Taylor Adams – 8
Adams' kicking can sometimes be questioned but his effort can't. Was shaken up after ferociously attacking the football and colliding with Elliot Yeo, while a huge smother in the final term on Mark LeCras might have saved a goal. Booted two himself, along with 26 disposals. 

James Aish – 6
Aish is no longer the outside player he was when drafted, winning 12 contested possessions in a brutal match. The tackle he laid on Liam Ryan in the final quarter was huge, but a hacked kick out of defence that went straight to Jack Darling was regrettable. 

Mason Cox – 3
The big man was missing when these sides met in round 17 and his absence hurt, but Cox didn't provide much in the qualifying final. Was barely sighted and his night was summed up when a half-chance in front of goal skewed off the side of his boot.

EAGLES SOAR INTO PRELIM Full match coverage and stats

Jack Crisp – 6
Looked good down back, particularly early. Ended up with 21 disposals and can hold his head high. 

Jordan De Goey – 3
A match-winner who will have much bigger finals performances, but Saturday wasn't his night. De Goey would have expected to convert his set shot late in the first quarter. A goal halfway through the fourth quarter put the Pies up by two points. 

Jordan De Goey had his moments, but not enough of them. Picture: AFL Photos

Tyson Goldsack – 6
Given the task on dual Coleman medallist Josh Kennedy in his first game this year after a left knee reconstruction in March, Goldsack did as well as could have been expected. Kennedy was rusty early in his first game since round 18 but came to life when it counted. Goldsack will probably regret trying to mark rather than spoil Jack Darling in the final quarter. 

Levi Greenwood – 4
Spent time on Liam Ryan and lost that match-up, although Greenwood did nail a great spoil in the goalsqure. A late head clash with Willie Rioli forced the tough nut to the bench under the blood rule. 

Brodie Grundy – 8
It's been a fantastic season for the ruckman and he continued that form, especially so in the opening term. Grundy won plenty of the football and dominated the ruck battle against Scott Lycett and Nathan Vardy. 

BIG SHOW, BIG STARS Five things we learned

Will Hoskin-Elliott – 4
The spring-heeled forward didn't do much in the first half. He showed great effort to start the third quarter, up against three Eagles and tapping the ball forward, while a one-handed pick-up later on was sublime. 

Jeremy Howe – 5
Had a stinker in defence early, with one kick-in marked by Liam Ryan, while another kick went out on the full. He improved as the game went on though, on return from thigh surgery, wrapping up Jack Darling with a strong tackle midway through the third quarter. Howe lost his feet against Darling in the final term, but took a great mark against Darling late. 

It took Jeremy Howe time to get back to his best. Picture: AFL Photos

Tom Langdon – 5
Shared the job on Jack Darling with Jeremy Howe, and did well for the most part. Langdon's best moment came in a one-on-one against Willie Rioli in the third term. The Magpie didn't let Rioli mark and ensured the football went to a supporting teammate. 

Brayden Maynard – 4
Not overly influential, picking up 17 disposals. The best of those was in the last term, finding Jordan De Goey, who slotted an important goal.

WATCH Three moments that mattered

Chris Mayne – 5
Moved on to McGovern for the second and put the clamps on him. A big tackle on Luke Shuey was indicative of the defensive pressure he brought all game. Being ‘falconed’ when the ball bobbed up after Grundy had soccered it was probably the low point for Mayne.

Brody Mihocek – 5
Continued to work hard late and offered the Pies a target up forward, particularly with Cox down. Nailed a couple of goals in the first half. A missed shot on the run late in the third term would have extended the margin to 15.

Brodie Mihocek looked dangerous early. Picture: AFL Photos

Scott Pendlebury – 5
Hardly prolific with 17 disposals, but the Pies skipper showed poise in a pressure-filled game. Had an uncharacteristic fumble in the opening term but Elliot Yeo didn't convert. Pendlebury showed his genius with a brilliant tap to Tom Phillips late, with the wingman missing his shot at goal. 

Tom Phillips – 7
Worked hard, as he always does. Had a couple of shaky moments, such as when the ball slipped through his hands in the second term, and a bad slip on a wing in the third quarter, but Phillips was one of the Pies' better players. 

Steele Sidebottom – 9
Collingwood's best. Won plenty of it early and was clean. The only sour note was an inexplicable decision to handball sideways with the Pies down 10 points with a couple of minutes remaining, and he missed the target. Can't hold that against him though, because Sidebottom was terrific. 

Brayden Sier – 8
Sier rose to the occasion – impressive for a young player. His big body was influential in the contest, and he laid a huge tackle on Luke Shuey late in the third term. 

Jaidyn Stephenson – 3
Spent time as the deepest forward and the NAB AFL Rising Star struggled. Stephenson was bumped off the football way too easily by Luke Shuey halfway through the final term. Did snap a great goal in the second quarter though. 

Josh Thomas – 5
A reasonable game from Thomas. Nailed a goal late in the third, which was huge. Did really well to find Mihocek not long after that. 

Adam Treloar – 7
In his first match back from a double hamstring injury in round 14, Treloar was straight into business, winning plenty of football in the clinches early. What surprised was how clean he was, despite having missed for so long. Showed his burst when he found Chris Mayne in the second quarter, who slotted the goal. 

Travis Varcoe – 6
It was such an emotional week for Varcoe after the death of his sister, and he had some brilliant moments while playing under exceptionally tough circumstances. His goal – Collingwood's first – was an absolute ripper, while a massive rundown tackle on Luke Shuey in the third was brilliant. Had a chance to slot another goal but slipped over, with the Pies up by one at that late stage.