Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley suggested that Collingwood's 91-point win was aided by their extra hit-out last week in Opening Round.
The Pies, along with GWS, Sydney and Hawthorn kicked off their 2025 season a week earlier than the rest of the competition, which, in the past, has been a point of contention due to the fairness of the venture.
Craig McRae's men were taught a lesson by the Giants but came out swinging on Saturday night at the MCG, with the Power becoming the recipient.
"It was a real disappointing Round 1, we didn't perform anywhere near where we've been performing in the pre-season and been training," Hinkley said.
"Collingwood beat us the way they've beat us in the past, they were too physical around the contest and they were able to hurt us badly on turnover.
"We looked like the team who didn't play last week and they looked like a team who had played and got a reminder โ we were miles off the pace.
"Everyone knows that from the scoreboard, we don't have to talk too much around how obvious it was, we were really disappointed by our effort and performance.โ
Hinkley attempted to refrain from using the delayed start as an excuse for the performance but alluded to it playing a part.
"It looked like we didn't handle the stuff they were able to handle, but was that from one week?" Hinkley quizzed.
"It shouldn't be from one week but certainly, the numbers play a bit in it."
Collingwood scored 99 points from turnovers in what was a demolition at the home of football.
The exiting coach, who will hand over the reins to Josh Carr at season's end, tried to find the positives on a "down night" but flagged the new faces were a good sight.
Joe Richards, Joe Berry and Jack Lukosius all donned Port Adelaide colours for the first time but didn't fall under any illusion that it was a sour evening for the club.
"We've got to remember it's Round 1, I think we've got to maintain our belief in what we do and how we do things," he said.
โYou don't always get the start you want, the reality is you can start to sink quickly into a bad place if you go into too much negative stuff.
"You've got to reflect on what was pretty positive but, as I said, tonight was nowhere near what we accept as a footy team.
"We know that, but the reality is we've got to maintain the belief of what we're going to play our footy like this year.
"We'll be a better team, (and) we'll be a different team next week."
The Power will get a chance to seek redemption in Round 2 against Richmond in front of a home crowd at Adelaide Oval.
