Collingwood v Port Adelaide, MCG Saturday, March 15, 7.35pm AEDT

Last time: Collingwood 17.21 (123) d Port Adelaide 12.9 (81), R6 2024

What it means

Collingwood entered its clash with Greater Western Sydney fielding the oldest side to run out for a club's season-opener and looked more and more outpaced as the game went on. But the Magpies are a different beast when playing in front of their home fans at the MCG and showed last year that even after a lacklustre start they can quickly turn their form around.

Port Adelaide has gone all in on chasing a flag in coach Ken Hinkley's last season in charge before he hands the reins to assistant Josh Carr. After being outclassed by the Swans in a preliminary final, the Power are still to reach a decider in 12 seasons under Hinkley and will begin this campaign with clouds hovering above them after the departure of Dan Houston and pre-season injury to Zak Butters.

Game shapers

Dan Houston finally gets his chance to impress with his new club after completing a suspension that ruled him out of former side Port Adelaide's finals campaign last year. But the dashing half-back now returns just at the right time for the Magpies who were unable to match the Giants' run-and-carry in a crushing Opening Round defeat.

Jason Horne-Francis has been on a steady path to becoming one of the top players in the competition and now looks set to explode in his fourth season. The 21-year-old is a weapon when playing as a deep target in the Power forward line but is likely to turn this his strengths as a rugged midfielder around stoppages especially in the absence of Zak Butters.