After a week of external analysis of Collingwood's age profile, defensive intent and fitness standards, the Magpies produced the perfect response on Saturday night to the Opening Round disaster against Greater Western Sydney. 

Craig McRae's side defeated Port Adelaide by 91 points at the MCG, bouncing back from a 52-point loss last Sunday to confine Ken Hinkley to the biggest losing margin of his 275-game coaching career, in the first game of his final season in charge of the Power. 

After losing in Opening Round against the GWS GIANTS on Sunday the Pies needed to bounce back and they did. The speed, pressure and aggression was drastically different to what was produced at Engie Stadium. 

Facing his old side in his first game for the Pies, Dan Houston instantly improved Collingwood's ball movement in his first appearance since serving a five-game suspension for a bump on Izak Rankine last August. 

The dual All-Australian was the prized component of the biggest trade last October and didn't disappoint, collecting 27 disposals at 89 per cent efficiency, 10 intercept possessions, six score involvements and five inside 50s. 

After combining for just three goals in western Sydney, 'Triple M' – Dan McStay, Brody Mihocek and Tim Membrey – all had a lick of the ice cream at the MCG, finishing with a total of 10 goals in the 21.10 (136) to 6.9 (45) win in front of 63,282 people. 

Just over a month after Port Adelaide announced the succession plan from Hinkley to Josh Carr at the end of this season, last year's preliminary finalists were humiliated by the Magpies in their only scheduled visit to the MCG this season.

The signs were ominous early. After kicking six goals in four quarters against the Giants, Collingwood had as many on the board by quarter-time. Houston was everywhere. The big-name recruit commanded the wide expanses of the MCG, putting the ball inside 50 three times from 10 damaging first-term touches. 

Membrey kicked three goals and dished off another one by the time he swapped the City End for the Punt Road End in a sizzling first home appearance in black and white stripes. With no Brandon Zerk-Thatcher or Esava Ratugolea, the Power looked vulnerable down back. The 21-point margin at the first break should have been more, given the Magpies amassed 12 more inside 50s, but the intent was there from the outset.

Port Adelaide needed a response and got one from Jason Horne-Francis early in the second quarter. The inside bull swept through for two early centre clearances, following up the second with two extra efforts to set the tone early. Travis Boak cashed in early with the first goal of the term, but Collingwood's relentless pressure, real and perceived, forced the Power into basic skill errors between the arcs. 

The Magpies laid only 39 tackles in Opening Round. They had 38 by half-time, a basic metric that highlighted a clear improvement to the assessment GWS skipper Toby Greene made in the week about the Giants having a ‘clear athletic advantage' last weekend. When Jamie Elliott slotted a pinpoint set shot from the pocket for his second, the Magpies had a 34-point lead and were in complete control. 

Brayden Maynard got in on the action after half-time. The All-Australian defender drilled not one, but two goals in two minutes from almost the same patch of grass 40 metres from goal. Then he was involved in a coast-to-coast goal after whacking a kick-in forward that resulted in a Nick Daicos goal that made it eight goals in a row, resulting in the first sweeping Collingwood chant of 2025. The third quarter was brutal for Port Adelaide, conceding seven goals to one. 

Nick Daicos' fitness won't be queried after Saturday night. The reigning Copeland Trophy winner couldn't impact after half-time in Opening Round due to cramps. In round one, the 22-year-old glided around the MCG, finishing with 26 disposals. 

While Port Adelaide was missing Zak Butters, who has won the past two John Cahill medals, their defensive pressure will be examined across the week, just like Collingwood's was this week. Thirteen Port Adelaide players had one tackle or less. A damning stat on a humiliating night.

A week, as they say, is a long time in football. 

COLLINGWOOD                       6.5       9.7       16.9       21.10 (136)
PORT ADELAIDE                  3.2       4.3       5.5    6.9 (45)

GOALS
Collingwood: Membrey 4, McStay 3, Mihocek 3, Elliott 2, Maynard 2, Hill 2, Lipinski, Sidebottom, N.Daicos, Sullivan, Schultz
Port Adelaide: Lukosius, Sweet, Rioli, Boak, Byrne-Jones, Horne-Francis

INJURIES 
Collingwood: Nil
Port Adelaide: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Scott Pendlebury (replaced Jeremy Howe in the third quarter)
Port Adelaide: Ryan Burton (replaced Lachie Jones in the third quarter)

Crowd: 63,282 at the MCG