Collingwood have warmed up for Wednesday’s Anzac Day blockbuster against Essendon with a much-needed 14.13 (97) to 10.13 (73) AFL win over Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium.

Coming off a huge loss to Carlton and missing numerous injured players, the Magpies dominated the opening term to build a 33-point lead, with Port never able to bridge the gap.

In a bad blow for the Power, forward Robbie Gray was carried off on a stretcher with a knee injury just seconds before fulltime.

While the Magpies were still well off their best, there were a few good signs.

Midfield star Scott Pendlebury (29 disposals) bounced back well after a quiet game against Carlton, while hard-running Dane Swan picked up 36 touches.

Running defender Harry O’Brien found some form to provide strong rebound, while tall backmen Lachlan Keeffe and Tyson Goldsack did good stopping jobs and Travis Cloke (four goals) was solid in attack.

For the Power, Travis Boak (31 disposals) was creative in the midfield, Danyle Pearce was lively, skipper Dom Cassisi worked hard and Kane Cornes gathered plenty of touches.

Collingwood were missing tall defenders Ben Reid, Chris Tarrant and Nathan Brown and the Power tried to take advantage of an under-sized Magpie defence, loading their attack with four tall marking players at the start of the game.

But the tactic backfired, as the Power managed just two goals from 11 attacking entries for the first term, while Collingwood frequently started attacking moves by running the ball from defence.

O’Brien, playing as a loose man, was a key to the rebound with six of their seven first-quarter goals coming in free play.

Port switched to a shorter attack in the second term and lifted their defensive pressure, helping them keep the ball in their forward half for much longer periods.

After falling as far as 38 points down early in the second term, they kicked the last three goals of the first half to reduce the deficit to 19 points.

The margin stayed around that distance for most of the third term, as the two sides went goal for goal.

But the Magpies broke away to a 33-point lead with consecutive majors in time-on, youngster Paul Seedsman capping the term with a 60m bomb seconds before the siren.

It put the game beyond Port’s reach, despite the visitors having slightly the better of the last quarter.