Port Adelaide decked another AFL heavyweight with a 35-point belting of Collingwood at AAMI Stadium on Saturday.
A week after downing Sydney, the Power entrenched their spot in the top eight with a 13.8 (86) to 7.9 (51) triumph before 31,121 spectators.
Port’s Justin Westhoff and Jay Schulz both kicked three goals while midfielder Brad Ebert was outstanding with 30 disposals.
The Power, with captain Travis Boak (28 possessions) and sweeping backman Matthew Broadbent (34 touches) were influential as Port restricted Collingwood to just three goals after halftime.
Port are on track for a return to finals, with eight wins this season – the same number they managed in the two bleak previous years.
The rose above Collingwood on the ladder as the Magpies cracked under the relentless Port pressure.
Collingwood defender Paul Seedsman, Harry O’Brien and skipper Nick Maxwell were among the visitors’ best while Travis Cloke booted two goals.
Cloke and Maxwell scored early goals for a 13-0 break and a perfect start for the Pies.
But Port responded with a four-goal burst in 11 minutes, with Ebert’s classy 50m bomb on the run creating a 4.2 to 2.3 quarter-time lead.
Port lost Dom Cassisi to a leg injury early in the second quarter with the former captain substituted for Ollie Wines.
Despite missing Cassisi’s midfield grunt, Port controlled the second term with impressive 19-year-old Wingard kicking two goals.
Port stretched their lead to 7.3 to 4.5 with a sluggish Collingwood provided an opening half highlight provided by Jamie Elliott, who leapt onto Ebert’s shoulders for a spectacular mark and then slotted a goal.
Collingwood pressed and when Cloke kicked his second goal just two minutes into the third term, the visitors were within 10 points.
But Port took everything the Magpies could throw before Monfries slotted his second for a handy 18-point buffer at the last break, 8.6 to 5.6.
The Power then accelerated from a sagging Magpie line-up, kicking five unanswered goals before two token late goals for Collingwood, who meet arch foe Carlton on Friday night.
Port travel to play Essendon next Sunday.
