A Robbie Gray masterclass has steered Port Adelaide to a critical 31-point victory on its season debut at the MCG against an overwhelmed Collingwood on Saturday. 

The brilliant forward kicked four of his five goals in the first half to give the Power a 17-point edge before the visitors put the Magpies to the sword with five-straight third-quarter majors.

Four of them came in a six-minute burst as Port surged a match-high 42 points clear, kick-started by Gray's fifth when he bobbed up with the ball behind a pack of players and strolled into goal.

Collingwood launched a brief fightback, but never seriously threatened as Ken Hinkley's men recorded a 13.15 (93) to 9.8 (62) victory in front of 35,933 fans to entrench itself in the top four.

The Pies remain off the top-eight pace as they desperately seek a first finals appearance in four years. 

Collingwood's sole third-term highlight was ruckman Brodie Grundy's towering grab in defence, but even that resulted in teammate Ben Reid leaving the field courtesy of an accidental knee to the head. 

The Power was strong inside the contest all day, thanks in large part to midfield bulls Ollie Wines and Sam Powell-Pepper. The first-year NAB AFL Rising Star nominee was bold and cheeky enough to bury Pies skipper Scott Pendlebury into the ground after one of his bruising tackles. 

Forgotten speedster Matt White complemented their efforts inside with his trademark hard running.

The ex-Tiger was a late replacement on Friday for defender Matthew Broadbent (ankle) and made a scintillating start to what was just his third game in the past two seasons. He had a hand in Port Adelaide's first three goals. 

But Robbie Gray – opposed firstly to Tom Langdon, then Tyson Goldsack – was the difference, booting his second goal to the first break from 40m, after a soaring overhead pack grab.

The Power's quarter-time lead would have been more than 21 points if not for Gray and Charlie Dixon's sprayed set shots inside the first five minutes.

Gray continued to dominate in attack and added two second-quarter goals – one after gathering superbly then swinging onto his right boot, before another following a difficult mark running towards goal. 

Collingwood still managed to grind its way back into the contest through weight of possession.

Pendlebury was a solid performer from the outset, but fellow stars Steele Sidebottom and Adam Treloar blossomed alongside their captain in the second term. Meanwhile, Port's ball use slipped somewhat, with Wines one of the culprits.

The match looked up for grabs when Jack Hombsch gave away a free kick for front-on contact against Ben Crocker, who put Collingwood within 11 points barely 90 seconds into the third quarter. 

But man-of-the-moment Gray intervened again, slipping a handball into space under pressure from Pies defender Lynden Dunn for White to soccer through the first of five consecutive Power goals. 

MEDICAL ROOM 
Collingwood: Tyson Goldsack limped off in the opening minutes of the third term with a corked right thigh, but was able to resume. Brodie Grundy's big mark – or more so his knee – in the third quarter delivered some friendly fire to Ben Reid's head. Reid left the ground briefly, but also came back on.

Port Adelaide: Defender Jack Hombsch spent almost 10 minutes off the ground early in the first quarter after a knock to his left knee. He returned with significant strapping and played the match out. Justin Westhoff (thumb) and Matt White (hamstring) received treatment throughout the afternoon. 

NEXT UP
Collingwood faces a resurgent Hawthorn that could welcome more premiership talent back and will have two fewer days' preparation for the Sunday week clash at the MCG. Port Adelaide returns to Adelaide Oval next week to host Richmond on Saturday night in a potential early finals preview.

COLLINGWOOD    1.0    4.3    6.7       9.8 (62)
PORT ADELAIDE   4.3    6.8    11.11   13.15 (93)

GOALS
Collingwood: Moore 3, Fasolo 2, Brown, De Goey, Crocker, Reid
Port Adelaide: R.Gray 5, S.Gray 2, Impey, Neade, White, Wingard, Wines, Dixon

BEST
Collingwood: Pendlebury, Treloar, Fasolo, Goldsack, Reid
Port Adelaide: R. Gray, White, Powell-Pepper, Wines, Hartlett, Jonas

INJURIES
Collingwood: Nil
Port Adelaide: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Dalgleish, S.Ryan, B.Ryan

Official crowd: 35,933 at the MCG