Alan Didak and Nathan Buckley engineered a late, late victory for AFL finals-bound Collingwood to put a dampener on Gavin Wanganeen's Port Adelaide farewell at AAMI Stadium.

Intent on a win to enhance their finals aspirations, the Magpies built a commanding early lead before being dramatically pulled back by the Power, and still trailed by nine points with minutes remaining.

However a goal to best on ground Buckley and another to Didak, who was kept quiet by Domenic Cassisi until the very last moment, allowed Collingwood to escape Adelaide with a 12.17 (89) to 12.15 (87) result.

Buckley and youngster Sean Rusling (three goals) did much for the Magpies as a potent midfield/forward combination, in concert with Heath Shaw, Scott Burns and Ben Johnson.

Other than Brett Ebert (four goals in the first half), Shaun Burgoyne, Chad Cornes and Steve Salopek were all influential through the middle for Port, Troy Chaplin did well in defence, and Brendon Lade combined with Dean Brogan to dominate Josh Fraser in the ruck.

Collingwood's Paul Licuria is in line for a visit to the tribunal after being cited by umpire Matthew James for attempting to trip Jacob Surjan in the first quarter, while late inclusion Harry O'Brien went off with a twisted ankle sustained on his landing from an eye-catching mark.

Both sides had virus troubles before the game, Damon White making way for Adam Kingsley at Port, while Magpie Ryan Lonie was replaced by upgraded rookie Harry O'Brien.

Retired hero Wanganeen was given a suitable tribute in the minutes leading up to the first bounce, as he thanked the crowd while being driven around the boundary line.

The influence of another league great shone through early on, with the visitors ramming through six goals for the term - three the result of Buckley assists - for a 19 point advantage.

It grew to 33 points midway through the second, before Ebert's rousing purple patch cut the margin back to manageable dimensions.

Entering the second half with a considerable amount of momentum, Port duly ran its way into the lead via goals to Toby Thurstans and Kane Cornes, and extended it when Lade was felled after a mark by Johnson, resulting in a 50m penalty.

The remainder of the term descended into a series of ugly packs, allowing the Power to preserve a narrow lead at the final change.

Ebert, Danyle Pearce and Stuart Dew all missed narrowly with shots they would be expected to finish, leaving the door open for a Magpie steal.

Buckley's soaring mark and goal ramped up the tension, and after Burns missed from 10m out, Didak marked strongly and converted precisely to ensure both Wanganeen's last game - a loss against the Kangaroos in round one - and tribute game ended in misery.

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