AFL Round 14 – Collingwood vs Fremantle Match Preview.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, it did. Collingwood went into it’s annual Queen’s birthday clash with Melbourne knowing that anything less than a win would effectively end their finals chances. By half time it was clear those hopes were dashed as Melbourne led by over 4 goals before running away with a 46 point victory. It was the first time that Collingwood had lost to Melbourne twice in one season in 28 years and leaves the Magpies in 14^th spot with a 4-8 win/loss record. The most shocking part so far though has been the way the Pies have lost their games, losing by an average of 44.4 points. Injuries are being used as the main excuse at the moment but when you’re losing that big, there’s more problems than just injuries.

There are still 10 matches left in the 2016 season for Collingwood though, and somehow they have to salvage something out of their third disappointing season in a row. It starts on Friday night, as the Magpies coming off a bye play host to Fremantle. The Dockers started the season in terrible fashion, losing their first 10 games. Since then though they’ve come back to form with 3 wins in row leaving them just one win, and one spot behind Collingwood on the ladder. In fact if Fremantle win this game they will go ahead of Collingwood for the first time this season, despite that disastrous start.

These two sides rarely clash twice in one season so previous form between them isn’t clear, but the Dockers have won the last three games over the Pies, including a 7 point win at home last year.

 

COLLINGWOOD PREVIEW

Anyone could write several articles about what’s gone wrong with Collingwood this season and still you may not be able explain the full extent of the problems, so instead let’s look at some of the positives so far. Adam Treloar and Scott Pendlebury are a good place to start, with the star midfield duo ranking 4^th and 9^th respectively for average possessions this season (league wide). Pendlebury had to fight through injury early in the season so his numbers are even more impressive. Mason Cox, wow, what a story he has been. The 25 year old American has been a revelation to the point where he is now the main focus of the Pies forward line. Yes that’s mainly due to others missing through injury, but with 13 goals in 8 games while also providing valuable ruck support, Cox has been one of the very few successes this season for Collingwood. There are some other good signs, with Ben Reid and Jeremy Howe forming a strong partnership across half back being one of them. There really aren’t many more though, as with the Pies using 38 players this year so far, there hasn’t been a consistency of games for most of the playing list.

So we come to round 14, with Collingwood sitting in 14^th and facing a tough run home with only 2 sides sitting behind them still to come. The game against Fremantle is crucial though, it can form a springboard into a positive second half of the season and as always, selection will be important. The club got selection wrong versus Melbourne, that’s pretty clear now, with the three genuine ruckman selected yet Max Gawn still had a field day. At least one of the trio of Grundy, Cox and Witts will be omitted this week especially with Fremantle missing their own behemoth in Aaron Sandilands. In regards to who comes in there’s some experience and youth that is pushing for selection this week. The VFL side is on fire, having won it’s past 4 games, with the likes of Cloke, Brown, Goldsack, Macaffer, Wills, Aish and Oxley all playing well at that level. Surely there comes a time when you have to bring back some of those experienced players to provide leadership and support to a young senior side. That time might be this week.

The Magpies may just be playing out the season now, but with an army of fans, sponsors, partners and the pressure from the media, this Collingwood side can’t just fade slowly into the dark. It’s likely to be a wet, cold and windy Friday night at the MCG which means effort may decide this game, something has been missing in every one of the Collingwod losses in season 2016. If they bring a strong, desired effort though they can win this game and get some respect back.

 

FREMANTLE PREVIEW

What a strange season it’s been for the Fremantle Dockers. After playing finals in 5 of the last 6 seasons, including one minor premiership and a grand final appearance, they started the 2016 season with 10 straight losses. Wow, just wow. Yes there were injuries, and some major ones too with superstars Aaron Sandilands and Nathan Fyfe both going down, but to lose 10 games straight to start a season was just plain weird, and shocking. Something has changed recently though, and with confidence boosting wins over lowly Essendon and Brisbane, the Dockers were back to their old selves again as they hosted Port Adelaide last Saturday. It truly was the Dockers of old as they out pressured and out worked the Power to come away with a 17 point win. Like the Pies, there will be no finals for Fremantle this season, but unlike Collingwood it would seem they are going to finish the season quite strong.

With all the injuries they have, it’s hard to find an area of strength for this current Dockers team, but they midfield did hold it’s own against Port last week, so that’s a starting point. Lachie Neale has been a revelation this year, leading the AFL for average possessions per game. Neale, in the absence of Fyfe, Sandilands and several others has helped the Dockers remain competitive at times, until he got some help. That help has come in the form of a rejuvenated Michael Barlow. Barlow was omitted from the team a few weeks back yet since his return he’s been his old self. Barlow had 43 possessions last week in the win over Port and will thrive in the forecast conditions on Friday. Zac Clarke is doing an adequate job as fill in ruckman while Sandilands recovers, although the Dockers, once a leading team for hitouts, now sit only 8^th on that tally. They face off this Friday against a Collingwood midfield that relies heavily on 2 players, and if you can restrict either of those two, it will go a long way to Fremantle dominating in this area.

The Dockers forward line has always been one of concern for the club, with many blaming it for their inability to win the big games in recent seasons. Matthew Pavlich, in what is probably the final season of a great career, is still the main focus point. Fremantle also have a few dangerous small and medium forwards, with Ballantyne, Walters and Mayne still producing goals. Finding that elusive tall forward has been a struggle though, with Matthew Taberner the most popular choice in that role at the moment. He only averages 1.3 goals a game though so it’s an area that still needs development. The backline they will face off against is one of the worst in the AFL at the moment, which should provide plenty of opportunities for the Dockers forwards to score.

The Fremantle backline has always relied on a team mentality when it comes to defense more than a reliance on individuals. That has continued on in season 2016 and while they were conceding big scores early on over the past 3 weeks the Dockers have returned to their restrictive best, only allowing an average of 8 goals against them during their resurgence. The likes of Dawson, Hill and Mundy are still main stays of this defense but there has been some fresh blood introduced lately. Sam Collins looks to have a very promising future as does Darcy Tucker. But they still rely on the midfield and in some cases the forwards providing a team defense that helps the backline out. Like Collingwood’s backline, their forward line is missing many of it’s best players also, so that makes the task of Fremantle’s team defense being effective for a fourth week in a row a lot easier.

Fremantle go into this game in the best form they’ve been in all season. After three morale boosting wins in a row, they travel to Melbourne for a rare Friday night game at the MCG. The players and coaching staff will see it as a big game indeed. Ross Lyon sprung a surprise on Wednesday by not only confirming that Matthew Pavlich will play but by also naming the final selection for his side. The only change, as some expected, will be Hannath back into the side for the injured Smith. While Freo do have a long and talented injury list at the moment, they run into a side with maybe a longer one, which should see them go in with some confidence.

 

TIP

It’s round 14, Friday night at the MCG and Collingwood are hosting Fremantle. Pre season most would have thought that this would be a massively important game with finals and maybe even top 4 connotations. But no, it’s 14^th versus 15^th and it’s really a game about getting some pride and respect back. Fremantle go into the game in better form, much better form in fact and therefore deserve to start as favourites.

The relative injury lists almost cancel each other out with a plethora of talented players missing with short and long term injuries. Eventually, this game will come down to who wants it more. It’s likely to be low scoring giving the conditions forecast, and with the way Fremantle defends 10-12 goals may win you this game. I think that favours Collingwood actually, as they have had trouble scoring so a real scrap might see them come away with a victory in a tight game.

MAGPIES BY 5 POINTS.

AFL Round 13 – Collingwood vs Fremantle Match Preview.

