ADELAIDE'S top-four prospects have been dealt a considerable blow after a 21-point loss to Collingwood at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night.

The Crows led by 15 points early in the third quarter but lost forward Brett Burton to injury and were overrun by the Magpies, who took the 13.11 (89) to 9.14 (68) victory and moved to third on the AFL ladder.

Adelaide, which slipped to seventh and a game and percentage behind the fourth-placed Western Bulldogs, started slowly yet dominated the middle stages of the clash.

But poor disposal was its undoing as Collingwood assembled its 10-goal second half.

Jason Porplyzia was always threatening and finished with three goals, while Simon Goodwin had 34 possessions, Bernie Vince 33 and Scott Thompson 35.

For the Pies, John Anthony kicked two of his three goals in a telling third quarter, while Alan Didak, Travis Cloke and Chris Dawes finished with two each.

Didak also had 31 possessions, Dane Swan shook a rotating tag to finish with 30 and Heath Shaw was the best of the Pies' backmen with 28.

It looked like a high-scoring game was brewing when Didak and Anthony broke clear to kick two quick goals to start.

The Pies' pressure on the ball carrier was relentless and Adelaide struggled to hit targets and move the football with purpose.

Almost 20 minutes had passed when something clicked with the Crows, who found success in a huddle tactic to transfer play from defence to attack and dictated the corridor.

But Porplyzia, Kurt Tippett and Brad Symes had all missed shots on goal before Adelaide recorded its first through Burton, who chose not to soar in a contest and instead read the crumbs.

He was involved again moments later when he crashed the pack and allowed the ball to fall into the path of Chris Knights. The Crows had cut their deficit to one point at the first change.

Both sides struggled to convert scoring opportunities in an inaccurate second quarter.

Adelaide, through Vince, Andrew McLeod and Scott Stevens, dominated possession and sent the ball inside its attacking arc 18 times to four but managed a return of just 1.6.

It took two free kicks at either end of the ground to break the stalemate.

Tippett gave the Crows the lead for the first time with a goal from 10 metres out, but Cameron Wood snatched back the ascendancy with his free from a ruck infringement.

Adelaide led by three points at the main break but kicked two goals in the first three minutes of the third quarter courtesy of some strong defensive pressure.

Knights punished Collingwood for its indecision in defence with another long bomb and Porplyzia followed up his smother on Shaw with his first of the game.

Dawes responded for the Pies, but Porplyzia converted again minutes later. Just as Adelaide looked to have the ascendancy, Collingwood awoke.

Swan (10 possessions), Scott Pendlebury (eight), Didak (six) and Leon Davis (six) ran riot and their forwards made better use of their scoring opportunities.

Anthony and Cloke, who had been well held by Ben Rutten and Stevens, combined for four unanswered goals to give the visitors a handy six-point-lead at the final change.

The last quarter opened as a shootout with Didak and McLeod going goal-for-goal, but Collingwood looked the more dangerous and more patient.

However, the Pies' kicking for goal mirrored the Crows and they squandered three gettable shots before Brad Dick's composure pushed them 15 points clear.

Brad Symes kept Adelaide just in touch with his running goal from outside 50, but Collingwood refused to concede.

Some smart thinking from skipper Nick Maxwell – who had left the ground in the third quarter after a strong bump from Graham Johncock – set up Dawes' second at the 21-minute-mark.

Porplyzia's third was eroded by goals to Dale Thomas and Wood as Collingwood broke away in the dying minutes.

Adelaide     2.4   3.10   6.13   9.14 (68)
Collingwood     2.5   3.7   8.7   13.11 (89)

GOALS
Adelaide: Porplyzia 3, Knights 2, Burton, Tippett, McLeod, Symes
Collingwood: Anthony 3, Dawes 2, Didak 2, Cloke 2, Wood 2, Dick, Thomas

BEST
Adelaide: Goodwin, Vince, Porplyzia, Thompson, McLeod, Stevens
Collingwood: Didak, Swan, Pendlebury, O’Brien, Prestigiacomo, Shaw, Wood

INJURIES
Adelaide: Burton (corked buttock)
Collingwood: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: McLaren, Ryan, Jeffery

Official crowd: 45,128 at AAMI Stadium

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.