AFL Round 11 – Collingwood vs Port Adelaide Match Preview.

It seemed like Collingwood were back on track. Halfway through the third term of a season defining game versus the Western Bulldogs at the MCG the Pies led by 15 points after a goal from first year player Ben Crocker. But there was trouble a brewing, and that trouble was a case of bad luck due to injury. First Alan Toovey was concussed in a bizarre, yet to be explained manner. Then Taylor Adams limped off the field with a severe hamstring injury, yet it would get worse. Forwards Alex Fasolo and Darcy Moore, the pies two leading goal kickers this season, both went down with broken bones in their shoulder regions. The Magpies were unable to use their interchange for the entire final term and the Dogs over ran them effectively stealing a 21 point win. It was a bitter blow for coach Nathan Buckley and his team after the fight the Pies have shown in the last 3 weeks.

It’s not over yet though, there’s still a long way to go this season. This Sunday the Magpies get maybe their last chance to keep their faint finals hopes alive against Port Adelaide at the MCG. The Power only sit one game ahead of Collingwood with a 5-5 win/loss record after 10 games. It”s been a strange season for Port so far this season. At their best, they have been very impressive, but at times they have look disinterested and unable to execute the simplest of skills. Last week was a good one for them though, as they traveled to Alice Springs and easily dispatched of Melbourne to the tune of 45 points. It is arguably the best overall game from the Power so far this season and leaves them sitting just outside the top 8.

Of course these two sides have some history, mainly dating back to the 2002 and 2003 seasons when they faced off in two key finals. The Pies won both the 02 Qualifying final and the 03 Preliminary final but Port did get some revenge back by beating Collingwood at the MCG in the 2013 Elimination final. They don’t like each other, that’s been clear for a long time and this game is sure to have plenty of feeling in it.

COLLINGWOOD PREVIEW

Collingwood have some headaches going into this game, that’s for sure. The four likely outs (assuming Toovey misses too) create a gap in the Pies side that can’t be filled naturally. The loss of Fasolo and Moore is the biggest concern. They have combined for 36 goals so far this season and many more if you count goal assists and scoring chains they’ve been involved in. Travis Cloke is the obvious inclusion and most will hope the enigmatic key forward does return this week. The good news for Collingwood though is there are things that are working well for the first time this season. The Pies midfield is firing and the backline has held up well the past 3 weeks. Jeremy Howe has been one of the revelations of the season since moving down back. He has been in the Pies best players the last 3 weeks and his mix of pace, skill and aerial ability has seen him assist the likes of Reid and Frost immensely. Levi Greenwood is another one who has found form too. The ex Kangaroo was really struggling a few weeks back but since being switched into the middle as the Pies number one defensive midfielder (tagger) he’s performed really well. He is likely to be asked to take one of Wines, Boak or Gray this week and if he is effective in his role once again it will give the Pies a chance to dominate in the middle.

And they may need that help, as although the Pies ability to win the clearances has improved in the last 3 weeks, it’s still an area of concern. Collingwood also sit last for hitouts won, a stat that can’t help their midfield out much at all. It’s not surprising when you have a young ruckman like Brodie Grundy supported by another inexperienced player in Mason Cox, but it is a concern. The loss of Taylor Adams won’t help things either and they come up against a Port side ranked in the top 5 for clearances, which is somewhat surprising as Port only rank one spot above the Pies for hitouts. Most games seem to be won or lost in the midfields and this game may be another one. Collingwood will consider some assistance with the likes of Macaffer, Aish and Goodyear all performing well before the VFL bye last weekend. The Pies forward line will be the place to be fixed first though, and that will be the focus of selection this week.

Apart from the obvious choice in Cloke, others who may be considered to bolster the Pies forward structure include Witts, Aish, Goldsack, Macaffer, Marsh and Brown. Those last two would come in as defenders and maybe allow Oxley, Reid or Howe to move forward. Marsh and Goldsack deserve a shot for sure based on VFL form but the senior backline is going that well that Nathan Buckley may be hesitant to make significant changes to it. The effort and intensity has been there from the Pies in recent weeks though and if that is there again on Sunday they will believe they can get a win here.

