Just over 12 months since the Magpies kept faith with coach Nathan Buckley and reappointed him, they are on the verge of their 16th flag.

Collingwood will join Essendon and Carlton with the most premierships if they win next Saturday's grand final.

It would be the third-straight season where a club defies the odds to win the flag, following the drought-breaking triumphs by the Western Bulldogs and Richmond.

Collingwood's achievement is already remarkable, given this is their first finals series since 2013.

The Pies not only pulled off a massive upset in Friday night's preliminary final, but their win over reigning premiers Richmond was a domination.

Collingwood led by 53 points in the second quarter and then held off Richmond's second-half counter attack for a 39-point win.

Coach Nathan Buckley quickly re-focused after the game, saying they must now finish the job.

"We're not done yet, we've got another game to win," he said.

"We've really been strong on exploring ourselves, finding out what we're capable of, and we still don't know.

"We want to go and do that."

Buckley is looking forward to grand final week and said the Magpies would stay focused.

"You're getting to the pointy end, but we have a job to do," he said.

"There will be a whole heap of palaver that takes place outside of the game during the week.

"We'll relax, we'll embrace it and we'll share it with each other, we'll have a laugh.

"Don't worry - we've got a job to do and we're really looking forward to that challenge."

Buckley said Jeremy Howe (ankle) and Jordan De Goey (leg) would be ready for the grand final.

He heaped praise on midfielder Steele Sidebottom, who continued his outstanding finals series with a 41-possession game.

"He's played three really good games, hasn't he ... games where he's impacted not just with his weight of possessions, but with his decision making, his capacity to make the smart decision at the right time," Buckley said.

"It's not just with ball in hand, either.

"He's in rare form."

Sidebottom and American Mason Cox led the way in the second term as Collingwood tore the game apart.

Buckley said some of the football Collingwood played in the second quarter was close to their best.

Another hero was ruckman Brodie Grundy, who racked up 56 hitouts.

"Brodes is a beauty - he continues to pour his heart out for the team," Buckley said.

"We talk about showing care and love for each other and I reckon Brodes epitomises that.

"He's love personified for us and it's reciprocated."

Australian Associated Press