The Fremantle Dockers started the season on fire winning their first 9 games of the AFL premiership season. The Dockers have been the ultimate tease to their fans for several seasons now, with numerous top 4 finishes after the home and away rounds resulting in nothing more then one grand final appearance. This season though it seemed different, and after 9 rounds they remained undefeated and were looming as premiership favourites. Then they hit a wall of sorts, with a loss at home to Richmond followed by an unimpressive win over the bottom of the ladder Gold Coast Suns. All of a sudden the rampaging Dockers look beatable, even at the fortress that is Subiaco Oval.

On Thursday night the Dockers will look to regain their ominous form as they welcome Collingwood to Subiaco Oval. The Pies themselves have started the season above expectations and sit just a few spots below Fremantle on the AFL ladder with a 8-3 win/loss record. Both clubs are coming off a much welcome bye which should see a high energy and high pressure game played. The Magpies have this unwanted title of “not having beaten anyone” yet despite notching up 8 wins in the first half of the season. That title would disappear for good if the travelling side can cause an upset on prime time TV this Thursday.

 

RECENT FORM

Before the bye the Magpies strung together 4 very impressive wins over the Gold Coast, North Melbourne, Melbourne and the GWS Giants. It got them to an 8-3 record at the half way mark and has set them up for a real shot at the finals this season. The last win over GWS may well have been the best four quarter effort from the Pies this season as they systematically broke down a previously in form Giants outfit to win by 42 points. Ex Giant Taylor Adams returned from injury to play his best game for the Pies as did Tim Broomhead who earned a rising star nomination for his performance. Up forward Travis Cloke continued his strong recent form with a 5 goal haul to move well up the leader board for the Coleman medal. The Pies are ahead of expectations and really couldn’t have envisaged being in a better position then this at the half way point of the season.

Fremantle were flying after 9 games after getting some top notch wins including a vital way win against the Crows in Adelaide. The final 2 games before the bye though seemed to show a side that was looking for the break. The unexpected loss at Subiaco Oval to Richmond was followed by that very lacklustre effort against the struggling Suns. The shining light is though that the Dockers have banked 10 wins so far this season, and with only Sydney and the Eagles winning consistently they are still bang on target for a top 4 finish. Injuries have weakened the Fremantle backline though with Johnson, Dawson and Silvagni all with long term injuries. Fremantle have only dropped the one game at home all season though and they will be looking to regain their home ground advantage this week.

 

COLLINGWOOD PREVIEW

With a weekend off to reflect on their season so far the Magpies would be feeling good. Sitting at 8-3 with the fifth youngest list in the AFL is some achievement in itself, even if the job is only half done. As coach Nathan Buckley said after the win over the Giants this side has improved both on and off the field to a point where their goals may need to be re-assessed. The improvement is there for all to see. Marley Williams, Jack Crisp, Nathan Brown, Jamie Elliott, Brodie Grundy, Taylor Adams and Jack Frost are all having career best seasons. Then there’s the youngsters that are yet to cement a spot in the senior side but show plenty of potential. The Magpies lead the league in contested possessions and marks inside forward 50, two absolutely crucial stats with the way football is played today. They aren’t there yet though, even the most ardent Pies fan knows they have to improve plenty if they are to challenge for a premiership again in the near future. The signs of improvement are strong though and the only way is up from here really.

This week senior coach Nathan Buckley and his selection committee will have a few tough decisions on their hands. Apart from young ruckman Brodie Grundy and the usual suspects that have long term injuries the Pies list is as healthy as it’s been in a long time. Jarryd Blair and Levi Greenwood will push their case for selection while Ben Reid is almost ready to go as well. Greenwood, the Pies biggest off season recruit broke his ankle in the final pre season game but dominated in the half he played in the VFL before the bye. He would add much needed experience in a midfield that at times has allowed other teams to get on top in dominating patches. The Magpies can select a side now based on the opposition and venue and with a fast track in Perth predicted on a big ground, pace may be the weapon that the Pies need more then anything else. Ultimately if Collingwood are to win this game it will be by exploiting Fremantle’s injury concerns down back, so Cloke, Elliott and White will have to perform for the Magpies to cause an upset this week.

 

OPPOSITION ANALYSIS

Fremantle are gunning for a premiership, they have to be with the careers of some of their star players closer to the end then the beginning. They are in contention this season of that there is little doubt and despite the set back against the Tigers they still sit on top of the ladder. Under Ross Lyon they play a defensive brand of football but at times this season have looked more attacking then in seasons’ past. They have conceded less points then any other team in the AFL but only sit 9^th for average points scored so far this year. They know how to win games though and the Dockers would be expecting to win against the Pies on Thursday.

The Fremantle backline has been hit hard by injury. Losing Michael Johnson, Zac Dawson and Alex Silvagni has meant senior coach Ross Lyon has had to re-jig his defensive setup. Into the backline has come youngsters Jack Hannath and Alex Pearce and while they don’t have the experience of Johnson or Dawson they are expected to hold down the fort until those players return. This week they come up against a Magpies forward line with two very dangerous scoring options in Cloke and Elliott. McPharlin surely will get Cloke while Lee Spurr is the most likely candidate for Elliott. Another area that the Dockers are struggling in down back is rebounds out of their defensive 50. They rank 16^th in the league and with transition football so important in today’s game it’s an area they have to improve upon.

The area of complete strength for the Dockers is their midfield. They average the second most clearances in the league and are ranked 6^th for contested possessions. It’s easy to see why they rack up so many clearances too. Nat Fyfe, Lachie Neale and Michael Barlow are up there with the best contested ball winners in the AFL and when you add the man mountain that is Aaron Sandilands in the ruck it’s a formidable foursome indeed. Thanks to Sandilands Fremantle average 7 more hitouts then any other team in the AFL and that’s a huge advantage to have in any game. This week they come up against a Magpies midfield that is ranked 1 for contested possessions but has struggled at the clearances at times in 2015. This is likely where the game will be won, if either team can gain dominance in the midfield they should come out on top on the scoreboard.

The Fremantle forward line has long been a point of discussion. Most experts state that the Dockers need a dominant tall forward if they are to win a premiership. They are yet to find that forward though and are still going with a familiar set-up this season. Long time club stalwart Matthew Pavlich is still leading the way and is the only Dockers player to kick over 20 goals so far this season. Michael Walters is also in decent form with 18 goals so far this year but then the figures drop off significantly. The usually dangerous Hayden Ballantyne is having a poor year averaging under a goal a game with star midfielder Nathan Fyfe third on the goal tally with 13. Youngster Matt Taberner has shown plenty of promise with 11 goals in 8 games this season and is surely someone they will persist with. The Dockers forward comes up against a Pies backline that fell away just a little bit in the 4-5 weeks before the bye. Fremantle is likely to have more forward 50 entries then the Magpies and they will need it too with the inconsistency of their attacking group at the moment.

This game will suit Fremantle perfectly, they love a hard fought, tight in game where the contested ball and clearances are the key to victory. At selection they will look to bring Chris Mayne back and might consider the likes of De Boer, Duffield and Clarke also to cover the Magpies strengths. If Fremantle want to be considered a genuine premiership threat this the type of game they should win.

TEAMS

TIP

Fremantle go into this game as heavy favourites and rightfully so. Apart from that most recent slip up against the Tigers they have been impossible to get near at home. The young Magpies like a challenge but with a few of their best 22 still not 100% right to go it will be a hard task indeed for them to get up. However it seems as if the Pies match up quite well with the Dockers with the midfield the area that will ultimately decide the game.