 

PORT ADELAIDE PREVIEW

Port Adelaide are somewhat of an enigma in the AFL world. There’s this myth that when they play “Port Adelaide football” they are unbeatable, yet since the end of season 2014 they’ve been very beatable indeed. Halfway through that season (2014) the Power were on top of the ladder and many were thinking they would be a premiership chance. They fell away a little towards the end of that home and away season but redeemed themselves in the finals winning 2 games and then losing an epic preliminary final to Hawthorn by 3 points. Since then though Port haven’t looked like make the top eight but maybe their performance in recent weeks gives some promise that they are coming back. They certainly have plenty of talent on their list even with the suspension of ex Essendon players Angus Monfries and Patrick Ryder affecting them this season.

Missing Monfires and Ryder from that forward line has placed plenty of pressure on others to perform and the results have been inconsistent to say the least. Their forward line now basically revolves around 4 players in Wingard, Dixon, Young and Westhoff. Aaron Young is the one that most don’t know too much about. He’s had a great start to season 2016 and already has notched up 21 goals in 9 matches. Young has made the job easier for Dixon and Wingard and last week it showed as Dixon was able to break free and kick 5 goals in the win over Melbourne. They will come face to face with an improving Collingwood defense. Reid, Frost, Oxley, Maynard and Howe are starting to form a partnership down back that is working well and will test out the dangerous Power forward line on Sunday.

Port’s midfield should be their strength and recently it has been. Port rank in the top 5 in the league for clearances and contested possessions and all of this is despite being ranked 2^nd worst for hitouts. The Power midfield is star studded too with Boak, Wines, Stewart, Impey, Hartlett and Gray all capable of tearing the game apart if allowed too much free reign. The ruck is an area of concern with Matthew Lobbe really struggling to the degree that Jackson Trengove is now being asked to do most of the ruck work solo. They face off against a Collingwood midfield that seems talented enough but the loss of Taylor Adams and Dane Swan has effected it’s output for sure now. Finally too Port come up against an AFL senior side that is worse in the ruck then they are and this should lead to them winning the midfield battle.

The Power’s backline is the area of greatest concern for coach Ken Hinkley you’d assume. Jack Hombsch, Cameron O’Shea and Paul Stewart are likely to be given the chance as key defenders against a Magpies forward line that has now been decimated by injury. Stalwart Alapite Carlile seems to have lost all form and is resigned to the SANFL for now. Where Port do seem to excel down back is rebounding the ball out of defensive 50 and against a Magpies team that has allowed plenty of end to end scores Port should be able to clear the ball out of defense quite easily. The likes of Pittard, Byrne-Jones and Polec will help with that of course. The will he or won’t he play debate surrounding Travis Cloke will decide a lot of the final matchups in this area of the ground. Whether Cloke plays or not may well decide just how easy the Port defense has it on Sunday.

This is a massive opportunity for the Power to kick start their season and get right back in the fight for a spot in the final 8. They should see coming to the MCG as a big moment in their season and a game they should win. It won’t be easy though against a now competitive Collingwood team so Port will have to bring a four quarter effort, something that has been missing most weeks in 2016. The return of Broadbent will help and as long as there’s no ill effects from playing in the warmer conditions of Alice Springs the Power will be confident of winning this game.

 

TIP

Despite the loss against the Dogs last Sunday and the subsequent loss of several players to injury Collingwood surprisingly are betting favourites to win this game. I say surprisingly because Port seem to be in the better form, at least based on last week’s performances. The area that Port will seek to dominate here is their forward line. If they can get it forward quickly and cleanly they will be confident of putting a score on the board that will be hard to beat.

