game-high 14 score involvements from 30 touches, while Jordan De Goey was also powerful and finished with 27 disposals.
But others who McRae refers to as “role players” also stepped up, including Will Hoskin-Elliott (21 disposals, two goals) and Patrick Lipinski (16 disposals, four goals).
After enjoying a 13-day break heading into the clash with the Power, the Magpies now have just five days to prepare themselves for an Anzac Day blockbuster against Essendon.
But fans will flock to that match on Thursday with a warm and fuzzy feeling, believing that their side has rediscovered its mojo once again.
MAGPIES BLITZ PUTS PREMIERSHIP RIVALS ON NOTICE
— Ronny Lerner
Collingwood have fought back from 31 points down to execute a stunning 12-goal turnaround and steamroll Port Adelaide by 42 points in a remarkable game of football on Saturday at the MCG.
The Magpies looked gone for all money when the Power booted six of the first seven goals to open up a commanding lead late in the first quarter.
But just as Collingwood’s premiership defence looked like it was teetering precariously on the precipice, the Magpies channelled their 2023 selves, responding with eight goals in a row to create a dramatic momentum shift and take total control of the contest in the third term.
The reigning champs ran out 17.21 (123) to 12.9 (81) victors in front of 65,834 fans, which is a record crowd for a home-and-away match between the two clubs.
After quarter-time, the Magpies smashed the Power in contested possessions (122-79) and inside 50s (53-30) to ensure the comprehensive turnaround.
Will Hoskin-Elliott was the chief instigator of the comeback and finished with 21 disposals and two goals, and Patrick Lipinski was also central to the transformation, ending up with a career-high four majors from 16 touches.
Jordan De Goey had a fantastic game too with 27 disposals (15 contested), seven tackles and eight inside 50s, as did Nick Daicos who finished up with 30 touches (15), eight clearances and eight inside 50s.
The result continued the Magpies’ recovery from their shaky 0-3 start to the season and, on the back of three consecutive wins, they have set up a tantalising Anzac Day clash next week with fierce rivals Essendon who are also in very good form.
Meanwhile, early questions about Port Adelaide’s premiership legitimacy are already popping up, given their only two losses so far have come against 2023 finalists.
The Power’s fierce pressure early led to multiple Magpies turnovers and the hosts struggled to penetrate their forward line.
However, momentum shifted Collingwood’s way late in the first quarter and they turned the tables in a blink of an eye in the second to leave the previously swaggering Port Adelaide shellshocked.
The Magpies lifted their work rate markedly, regularly outnumbering Port Adelaide who unravelled spectacularly as they lost all semblance of confidence and assuredness in themselves and each other, allowing the Magpies to run amok.
Monster second half from Nick Daicos 🔥
— Fantasy Freako (@FantasyFreako) April 20, 2024
30 disposals (25 effective)
757 metres gained
15 contested possessions
8 clearances
8 inside 50s
4 tackles
1 score assist
134 #SuperCoach#AFLPiesPower
HOSKIN-ELLIOTT FLYING HIGH
The black-and-white army were down in the dumps early in the second quarter with their side trailing by 27 points, but it was Hoskin-Elliott who was the one who got them going with a timely spark.
The former Giant took a mark-of-the-year contender as he flew high on the back of Port ruckman Jordon Sweet and reined in a ripper at the top of the goal square, before converting the simple set shot.
And Hoskin-Elliott wasn’t done there. Four minutes later, he jumped on top of Power backman Aliir Aliir on the wing for another spectacular grab.
THE PIES ARE ON FIRE RN 🔥#AFLPiesPowerpic.twitter.com/DEbBCBZb1u
— AFL (@AFL) April 20, 2024
BUTTERS RUN DOWN
With seven minutes to go, and the Power back within 23 points, Zak Butters set himself for a menacing run through the centre square and create another potential goalscoring opportunity.
But just after he took a bounce, Collingwood speedster Beau McCreery came from the clouds to run the Power star down from behind and penalise him for dropping the ball.
Pendles subbed out... the 10,000 disposal milestone waits another week. #AFLPiesPowerpic.twitter.com/yo8DMX3su9
— AFL (@AFL) April 20, 2024
SELFISH RIOLI
When the Power generated a little bit of momentum for themselves early in the final quarter, Willie Rioli collected the ball, was running towards goal from 35m out and could have made a certainty of it by passing it to Darcy Byrne-Jones who was all by himself 20m out.
However, instead of doing the team thing, Rioli selfishly opted to try and cover himself in glory, and instead missed to the right, killing any slight chance Port had of mounting a meaningful comeback.
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