If Collingwood can get on top in the middle of the ground and dominate contested possessions like it has so far this season they may be able to cause an upset. The real area where Collingwood cane exploit the Dockers is in the forward line though with a weakened Fremantle backline allowing the Pies forwards to get on top. With that in mind I believe Collingwood can pull off a remarkable upset and improve to 9-3 for the season.

MAGPIES BY 7 POINTS.

AFL Round 1 – Collingwood vs Fremantle Match Preview.

FOOTY’S BACK, and not a moment too soon, as the 2014 AFL Premiership season kicks off this Friday night at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne. In the opening game of the 2014 season Collingwood will host Fremantle in what seems like a tantalising matchup. After a long pre season of weights, running, training and ultimately three practice matches these two clubs’ get the honour of being the first to take to the field in competition for premiership points. Fremantle is coming off it’s most successful season in it’s short history, a season that ultimately ended on Grand Final day as they fell agonisingly short against the Hawks in the big one. It was a disappointing end to a stunning season for the Dockers with inaccurate kicking at goal costing them any chance of walking away with their first flag.

Collingwood had a strange 2013 season, with wins against many top teams including preliminary finalists Geelong and Sydney, but they also lost to clubs who didn’t play finals which left them outside the top 4 for the first time since 2008. The Pies’ then had what can only be called a disaster in their elimination final as the Power dominated the second half to knock the biggest club in Australia out in the first week of the finals. There were rumours and stories galore about a fractious environment inside the playing group all season and these stories were given some credit when it came to trades and de-listings, with plenty of changes to the Magpies playing list in the off season.

What this all sets up is a mouth watering opening round one clash with one club desperate to get back to the big dance coming to Melbourne to face a side in transition but with high expectations of their own. Fremantle has been tipped by the experts to finish top four once again but when it comes to the Pies, opinions vary, with predictions ranging from 3^rd to 10^th, showing just how unpredictable and young this Collingwood list is.

PREVIOUS FORM

Fremantle lost twice to their cross town rivals in the pre season.

It’s hard to line up form in the pre season with both teams completing their three NAB Challenge matches with varied success and results. Fremantle’s three pre season games were book ended with losses to cross town rival West Coast, but from game 1 to game 3 there was a marked improvement. In the first game versus the Eagles the Dockers lost by a staggering 84 points, with very few positives coming out of the game other than they got through unscathed in regards to injuries. The second game saw Fremantle travel to Melbourne for a practice run at Etihad Stadium against the up and coming Western Bulldogs, and this time the Dockers looked more like themselves with a powerful second half performance netting them an 28 point win. There was one significant injury out of that game however with new recruit Scott Gumbleton suffering a hamstring injury which means he will miss the start of the season. In the Dockers final hitout before the season proper begins they faced the Eagles again in very hot conditions at Patersons Stadium. The Eagles led for almost the entire game and recorded a 19 point win, but the second half was a matter of survival in the heat with both teams happy to get out of the game relatively injury free.

Collingwood’s pre season may well be a small indicator of their regular season with somewhat of a Jekyll and Hyde performance over the period of the three games. The Pies’ kicked off their 2014 campaign with a tough and brutal encounter down at Geelong versus the Cats, as both teams through everything at each other for four quarters. Many believed this game to be the closest to a regular season game in terms of intensity and skill in the entire pre season as the Cats won by 2 points in a thriller. The Magpies then had a decent break before their second hitout against the Tigers at Wangaratta in North East Victoria. The Pies’ started the game ok but the second half was all Richmond as the much fancied Tigers ran away with an 8 goal win. Much like Fremantle’s final practice match Collingwood would have been happy to get out of the game with no injuries of note.

For their pre season finale Collingwood headed to the Gold Coast for a week long training camp that would culminate in a game versus the home town Suns on the Sunday, and at half time of that game it seemed as if the Pies’ heads were still at the beach as they trailed by 41 points. Something changed at half time though and Collingwood finally kicked into gear, with the league’s best power forward, Travis Cloke, leading the way with 6 second half goals as the Pies remarkably came away with a 14 point win. It was the perfect way to end the pre season and would have given the whole club a boost of confidence leading into this matchup.

COLLINGWOOD PREVIEW

You could write many an article about the change that Collingwood has gone through in the off season but the one statistic that may be most relevant is that this Magpies list is now the 4^th youngest of all clubs in the AFL. That is staggering considering the Pies’ are only 2 seasons removed from playing in a second consecutive grand final, but it does show you the approach that Nathan Buckley and his support staff are taking with this club.

With all the on field and off field problems of last year, change was needed and with change comes renewal, and that’s what this club will be all about in season 2014, starting afresh.

Heading into round 1 Collingwood have a relatively healthy list to choose from with only a few fringe players ruled out and unavailable for selection. Marley Williams is probably the biggest loss for the Pies this week, but with his troubles it seems as if it’s better that he doesn’t play for the time being. In a big blow to the Magpies chances of an upset round 1 win key position players Ben Reid and Jesse White have been ruled out for this clash. White having arrived from Sydney in the off season and Reid, a player who will play both forward and back this year, are both valuable to a young and developing Magpies outfit and will be sorely missed.

Brodie Grundy is likely to be given the task of stopping Aaron Sandilands.

There are some selection quandaries for Buckley and his team this week though as young rucks Jarrod Witts and Brodie Grundy are both pushing for the position of starting ruck against the man mountain that is Aaron Sandilands. With White and Reid ruled out Buckley may decide to go with both genuine ruckman in the team to counteract the influence of Sandilands at stoppages, although Lynch and Hudson have also been mentioned as possible inclusions. A positive selection problem though is young draftee Tom Langdon, whose pre season form has been so good that amazingly he is a chance of making his AFL senior debut this Friday night. The young half back played in all 3 practice matches, averaging 15 possessions while shutting down an opponent effectively at times. It would indeed be a sign of the times if Langdon was to debut this week. The most positive story of the pre season to date is the return of premiership defender Alan Toovey from a knee injury he suffered during the ANZAC day match last season. Toovey missed the rest of the 2013 season but has impressed and shown his trademark shut down ability off half back, much to the joy of Magpie fans.

While this Magpies list has gone through a change over the past few seasons, there’s one thing that has remained the same and that’s the strength of the midfield. Although last season the Pies struggled at times in the middle without Luke Ball and Dayne Beams for a lot of the season. Add in gun young recruit Taylor Adams though, and a fit Ball and Beams and once again the Magpies midfield on paper at least looks as strong, if not stronger than anything else in the competition. It’s an area the Pies’ will have to dominate if they are to make their 9^th successive finals appearance in season 2014.

OPPOSITION ANALYSIS.

You can’t help but be impressed by what Ross Lyon has done with this Fremantle Dockers outfit in just two seasons, taking them from a side who was perennial bottom of the 8 challengers to being a powerhouse premiership contending team. They are at their peak right now, there’s very little doubt about that and for the next few seasons they will be challenging for their first elusive AFL premiership. They rightfully so head into season 2014 as one of the favourites to lift the cup and they do present a massive first up challenge for the new Magpies. The Dockers possess talent and the ability to dominate in just about every area of their game, with very few apparent weaknesses.

Senior coach Ross Lyon has spoken about scoring conversion off turnovers as being a key area that they need to improve in though, but there’s not a lot of improvement needed to go just one step higher in 2014 for the Dockers.

The Dockers backline is sometimes seen as a weakness that is covered up by Lyon’s defensive gameplan, just like his time at St Kilda, but when you look at some of the names that thought goes out of your head quickly. Luke McPharlin is an elite defender with plenty of experience, Zac Dawson is maligned yet effective and Michael Johnson is one of the more attacking key defenders in the AFL. The support group of mediums and smalls may not be as well known but Sutcliffe, Duffield, Pearce, Mzungu, Spurr and Hill provide a nice mixture of defense and drive off half back. The backline is one area that Lyon will look to exploit Collingwood’s lack of real pace and inability to stop the counter attack at times.