But the Pies defense has improved dramatically in recent weeks, restricting the Lions, Cats and Dogs to low scores. That’s where the Pies will look to win this game, they will strangle Port around the stoppages and try and make it a low scoring, four quarter slog. If Nathan Buckley’s men can achieve that I can see them coming away with a win as they over run a tiring Port Adelaide side late.

MAGPIES BY 13 POINTS

 

VFL

After a bye for the annual state game last weekend the Collingwood VFL side returns to action on Saturday. The VFL Magpies will travel out to Werrribee to play the North Melbourne aligned Tigers in a crucial round 9 fixture. Start time is 2pm.

AFL Round 15 – Collingwood vs Port Adelaide Match Preview.

Late last season, when the 2015 AFL premiership season fixture was released in it’s entirety, the Collingwood football club stared anxiously at a particular three week period of the draw. After their mid season bye, the Magpies would face some tough tasks, a trip to Western Australia to play Fremantle, a match against the two time reigning premiers Hawthorn then to top it off another interstate game against the buzz team of 2014, the Port Adelaide Power. Two of those three games have come and gone and while the Magpies fought hard, even above expectations in both games, they came away with two losses. Now comes the final stage of this triumvirate of sorts, when the Pies head to Adelaide Oval on Thursday night to face the horribly out of form Power.

Port Adelaide themselves have been a story to behold so far this season. They were the side to watch coming into the season, having made the preliminary final and gone within a whisker of knocking off the almighty Hawks in that epic contest. This season though they’ve fallen so far from grace that at the moment they sit in 12^th position with a 5-8 win/loss record, only percentage ahead of last years’ wooden spooners’ St Kilda. They haven’t had a terrible run with injuries either, it’s just been a remarkable fall from grace from a club that recruited in the off season as if this season was their shot at a premiership.

So this game becomes Port’s last chance to salvage anything from the season, but its also critical to a Collingwood side who had delusions of grandeur, that of finishing in the top 4. The two clubs do have some history to speak of, with 3 finals being contested between them. The 2002 and 2003 finals games both went the way of Collingwood with the 2002 qualifying final being the stuff of legend down Collingwood way. The Power got some revenge back in 2013 though with an upset win in an elimination final at the MCG. There’s always been an edge to these games, and this clash is sure to be no different.

PREVIOUS FORM

Collingwood may well have played it’s best football of the season so far the last 2 weeks, yet lost both games. With an 8-3 record heading into the popular opinion was that Collingwood hadn’t beaten anyone of quality yet, or even gone close to. In the last 2 weeks after that bye though the Magpies have matched it with 2 of the 3 premiership favourites and arguably should have won both games. Their goal kicking in the third term was a major reason why they weren’t able to defeat the Hawks last week with 11 shots at goal only resulting in 2 goals in that term. The pressure that the Pies have put on the last 2 weeks especially hasn’t gone unnoticed though. They hunt the opposition ball carrier better then anyone else in the league at the moment, and if they can find that polish when they get the ball they may even be a major threat this season.

It’s been a strange season for the Power. They’ve had stunning wins over sides like Hawthorn and cross town rivals the Crows, yet had absolutely shocking losses against lowly teams such as Carlton and Brisbane. But it’s the last 3 games that has effectively ended any hope they have of playing finals. Those losses to Geelong, Carlton and Sydney leave them with a 5-8 record and in danger of slipping into the bottom 4. The loss to Carlton was the one that hurt the most in recent weeks, as if they had of won it and maintained a 6-7 record coming into this game, there might still be hope. Last week versus the Swans in Sydney Port played ok in patches but once again turned the ball over at crucial stages and didn’t play at a consistent level throughout the game. Their season really is in danger of becoming a disaster quickly.

