THE lines are drawn and Port Adelaide will take on Carlton in the opening round of the 2014 AFL Premiership Season at Etihad Stadium on Sunday night with a first-up win the best incentive for the two opponents.

Belligerents

PORT ADELAIDE
Year to date: LWW (pre-season)
Last five at ground: WLLLL
Currently ranked: -

CARLTON
Year to date: WLL (pre-season)
Last five at ground: LLWWL
Currently ranked: -

PLAYBILL

AFL Round 1 ­ Opening Round
Carlton v Port Adelaide
Sunday 16 March
First bounce 7:40pm (local) / 7:10pm (SA)
Hashtags: #pafclive #aflbluesport
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YOU¹RE INVITED

Official Port Adelaide pre-game function
Bells Hotel, 157 Moray Street, South Melbourne
Commencing 3:30pm
Directors George Fiacchi and Kevin Osborn and club staff in attendance

Official Port Adelaide post-game function
Victory Room
Aisle 12, Level 1, Etihad Stadium
Commencing after conclusion of game
Selected players, coaches, directors and staff in attendance

TIME MACHINE

Round 23, 2013. Port Adelaide dominated three quarters of football against the Blues in the final ever AFL game at Football Park but fell away in the final term with Mick Malthouse¹s men storming home to spoil the party.

THAT SCOREBOARD
Port Adelaide   4.3     8.9     12.11     15.13 (103)  def by
Carlton             1.5     3.7     7.12       15.14 (104)
at Football Park

VERSUS

Matthew Lobbe v Matthew Kreuzer
The ruck battle between two of the competition¹s emerging ruckman will be crucial as both play critical roles for their respective sides around the ground. Lobbe had a standout run for the Power at the end of last year and has emerged as one of its best players on the field. Kreuzer has been one of the Blues¹ more valuable stars, and the former No. 1 draft pick will want to get his season off to a good start. Both have big years ahead and this should be one of the particularly interesting head-to-head battles around the ground on Sunday night.

In the mix

NUMBER CRUNCH

Score: Power 13.12 (90) v 14.14 (98) Blues
Disposals: Power 361.7 v 339.6 Blues
Kicks: Power 201.3 v 208.6 Blues
Handball: Power 160.4 v 131 Blues
Marks: Power 86.3 v 81 Blues
Contested possessions: Power 137.4 v 147.2 Blues
Frees: Power 18.6 v 16.8 Blues
Tackles: Power 66.4 v 63.1 Blues
Clearances: Power 34.7 v 39.7 Blues
Inside-50s: Power 51 v 52.8 Blues
Rebound 50s: Power 34.9 v 37.9 Blues
AFL Fantasy: Power 1541.2 v 1490.6 Blues

*all stats 2013 averages

FINAL SAY

Crucial to get the season off to a good start and this will be a good test for the Power against a similarly ranked 2013 side. Having performed well during the NAB Challenge at Etihad Stadium (a 25-point win over Essendon), Port Adelaide will be hoping to break its Docklands duck against the Blues on Sunday night with a strong first-up performance.