THE statistics favour Port Adelaide over Fremantle as the sides prepare to face off to open their 2018 AFL Premiership season at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

While the Power holds a narrow advantage over the Dockers, winning 18 out of 34 meetings, since 2014 the ledger is only narrowly in its favour (four wins to three).

The teams have played three times at Adelaide Oval with the Power winning all three including the last two by 69 and 89 points.

When the sides last met in Round 2 of the 2017 season, Port Adelaide were overwhelming winners and Robbie Gray dominated with 30 disposals and a career-high six goals.

The 29-year-old is serving a suspension picked up in the pre-season JLT Community Series and won’t feature at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

The teams

Apart from Gray’s absence, it’ll be a vastly different Port Adelaide side in 2018, with the impressive off-season recruiting of Jack Watts (Melbourne), Tom Rockliff (Brisbane) and Steven Motlop (Geelong).

Former Demon Dom Barry will also debut for the club.

Fremantle will also feature four new faces as well as the long-awaited return of Alex Pearce, 672 days since he broke his leg in round nine of the 2016 season.

New recruits Nathan Wilson (GWS) and Brandon Matera (Gold Coast) will make their club debuts, while number two draft pick Andrew Brayshaw and rookie draftee Bailey Banfield will play their first AFL games.

Fremantle’s 2017 Doig Medal winner as Best and Fairest Bradley Hill will return after missing the Dockers’ final JLT Community Series game with injury.

The coaches

Ken Hinkley – Port Adelaide Coach:

“With Ross they’re a really well coached side and you can see their pressure is back up and about. They’ve got some quality players in the side again with Fyfe looking big, Sandilands is really important for them and they’ve got some younger players in the group.

“They’re an exciting group and Ross Lyon coached team means you’re in for a challenge.”

“This competition’s so close, so tight, that if you think just bringing in some names or people are going to make a difference to your outcomes it won’t.

“It’s about your effort and your method and that’s what it will be about again tomorrow afternoon.”

Ross Lyon – Fremantle Coach:

“Not fond memories (at Adelaide Oval) last year, but previous memories in Adelaide have been okay," 

"Senior experience helps but we were quite experienced last year and didn't get it done. 

"We feel like we're playing a better brand of footy. 

"It's still a formidable challenge. 

"We felt the JLT we grew a bit. It's a bigger challenge, the intensity will be right up and a roaring crowd, but mental toughness is responding powerfully to challenge. 

"It's a very fit and available team. We'd like to think we've grown, but talk's cheap, everyone can talk it up. 

"Everyone's had a great summer, everyone's improved their footy, but we're match-fit and we're ready to go.” 

Port Adelaide v Fremantle, 4:05pm Adelaide Oval, Saturday March 24 

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