COLLINGWOOD PREVIEW

Collingwood has lost it’s last two games yet at the same time gained so much out of the effort and output in those defeats. Many wondered if the Pies could match it with the best sides in the AFL yet after the last two weeks there’s little doubt left. The improvement across the playing list has been quite remarkable really although they still have some stars at the top of the tree shining bright. None more so then club captain Scott Pendlebury, who despite copping heavy attention from the opposition each week is averaging over 28 disposals. Pendlebury’s game against the Hawks was described by coach Nathan Buckley “as maybe his best ever” and that’s saying a lot from about a multiple Copeland trophy winner who has a Norm Smith medal as well. He was brilliant but so was Dane Swan, who is only trailing the captain by a small margin for average disposals so far this season. Swanny will this week play his 250^th game, becoming only the 12^th Magpies player in the 123 year history of the club to do so. He’s not finished yet either and with these two legends leading the midfield Collingwood are a force once again to be reckoned with.

At the selection table this week the Pies have a few dilemmas. Ruckman Brodie Grundy played in the VFL win on Saturday as did the likes of Paul Seedsman, Ben Kennedy, Jonathan Marsh and Matthew Scharenberg. The last two on that list are yet to debut but were once again mightily impressive in holding down key defensive posts under extreme pressure on Saturday. With Tyson Goldsack and Ben Reid out injured one of those young defenders may be called upon to assist a defense that is struggling at times in games. Unfortunately Goldsack and Reid aren’t the only players unavailable with Greenwood, Ramsay, Freeman and MaCaffer all still a while away from returning to senior contention. The Magpies will put out a strong 22 against Port though and with only 1-2 changes occurring they should play at the same level they have the last 2 weeks which may be too much for this struggling Power side.

OPPOSITION ANALYSIS

Where do you start with Port Adelaide? They’ve gone from being one of the genuinely scary sides in the AFL to now being a side that seems meek and rather easy to defeat. It’s hard to find reasons too, they haven’t had a long list of injuries, their draw has been tougher then last season but not extreme and they’ve lost games to teams that any decent team shouldn’t lose. It’s strange alright and at times this season senior coach Ken Hinkley must have been wondering what the hell was going on with his players. They look lethargic at times, and their ball use has dropped to almost league worst levels as they lead the AFL in clangers and are well down the list on disposal efficiency. There may not be a quick fix but if there is the Power need to find it by Thursday night or their finals hopes will be over.

The Port Adelaide forward line really should be one of the most dangerous in the AFL with a good mixture of talls and smalls but something isn’t right. Only Jay Schulz and Chad Wingard regularly impacting the scoreboard. In fact Port rank only 12^th for total points score this season which is a stunning turnaround when compared to last season when they were the 2^nd most dangerous attacking team in the league. Yes the ball use going forward hasn’t been as good this season but outside of those 2 players this forward line really isn’t working well. They run into a Pies backline that is going well but has some deficiencies of it’s own. If Port are to defeat the Pies they will need their small and medium forwards, the likes of Monfries, Wingard and Gray to exploit an apparent inability of the Pies defense to stop small forwards from scoring.

The Port midfield is still winning the ball ok as shown by their top 6 ranking for clearances and contested possessions. Their ball use though has been a concern with costly turnovers and poor ball use making it hard for them to capitalise on their actually getting the ball. The class is still there with Boak, Wines, Hartlett, Broadbent Gray and Wingard making up a group that should be as good as any going around. The problem for the Power this week is they face the number one contested ball winning team in the competition although just like Port Collingwood has conceded scores from turnovers at times too. That may make for a real tough, contested ball winning game on a wet and slippery night in Adelaide and that may be exactly what Port need to get back on track in the middle. One area where Port might be able to dominate is in the ruck with Lobbe and Ryder likely to be up against two youngsters, Witts and Grundy. Collingwood rank well down the list for hitouts so if Port are to be any chance at all they will have to win the ruck contest clearly.

