The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word COLUMNAR
C
O
L
U
M
N
A
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More clues leading to the result COLUMNAR
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "as post" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case as post = columnar.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does COLUMNAR mean?
COLUMNAR adjective- Having the shape of a column.
- Constructed with columns.