The Anzac Day rivals will square off in the pre-season decider at Etihad Stadium on Friday night, the Magpies advancing with a 1.9.17 (80) to 0.8.8 (56) victory.
There were injury concerns for both sides following a high-tempo semi-final, with Collingwood captain Nick Maxwell sent to hospital for scans on an apparent shoulder injury and Eagles Nic Naitanui and Mitch Brown also nursing partial shoulder dislocations.
Both clubs were confident post-match that their respective injuries were minor.
Rookie Magpie Tom Hunter was subbed off halfway through the opening term, also with a shoulder injury, while returning Eagle Beau Waters didn't take the field after half-time following a hit to the head.
Collingwood assistant coach Mark Neeld, who led the side on Saturday night as part of the Magpies' pre-season coaching rotation, was optimistic Maxwell had not suffered a shoulder injury.
"The only report that we got was that it was a solid bump, and that he was a little bit sore at the time," Neeld said.
"Given it's round three of the NAB Cup we felt that as captain of the club he could sit out given we had another seven guys on the bench.
"We haven’t had the full medical report, but it does appear that it was just a decent bump. I don’t think it's his shoulder; I just think he had the wind knocked out of him."
The 2010 premiers were missing up to nine players from their best side but received an ominous performance from midfielder Scott Pendlebury.
The Norm Smith Medallist had 34 possessions, including 14 contested, five clearances and five inside 50s in a supreme pre-season performance.
Sharrod Wellingham (21 possessions), Ben Johnson (24) and John McCarthy (15) were also impressive, while Dale Thomas and Dane Swan worked their way into the game.
Top-line Magpies Alan Didak, Heath Shaw, Leigh Brown, Luke Ball and Chris Tarrant were all missing for the visitors.
The Eagles stayed in the contest longer than they might otherwise have, drawing to within three points early in the final term.
However, unforced skill errors were a constant handicap and the Pies kicked the final three goals of the match to advance to the final.
West Cost coach John Worsfold said his side's effort and intensity was admirable, with the Eagles out-tackling Collingwood and winning the clearances 37-31.
However, the coach said the difference in the sides' skill levels was obvious.
"That was, from our view, the difference in the game, just the mistakes in bad areas of the ground and under really no pressure. That really hurt us," Worsfold said.
"The senior players have to show some real strong leadership for us and not make those real poor unforced errors.
"Skill errors, intensity at the football; all those things players have to be accountable to, and we'll give other players the opportunity. If they're not up to it, then we'll play the ones that are the closest but still demand that they've got to raise the bar. "
Worsfold was pleased with the continued pre-season form of ruckman Dean Cox (22 possessions) and midfielder Scott Selwood (15).
Matt Priddis had 30 possessions and 10 clearances in a hard-working performance, while Mark LeCras kicked three goals.
It was the strongest West Coast line-up fielded this pre-season, with captain Darren Glass, vice-captain Waters and Norm Smith Medalist Andrew Embley all returning.
WEST COAST 0.2.2 0.4.4 0.7.8 0.8.8 (56)
COLLINGWOOD 1.1.5 1.4.10 1.6.12 1.9.17 (80)
GOALS
West Coast: Nine-point goals: Nil. Goals: LeCras 3, Kennedy, Naitanui, Nicoski, Shuey, Smith
Collingwood: Nine-point goals: Wellingham. Goals: Cloke 2, Dawes 2, Bolton, Sinclair, Swan, Thomas, Toovey
BEST
West Coast: Cox, Priddis, LeCras, Scott Selwood, Shuey
Collingwood: Pendlebury, Wellingham, McCarthy, Johnson, Krakouer, Buckley
INJURIES
West Coast: Matt Rosa (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Brett Jones, Brown (shoulder), Naitanui (shoulder)
Collingwood: Maxwell (shoulder), Hunter (shoulder)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stevic, Farmer, Rosebury
Official crowd: 15,360 at Patersons Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
