BELLIGERENTS

PORT ADELAIDE
Year to date: WWLWWWWWWWLWLLLW
Last five at ground: LLWWL
Currently ranked: 5th

COLLINGWOOD
Year to date: LWLWWWWLWWWLLWLLL
Last five at ground: WLWLL
Currently ranked: 9th

HEAD TO HEAD
Power 11 v 13 Magpies

LAST FIVE
Power 2 v 3 Magpies

PLAYBILL

2014 AFL Premiership Season – Round 19
Collingwood v Port Adelaide
Sunday 3 August
First bounce 4:40pm (AEST) /  4:10pm (SA Time)
Hashtags: #AFLPiesPower
BROADCAST GUIDE
BUY TICKETS

YOU’RE INVITED

Official pre-game event
March to the 'G
Meet: 2:00pm Federation Square
Cnr Swanston Street and Flinders Street, Melbourne
Depart: 3:20pm

Official post-game event
Yarra Park Room
Level 3
MCG
Commencing after the game
Selected players and officials in attendance
All welcome

TIME MACHINE

Elimination Final, 2013. Port Adelaide's return to the AFL finals after six seasons saw it enter an elimination final at the MCG as underdogs to Collingwood. But it didn't take long for the Power to cause one of the unexpected performances of the year after leading at every change thanks to an exciting and emphatic defensive display led by a best on ground performance from Cameron O'Shea.

PORT ADELAIDE      2.4     6.6     8.9     12.15 (87)
MELBOURNE            1.4     4.6     7.7     9.9     (63)

Best: O'Shea, Cornes, Schulz, Jonas, Carlile, Trengove, Cassisi
Goals: Wingard, Schulz 3, Boak, Wines 2, Westhoff, Monfries
at the MCG

NUMBER CRUNCH

Points For: Power 1759 v 1437 Magpies
Points Against: Power 1329 v 1369 Magpies
Kicks: Power 3585 v 3486 Magpies
Handballs: Power 2840 v 2566 Magpies
Disposals: Power 6425 v 6052 Magpies
Contested percentage: Power 37.63% v 38.58% Magpies
Effective disposal: Power 71.8% v 70.6% Magpies
Marks: Power 1563 v 1469 Magpies
Clearances: Power 685 v 587 Magpies
Frees: Power 276 v 252 Magpies
Tackles: Power 1227 v 1221 Magpies
Rebound 50s: Power 580 v 643 Magpies
Inside-50s: Power 960 v 857 Magpies

FOUR POINTS

Important returns
Port Adelaide should welcome full-back Alipate Carlile and forward Angus Monfries following their recovery from respective hamstring injuries.

It's good news for the Power, which will be without hard-running Matt White following confirmation of groin soreness by senior coach Ken Hinkley.

Carlile and Monfries will bolster the Power's structure heading into an important game following four losses in six games.

Collingwood is set to call back Luke Ball and Alan Toovey for Sunday's match in what will be an important boost of class and experience for a team hunting a spot in the top eight.

The pair were tested at training during the week after completing rehab for respective back injuries.

Field of dreams
The Power plays just one game at the MCG in the 2014 home-and-away season - this one.

With an indifferent record heading into the Ken Hinkley era, the Power is one of few non-Victorian sides to have a positive ledger under its current senior coach, having won in Round 1 against Melbourne and the elimination final against the Pies last year.

Port also played an exceptional three quarters against Geelong in last year's semi final, but was left in the wake of a more experienced Geelong side.
This Sunday's twilight game represents an important opportunity for the Power to play itself into form following the bye on a ground that suits its quick spread and ambitious game style.

Defend, defend, defend
Defenders were among the Power's best players in both of last year's finals at the venue and the addition of Alipate Carlile to the mix will further bolster the back six.

For a side that has been exposed defensively in the past month - particularly against a resurgent Richmond at Etihad Stadium - the Power's focus on defending well and winning contested ball at training for the past fortnight will hopefully see a return to its early season form.

Collingwood will be hungry to make amends for a disappointing showing in the same time slot against the Crows last week - the Power will need to be wary of that.

The home stretch
The bye represents not only a practical but also psychological milestone for the Power.

Combined with the rest afforded by a one-week sabbatical, the Port Adelaide playing group will be able to leave an indifferent July in its wake and begin its August campaign full of verve.

This Collingwood test will be an important first-up challenge for the Power - particularly to see how well its players respond to the challenge of the MCG and a side fighting to keep its finals aspirations alive.

That said, Port has its own hopes for September - namely a place in the top four - so it needs to get back to its meticulous pre-game preparation and in-game intensity on this first Sunday of August.