TV: Seven Network, Fox Sports
Sportingbet says: Collingwood $2.08 Fremantle $1.76
Why watch?
First match of the season? Why wouldn't you? Last season's grand finalists take on the Magpies - the team everyone either loves, or loves to hate. The Dockers are expected to challenge for the flag again. Jury's out on Collingwood and whether they're actually any good or not. A good status check for Magpies' fans - and for the rest of us on how their season may unfold - here.
Match notes
- Magpies Jesse White and Ben Reid to miss with injuries
- Dockers forward Michael Walters can play after reprimand from AFL match review panel this week
- Fremantle's Nick Suban is suspended from last season's grand final
- Dockers coach Ross Lyon and Collingwood counterpart Nathan Buckley have both signed two-year contract extensions prior to the season starting
Say what?
"Round one is a fast game. It's probably the fastest game in the home-and-away (season)," Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley on why he won't take players under injury clouds into the match.
"It just drives me, personally. It just drives me to keep working hard," Fremantle coach Ross Lyon tells Perth radio station 6PR of the effect of being involved in three losing grand finals.
Key injuries
Nat Fyfe - Frem - knee. Expected to play
Hayden Ballantyne - Frem - thigh. Expected to play.
Zac Clarke - Frem - knee
Scott Gumbleton - Frem - hamstring
Ben Reid – Coll – calf
Jesse White – Coll - calf
Matt Scharenberg - Coll - foot
Patrick Karnezis - Coll - groin
Paul Seedsman - Coll - hip
Last 5 games (includes 2013 season)
Collingwood
W 29 Sydney
L 35 Hawthorn
W 62 West Coast
L 11 North Melbourne
L 24 Port Adelaide
Fremantle
W 74 Port Adelaide
L 71 St Kilda
W 15 Geelong
W 25 Sydney
L 15 Hawthorn
Last 5 between clubs
Coll-Coll-Coll-Coll-Frem
Fantasy factoid
In his past five matches against Fremantle, Collingwood's Dane Swan has had 41, 31, 35, 43 and 27 touches.
Cold hard fact
Fremantle haven't beaten Collingwood in Melbourne since round 15, 2006.