Collingwood's forgotten dynamo Jamie Elliott slotted seamlessly back into a multi-pronged attack while returning star Dayne Beams whet fans' appetites as the Magpies overcame a spirited Fremantle outfit by 27 points on Monday.
Meanwhile, prized Dockers recruit Jesse Hogan made a quiet debut in purple, although former Giants tall Rory Lobb gave fans a glimpse of his potential playing mainly in the ruck.
Elliott missed the entire 2018 campaign due to recurring hamstring injuries but was lively in a welcome comeback, finishing with two majors alongside young gun Jaidyn Stephenson (two) and veteran Travis Varcoe (three).
In his return to Collingwood after four years in Brisbane, Beams provided an early highlight when he flew for a chest mark and converted the Pies' first major against the run of play, before finishing with 25 disposals.
Temperatures topped 37 degrees at bouncedown, and the Magpies had to fight back in energy-sapping conditions after giving away a 26-point lead at quarter-time to run out 17.9 (111) to 12.12 (84) winners.
Coming back from a concerning navicular stress fracture, ex-Melbourne spearhead Hogan covered plenty of territory but picked up only six touches and went scoreless before being put on ice during the third quarter.
Emerging tall Brennan Cox was the Dockers' main threat inside 50, booting three goals before half-time to keep his name in the mix for round one against North Melbourne.
Lobb was recruited mainly to play forward but in the absences of first-choice big men Aaron Sandilands (calf) and Sean Darcy (back/hamstring) he was required to lead the ruck.
The ex-Giant competed strongly against All Australian Brodie Grundy and was busy around the ground, picking up 20 touches.
The Dockers were missing some key midfield personnel, headlined by Nat Fyfe (elbow), but matched Collingwood's star-studded, albeit understrength, onball division in clearances (41-38) and dominated inside 50s (60-46).
Michael Walters (21 disposals, seven clearances) and Bradley Hill (28 possessions, one goal) provided enough drive, while Andy Brayshaw impressed in his comeback from his broken jaw suffered in last year's Western Derby.
Brayshaw appears set for more midfield time after Lachie Neale's departure and racked up 25 touches and four clearances.
There were plenty of positives for Freo, although a scare went through the camp when young defender Griffin Logue limped off late coming back from a season ruined by a foot problem.
It was the usual suspects for the Pies tallying bulk possessions, with skipper Scott Pendlebury (34 disposals) and Steele Sidebottom (34) bringing their own football.
Collingwood was missing Adam Treloar (rested), Taylor Adams (finger) and Jordan De Goey (foot) but, with arguably the AFL's deepest engine room, received more than enough grunt from gun ruck Grundy, Josh Thomas, Tom Phillips and Beams.
Aided by a stiff breeze, Fremantle dominated the first term and Cox took full advantage of a 17-10 inside 50 count, booting two goals as the Dockers took a 26-point lead into the opening break.
The visitors put the foot down with the wind at their backs in the second, hitting the front at the long break after a six-goal-to-one term, highlighted by NAB AFL Rising Star Stephenson lighting up attack with his blistering pace.
Collingwood booted seven unanswered goals either side of half-time to grab control of the game, before Freo goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne broke the drought with a clever snap.
It kickstarted a fightback, and the Dockers drew level at the final change after at one stage trailing by 22 points, but fell short against last year's beaten grand finalists.
WHAT WE LEARNED
Fremantle: The Dockers were missing some prime movers through the engine room – including superstar Nat Fyfe, Connor Blakely, Stephen Hill and first-choice ruckmen Aaron Sandilands and Sean Darcy – but showed they can still compete provided they don't suffer any more injuries. Young gun Andy Brayshaw showed no concerns in his first game since his sickening broken jaw in last year's round 20 Western Derby, racking up 25 touches and four clearances, and stands to pick up some of the slack left since former housemate Lachie Neale's departure to Brisbane.
Collingwood: The Pies' fleet-footed forward line helped carry them to a Grand Final last season, and Jamie Elliott looms as the X-factor which could take the attack to another level. Elliott's smarts at ground level and overhead ability should complement giant American tall Mason Cox, versatile Brody Mihocek and speedsters Jaidyn Stephenson, Travis Varcoe, Josh Thomas and Will Hoskin-Elliott. What the Pies lack in height they make up for in a variety of dangerous options.
NEW FACES
Fremantle: Former Demons big man Jesse Hogan showed his fitness hasn't taken a hit since his navicular injury, pushing high up the wings and even into defence at times. Rory Lobb started in the ruck and got involved around the ground in the absences of Sean Darcy and Aaron Sandilands. Travis Colyer didn't have a great start, getting mown down by Travis Varcoe and soccering a ball out on the full, but worked his way into it. Brett Bewley didn't come on until the 10-minute mark of the second term and immediately laid a strong tackle on Brody Mihocek, before picking up 13 touches.
Collingwood: Returning star Dayne Beams got his second stint as a Pie underway in excellent fashion with a well-judged contested mark before slotting Collingwood's opening goal and was busy with 25 touches. Jordan Roughead made a solid debut playing on the last line, while Isaac Quaynor showcased his athleticism and willingness to dash from half-back and looked comfortable at the level.
FANTASY WATCH
Second-year onballer Andy Brayshaw (MID, $485,000) is being primed for more midfield time, loves a tackle and has a knack of finding the footy in the clinches, so he should be a productive fantasy option in 2019.
NEXT UP
The Dockers have a six-day turnaround before taking on West Coast in Mandurah to round out their pre-season preparations, while Collingwood faces arch-rival Carlton in Morwell next Monday.
FREMANTLE 5.3 6.4 9.11 12.12 (84)
COLLINGWOOD 1.1 7.5 10.5 17.9 (111)
GOALS
Fremantle: Cox 3, Matera 2, Mundy, Banfield, Ballantyne, Walters, Lobb, Hill, Langdon
Collingwood: Varcoe 3, Stephenson 2, Elliott 2, Miihocek 2, Daicos 2, Beams, Phillips, T.Brown, Sidebottom, Crocker, Wills
BEST
Fremantle: Walters, Hill, Lobb, Brayshaw, Cox, Pearce
Collingwood: Sidebottom, Pendlebury, Varcoe, Grundy, Phillips, Elliott
INJURIES
Fremantle: Switkowski (mouth), Cox (wrist), Logue (foot)
Collingwood: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McInerney, Margetts, Rosebury
Official crowd: 5245 at HBF Arena, Joondalup
