Collingwood didn't need Jordan De Goey's brilliance or Mason Cox's aerial dominance to make a mess of Port Adelaide on Friday night.

The Magpies' brilliant first quarter served as both a flex of the Grand Finalist's muscles and raised a question on the Power's legitimacy as a contender.

De Goey is Collingwood's leading goalkicker this season, having entered round seven with 16 majors to his name.

But the emerging superstar wasn't required as the Magpies motored to a 45-point lead at quarter-time at Marvel Stadium in a blitz that set them up for their fifth win of the season.

In that game-shaping term, De Goey gathered just three disposals and kicked one behind as his fellow mid-sized forwards ran rings around the Power.

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. 

Jamie Elliott, an injury-hit Magpie in recent years, returned to the Collingwood line-up against the Power after missing last week's Anzac Day win and also booted two goals in the first term, before sealing his night with a third late in the last quarter. 

Together, the pair are not imposing physically, big bodies or long targets. But they were too nimble, sharp and deadly around goal for the flat-footed Power defence, with De Goey playing a bit-part role after being the leading man for most of 2019. 

Cox's absence, due to an ankle injury, wasn't felt by Collingwood, which replaced him with 2010 premiership defender Ben Reid.

It was the veteran Pie's first game of the season and the 30-year-old was excellent, gathering 13 disposals, seven marks and booting 1.4 in a strong return.

Reid's injury struggles have been well documented – he has played only 47 games since the end of 2013 – but his performance (inaccuracy aside) against Port Adelaide gives Pies coach Nathan Buckley options and things to consider. 

Ben Reid impressed in his first senior game of the season. Picture: AFL Photos

Looking mobile, Reid was part of a vibrant, dynamic attacking spread against the Power, but Cox offers more as a back-up ruckman to Brodie Grundy and has been a key part of Collingwood's resurgence since the start of last season.

Port dragged itself back into the game in the second term, but the damage of the first quarter was already done as the Pies held onto 39-point win.

It won't be the last time this year Collingwood's frightening forward half all but ends a contest in the first 30 minutes.