The Magpies trailed by 23 points early in the last quarter before piling on an amazing 11 unanswered majors to run in 20.15 (135) to 14.8 (92) victors against a shell-shocked Crows side.
Adelaide looked like pulling off one the upsets of the season when it led by five goals at half-time and continued to answer the Pies' challenge to claim a 12-point advantage at the last change.
The Crows' bid for a first win in Melbourne since round 22, 2009 was given a boost by kicking the first two goals of the final term before the Collingwood freight train hit full speed.
Chris Tarrant's move forward and goal acted as the catalyst as the reigning premiers booted the next 11 goals in 22 minutes while Adelaide managed just two behinds.
Andrew Krakouer also starred in the late flurry, taking a strong contender for mark of the season and finishing with three goals along with Sharrod Wellingham.
The recently re-signed Scott Pendlebury recovered from a slow start to notch up 27 touches and Dale Thomas' irrepressible work rate helped him to two goals and 24 possessions.
"It was a very weird game, we were very flat in the first half," Pendlebury told Grandstand.
"They looked as though they would just keep us at bay in the third and fourth quarter because every time we seemed to get a run on they would kick two quick goals.
"But to the boys' credit they fought it out all the way and the floodgates opened towards the end."
Pendlebury said the days of a good old fashioned spray were dying and coach Mick Malthouse delivered a few clear messages at the long break.
"Mick spoke to us about a few areas that he thought we were dropping off," he said.
"One of them was letting them get the ball out of our 50m too easy.
"We tightened that up and it made a big difference."
Adelaide veteran Scott Thompson racked up 22 first-half disposals in the midfield before ending with 33 while Kurt Tippett and Patrick Dangerfield were a handful up forward for most of the afternoon with three and two majors respectively.
Ebbs and flows
In a magnificent contest full of ebbs and flows, Adelaide controlled the running with a energetic four-goal second term whilst keeping Collingwood goalless in a home and away quarter since round 15 last season.
Collingwood was being punished for its profligacy in front of goal while the Crows' willingness to take on the press and tremendous kicking efficiency over the Magpies' zone saw them dominate.
Fantastic solo goals by Heath Shaw and Krakouer in the third quarter brought Collingwood within 11 points and had the Pies fans sniffing a predictable comeback as their side dominated the centre clearances with renewed vigour.
Despite Ricky Henderson and Matthew Wright keeping a cool head in front of goal to start the last period, Adelaide was totally dismantled as its young list was routed for the second time in three weeks after its 96-point thrashing at the hands of Melbourne.
Thomas iced the fourth quarter party with a memorable, booming torpedo from the pocket well outside the 50m arc which put the contest well out of reach.
Magpies: 20.15 (135) - A Krakouer 3, S Wellingham 3, C Dawes 2, C Tarrant 2, D Thomas 2, L Ball 2, D Beams, D Swan, H Shaw, J McCarthy, S Buckley, S Pendlebury
Crows: 14.8 (92) - K Tippett 3, P Dangerfield 2, R Sloane 2, B Smith, C Knights, C Schmidt, J Gunston, M Wright, N van Berlo, R Henderson
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, sa, adelaide-5000, vic, collingwood-3066 First posted May 22, 2011 16:06:00
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