Ryan Crowley has developed into the best tagger in the AFL.

Fremantle’s midfield is as deeply talented as any in the AFL and of course it is led by the humongous Aaron Sandilands who looks to be fit and ready to go this season after an injury effected 2013. The players at his feet must really love the big fella and feed off his ability to win most hitouts. Nathan Fyfe led the way for the Dockers in the middle last year and has developed into an absolute star of the competition in such a short time. He is able assisted by a deep list of midfielders including Crowley. Hill, De Boer, Mundy, Barlow and Pearce. They may not have the high profile names of the Magpies superstar mids but in their own right they are every bit as effective, with an obvious edge in defensive ability over the Magpies midfield. Who Ryan Crowley goes to is a big decision for the Dockers with new captain Scott Pendlebury probably the most likely option.

The Fremantle forward line is unlike any other effective forward unit in the AFL in that it doesn’t rely on key position players to provide it with the majority of it’s score. Last season Walters, Mayne and Ballantyne all kicked over 30 goals with Matthew Pavlich also getting close to that mark. Walters was the stand out small forward in the AFL in 2013 with 46 goals in total and dominated the only time these two teams met last season, with 4 goals in a strong win for the Dockers over the Pies. If Aaron Sandilands can stay fit he also provides another avenue for goal for Fremantle and will cause plenty of headaches for teams throughout the season. If the Magpies have a weakness in defense, it’s containing small and medium forwards, and so it’s not hard to foresee the Dockers forward line causing the Pies backline a lot of trouble in this game. This is one area where Fremantle seems to have a definite edge heading into Friday night.

The Dockers probable team line-up reads very strong on paper and they will provide a real test for the home town Magpies in round 1, of that there’s little doubt. Fremantle will be confident of coming over to Melbourne and winning a game like this, and will see it as a perfect opportunity to start their long run back to the Grand Final with an away win. There are fitness doubts regarding Fyfe and Ballantyne but just like Reid and White for the Magpies whether they line-up or not may not be known until an hour before the bounce on Friday night. Ross Lyon coached teams come prepared every single week and with the chance to make a statement in front of a huge TV audience there’s no doubt the Dockers will be fired up for this one.

Statistical Comparison (2013)

Category	Collingwood	Fremantle
Contested possessions	140 per game (ranked 11th)	142 per game (ranked 7th)
Uncontested possessions	237 (ranked 1st)	220 (ranked 9th)
Clearances	35 (12th)	36 (15th)
Hitouts	31 (18th)	40 (8th)
Tackles	65 (7th)	66 (6th)
Inside forward 50’s	55 (3rd)	47 (15th)
Marks inside forward 50	14 (3rd)	11 (12th)

TEAMS.

 Collingwood
B: Alan Toovey, Nathan Brown, Nick Maxwell
HB: Tyson Goldsack, Jack Frost, Tom Langdon
C: Steele Sidebottom, Brent Macaffer, Taylor Adams
HF: Dayne Beans, Travis Cloke, Jamie Elliott
F: Ben Kennedy, Jarrod Witts, Dane Swan
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Scott Pendlebury, Heritier Lumumba
Int: Marty Clarke, Luke Ball, Clinton Young, Ben Sinclair
Emg: Quinten Lynch, Lachlan Keeffe, Tony Armstrong

Fremantle

FB: Zac Dawson, Luke McPharlin, Lee Spurr
HB: Danyle Pearce, Michael Johnson, Tendai Mzungu
C: Cameron Sutcliffe, Ryan Crowley, David Mundy
HF: Matt de Boer, Chris Mayne, Nat Fyfe
FF: Hayden Ballantyne, Matthew Pavlich, Michael Walters
FOL: Aaron Sandilands, Michael Barlow, Lachie Neale
I/C: Paul Duffield, Stephen Hill, Tommy Sheridan, Jack Hannath

EMG Colin Sylvia, Zac Clarke, Clancee Pearce

TIP.

Fremantle won the only battle between these two sides last season.

Even after assessing all the variables leading into this game, such as form, fitness, location, timing and possible team line ups it is hard to split the two teams. Both teams are likely to go in at about 80% of their full capability in terms of missing players, and while the game is in Melbourne all that does is level the field even more. If this game was to be played at Subiaco in Perth, the Dockers would probably win, but over in Melbourne it brings the Magpies right into it. The loss of Reid and White does make it harder for the Pies though, but there are options to replace them.

One varying factor is that Fremantle are three weeks behind Collingwood in preparations and just maybe that could be the advantage Collingwood needs to get a round 1 win over a top team. To win this game Collingwood will need to deliver the ball inside 50 with absolute precision, just like the Hawks did in the Grand Final.

If there was ever a time to play the Dockers it might just be this week, and with the Magpie Army at their backs and in full voice, I’m tipping the Magpies to start the season in fine fashion.

PIES BY 8 POINTS.

AFL Round 7 – Collingwood vs Fremantle Match Preview.

On Saturday night in Perth Collingwood and Fremantle will do battle in a crucial round 7 matchup in the 2013 AFL Premiership season. Both these clubs entered the season wanting to contest for the premiership and after four rounds they find themselves just off the pace of the top teams with a respective record of 4 wins and 2 losses. That alone shows how important a game this is as the loser of this match up will drop two games outside of the top four and find themselves in a battle just to make the final eight, let alone get a position up amongst the premiership contenders of the league. While there’s a few reason why the Pies and Dockers are where they are, the major reason is a poor run with injury, and more accurately injuries to key players.

Collingwood will go into this game without the likes of Maxwell, Beams, Ball, Toovey and Young while the Dockers still can not call upon captain Matthew Pavlich or number one ruckman Aaron Sandilands. Most clubs don’t like to use injuries as an excuse but when the loser of this game goes to a record of 4-3 you can be sure that the supporters will be looking towards the long and talented injury list as an explanation as to what has gone wrong so far in the 2013 season.

PREVIOUS FORM

Michael Walters has had a great start to 2013.

There has been signs that both of these clubs are still capable of playing football at near the highest level with relatively easy wins recorded by both Collingwood and Fremantle last weekend. Freo travelled to the Gold Coast to face the Suns and the Dockers didn’t waste too much time taking an advantage in the game by keeping the locals goal less in the first quarter. That set the tone for the game as Fremantle found it easy to score while for the Suns it was a battle as the Dockers ran away with a 45 point win to get them back on the winners list after two straight losses. The coaching staff would have been happy with the forward line, especially Michael Walters and Jonathan Griffin who between them notched up 7 goals. Luke McPharlin played his usual dominant role down back and as usual launched plenty of attacks from the backline also. It was a win the Dockers needed and sets them up for a crack at a tougher opponent this weekend.

Collingwood faced off against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne on Friday night and the first half was about as ugly a display of football as you could see considering the stadium’s roof was closed. The Magpies started poorly and at one stage trailed by a few goals to the struggling Saints before Scott Pendlebury, Dale Thomas, Dane Swan and Travis Cloke lifted their efforts and intensity and took the side to a 10 goal to 6 second half that eventually gave the Pies a much needed 26 point win. Cloke could have kicked 9-10 goals if he was accurate as he dominated the Saints backline on just about every forward 50 entry. But it was the Collingwood midfield that eventually got on top as returning ruckman Darren Jolly lead the way in the middle with a great game after missing a few weeks with a rib injury. It wasn’t a pretty win for the Pies but they did get better as the game went on and for the first time in a long time came through a game injury free.