The Port Adelaide defensive structure was supreme in 2014. The Power played a team defense that was almost unmatched across the league and it got them within a kick of a grand final in the end. This season though the Port defense has been leaky, they’ve conceded more points then they’ve scored at the other end and that never bodes well of course. Port still are one of the better rebounding teams out of defensive 50 though and this is the other area where they will have to dominate against Collingwood to have any chance at all. It won’t be easy though with the Pies forward line renowned for applying intense tackling pressure which has been so effective this season indeed. Travis Cloke of course looms as the main danger for the Power defense and whether Carlisle or Trengove get Cloke how effective the league’s best contested marking player is will go a long way to determining the outcome of this game.

Port Adelaide can win this game, or at least their talent can. On paper the side isn’t much different to the one that rampaged through the league last season so it’s a total mystery why they’ve dropped off the map so much. Back at home though, in what will be the first game played at Adelaide Oval after the tragic death of Crows coach Phillip Walsh, the Power may well see this as one last chance of redemption. It really is their final chance at any type of meaning to this season too, a loss here and they go 5-9 and that’s about the point you start thinking about next season.

TIP

This should be a great game to watch, yes the conditions may not be ideal but these two teams are as hard nosed as any going around and they really don’t like each other. It’s also the Power’s last chance to keep their dim hopes of finals football alive. Add in the emotion that is flowing around Adelaide following the tragic occurrence of last weekend and this game gets bigger and bigger. On field Collingwood bring in much better form then Port and the injury lists are comparable enough to not be a significant factor.

Another factor is Dane Swan’s 250^th game, some milestone games can produce poor results but everyone loves Swanny and will want to get up for him on the night. Ultimately though it may come down to the good old “who wants this more?” and with a top 4 spot still a possibility but a finals spot almost certain with a triumph here, I expect Collingwood to come away with the win in a low scoring, hard fought game.

MAGPIES BY 13 POINTS.

CONGRATULATIONS DANE SWAN

Dane Swan, the epitome of old school football really, the man loved by everyone Collingwood fan will this Thursday night play his 250^th AFL game. He’s achieved just about everything in the game, from a Brownlow to multiple Copeland trophies and of course being a crucial part of the 2010 premiership. He truly is a Magpie legend.

AFL Round 19 – Collingwood vs Port Adelaide Match Preview.

“It’s like a Grand Final” were the words spoken by Collingwood forward Travis Cloke when asked how important this coming game is for the Magpies. Collingwood has been in free fall, losing 5 of their last 6 games and for the first time in 9 seasons they could miss out on playing finals. This coming weekend they face the most vital game of their season as they welcome Port Adelaide to the MCG. The Magpies sit in 9^th spot after yet another loss, this time to the Adelaide Crows on Sunday, while Port sit in 5^th, also not in great form after a stunning first half of the season. The Power for a while found themselves on top of the ladder and at one point it looked like they might secure a top 2 spot. Something changed though and with 4 losses in their last 6 games they’ve slipped out of the top 4 and now have a fight on their hands just to get a home final. Port will see this game as a chance to get back into top form while for the Magpies it’s one last chance to keep a fading season alive. Of course these two clubs do have history of playing in big games with the 2002 Qualifying final, the 2003 preliminary final and last year’s elimination final creating a fair rivalry. The Pies won the first two of those finals but it was the Power who ended the Magpies season in spectacular fashion last year, also at the MCG. It would be kind of ironic if Port were to be once again the side that ended the Magpies hopes and dreams.

 

COLLINGWOOD PREVIEW

It seemed to be all going so well for Collingwood, sitting fourth on the ladder with an 8-3 win/loss record after 11 games. Since then though almost nothing has gone to plan, with only one win in the last 6 games dropping the Magpies outside the top 8 for the first time since round 4. It leaves the Magpies on the precipice of that top 8 and a real chance of ending their finals qualifying streak at 8 seasons.

