West Coast matched it with the reigning premiers for most of the match before a late flurry of goals from the Magpies sealed the 1.9.17 (80) to 0.8.8 (56) win.
Adding to the side's woes, West Coast finished the game with three players taken from the ground due to injury.
Promising ruckman Nic Naitanui and emerging backman Mitch Brown are nursing suspected shoulder injuries while skipper Beau Waters copped a hit to the head and was subbed off.
Top-line Magpies Alan Didak, Heath Shaw, Leigh Brown, Luke Ball and Chris Tarrant were all missing for the visitors, and the Eagles stayed in the contest longer than they might otherwise have, drawing to within three points early in the final term.
However, the Pies kicked the final three goals of the match to advance to the final.
West Coast, while concerned with the injury toll, would have been pleased with the continued pre-season form of ruckman Dean Cox (22 possessions) and midfielder Scott Selwood (15).
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. "
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, McCarthy, Wellingham, Johnson, Krakouer, Buckley
INJURIES
West Coast: Matt Rosa (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Brett Jones, Brown (shoulder), Naitanui (shoulder), Waters (head)
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