COLLINGWOOD PREVIEW

The Magpies aren’t firing on all cylinders yet but it’s only early in the season and they will soon get back some of their best players from injury. Last weekend showed once again that the side is capable of disposing of the teams who aren’t elite in a fairly easy manner although against Fremantle they will have to raise their game if they are to defeat the locals on their home turf. At the selection table this week coach Nathan Buckley and his staff have a few tough decisions to make with Alan Didak, Luke Ball, Caolon Mooney, Jordan Russell and Marley Williams all impressing in the VFL over the past two weeks and pushing for senior selection. Didak and Ball are gradually reaching peak fitness after missing the start of the season (of course due to injury) and with no VFL games this weekend both will be considered for the trip to Perth. Didak may be needed more than most though as Collingwood needs more support up forward with only Cloke, Sidebottom and Elliott as consistent scoring options so far in 2013. Ball is obviously a key to the Magpies chances this season but he is still probably one week away from returning to the seniors.

Collingwood has a great recent record interstate and it seems that the trip away galvanises a team that in Melbourne is nearly always the centre of attention, yet on the road can be just another sporting team travelling and hoping to perform at their best. The Magpies won a pre season game against the Eagles at Patterson’s Stadium so the ground will hold no fears at all for the players this weekend.

OPPOSITION ANALYSIS.

Fremantle came into the 2013 season looking to improve upon their performance of last year that saw them eliminated in the second week of the finals in Adelaide. They did however win their first final in Melbourne the week before against the Cats in a win that surely gave the club the confidence to push towards a top four spot the following year. The Dockers started this season well enough but a few recent losses, especially the home loss to the Bombers, has set them back just a little and they enter this game with a must win mentality if they are to remain a serious challenger this season. Once again the injury curse has hit the Dockers though, with Pavlich, Sandilands, Clarke, Morabito, Fyfe and Bradley all missing significant games so far this season. They do possess talent though and as shown last week on the Gold Coast if they are allowed to play a more natural game they can be dangerous.

The Dockers midfield is often under rated in my opinion as it currently sits sixth in clearances and above Collingwood in contested possessions also. Some of the names in the Freo midfield rotation may not immediately be recognisable but they do their job in a more than effective manner. Mundy, Barlow, Suban, Deboer, Crowley, Pearce, Hill, Mzungu and Duffield make up the list of the usual characters in the midfield rotation and on most occasions they are fairly successful in this area. The absence of Nathan Fyfe is a blow but the Pies will be missing Beams and most likely Ball so it is counter acted somewhat. One area where Fremantle is struggling, not unlike the Pies, is in the ruck and that’s no surprise with both Zac Clarke and Aaron Sandilands both out injured at the moment, although Clarke is close to a return. In fact coming into this round the Dockers are only ranked 10^th in total hitouts in a category they usually dominate although their opponents this week trail everyone in comparison. Freo have been using current no.1 ruck choice Jonathon Griffin up forward a fair bit while youngster Jack Hannath has been taking the ruck responsibilities, or at least he did last week in the majority. The absence of Sandilands and Clarke may also mean that the Magpies only go with one genuine ruckman instead of the two they played last week.

Luke McPharlin will likely go head to head with Travis Cloke this week.

The Dockers defense is stronger than most also believe it is and the game style of coach Ross Lyon obviously assists in keeping the opposition score down. The backline is led by one of the best defenders in the AFL, Luke McPharlin who has a very good recent record on the Pies no.1 forward Travis Cloke. McPharlin is well supported by two key position defenders in Zac Dawson and Michael Johnson although you do wonder if they are going in a little bit tall down back if the Pies don’t decide to play the two ruckman this weekend. Freo’s run out of the backline is relatively strong with Ibbotson, Mzungu, Clancee Pearce, Spurr, McPharlin and Johnson all capable of launching attacks out of defence although they will have to be mindful of the Collingwood small/medium forwards who are dangerous if left alone. You can bet that once again this week the Collingwood forward line will be flooded with opposition players just like it was last week by a team still playing a Ross Lyon like game plan, St Kilda. Whether that game served as a dress rehearsal for the Magpies in terms of game style will only be known on Saturday night but it couldn’t have hurt, that’s for sure.

Fremantle’s forward line is a little depleted due to the absence of Pavlich and Sandilands but it still has enough talent to worry the Collingwood defense and has the one thing that the Magpies do struggle to defend against, and that’s small, pacy, dangerous forwards. Fremantle will almost solely rely on their small/medium forwards and their midfield to kick the majority of their score on Saturday night and that’s obvious to see when you look at their forward statistical ranking so far this year. The Dockers rank 15^th for contested marks and 12^th for marks inside 50 which is a great indicator that they are now more reliant on their smaller forwards than ever. The move of Griffin forward over the past few weeks has paid dividends but it’s been Ballantyne and Walters, along with the ever reliable Mayne who have been the most consistent forwards for Freo so far this season. I mentioned that small forwards are Collingwood’s weakness and that has been compounded by the absence of captain Nick Maxwell and reliable defender Alan Toovey, with the latter of course out for the rest of the season with a knee injury. Fremantle’s game plan in regards to scoring will be quite obvious, they will try and get the ball in as quickly as possible to allow the pace of their forwards to expose the Magpies backline and it may be the biggest advantage that the Dockers have on Saturday night.

This is a big game for Fremantle, just like it is Collingwood but the home team will feel that they can’t let another home game slip so early in the season and fall to a record of 4-3. The game will be a sell out, it’s just about guaranteed wherever the Pies go and the Purple Army will be in full voice which will give the Dockers an advantage for sure. At the selection table you wouldn’t be anticipating too many changes for Freo with Steven Hill and Zac Clarke the only probably inclusions although Clarke may still be a week or two away from returning. Who goes out is up for debate but names like Crozier, Mzungu and Sutcliffe are the popular choice going around. The Dockers will go into this game a little bit depleted by injuries but for once they run into a side that probably has it worse than them and this will give them some confidence that they can pull off a big, and much needed win at home.

TEAMS.

Collingwood
B: Nathan Brown, Ben Reid, Nick Maxwell
HB: Marty Clarke, Heath Shaw, Harry O’Brien
C: Steele Sidebottom, Dane Swan, Dale Thomas
HF: Jamie Elliott, Quinten Lynch, Brent Macaffer
F: Ben Kennedy, Travis Cloke, Sam Dwyer
Foll: Darren Jolly, Scott Pendlebury, Jarryd Blair
Int: Andrew Krakouer, Josh Thomas, Paul Seedsman, Caolan Mooney
Emg: Jordan Russell, Jarrod Witts, Marley Williams

IN: Caolan Mooney, Nick Maxwell
OUT: Tyson Goldsack (hip), Jarrod Witts (omitted)

Fremantle

B: Lee Spurr, Zac Dawson, Michael Johnson
HB: Garrick Ibbotson, Luke McPharlin, Alex Silvagni
C: Tendai Mzungu, Ryan Crowley, Stephen Hill
HF: Michael Barlow, Chris Mayne, Hayden Ballantyne
F: Matt DeBoer, Jack Hannah, Michael Walters
Foll: Jonathon Griffin, David Mundy, Clancee Pearce
Int: Hayden Crozier, Nick Suban, Paul Duffield, Danyle Pearce
Emg: Cameron Sutcliffe, Tanner Smith, Tom Sheridan

In: Stephen Hill
Out: Cameron Sutcliffe

TIP.

