The Power showed plenty of promise during the match despite the size of a final margin that Primus put down to his side's inability to maintain the required focus throughout.
"We probably saw that the best team in the comp can play at a huge level and can keep maintaining that all the time. We just weren't able to sustain it," he said.
"The biggest thing was the disparity between their size and their ability to keep playing at a fair intensity compared to us. We were able to match them at times, but then our ability physically and mentally to be able to stay in the game dropped away.
"It is a bit of a gulf between where we're at and where they're at, but I don't think it is as big as the margin suggested today. Perhaps it is.
"We got a lesson today in what you need to do to beat the very best. We're not there yet, we know that, but we're building towards it."
After a spirited opening term, Port collapsed in a heap early in the second as the Pies ratcheted up the pressure on the visitors.
With every possession executed under intense scrutiny from Mick Malthouse's men, Primus bemoaned the soaring turnover count that proved pivotal.
"The disappointing thing is, and we've spoken about this a lot … is that we've worked on our ability to not go to turnovers [in the face of pressure]," he said.
"But Collingwood are the best in the competition at making you do it and killing you when you do do it.
"I thought we just made some poor decisions in giving them the ball which allowed them to kick some easy goals, especially in the first half."
Jay Schulz was stretched off in the second quarter with what Primus reported was a medial ligament injury that will sideline the tall forward for up to six weeks.
The coach was non-committal as to whether his absence would open the door for out-of-favour veteran Chad Cornes, who appears destined to struggle to get a game as Primus pursues his vision of the future.
"We know what we're on about and we know what path we're going to go down," he said.
"We believe in the team that we're going to pick each week and we believe in the game style. It's going to take time for it to shine through, but we're aware of what we have and the skill level and ability we have."
