Port Adelaide have taken an important win and kept the pressure on the top eight sides with a 67 point win over Collingwood at the MCG on Sunday.
REPORT: PORT GLIDE PAST WOUNDED PIES
Final score
Collingwood 7.16.58
Port Adelaide Power 19.11.125
WHAT’S NEXT? FOLLOW OUR ADELAIDE VS ST KILDA LIVE BLOG
The Collingwood Magpies and Port Adelaide Power will be motivated to keep their finals ambitions alive when they battle at the MCG this afternoon. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 1:10pm (AEST).
The Magpies sit in twelfth position on the AFL ladder with four wins including an impressive defeat against Premiership fancy Geelong two weeks ago.
The Power are placed tenth on the premiership table with five wins including a convincing victory over the Demons up in Alice Springs last round.
Both sides have had an inconsistent first half of their 2016 campaigns and will be looking to turn the corner as we approach the mid point of the season.
Collingwood have won three of their past five games against the Power, including the past two at the MCG. The Magpies will be heading in with confidence today as Port Adelaide will look to turn their recent history at the home of football around – they have lost four of their past five games there.
The injuries list heading into today does not favour the Magpies, with several key stars on the shelf including Taylor Adams, Alex Fasolo and Darcy Moore who all went down in last week’s loss to the Bulldogs.
However this has opened the door for a Travis Cloke return. Cloke hasn’t been seen at senior level since Round 4 due to issues with form.
On the other hand, the Power’s casualties ward isn’t as severe – Jack Hombsch is out this week, but they’re not suffering too badly compared to their opponents.
Charlie Dixon is in fine form for the Power, booting five straight last week. There will be plenty of pressure on Travis Cloke to return to form up forward with many of Collingwood’s timber out injured.
The midfield battle will feature the Power’s engine room in Robbie Gray, captain Travis Boak and young star Ollie Wines against the Pies on-ballers, led by Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom and Adam Treloar. They will have their work cut out against the top tackling side in the competition, Port Adelaide.
Chad Wingard has taken his game to new heights in recent weeks, including a 26 possession and two goals game last round.
Last week’s rising star nominee Darcy Byrne-Jones will offer plenty of run across half back for the Power. Another youngster, Brayden Maynard, will be playing a similar role for the Magpies.
Prediction
I have been quite impressed with Collingwood’s last month before last week and would normally pick them at the MCG.
However I feel the injuries will just prove to be too much for them against a relatively fit and hungry Port Adelaide line up.
The midfield clearances will play a vital factor as well as marks inside 50, which both sides have been lacking.
Despite this, the Power will just be too strong in wet conditions as they edge closer to the top eight.
Port Adelaide by 13 points.
Can Collingwood overcome their injury woes and bounce back against Port Adelaide or will the Power prove they are a finals calibre side with a win away from home?
Join The Roar this afternoon at 1:10pm AEST for live score updates and debate in our live blog.
Gungadin
Guest
Nathan Buckley now reminds me of a man who is determined to prove that he can push a rope. Its not injuries, or players or talent. It is the one quality that Napoleon required of his generals. 'Is he lucky?' I keep my 1976 members badge on my key chain. Not to remind me that that was the year of our first wooden spoon, but to remember that Tommy Hafey took over and we made the Grand Final in 1977. The team system of play has been opaque since Nathan took over, I always ask people who follow football at every level, 'Can you see any system or method? Not one person is able to identify what they doing, how they plan to capitalize on the talent they have. The coach seems to lack guile, he doest seem capable of having the players play for him. There doesnt appear to be an innovation in switching players took spark a change in circumstances. Then there are the players who have left the Club to play in teams higher on the ladder than us. Surely, this must be the elephant in the room at board level. Dawes, Kennedy, Lumumba, Heath Shaw (all australian this year for sure), Seedsman, Thomas, Ceglar. The draft has seen some disasters. It is hard to imagine anyone doing a better job as President. The planned takeover of the head couching position has proved to be a mistake. With all the fame and glory in being the President goes accountability, mistakes are mistakes thats fair enough. But the facts speak for themselves, Collingwood have becomes losers, I hate saying that because Collingwood had been a constant throughout my life. From radio and Victoria Park to instant replay and Holden centre, the thrill of seeing our team taking the field has never diminished. It was terribly painful to relive those 32 years and a constant feeling joy just to think of 1990. Perhaps as an old misanthropic curmudgeon I am aging badly, but I dont want to see Collingwood losing. Nothing can change if you change nothing.