This game will be close and hard fought and with inclement weather in Perth over the next few days and on game day itself the game may become a low scoring contested possession based contest and neither side would be too worried about that. Ross Lyon has coached against this Magpies outfit on plenty of occasions and will know how to exploit some of the weaknesses that currently exist but on the other side the Pies have had a good recent record against the Dockers and in Perth so they won’t be fearing the opposition too much either.

Alan Didak is a chance to play his first game of the season this week.

The changes to either side won’t influence the result too much unless Luke Ball is selected as he could make a remarkable difference to a Pies midfield that is struggling at the moment. Alan Didak is likely to return and his reputation and past deeds demand that a top class defender be sent his way which can only help out the rest of the Magpies forward line in gaining time and space, but he’s not the player he used to be so his influence would be limited. Fremantle will look to exploit Collingwood’s weakened midfield but mostly it’s defense and it’s in this are that the Dockers surely have their greatest advantage. As always at the other end the Cloke and McPharlin battle will almost be worth the price of admission alone but it’s a different beast that McPharlin faces this week with the Magpie champ spending almost all his time inside the forward 50 in an obvious change from recent years.

As I said, I expect this game to be close and hard fought for it’s entirety which does make it a difficult game to predict and it may well be decided by another dodgy umpire call (all teams have seen plenty of those lately) or luck in regards to injuries and when each team can use their respective sub. Ultimately I think the Collingwood midfield runs into an outfit that is not performing at a level that is as dangerous as the two sides who have defeated the Pies and that give them an advantage that might be the difference.

PIES BY 8 POINTS.

AFL Round 14 – Collingwood vs Fremantle Match Preview.

IT’S GETTING DEEP INTO THE AFL SEASON NOW, and Fremantle are yet to deliver on the potential that new coach Ross Lyon spoke about in the pre season. The Dockers sit on 6 wins and 6 losses, but it’s been their recent form that will be of most concern to their legion of supporters, otherwise known as the “Purple Haze”. You see, the Dockers were going along alright about five weeks back when they sat on 5 wins and only 2 losses, yet since that time they have only managed to win one game, with that solitary recent win coming against Richmond at the MCG just before Fremantle had the bye. And it doesn’t get any easier for the Dockers this weekend as they face up, again at the MCG, against the in form team of the AFL, the Collingwood Magpies.

Collingwood are on a roll, there’s no other way to say it, as after yet another gutsy, tough, hard fought win on the weekend over West Coast, they find themselves on a nine game winning streak, something no other team has achieved so far in the 2012 AFL Premiership Season. And while many clubs have whinged that a plethora of injuries is the reason behind their form slump, the Magpies have defied the normal as despite having as bad of a run with injuries as any team in the league, with the win over the Eagles last weekend the biggest sporting club in Australia now finds itself on top of the AFL ladder for the first time this season. And the Pies are not only on top, but they sit a game clear and have a comparable percentage to just about every team around them. It’s been a remarkable run of form from the Magpies under new coach Nathan Buckley, and they will front up at the MCG this Saturday afternoon ready and willing to test Fremantle to the limit.

Travis Cloke celebrates after a goal against the Eagles.

Last weekend Collingwood faced up in what many thought could be a Grand Final Preview against the West Coast Eagles, and the game didn’t disappoint, as the most intense, finals like game of the season was played out in front of over 62,000 people at the MCG. When the siren sounded, Collingwood held a 3 point lead and collected the points, but both teams got plenty of applause from the AFL world for the show they put on. It was a game worthy of the build up, and just whet the appetite as to what these two great clubs may produce when they inevitably meet again in September. Just as the final siren was sounding at the MCG, on the opposite side of the country the Dockers were just starting their home game against Essendon, in a crucial matchup for both teams. The game fluctuated throughout the first three quarters, and Freo would have been happy with their well earned five point lead at the final break, yet what would happen next may well have been the breaking of the Fremantle Football Clubs back in 2012. Simply put they were woeful in the last quarter, and had it not been for a last minute missed shot at goal the Dockers would have gone scoreless in the last quarter of a game they had a chance to win. As it was, Essendon ran away with the game in the last quarter, eventually winning by 24 points after kicking four goals and 6 behinds in the last quarter to the Dockers above mentioned solitary point. It was a poor effort by the Dockers, because if they wanted to play finals they need to be winning their home games, especially games they lead at three quarter time. And things may even get worse for the Dockers as a late collision between their best player on the day, Chris Mayne, and team-mate Greg Broughton resulted in both leaving the games looking groggy and injured, and both failed to train yesterday, putting them in serious doubt for Saturday’s game.

Jamie Elliott takes one of his game high contested marks against the Eagles.

Over at Collingwood though, it’s smiles all around as despite the poor injury run the Magpies simply keep winning. What seems to surprise most is that each week the Magpies seem to unearth a new youngster that has a say in why Pies are ultimately successful. Last Saturday that man was Jamie Elliott, who in just his fourth game, and standing at a height of only 177cm, the young forward managed to take more contested marks then anyone on the ground, which is staggering when you consider the calibre of marking players on the ground during that game (Cox, Natanui, Cloke, Dawes, Jolly, Lynch, Darling just to name a few). But what was more remarkable about young Jamie’s performance was that the majority of his possessions came in the last quarter, when the Eagles were outplaying the Pies and it looked like they were going to run away with a win. Yet Elliott provided a much needed link between the Collingwood backline and the forward line, as Collingwood found a way via a Dayne Beams winning goal to yet again win a close game over a fellow premiership contender. Yes, the big names played well for Collingwood, with the likes of Cloke, Beams, Swan, Brown, O’Brien, Jolly and Maxwell all playing a massive part in the win, but it was Elliott who will be remembered out of this game for his last quarter heroics. And it’s been that ability of the Collingwood Football Club to find young replacements for their injured stars that has seen it rise to the top of the competition after 13 rounds.

Collingwood have made two changes at selection, with youngsters Jackson Paine and Irishman Caolan Mooney coming into the side, at the expense of Marty Clarke and Tom Young. It will be Mooney’s first game for the Pies after being promoted off the rookie list after a great 5 goal performance in the VFL last weekend. The Magpies will go into Saturday’s game expecting to win, and therefore extending their winning streak to ten games before three very tough matchups against old foes Carlton, Geelong and Hawthorn.

Opposition Analysis.

 

Fremantle need to find form, and find it fast, one win in their last five games doesn’t bode well for a side expected to at least make the final eight, if not push for a top four position. And yes, once again the Dockers have had a poor run with injuries, but as explained above, sides like Collingwood and their cross town rivals West Coast have been able to cover injuries and continue to win. There are some positives for the Dockers though, with Hayden Ballantyne a certainty to return this week after serving his second suspension of the season, this time for a silly off the ball hit to the stomach of Richmond’s Chris Newman.  But it does seem as if star midfielders Nathan Fyfe and Stephen Hill and defender Zac Dawson are at least one more week away from returning. The Dockers are dangerous on their day, and there are a number of reasons for that.

The Dockers are hoping to get Stephen Hill back from injury this weekend.

The Dockers midfield in previous seasons has been seen from an outsider to be a weakness, especially when the big man Aaron Sandilands has found himself injured, but it seems the Dockers reliance on the 211cm giant has dimmed a bit recently. Even last week, without Fyfe, Morabito and Hill, the Dockers midfield won the two key stats of clearances and contested possessions, and their two ruckman, Griffin and Clarke held up their end of the bargain, or at least they seemed to, like the rest of the team, for three quarters. Nick Lower played maybe the best game he has played as a Docker, and with assistance from the likes of Mundy, Pearce, Crowley, Barlow and Deboer the Fremantle midfield wasn’t the primary reason why the Dockers have struggled over the past month or so. And if the Dockers can get Fyfe, Hill and Morabito back in that midfield, and with cameos from club great Matthew Pavlich the midfield may still be able to carry this Fremantle side into the final eight.