So what’s gone wrong? Some will bring injuries up as an excuse and that may be a valid point, but the Pies had injuries in the first half of the season yet were still winning games. The draw has got a little harder but when you have losses to sides like the Bulldogs and the Suns the draw can’t be used as an excuse really. The closest to an answer is that the midfield and backline have simply failed under the pressure of a long season and continued injuries. The Magpie backline is now almost completely void of experience, with Nick Maxwell retired and Nathan Brown out for the year with an injury, the only experience left was Alan Toovey and Heritier Lumumba and Toovey missed the last loss against the Crows anyway. It’s left the task to the likes of Frost, Keeffe, Williams, Langdon and Young and quite simply they are struggling. The midfield, despite some star studded players, hasn’t been performing that well either, with the Magpies now ranked 16^th for clearances and centre clearances. The loss of Dane Swan has hurt this and Luke Ball has also struggled in recent times. There seems to be no short term fix in either area so the Pies have to just endure now and somehow turn it around against Port this weekend.

At selection Collingwood sprung a surprise giving ex Swan and Crow Tony Armstrong his first game as a Collingwood player. Armstrong has improved dramatically in the VFL the last few weeks and really has earned a chance. Also returning is Alex Fasolo and Sam Dwyer who played in the VFL last weekend also. Out goes Paul Seedsman with an abductor injury, with Clinton Young and Ben Kennedy omitted. It’s not the strongest side Collingwood has fielded this year and it’s a very young one but the Pies will put up a fight.

 

OPPOSITION ANALYSIS

Port Adelaide started the year in sensational fashion continuing on from their impressive end to the 2013 season. In fact after 12 rounds Port found themselves two games clear on top of the ladder and a top 4 spot, and maybe even premiership contention looked a possibility. Since then though, not unlike Collingwood, it’s all fallen apart with only two wins in their last six games dropping them outside the top four for the first time in season 2014. Some have blamed this downturn in form on a heavy training load but maybe it’s got more to do with a young team struggling to cope with the pressure and intensity that comes with a long AFL season. The bye will no doubt have helped in this regard and if the Power can regain their top form they will be a very tough opponent for Collingwood indeed.

The Power midfield is strong and very effective, in fact it’s in the top 6 in the league for clearances, centre clearances and contested possessions, and that’s even after a drop in form. It’s no shock that this midfield grouping works well together too when you see the names that are involved in it. Leading from the front is Travis Boak but he’s ably assisted by Kane Cornes, Ollie Wines, Robbie Gray, Brad Ebert, Hamish Hartlett and Jared Polec. The ruck is also an area in the middle that Port will look to exploit Collingwood with the Pies ranked 3^rd last for hitouts, although the Power are down to one recognised ruck in Matthew Lobbe due to injury. Lobbe will go up against Jarrod Witts in a battle that will be important to the outcome of the game. Port will be confident of winning the midfield contests, they have to really if they are going to win this game.

Port has struggled to put a big score on the board during their recent form slump with only Jay Schulz continuing the early season form that saw the Power forward line look like one of the most dangerous in the AFL. Schulz is fighting Lance Franklin for the Coleman medal now it seems, but he is lacking support. Chad Wingard’s form has dropped off a bit and the assistance from the midfield in scoring has also dried up. Justin Westhoff was in good form also but he’s been forced to play the secondary ruck role recently and just like Jesse White for the Pies it’s restricted his influence on the scoreboard. The Power do run into a Magpie backline though that is struggling, giving up on average 24 more points in the last 6 games than it was in the first 11. The probable return of Angus Monfries will be a boost to the inconsistent Port forward line though and if he plays he may be just that one player too many for the Pies defense to cover.

The Power backline is unheralded and under rated by many but it gets the job done. Port rank 5^th for points conceded and if not for the recent 126 total let through against Richmond they would rank even higher. In fact that was the first time this season that anyone had scored 100 points against this backline. The three main talls in defense are Carlile, Hombsch and O’Shea and together they have done a great job so far this season. Port also don’t lack for run out of defense with the likes of Pittard, Jonas, Polec, Impey and the defensive midfield mindset giving the Power one of the better rebounding setups in the AFL. They run into a Collingwood forward line that has looked disjointed all year and even though they now have Reid, Cloke and Elliott together for the first time this season it still isn’t the most threatening attack in the AFL. The Power will back themselves to restrict the Pies forward line to a low enough score to ensure that they come away with the win here.

