PORT ADELAIDE clash with Collingwood in a Friday night blockbuster at Marvel Stadium in Round 7.
Both sides have started the 2019 Toyota AFL Premiership Season in strong form, and sit 4-2 after the opening six rounds.
Port is coming off the back of two solid Friday night wins against West Coast and North Melbourne and will be looking to make it three consecutive wins against the Magpies this week.
The Pies have won four of their previous five games to sit third on the ladder, after having an indifferent start to the season.
Collingwood’s highly credentialed and deep midfield has been the catalyst for their form turnaround, with Adam Treloar (31.7), Dayne Beams (27.8) and Scott Pendlebury (27.8) averaging plenty of the footy each week.
Jordan de Goey has been the focal point up forward with 16 goals, while Mason Cox (9), Jamie Elliot (9), Brody Mihocek (8) have supported him well.
An ankle injury means Cox won’t suit up for the Magpies on Friday night.
For Port, it has been the midfield resurgence of Travis Boak and Tom Rockliff, along with the form of some young talent that has ignited them this season.
Boak has averaged 32.7 disposals a game, while Rockliff has averaged 32 - despite only playing half a game against Brisbane in Round 3.
Rising star nominees Connor Rozee and Xavier Duursma have been electric, while Zak Butters’ footy nous and disposal efficiency have set up plenty of scoring options.
In the only meeting between the two clubs in 2018, it was the Magpies who triumphed by 51 points at the MCG in Round 22.
Brodie Grundy was the standout player on the ground with 42 hit-outs, 25 disposals and a goal in Collingwood’s dominant second half display.
The Power started the stronger of the two teams, but a seven-goal to one final term by the Magpies was the difference.
Ollie Wines (29 disposals), Steven Motlop (28) and Travis Boak (27) racked up plenty of the footy, while Paddy Ryder booted three goals for Ken Hinkley’s side, but it was the evenness of the Pies that eventually overpowered Port.
Jaidyn Stephenson, Brody Mihocek, Tom Phillips and Jordan de Goey all kicked two goals for the home side.
The Power has had the wood over the Pies in recent meetings, winning four of the past five encounters by an average margin of 39 points.
The story is different over the journey, however, with the clubs winning 15 games apiece since 1997.
The first bounce of Friday night’s blockbuster from Marvel Stadium will be at 7.20pm ACST.
The last five games:
2018 Round 22
MCG
COLLINGWOOD 17.13 (115)
PORT ADELAIDE 10.4 (64)
2017 Round 21
Adelaide Oval
PORT ADELAIDE 14.14 (98)
COLLINGWOOD 10.11 (71)
2017 Round 14
MCG
COLLINGWOOD 9.8 (62)
PORT ADELAIDE 13.15 (93)
2016 Round 11
MCG
COLLINGWOOD 7.16 (58)
PORT ADELAIDE 19.11 (125)
2015 Round 15
Adelaide Oval
PORT ADELAIDE 9.12 (66)
COLLINGWOOD 9.9 (63)
