In front of 1200 people at Crown Palladium on Monday night, the Pies began their campaign to win back-to-back premierships for the first time since 1936 with a jumper presentation and the induction of three former players into the club's Hall of Fame.
With the 2010 premiership cup and flag standing proud in the corner (and every listed player in attendance), the Pies touched on their recent success but emphasised their focus on the more important job at hand - the next six-and-a-bit months.
"We can be just as ferocious as last year. I've been a part of some very, very good football sides, in fact, some great football sides, and the one component they all have is they don't back out, or back off," coach Mick Malthouse said.
"They'll come out in the middle of the ring and throw the first punch … and that's exactly what we've got to do. We cannot take a backwards step and be hunted.
"We are the hunter."
The players were presented with their jumpers with the biggest cheers reserved for Nick Maxwell, Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan and Steele Sidebottom, while Andrew Krakouer and Chris Tarrant were also popular.
Rookie Tom Hunter accepted his guernsey wearing a plastic neck brace, the lingering reminder of his nasty collision with West Coast midfielder Luke Shuey in the NAB Cup semi final at Patersons Stadium.
Malthouse implored his players to be inspired by the club's Hall of Fame inductees, Ron Todd, John Greening and Paul Licuria, who all overcame setbacks in their lives to make a significant contribution to Collingwood.
Todd, who passed away in 1991, was represented by his niece Jan Roberts, while Greening told of the behind-the-play king-hit that left him unconscious for 24 hours and with his career in doubt.
An emotional Licuria, who announced his retirement at the 2007 Copeland Trophy without fanfare or his family in attendance, said he was grateful for the opportunity to finally thank those close to him for their commitment to his 192-game career.
Club president Eddie McGuire said there was enormous motivation within the club to replicate the feats of last season, which had "meant so much to so many people".
"There's some enormous challenges ahead but I believe our club is very much on the cusp of a great period in its history," he said.
"We have to keep our heads together; there will be no carrying on or anything like we might have seen before in other clubs' history or our own club history.
"We are certainly dedicated to the task."
McGuire also announced the club's membership had surpassed the 60,000 mark and was "surging" towards the goal of 70,000.
Earlier on Monday, Maxwell used Twitter to reveal he definitely won't take part in Collingwood's season opener against Port Adelaide on Saturday but that he had been diagnosed as fully recovered from the kidney injury he received against the Eagles in the pre-season.
"Clean bill of health for internal injuries from next wk (sic) onwards. Now need to get the fitness back! Pushing for rd 2 return," Maxwell wrote.
Nick Maxwell is a $257,000 defender in the Toyota AFL Dream Team competition.