When you look at the probably Port line-up on paper it’s obvious why they were once on top of the ladder and looked like a genuine premiership contender. What isn’t so obvious is why they’ve dropped form so sharply with injuries not really playing a massive part. There is little doubt that the bye will help there though with Carlile and Monfries likely to return and Trengove only a few weeks away. If the Power still have hopes of finishing in a top 4 position they need to win a game like this against a struggling Magpies outfit.

 

TEAMS

Collingwood
B: Marley Williams, Jack Frost, Tyson Goldsack
HB: Tom Langdon, Lachlan Keeffe, Heritier Lumumba
C: Steele Sidebottom, Brent Macaffer, Alex Fasolo
HF: Taylor Adams, Jesse White, Tim Broomhead
F: Jamie Elliott, Travis Cloke, Ben Reid
Foll: Jarrod Witts, Dayne Beams, Scott Pendlebury
Int : Sam Dwyer, Jarryd Blair, Tony Armstrong, Kyle Martin

Emg: Grundy, Kennedy, Young

IN: Tony Armstrong, Sam Dwyer, Alex Fasolo
OUT: Ben Kennedy (omitted), Seedsman (injured), Young (omitted)
NEW: Tony Armstrong (24, Sydney)

Port Adelaide 
FB: Jarman Impey, Alipate Carlile, Tom Jonas
HB: Matthew Broadbent, Jack Hombsch, Jasper Pittard
C: Jared Polec, Ollie Wines, Hamish Hartlett
HF: Robbie Gray, Justin Westhoff, Angus Monfries
FF: Paul Stewart, Jay Schulz, Chad Wingard
Foll: Matthew Lobbe, Travis Boak, Brad Ebert
Interchange : Cam O’Shea, Kane Cornes, Andrew Moore, Ben Newton

Emg: Mitchell, Amon, Neade

Into 25: Carlile, Moore, Monfries
Out: White (groin), Young (foot), Cassisi (retired)

 

TIP

On form there’s not a lot separating these two teams with both right in the middle of form slumps. Both teams though are likely to get key players back from injury which may see a sharp improvement in form. The final between these two last year was hotly contested right up until the last few minutes and you’d expect this game to be the same. I can’t see either side running away with a big win and it’s certain the Pies will fight this one out to the end given it really is their last chance.

I think that desperation and an extra week under Reid and Elliott’s feet will see the Pies win a close game and keep their season alive.

PIES BY 8 POINTS.

 

VFL

After a disappointing loss at Frankston on Sunday the Collingwood VFL team heads home to Victoria Park to host the Box Hill Hawks on Saturday. Game time is 1pm.

AFL Second Elimination Final – Collingwood vs Port Adelaide Match Preview.

It’s September, and in the world of AFL that means one thing, FINALS. This weekend the 2013 AFL Premiership final series begins in earnest with all four games being played in the state of Victoria. At the MCG on Saturday night sixth will play seventh in the second elimination final. The sixth placed team, Collingwood, earned the right to host a first week final with a 14 win and 8 loss record at the end of the home and away season. The Magpies were thought of as a premiership contender before the season started but injuries and other factors have left the Pies outside the top four heading into the finals. Their opponents this week, the seventh placed Port Adelaide Power have been the biggest improver’s’ in the AFL this season moving up 14^th position last season. Port have been one of the stories of 2013 as under new coach Ken Hinkley the South Australian team has risen back into the top eight for the first time since they lost the 2007 Grand Final. Of course, Port only had the 8^th best win/loss record but with the removal of Essendon from the finals for bringing the game into disrepute via a drug use scandal, Port now find themselves facing the Pies instead of Richmond.

