A LIAM Ryan hanger and a Dom Sheed set shot from the boundary? West Coast had been here before.

Stifling a late Collingwood comeback, Sheed's excellent finish midway through the final term meant West Coast remained the team to beat in 2019 with a 22-point win at the MCG.

And it just had to be Ryan delivering last year's Grand Final hero the footy.

Collingwood had clawed at West Coast for most of Saturday night, though the Eagles' 15.8 (98) to 11.10 (76) win ensured the reigning premiers are still the competition's benchmark.

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The visitors answered every Magpie question posed throughout the evening, with those same familiar names continuing to play a part in Nathan Buckley's nightmares.

There were some forgotten faces doing their fair share of the damage, as well.

Back from eight matches on the sidelines due to his infamous suspension late last year, Andrew Gaff was booed throughout but performed admirably in his anticipated return.

But while Gaff finished with 35 disposals and five clearances, Collingwood fans saved their more audible insults for another Eagles member – the premiership hero in Sheed.

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The man who kicked the winning goal in last year's Grand Final victory had his every touch met by a mix of Pie jeers and Eagle cheers, finishing with 24 disposals and three goals.

He ultimately had the last laugh.

The other notable performer on that memorable West Coast afternoon last year, Norm Smith Medal winner Luke Shuey, racked up 24 disposals and two goal assists.

Four goals to Jamie Cripps and three more to Josh Kennedy also proved crucial.

Their performances came as West Coast overturned an early deficit to stroll home.

Jordan De Goey had threatened to break the game open early, kicking three goals. But his influence was importantly limited by Brad Sheppard for the remainder of the match.

Taylor Adams, playing with a protective glove upon his return from a finger injury, was among Collingwood's most prolific to finish with 26 disposals and three goal assists.

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From the outset, the bout appeared as though it would deliver upon its pre-game billing.

Just as they had done barely six months ago, Collingwood and West Coast played as though they were the two best teams in the competition throughout an enthralling clash.

The Pies, like they had done in the 2018 Grand Final, claimed an early advantage in large part through De Goey's excellence. His two early goals set up a 12-point quarter-time lead.

But the Eagles, much like they had done last September, fought back valiantly.

Gaff, Shuey and Sheed – for one reason or another the three most high-profile players featuring at the MCG – lifted to become the architects of a second-term revival.

A handy half-time buffer, built after a six-goal-to-three second quarter, was stretched to a 20-point lead by the final change as the visitors continued to tighten their grip on the game.

It came as the Eagles suffocated the Magpies with their defensive set-up.

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Sheppard (18 disposals, 13 marks) was key to this, while stifling De Goey, as Shannon Hurn (28 disposals) and key defensive pillars Tom Barrass (eight marks) and Jeremy McGovern (seven marks) also found rushed and hacked kicks to feed off down back.

Collingwood reduced the margin to just two goals in the final term, but Ryan's big mark and his delivery to Sheed ensured there was ultimately little to fear for the reigning premiers.

MEDICAL ROOM
Collingwood: Darcy Moore was helped from the field for an extended period due to an apparent ankle injury in the second term, but soon returned to the game.

West Coast: The Eagles managed to make it through the match unscathed.

NEXT UP
Collingwood returns to the MCG next Friday night to meet the Western Bulldogs, while West Coast heads back home for the derby against Fremantle on Saturday night.

COLLINGWOOD      3.1   6.3    7.6  11.10 (76)                  
WEST COAST           1.2   7.6    10.8   15.8 (98)          

GOALS
Collingwood: De Goey 3, Treloar 2, Beams, Cox, Mihocek, Elliott, Sidebottom, Thomas
West Coast: Cripps 4, Sheed 3, Kennedy 3, Allen, Darling, Hickey, Ryan, Petruccelle

BEST 
Collingwood: Grundy, Adams, Sidebottom, De Goey, Treloar
West Coast: Gaff, Sheppard, Sheed, Shuey, Hurn

INJURIES 
Collingwood: Moore (ankle)
West Coast: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Meredith, Findlay, Fleer

Official crowd: 60, 878 at the MCG