2019 Round 7: Collingwood 108 Port Adelaide 69

THE FACTS

2019 AFL Round 8 COLLINGWOOD v CARLTON Time & Place: Saturday May 11, 1:45pm MCG TV: Fox Footy 1:30pm Weather: Min 9 Max 16 Chance of rain: 60% 2mm Wind: W 15kph Betting: Collingwood $1.13 Carlton $6.05

COLLINGWOOD    7.6.48   8.12.60   11.17.83   15.18.108
PORT ADELAIDE     0.3.3     5.6.36      6.7.43       10.9.69

GOALS - Collingwood: Stephenson 4, Elliott 3, Mihocek 2, Beams, De Goey, Treloar, Hoskin-Elliott, Reid, Sidebottom

BEST - Collingwood: Pendlebury, Moore, Phillips, Treloar, Stephenson, Grundy, Langdon

INJURIES - Collingwood: Adams (groin)

REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil

OFFICIAL CROWD - 37,559 at Docklands

What The Pies Coach Said "That first 30 minutes was exceptional footy and you get to quarter-time and you've got nothing more to say other than, 'Geez, well done boys. That's our footy played at its best'. Twenty inside 50s, turning the ball over in your front half and nearly plus-20 in contested ball, we really imposed ourselves on the opposition and set the game up and set the game up when it counted." – Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley

Media Clippings AFL COLLINGWOOD has stamped itself as one of the teams to beat in 2019, shaking off inaccuracy to post its fourth-consecutive victory in a 39-point takedown of Port Adelaide at Docklands on Friday night. A first-quarter onslaught from the Magpies, which saw them slam home seven goals to Port Adelaide's none, set the stage for a highly-convincing win and one that showcased the full repertoire of a Collingwood side that looks likely to venture deep into September again. After a lacklustre start on a big Friday night stage, the Power closed the gap to 18 points early in the third term only to see the Magpies kick away to an imposing 15.18 (108) to 10.9 (69) victory and keep up with the AFL's pacesetters. The Age The Magpies set up the victory with a blistering first quarter in which they piled on seven unanswered goals to open up a 45-point lead at the first change – their equal-10th-biggest quarter-time advantage in 2540 VFL/AFL games. Jaidyn Stephenson was central to the first-quarter training drill, kicking three of his four goals in the first 15 minutes, as the Power back line struggled to handle his speed and pressure early while Scott Pendlebury, Brodie Grundy, Tom Phillips and Steele Sidebottom were terrific in the middle of the ground. Port Adelaide responded well in the second quarter and after being monstered in the contested situation, they got their hands dirty at the coal face, booting five goals in a row to cut the margin to 18 points early in the third quarter.\ However, the Magpies proceeded to reassert their dominance, kicking the next five goals to extend the margin to 52 points early in the final term and quash the Power’s resurgence. ABC News Port Adelaide became the latest AFL flag contender to step on a landmine, copping a 39-point shellacking from a dominant Collingwood at Docklands. Friday night's clash was billed as a thriller but was effectively all over at quarter-time when the red-hot Magpies kicked seven unanswered goals. The Power fought their way into the contest, scoring five straight majors either side of half-time to pare the margin back to three goals. But it was too little, too late with the Magpies finishing strongly to run out 15.18 (108) to 10.9 (69) winners and climb to second on the ladder. Collingwood will be sweating on the fitness of prime mover Taylor Adams, who limped from the ground early in the third quarter after pulling up sore in his left groin. NEWS.com.au Bruce McAvaney said on commentary that the Pies were definitely finals bound. “They’ve got September written on this team already,” the longtime caller opined and (Matthew) Richardson agreed, citing they and ladder leaders Geelong were a lot better than all the other teams. “They’re 10 to 15 per cent better than everyone else at the moment,” Richardson said. Fox Footy Jaidyn Stephenson is the Rising Star winner who continues to rise. The lightning quick, lightly built young gun burst out of the blocks on Friday night, turning off the Power in a dominant 15-minute patch that set up Collingwood’s 39-point win. While Jordan De Goey and Jamie Elliott attract the cameras and generate the headlines, Stephenson was the real star of the show at Docklands. The 20-year-old was unstoppable in the opening quarter, kicking 3.2 and getting involved in everything, before finishing with four goals from 14 disposals and six marks in a game where he was never far from the action. Collingwood News It was Jaidyn Stephenson who did the most damage. Last year's NAB AFL Rising Star winner kicked the first two goals of the game and had booted 3.2 by the opening change. His forward craft – when to lead, when to duck back, when to put in a dummy offering and help out a teammate and when to nudge his opponent to create space – was on show. Stephenson, after booting 38 goals in a stunning debut season last year, has been consistent if not electric early this season (he kicked seven goals in the opening six rounds). But the 20-year-old made the Power defence look baffled as he isolated Port defender Darcy Byrne-Jones and beat him one-on-one, before then being too quick on the lead for taller type Dougal Howard. He finished with four goals, his best bag of the year.  Wide World Of Sports An emotional Adam Treloar has dedicated Collingwood’s comprehensive Friday night win to a young fan suffering from brain cancer. Six-year-old Kyron McGuire captured the hearts of a nation during the week when footage surfaced of an emotional club visit where he got to meet his heroes, and McGuire was given the opportunity to take part in Collingwood’s pre-game festivities at Docklands. Speaking to Seven following the match, Treloar admitted that learning the story of McGuire’s condition was heartbreaking. “When I met him two days ago and I heard the story about the little fella, it breaks your heart and it makes you appreciate everything that we have,” he said.