Collingwood are back.
That’s the belief that Kane Cornes holds after the Magpies easily accounted for Port Adelaide 123-81 at the MCG on Saturday.
After starting 0-3, the Pies have now won three straight games but it was their performance against Port Adelaide that most resembled what they produced in their 2023 premiership-winning season.
Things didn’t start all that well for Craig McRae’s side on Saturday, going down by 31 points in the first term but the response from there was immense, kicking 11 of the next 12 goals to snatch the lead.
They’d keep the foot on the throat from there, winning every quarter across the last three and Cornes was impressed particularly by Collingwood’s pressure, ability to score off turnover, unselfishness and their stars’ finding their foot after quiet starts.
“There’s been many twists and turns early this season and this is one of them - I’m telling you, Collingwood are back,” Cornes said on AFL.com.au's The Round So Far.
“This was everything that we’ve seen from Collingwood in winning the premiership.
“Port Adelaide were unstoppable in the first quarter, they got out to a 31-point lead and then the Pies kicked 11 of the next 12 goals.
“It was built off that pressure. There was two, three or four (Magpies) coming at Port Adelaide players who had the ball.
“Then it was their ability to go back and score. 72 points they kicked off turnover.
“I thought they were unselfish, Bobby Hill was unbelievable with how unselfish he was.
“And they had some key players down for a half, Nick Daicos nearing half time had touched the footy six times … but his ability to work himself into the game … he ended with 14 score involvements which is unbelievable.”
But most of all, Cornes was wowed by the game of Will Hoskin-Elliott who helped turn the tide of the game in the second term across a 10-minute patch of electric football.
Hoskin-Elliott finished with 21 disposals, two goals, 13 score involvements and nine marks - including a couple of hangers.
“But the best player on the ground was Will Hoskin-Elliott,” Cornes said.
“If he’s played a better game than that, I can’t remember it.
“I thought he was awesome. He was the one that had a full four-quarter performance.
“But I can tell you, they’re back.”
Collingwood will hope to pick up their fourth-straight win when they meet Essendon on Anzac Day at the MCG.
