As has come to be the norm for these two sides, Geelong and Collingwood once again delivered a game full of drama and intensity, with the Magpies this time emerging 22-point victors in front of 86,595 people at the MCG on Friday night.
The Cats started the night by saluting club legend Joel Selwood, who retired in the days after they went all the way last September, but it ended without star key defender Tom Stewart and a hobbling Sam De Koning.
Twenty-four hours after a season-opener that delivered a low-scoring draw between Richmond and Carlton, Collingwood and Geelong produced another epic encounter between these two modern-day rivals that ended in a 19.11 (125) to 16.7 (103) result.
Geelong led at quarter-time, half-time and three-quarter time, before Collingwood kicked five goals to none to steam home at the Punt Road end in clinical finish to the first Friday night of the new season.
But while the four premiership points propel Collingwood to a fast start, the Magpies are set to be without veteran defender Jeremy Howe for an extended period following a devastating incident early in the third quarter.
Only minutes after the second half started it stopped for the best part of seven minutes following a collision between Howe and All-Australian small forward Tyson Stengle that was so gruesome it wasn't replayed on the big screen or by the host broadcaster.
The night of carnage will be as big a story as the upset Collingwood win. Both clubs will be left to deal with the ramifications of injuries to crucial players to start the season.
The Daicos brothers ran riot from start to finish, exposing the Cats on the wide expanses of the MCG with their deep range of precise, deft foot skills on either side of the body. After winning the Rising Star in a brilliant debut season, Nick finished with 35 disposals and 579 metres gained to start season two, while Josh amassed 27 disposals on a wing.
Jordan De Goey backed up his brilliant pre-season form with 25 possessions and three goals in a dominant display around the ball, combining with Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell, who collected 21 disposals, 11 clearances and two goals in his first outing in black and white.
A bright spot for the Cats was the game of big man Esava Ratugolea down back. After exploring this project in the VFL last year, the Cats properly unleashed Ratugolea as a key defender, following a full summer training down back.
Chris Scott quipped on Thursday that he wished he thought of moving him back earlier in his career. And it wasn't hard to see why.
Zach Tuohy, Tyson Stengle, Gary Rohan, Tom Hawkins, and Jeremy Cameron all had two goals apiece, while Isaac Smith continued his good form on the MCG with 21 touches and 730 metres gained.
GEELONG 6.0 12.1 16.3 16.7 (103)
COLLINGWOOD 5.3 9.6 14.9 19.11 (125)
GOALS
Geelong: Tuohy 2, Stengle 2, Rohan 2, Hawkins 2, Cameron 2, Henry 2, Smith, Holmes, Dangerfield, Atkins
Collingwood: Hill 3, De Goey 3, Mitchell 2, Mihocek 2, Cox 2, McCreery 2, McInnes 2, Pendlebury, McStay, Adams
BEST
Geelong: Smith, Ratugolea, Cameron, Tuohy, Dangerfield
Collingwood: N.Daicos, De Goey, J.Daicos, Pendlebury, Noble, Mitchell, Hill
INJURIES
Geelong: Stewart (knee), De Koning (knee)
Collingwood: Howe (arm)
SUBSTITUTES
Geelong: Brandan Parfitt (replaced Tom Stewart at quarter-time)
Collingwood: Reef McInnes (replaced Jeremy Howe in third quarter)
Crowd: 86,595 at the MCG