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
CLick here for the full match report from this game What's next? Follow our Adelaide vs St Kilda live blog Final score Collingwood 7.16.58 Port Adelaide Power 19.11.125
JP
Guest
Quality performance from the power! Hopefully we'll see this for the rest of the season
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Jarman Impey with a game high 10 score involvement. Full wrap up and MVP vote getters coming soon Collingwood – 7.16.58 Port Adelaide – 18.11.119 Final Score
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
The final siren sounds today at the MCG. Port Adelaide too good this afternoon with a 67 point win Collingwood – 7.16.58 Port Adelaide – 18.11.119 Final Score
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Boak kicks to the top of the top of the goal square. Pack flies up, quick hands from gray to young Young with another goal from the goal square! 4 goals for young Goal - Young Collingwood – 7.16.58 Port Adelaide – 19.11.125 Q4: 26′
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Pittard and Impey with 694 and 672 meters gained. Have both played superbly in difficult weather conditions Collingwood – 7.16.58 Port Adelaide – 18.11.119 Q4: 25'
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Collingwood leading the tackles count 76-62. Greenwood with 11 tackles Collingwood – 7.15.57 Port Adelaide – 18.11.119 Q4: 23′
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
No worries Dan, thanks for joining me. Tough conditions and quite a sloppy game
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Collingwood through the middle with run, get the ball inside 50 and knocked out for a throw in. Port with the answers out of danger. Forward line too open for Port. Pies defence outplayed. Neade with another goal from the goal square. Goal – Neade Collingwood – 7.15.57 Port Adelaide – 18.11.119 Q4: 21′
Dan in Devon
Guest
Thanks for the call mate. Not a pretty game to watch. Cheers
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Cloke wins a free kick 65 meters from goal. Crowd is vocal. Port's defence with the reply, Impey finds it, as Port attack. Free kick to Toovey as Collingwood play the boundary line. Wingard and Gray on the move, loose Port players everywhere! Sam Gray becomes the 11th goal kicker for Port. Goal – Sam Gray Collingwood – 7.15.57 Port Adelaide – 17.11.113 Q4: 15′
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Cracks in the Pies defence again, resulting in another goal for Aaron Young from point blank range! Goal - Young Collingwood – 7.15.57 Port Adelaide – 16.11.107 Q4: 11'
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Jarman Impey has been superb for the Power this afternoon. 16 kicks, 4 handballs, 7 Marks and a goal. Collingwood – 7.15.57 Port Adelaide – 15.11.101 Q4: 10′
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Grundy boots the first goal for the 4th term from a Mason Cox assist. Cox has been a shining light for the pies today Goal - Grundy Collingwood – 7.14.56 Port Adelaide – 15.11.101 Q4: 9′
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Slow start to the final term, Collingwood have managed just 4 points from their 18 clearances Collingwood – 6.14.50 Port Adelaide – 15.11.101 Q4: 8′
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Gray marks 50 meters out, bandpasses to Pittard who misses. Behind - Pittard Collingwood – 6.14.50 Port Adelaide – 15.11.101 Q4: 5'
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Pies struggling in the contested disposals department Dan, no pies players have racked up 10 contested disposals.
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Wingard snaps along the ground from the boundary line and hit's the post Port Lead by 50 points Behind Wingard Moments later, Gray marks 50 meters out, passes to Pittard who misses Collingwood – 6.14.50 Port Adelaide – 15.11.101 Q4: 5'
Dan in Devon
Guest
I assume that Collingwood players are handballing to each other to get their stats up and improve their player ratings. Even in the EPL they have statistics called effective passes and completed passes. Leicester have among the lowest possession ratios in the League. I am driven to despair by AFL commentators mindlessly citing "disposals." You can see that that quarter did wonders for my mood!