The Fremantle defense has also been much maligned over the years, and although the have had the added assistance of experienced defender Zac Dawson in 2012, they have still struggled to contain some key forwards, as shown last week when Michael Hurley of the Bombers had his career best haul of 6 goals in the Bombers run away win. Yet, with the defensive minded game plan that new coach Ross Lyon has, and the names that usually occupy the backline for Freo, they have been fairly effective in restricting teams scores in 2012, as they have conceded only 37 more points in total than the ladder leading Collingwood. Many will say that is solely because of Lyon’s gameplan and style, but with Michael Johnson and Luke McPharlin as their key tall defenders, and Dawson’s addition the Dockers back line is fairly effective in most games, especially so far in 2012.

Matthew Pavlich leads the Fremantle goals tally for 2012.

If the Dockers are seen to have a real weakness, it’s their forward line, and despite captain Matthew Pavlich (23 goals) and Chris Mayne (22 goals) racking up good tallies, Fremantle rank 13^th for scoring in 2012 so far. The consistent loss of small forward Ballantyne hasn’t helped things either, as he’s only managed 10 goals so far this season, but there really does seem to be a lack of support for the two leading scorers at the football club. The best sides in the competition don’t solely rely on their forwards to score, and the Dockers need to find more goals from their midfield if they are to move up the ladder in the final part of the 2012 home and away season. They do have potential, and maybe the answer lies in getting Fyfe, Hill and Morabito back into the side, as it may not only assist the midfield, but it may also add much needed scoring power to a side that is simply struggling to put up big scores, especially against the better sides.

 The Dockers will be motivated this week, they have to be after their dismal late performance against the Bombers, but they face a task that no team has been able to complete in the last 11 weeks (10 rounds), and that is beating the mighty Collingwood Football Club. Fremantle will be praying every one of the “probables” for this game come through with flying colours in time for Saturday’s game, as without them it’s hard to see them being competitive, let alone beating the Magpies on their own home turf.

 

Key Matchups;

 

Crowley vs Swan

Crowley may well take Beams, but if the Essendon game was anything to go by Lyon prefers Crowley to take the most inspirational of the opposition midifelders, and that is Dane Swan this week, especially with Pendlebury still out. Crowley held Watson for three quarters last week, but the Bombers captain had a big say in the win late, which is also a time of the game that Swan seems to be able to break away from those annoying taggers and help his team win.

 

Toovey vs Ballantyne

I’m more hoping for this matchup then anything, as I think Harry O’Brien may be given the role, but Toovey is undoubtedly the Pies best medium sized shut down defender, so I’d be giving him the job on the Dockers most dangerous small/medium forward, and that’s Ballantyne. On his day the pesky Ballantyne can win a game of his own boot, and restricting the little man to only a few shots at goal will go a long way to ensuring a Collingwood win.

 

Pavlich vs Brown

Pavlich has been in good form so far this season for the Dockers, especially considering he still mixes his time between the midfield and forward line, but it seems when games get close Pavlich stays forward, so Brown is his likely opponent, and it should be a great matchup between two top class footballers.

 

 Teams;

 

Collingwood

B: Harry O’Brien, Nathan Brown, Marley Williams
HB: Nick Maxwell, Ben Reid, Alan Toovey

C: Simon Buckley, Dale Thomas, Jarryd Blair
HF: Alex Fasolo, Chris Dawes, Heath Shaw
F: Dayne Beams, Travis Cloke, Tyson Goldsack
Foll: Darren Jolly, Dane Swan, Steele Sidebottom

Int: Sharrod Wellingham, Caolan Mooney, Jamie Elliott, Jackson Paine
Emg: Martin Clarke, Cameron Wood, Tom Young

IN: Jackson Paine, Caolan Mooney
OUT: Martin Clarke (omitted), Tom Young (omitted)

New: Caolan Mooney, 19, County Down (Ireland)

Fremantle

B: Adam McPhee, Luke McPharlin, Nick Suban
HB: Tendai Mzungu, Michael Johnson, Alex Silvagni
C: David Mundy, Ryan Crowley, Michael Barlow
HF: Chris Mayne, Zac Clarke, Garrick Ibbotson
F: Lachie Neale, Matthew Pavlich, Hayden Ballantyne
Foll: Jonathon Griffin, Matthew de Boer, Clancee Pearce
Int: Greg Broughton, Dylan Roberton, Jayden Pitt, Nick Lower
Emg: Michael Walters, Thomas Sheridan, Lee Spurr

IN: Hayden Ballantyne, Dylan Roberton
OUT: Hayden Crozier (illness), Jesse Crichton (omitted)

 

Tip.

Steele Sidebottom is just one of many Magpies in career best form.

But with Collingwood in the best form they have been in since about this time last year, you can only really see one result eventuating as far as the win/loss question is concerned. Even though the Pies won’t get superstar Scott Pendlebury back, their midfield is still loaded with talent and the potency of the Collingwood side and it’s ability to put up a big score should be too much for a defensive minded Fremantle. Dayne Beams and Steele Sidebottom are just two magpies who are in career best form, which is another sign that points to a Collingwood win.

I expect this game to be a tough, hard contested game, with the Dockers under new coach Ross Lyon being transformed away from their previous outside running game to focus more on contested possessions and defense, but in the end the Magpies will break down the Freo wall and run away with a fairly easy win, to extend their winning streak to 10 games.

Pies by 41 points.

VFL

The Collingwood VFL side returns home to Victoria Park this weekend, as they face up against the side one place below them on the ladder, the Frankston Dolphins. The game is scheduled to start at 1pm on Sunday, and the likes of Mooney, Witts, Paine, Yagmoor and Wood should be in action for the Pies.

THE GREATEST GAME ON EARTH IS BACK

THE GREATEST GAME ON EARTH RETURNS.

After waiting so long between seasons, the 2012 AFL premiership season has finally kicked off, and what a way to do so. Forgetting the poor stand alone game last weekend in Sydney, the competition for 2012 really started at the MCG on Friday Night when the Carlton Blues took on the Richmond Tigers. The build up to this game is usually intense, but this year the press, and the Tigers army of passionate supporters actually gave their side a chance of winning for the first time in a number of years, which led to a bigger build up then normal.

Just over 78,000 people crammed their way into the MCG on the last Thursday Night of March to see a game that started well, with the Tigers kicking the first few goals, only to be beaten considerably over the next quarter or so. Yet in the 3^rd quarter the Tigers got going, and early in the last quarter then closed to within a goal, 6 points, after Dustin Martin missed a very kickable shot at goal. After that though it was all one way, with Carlton running away with the game and taking a 44 point victory away from round one.

The following evening, a very similar sized crowd (also just over 78,000) rolled up at the MCG to see the rematch of the best game of last season, the preliminary final between Collingwood Magpies and Hawthorn Hawks. The Hawks wanted revenge for a loss in that final last year, yet it was the Magpies who came out on fire, but they let themselves down by kicking inaccurately at goal, and because of this only held a 6 point lead at quarter time, despite having plenty more shots at goal.

