1. Jamie Elliott is a massive “in” for the Magpies

Plays tall and small and reads the ball off the boot extremely well. He was a constant threat to Fremantle in attack and a tough player to find the right match-up for. He didn’t play at all last year and will be a massive boost to Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley if he stays fit.

2. And the new Freo focal point is ... Brennan Cox

The youngster kicked three first-half goals, often posting up as the deepest forward as the Dockers tried to use their three tall forwards to create a mismatch for at least one. Cox is only 20 and has already played some good football.

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3. And what of Jesse Hogan?

Still looks a little disconnected from his new teammates at this point. Positioned himself a little too far away at times. At other times wasn’t seen when he could have been used. The idea of using him further upfield early in the season might get a little traction until he settles into a new team. Fremantle were guilty of bombing away too much instead of kicking to their forwards’ advantage.

Camera Icon Jesse Hogan had a mixed game. Credit: Getty Images

4. Rory Lobb

Did enough as a ruckman to suggest he will be a more than handy pick-up yesterday. Lobb competes and gets the ball around the ground. It must be said that Brodie Grundy worked his way well on top in the hit-outs after quarter-time and the Pies got on top in clearances as a result.

5. How was Andrew Brayshaw’s comeback?

Strong. Was vibrant with eight first-quarter touches as the Dockers enjoyed a five-goal opening term with the breeze and he continued to work hard as the Magpies got the better of the midfield duels after quarter-time. Arguably the best of the Dockers youngsters.

6. Dayne Beams

As if we didn’t already know it, a massive in for the Collingwood midfield. The Pies were without Adam Treloar, Jordan De Goey and Taylor Adams yesterday, but still held a clear edge midfield, albeit against an equally undermanned Fremantle engine room.

7. Fremantle’s pleasant surprise

Strong indications from young midfielder Darcy Tucker that he could be ready to take a step up. Had 16 touches and laid 10 tackles to three-quarter-time and was probably close to being the best of Fremantle’s midfielders. The Dockers will hope his fourth season mirrors Ed Langdon’s last year.

8. Did the three-tall-forward structure work?

Not often enough yesterday. Too often Magpie defenders dropped in front of tall Fremantle forwards, too often the Pies swept the ball from defence and Matt Taberner, who got as many mismatches as any of the forwards, spilt too many marks he should have taken. There were crumbing goals to Bailey Banfield, Hayden Ballantyne and Michael Walters and Brandon Matera kicked two, but the formula needs work.

9. The youngsters

Brayshaw and Tucker were good and Griffin Logue had good and bad moments. Not sure that the Dockers can afford the luxury of Adam Cerra at half-back when their ball use from midfield to their forwards is as poor as it has been for some time now.

10. Fremantle’s biggest issue

It remains, as it has for some time now, how poor they are with the ball in their hands compared with the best AFL teams. The Pies eventually did them in yesterday, not through superior effort, but through cleaner hands in heavy traffic and vastly superior foot skills. All the gun forwards in the world won’t save them if they can’t kick the ball better than they do at the moment.