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Mihocek, Cox star as Magpies stun Eagles

American Mason Cox unleashed an early onslaught and Brody Mihocek provided the late heroics to power Collingwood to a famous one-point win over West Coast in Saturday night's elimination final at Optus Stadium.

Cox reprised memories of his demolition job on Richmond in the 2018 preliminary final by booting three goals in as many minutes in the opening term.

West Coast snatched back the lead in a see-sawing final quarter, but Mihocek kicked two late goals and took an important defensive mark to lift his side to a 12.4 (76) to 11.9 (75) win.

The victory sets up a semi-final showdown against Geelong at the Gabba next Saturday night.

Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui (17 disposals, 24 hitouts, seven clearances) won his contest against fellow All-Australian Brodie Grundy (12 possessions, 19 hitouts, two clearances), but the Magpies still created enough opportunities.

Adam Treloar, Taylor Adams and Scott Pendlebury produced big games through the midfield, while Mihocek and Cox ended up with three goals apiece.

Eagles spearheads Jack Darling and Josh Kennedy also booted three goals each, while Liam Ryan was at his creative best.

West Coast's midfield couldn't get going in the opening term with Dom Sheed, Tim Kelly and Luke Shuey combining for just two disposals between them.

Collingwood won the inside 50m count 14-8 and Cox cashed in with the most productive three minutes of his career.

Cox took three contested marks against Tom Barrass during that period and converted each time to silence the 32,865 crowd.

After booting his second, Cox stuck out his tongue and showed two fingers in a swagger-filled goal celebration.

And when Oscar Allen stuck out his hand and slapped Taylor Adams in the face to gift the Magpies midfielder a 50m penalty and a goal, the Eagles were down 24-7.

The first few seconds of the second term would have filled Eagles fans with hope after Naitanui tapped the ball to Kelly, who drilled it to Kennedy for a goal.

Kennedy booted two goals for the quarter and Darling one to reduce the margin to three points at half-time.

The battle between Eagles goalsneak Ryan and Brayden Maynard made for intriguing viewing.

Ryan cleaned up Maynard with a heavy bump early in the second quarter.

And he rubbed salt into the wound when he took a mark over Maynard and cheekily showed him the ball, before delivering it inside 50m for a Brayden Ainsworth goal.

West Coast twice hit the lead during the third quarter, but goals to Will Hoskin-Elliott and Mihocek gave the Magpies a 10-point buffer at the final change.

The Eagles again hit the lead early in the last, but a stunning goal from Mihocek on the boundary line and another goal after a strong mark gave Collingwood a 13-point edge.

Late goals from Kennedy and Darling closed the gap to one point with 77 seconds left, but Collingwood were able to hold firm in the dying moments.