Dual premiership Kangaroo David King believes Port Adelaide’s young gun midfielders can “get hold of” a “gettable” Collingwood and cause an MCG boilover on Saturday.
The Magpies (2-3, 87.9%) have won their past two consecutive games after a sluggish start to their premiership defence campaign.
The Power (4-1, 139.9%) have been one of the most impressive teams of the season so far – and will head into Saturday’s clash knowing they’ve won their past three matches at the MCG.
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“I love what they (the Power) are doing and they’re an exciting team,” King told Fox Footy’s Give Me Something.
“Looking at the stoppages, I think the Pies are gettable here. They’ve lost their last three clearance battles against teams I thought they would’ve beaten … I’m concerned about the Pies in this area.
“I can see them getting hold of Collingwood in the midfield with their thee young guns going crazy.”
The match gets underway at 1:45pm from the MCG.
Watch it live on Fox Footy (channel 504), streaming on Kayo and via Hubbl from 1pm.
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There were no late changes for either side, with Reef McInnes (Collingwood) and Jed McEntee (Port Adelaide) named the starting subs.
After an early arm-wrestle, the Power struck first with long-range goals to Zak Butters then Sam Powell-Pepper to give them a 12-point lead.
And a minute after Will Hoskin-Elliott kicked Collingwood’s first major, Miles Bergman pulled off a strunning running checkside goal before Ryan Burton and Mitch Georgiades added two more to make it a 25-point lead.
“Right now the number of free Port Adelaide players … would be real concern for the Magpies,” Melbourne champion Garry Lyon told Fox Footy.
“Every time there’s a loose ball, they (the Pies) are harassed.
“They are all over the shop, Collingwood.
The Port Adelaide blitz continued as Jackson Mead snapped a classy goal to take the margin beyond five goals.
Lyon said the Magpies’ first 20 minutes was “un-Collingwood-like”.
“It’s staggering. It’s ust leave your man, go to the contest and hope Collingwood find it. When they don’t, they’re getting slaughtered,” Lyon said of the Magpies’ loose checking.
Triple premiership Tiger Jack Riewoldt added: “It’s inferred pressure. It’s little things like that – simple marks – that all of a sudden when you’re 30 points down and it’s Round 6 and you’ve won the premiership last year, things aren’t going your way and you make little errors like that.”
But the Pies struck back in the latter stages of the first quarter, with some quick ball movement leading to goals to Beau McCreery and Bobby Hill as they cut the lead to 17 points at the first change.
Port responded at the start of the second quarter, with Todd Marshall converting a set-shot goal from a tight angle.
Then young star midfielder Jason Horne-Francis provided a gobsmacking movement, accelerating away from a congested stoppage, steadyingand kicking a brilliant running goal.
“That is scary, scary good,” Lyon said of Horne-Francis’ effort.
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