Magpies goal rush shuts down Power

Collingwood 18.12 (120) def. Port Adelaide 11.13 (79)

Collingwood have continued their stellar start to the AFL season with a remarkable 41-point victory over an impotent Port Adelaide this afternoon at the Telstra Dome.

Scores were tied early in the second half, before the Magpies dismantled the pitiful Power with eight consecutive goals in 22 minutes, leading to a 45-point three-quarter-time margin that put the game beyond doubt.

The Pies’ cruised to their fourth successive win and now move into third spot on the AFL ladder behind West Coast and Adelaide on percentage after five rounds.

Nathan Buckley was instrumental in the third quarter demolition, kicking three goals and setting up another with his trademark foot skills, while Ben Johnson, Dane Swan and Paul Licuria were all over the Power midfield, who struggled to find a forward target.

Chris Tarrant added three second-half goals and Anthony Rocca booted a game-high five majors as Collingwood’s multi-pronged forward line proved too much for Port’s inexperienced defence to handle.

Port Adelaide were best served by Kane Cornes and Peter Walsh, who worked hard to gather 34 possessions a piece, but most of their team’s disposals lacked penetration as forwards Warren Tredrea (two goals) and Damon White were well held by Simon Prestigiacomo and Nick Maxwell respectively.

A series of errors punctuated the opening minutes as both teams struggled to pinpoint passes going forward. It took a Shane O’Bree crumb and goal from a boundary throw-in to break the deadlock, before the in-form Anthony Rocca stamped himself on the game with pair of majors against young defender Troy Chaplin.

The Pies’ early midfield ascendancy had them 18 points clear and in control, but the Power responded by lifting the intensity and working hard to pressure the Collingwood defence. Three consecutive goals to Danyle Pearce, Nathan Lonie and Stuart Dew enabled Port to grab an unlikely lead midway through the quarter, however, Tarrant and Rocca restored the home side to an 11-point advantage at the first break.

The free-flowing shootout that was the opening term disappeared in the second as the Power started to win more of the clearances and generate run through the middle. But with Collingwood throwing numbers back, they couldn’t put the score on the board, adding four points after Rocca’s fourth goal had given the Magpies a 16-point buffer seven minutes into the quarter.

The move of Brendon Lade to the goal square late in the half paid dividends for Power coach Mark Williams, his team slamming on three quick majors to hit the front in the last minute, only to have Collingwood pinch the smallest of margins at the long interval courtesy of a goal right on the siren.

The Pies’ Ben Johnson was continuing his Anzac Day medal-winning form with 16 touches to half-time, Tarkyn Lockyer was prominent was 13 disposals off the half-back line, while Rocca was the only dangerous forward on the ground with four goals.

For the Power, the Cornes brothers were high among their best, together with Peter Burgoyne and Walsh, who both provided plenty of midfield drive.

A point to Warren Tredrea early in the third term levelled proceedings, but it was to be the last time Port would trouble the scorers for 15 minutes, as the Collingwood machine clicked into top gear.

Led by the inspirational Buckley, the Magpies broke Port Adelaide’s back with a brilliant seven-goal burst in just 16 minutes of footy that shell-shocked the Power and had the previously dormant Collingwood army rejoicing.

Playing up forward, the Pies’ crafty skipper kicked three and set up another, while Tarrant came to life, booting two majors, as the Magpies completely dominated the middle, moving the ball quickly and efficiently into an open forward line.

The Power finally added a behind, before Rocca put the finishing touches on an eight-goal quarter with a left-foot snap that gave the Pies an unassailable 45-point lead at the last break.

Williams implored his charges to give one final effort and they responded by booting the first two of the last quarter, but late goals to Buckley and Tarrant allowed Collingwood to finish off the match in style.

Collingwood confront traditional rivals Carlton at the MCG next Sunday, while Port Adelaide head home to face the Crows on Saturday night in the South Australian Showdown.

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