 

The Hawks fought back in the second quarter, with Sam Mitchell, Jordan Lewis and Cyril Rioli leading the way, and by half time they had opened up a 15 point lead due to 8 goals in that second quarter. Everyone at the ground, and watching on TV, knew that the Collingwood team, despite being under manned wouldn’t go down without a fight, and led by the inspirational stand in skipper Scott Pendlebury, the Pies rallied in the 3^rd quarter and close to within 6 points at 3 quarter time, setting up yet another classic last quarter between the two perennial premiership contenders. Collingwood actually got to the lead early in the last quarter, through a Dale Thomas goal, and the next 5-6 minutes was as thrilling as anything seen for a while, but the intensity showed on the under manner Pies and the Hawks began to run away with the game, with Buddy Franklin and Jack Gunston being almost unstoppable up forward, the Hawks eventually came away with a well deserved 22 point win.

 The next day, two rather forgettable games took place at the MCG and on the Gold Coast, with the Brisbane Lions smashing the Melbourne Demons by 41 points, and the NAB Cup Champions the Adelaide Crows easily disposing of last years wooden spooners the Gold Coast Suns by 69 points.

So it was then all set up for Saturday Night, and oh what a night it was.

Both Saturday Night games were slotted to start at the same time, which was a popular occurrence over the past few years, and on most occasions it isn’t a problem as one game turns out to be competitive, and the other not so competitive. But tonight was something different, and was always going to be. On the Eastern Coast, in Melbourne at the Docklands Stadium, you had two sides who will be fighting it out for a spot at the bottom of the final eight, the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the well supported Essendon Bombers, playing each other on the ground they both call home. Some had even said that the winner of this game could well go on and secure a finals spot, while the loser would rue their missed chance and look back in late August and say what could have been after round one.

On the other side of the country, in Perth, at Subiaco Oval, two sides who consider themselves premiership contenders, the Fremantle Dockers (the home team) and the visiting reigning champions, the Geelong Cats were getting set to kick off in a match that had been built up for months. Geelong had left a few players out, but Freo were also missing a few of their top 22, so this game was always going to be tight and well contested till the end.

So at 7.45pm AEDT the ball was bounced in both locations and the games began, the crowd roared, and bodies creaked and cracked as the first contested possessions were won on either side of Australia. In Perth, Fremantle got off to an absolute flyer, kicking the first 5 goals, and the crowd (lovingly named the Purple Army) was in a frenzy, before the champs fought back to make it a 12 point game at quarter time, with Freo kicking 6 goals, and Geelong kicking 4. Meanwhile in Victoria, at Docklands, Essendon and North Melbourne were going goal for goal, in a battle that matched the intensity of a lower level final, and after a hard fought first quarter, with both tall forward guns, North’s Drew Petrie (in his 200^th game) and Essendon’s Michael Hurley looking very dangerous at either end of the ground. In the second quarter in Melbourne, North looked like they might be able to steal a lead before half time, getting out to a double digit advantage before Essendon got on top late to take a 9 point lead into the long break at half time.

In Perth, the second quarter was Geelong’s, as the champs got up off the canvas, and not unlike the Hawks the night before, dominate the term to take a handy 5 point lead into half time. Fremantle’s giant ruckman Aaron Sandilands was the standout player on the ground, while the likes of Selwood, Chapman and Bartel got the ball forward to the dangerous looking doe of Podsiadly and Hawkins. During the second quarter things started to become very heated in Perth, with the Dockers annoying little man causing major angst for Geelong, both inside the huddles after ball ups, and also on the scoreboard. At half time there was even words exchanged between Geelong coach Chris Scott and Ballantyne as each team went into the rooms, IT WAS ON.

In Melbourne, the Bombers sought to take control of the game, yet with Heath Hocking subbed off early due to concussion, and several other minor injuries restricting some of their players, you sense an urgency for the Essendon team to build a lead before three quarter time, and that’s what they did. North Melbourne lost tall forward Robbie Tarrant to a hamstring injury seconds into the 2^nd half, and while they had a sub to replace him, it seemed to take them time to readjust, and Essendon took control, getting the lead out to 22 points at three quarter time, and looking like they might run away with game, despite the obvious physical disadvantages they had. Led ably by their Captain Job Watson, and with great assistance from the much maligned Brent Stanton, Essendon all but looked home early in the last quarter with a lead of 25 points.

Meanwhile in Perth, an incident that might shake the football world to it’s boots was occurring, as champion Geelong Full Back took a wild left handed swing at Hayden Ballantyne (yes the same pre mentioned annoying man), and connecting with his jaw, although the severity may well have been played up by the little Dockers forward. But it did result in a secondary goal after Fremantle had just added a six pointer, as Ballantyne goaled from the resulting free kick to give Freo their biggest lead since the first quarter. The game was still fiercely fought out, and just before three quarter time it seemed as if Geelong would take a strong lead into the last quarter, only for Matthew Stokes to miss the goals from directly in front, and instead Fremantle lead by a solitary point at three quarter time. Those at the ground probably had little idea what was going on in the other game on the other side of the country, but those at home smelled something amazing brewing, and the next 35 minutes produced drama a plenty.

As the final quarter started at each venue, most viewers around the nation chose to watch the Fremantle vs Geelong game, thinking that the Essendon vs North Melbourne game was a foregone conclusion, yet what would happen in the last 20 minutes would cause social media and TV viewers to have heart palpitations Australia wide. The Fremantle/Geelong game ebbed and flowed, with both sides taking in turns taking the lead, first Geelong through Jimmy Bartel, then later Hayden Ballantyne put the Dockers back in front. With only minutes remaining, much loved Fremantle Captain Matthew Pavlich kicked two goals, the first a straight forward mark and kick goal, the second a right footed soccer goal from an acute angle that bought the stadium to its feet, to give Freo a double figure lead with only minutes remaining. Meanwhile back in Melbourne, North Melbourne had come to life, and with three consecutive goals they close to within a few points with only minutes remaining at Etihad Stadium. With 2 minutes remaining, Kangaroos forward Aaron Edwards spilled a tough, but gettable mark right in front of goal that would have certainly put the Roos in front with only seconds remaining. In Perth, Geelong goaled with only 44 seconds left after Bartel once again stood up and slotted through a 6 pointer to make it a 4 point lead to the Dockers within the final minute of clock time. Geelong won the ball out of the middle with a quick kick to half forward, where eventually it spilled over the line with only 26 seconds remaining. After the ensuing thrown in, man mountain Sandilands won the ball, hand-balled to a team mate who kicked to a contest on the wing, where Kepler Bradley was awarded a free kick for the Dockers, and he held the ball till the siren and Fremantle won their opening game of the season over the reigning premiers by 4 points, and the Purple Army erupted into song and cheer.

Back in Melbourne, under the roof, 36 year old champion Essendon defender, Dustin Fletcher in the first game of his 20^th season took what many believed was a match saving mark inside the final minute, deep in North Melbourne’s forward 50. After several more kicks, the ball was recovered by North Melbourne on the Medallion Club side of the stadium, and the ball was boosted inside 50, and amazingly, just before time ran out, returning North Melbourne ruckman Hamish McIntosh marked 35 metres out from goal on a slight angle. McIntosh, who had a disastrous 2011 season after being considered an elite ruckman in previous seasons, suddenly had a kick after the siren to win the game for his beloved North Melbourne. Taking all the time he could, he lined the ball up, walked in and aimed the ball at the right hand goal post, hoping and praying it would take a natural curve left and just fall within the big sticks, yet it faded right of the goal post, scoring only a behind, and the Essendon players and fans reacted as if they’d won a final, as several of the North players slumped to the ground in anguish.

In the matter of 35 minutes or so, every emotion that an AFL fan, and player can go through for a competing club was felt by 4 clubs, while the rest of us watched on in pure amazement and enjoyment, and revelled in the fact that the game we love, Australian Rules Football, was back at it’s finest, and we had a long, emotional and epic season to look forward to.

 

IT’S BACK.