Collingwood pull off another comeback to down Adelaide Crows Collingwood have put a drama-filled week off the field behind them to record a 27 point win over Adelaide at the MCG. Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley addresses the media after his side's victory over Adelaide. Collingwood's Dane Swan takes control against Adelaide at the MCG last night. The Pies produced another sporadic performance. COLLINGWOOD defeated Adelaide by 27 points last night but was once again forced to overcome a sluggish start. The Magpies are now primed just seven rounds out from September. Twice they have overcome early deficits to not only win but do so running away. Last night they reeled in a 25-point margin at quarter-time against a rival that proved competitive until late in the match. Yet Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley will be disappointed with the sporadic intensity that allowed Adelaide to jump his side early and then fight back late in the third term. When the Crows kicked the opening two goals of the final term to reduce the margin to two points, an upset that seemed improbable when star Patrick Dangerfield came from the ground early with a shoulder injury was within range. Dangerfield is a beauty. Although the Brownlow Medal fancy was clearly hindered by the injury, his performance to soldier on was courageous. Yet it was rival midfielders Dane Swan and Scott Pendlebury who eased the nerves of Collingwood fans with timely goals before Travis Cloke finally found his range to seal the victory. The defeats of Carlton and the Crows on successive Fridays puts Collingwood just two points behind Sydney and Fremantle, which sit equal fourth but hold a game in hand heading into this weekend. And the Magpies are getting stronger. Best and fairest winner Dayne Beams played his first match for the season last night. Andrew Krakouer, who was brilliant in the second term last night with three goals, has seven games under his belt now following a knee reconstruction. The match fitness is showing. He had time and space to weave magic last night when all around him seemed to be panicking. In the lead-in, Buckley anointed Luke Ball the contested ball king. Ball was duly rewarded for putting his head over the Sherrin time and again in his 200th game with a key goal in the third term. Swan, simply, is a champion, as is his midfield mate Pendlebury. The match-saving goals aside in the final term, the pair combined for 73 possessions, with Pendlebury gathering a career-high 42. In Ben Reid they have a swing man capable of changing the course of a match. When Carlton was dominant last week, Reid was swung forward and kicked two in succession to kick start the Pies. Whipped by Crow Tom Lynch in the first term, Reid again captured the momentum for the Magpies when kicking the first two goals of the second term, with a third shot clipping the post. Yet Buckley will be concerned with elements of last night's victory. Perhaps the most worrying issue is the that, for the third week in succession and with much to play for given a top four finish is considered critical to being a contender in September, Collingwood was completely outplayed in the opening term. The Crows started brilliantly, with forwards Tom Lynch and Jarryd Lyons potent. By match's end that pair shared eight, with Jason Porplyzia dangerous early in kicking three. Collingwood 2.2 9.5 13.6 17.9 (111) Goals: Collingwood: A Krakouer 3 B Macaffer 2 B Reid 2 D Swan 2 S Pendlebury 2 T Cloke 2 J Witts L Ball M Williams S Sidebottom. Adelaide: J Lyons 4 T Lynch 4 J Porplyzia 3 R Douglas. Umpires: Matt Stevic, Stephen McBurney, Shane Stewart. Crowd: 54,790 at MCG