Australian Football

Match Report

In a match which could prove pivotal to the chances of Collingwood making the top eight and Port Adelaide making the top four, the Magpies have prevailed over the Power in a thrilling contest at the MCG in Sunday's twilight game. The nail-biting win provided the perfect send-off for the newly retired ex-skipper of the Pies, Nick Maxwell, who did a lap of the ground prior to the match.

Though Collingwood ultimately led at the end of every quarter of the game, the momentum shifted several times throughout the match with Port leading at various stages in the first, third and final quarters. A low-scoring first quarter saw Hamish Hartlett get the first goal of the match at the three-minute mark, giving Port the lead, but it was to be the Power's ply major of the term. The Magpies didn't get their first until time on, when Travis Cloke marked and goaled to break the drought, and Dayne Beams followed up with another four minutes later to give Collingwood a nine-point lead at the first change.

The second quarter proved to be the most free-flowing of the match, with an early goal to Port's Jay Schulz met with three answering goals from Jarryd Blair, Tim Broomhead and Jamie Elliott. Elliott's goal gave the Pies a 21-point lead but Port kicked three of the quarter's last four goals and was within just five points of Collingwood when the half-time siren sounded.

Hartlett put the Power in front by a point with the first goal of the third term but Sam Dwyer hit back with a goal two minutes later to restore a five-point Magpie lead. But Hartlett, playing the game of his life, kicked the next two and Port Adelaide led by seven points half way through the quarter. But Collingwood came once more and majors to Broomhead and Sidebottom saw the Pies turn for home with a five-point lead.

That lead disappeared early in the final term when Angus Monfries kicked the first goal of the final term but Cloke again tipped the balance in Collingwood's favour with a goal at the six-minute mark. Another major to Sidebottom took that lead to 11 points before a prolonged period produced only behinds to either team. Port gave one last yelp when Andrew Moore kicked a goal at the 27-minute mark but time ran out for the Power as Collingwood held on to win by six points and reclaim a place in the top eight.

Dayne Beams was magnificent for the Pies, with 31 touches and eight marks, while Hartlett with his four goals and eight tackles was a stand-out for Port. 

With four rounds to go, Collingwood is in eighth place on the ladder, equal on points with North Melbourne and Essendon, who have a superior percentage, and Gold Coast, whose inferior percentage sees the Suns just outside of the eight. The Pies will venture to Subiaco next Sunday to take on West Coast. Port is in fifth spot, a game behind Fremantle and will need to beat Sydney at home next Saturday night to keep its top-four chances alive.

GOALS
Collingwood: Cloke 3; Broomhead, Sidebottom 2; Beams, Blair, Elliott, Dwyer
Port Adelaide: Hartlett 4; Boak, Gray, Monfries, Moore, Schulz, Wingard

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Collingwood: Beams, Pendlebury, Sidebottom, Cloke, Blair, Adams
Port Adelaide: Hartlett, Ebert, O'Shea, Wines, Westhoff, Cornes

INJURIES
Collingwood: Macaffer (right ankle)
Port Adelaide: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Ben Reid replaced by Kyle Martin at three-quarter time
Port Adelaide: Paul Stewart replaced by Ben Newton in the third quarter

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Sandy Roberts, Dwayne Russell, Jason Dunstall, Gerard Healy, David King