These two sides met once in the regular season and in that round 14 matchup in Adelaide it was the Power who came away with a 35 point victory. It may well have been the best win of Port’s season but more so it was the authoritative nature of the win that would give them confidence leading into this final. On that slippery night at AAMI Stadium the Power really did dominate for most of the match, taking the lead just before quarter time and never letting it slip. Port’s forwards were very dangerous on the night with Schulz and Westhoff kicking 3 each and Monfries getting two of his own. It may well be a different looking Magpies outfit that the Power meet this week, and it’s at the Pies home ground but they’ve done it once and Port will believe they can do it again. This will be the third meeting in the finals between the Pies and Power with Collingwood winning both previous finals in 2002 and 2003.

The best thing about the finals is you know what you are going to get in terms of intensity, it will be on from the opening bounce and won’t let up until one team has secured a safe enough lead to take victory. This one is a win or go home game as the name suggests (Elimination Final) so there really is no holding back for both teams this Saturday night. Strangely enough it will only be Port’s second visit to the MCG this year, with their only match being way back in round 1 versus Melbourne. Whether that’s a distinct advantage or not for the Magpies will be determined come 7.45pm on Saturday night.

PREVIOUS FORM

Carlton ran over the top of Port last week.

Since the round 13 win over the Magpies, Port Adelaide have struggled to really get back to the level of football they were playing before and during that game. They’ve only won 4 of their last 9 games and none of those victories came over top 8 sides with the highest credential win in that period being over fellow South Australians the Crows. Last weekend the Power looked back in form though as they built a massive lead over Carlton in their final home and away game, only to fade late as the desperate Carlton (who needed to win to book a finals berth) ran over the top and came away with a dramatic one point win. Port, not unlike Collingwood did the next day versus North Melbourne, didn’t really need to win that game and you could see their intensity and effort drop off as the game went on. The positive for Port is that they came through the game with a clean bill of health and will look to regain several players that they rested or have been missing over the past few weeks.

Collingwood’s form is almost the complete opposite to the Powers’ in that they are in season best form. The Magpies had won 4 of their last 5 games leading into last Sunday’s glorified practice match versus North Melbourne but never looked to be going full pace during the loss to the Roos. With Nathan Brown already subbed off back up ruckman Quinten Lynch badly rolled his ankle and from then on you could see the Pies players shift into conservation mode for the finals. Even then the Pies found themselves with a lead close to 3 goals in the second half before North finally got over the top of the Pies by 11 points. There were positives to come out of even such a non defensive style of game though with Travis Cloke and Ben Reid combining for 10 goals and club champion Alan Didak looking back near his best with a performance than may well have secured him a place in the 22 this week. The Pies also go into this game pretty well off physically with those with got injured on the weekend likely to play and some other big names certain to return also.

COLLINGWOOD PREVIEW

It’s been a somewhat frustrating year for the Collingwood Football Club but after all the trials and tribulations they have endured the Magpies find themselves hosting a home final. The positives this season for them have been the emergence of some absolute star youngsters and the improvement from some of their other players. Of course the negatives were the injuries to several key players with Dale Thomas, Alex Fasolo and Alan Toovey playing very little part in the season. All 3 of those players have been badly missed but in their place others have been given opportunity and thrived. It seems almost certain that Marley Williams, Lachlan Keeffe, Josh Thomas, Brodie Grundy, Jamie Elliott and Paul Seedsman will all line up this weekend and at the start of the season only a few of these young players would have been considered a chance of breaking into this strong Collingwood line up for the finals.

Ever since Nathan Buckley took over the reigns as senior coach at the end of the 2011 season the club legend has been trying to put his own stamp on this side and you can see that only now is that coming to fruition. The Magpies are now league leaders in terms of disposals which is a marked difference from the side that played under Mick Malthouse for all those years. As we head into the 2013 final series there are a few areas where the Magpies have to improve though if they are to go deep into September. All season the Pies have struggled in the ruck but the emergence of first year player Brodie Grundy has seemed to cover that in the past 7 games. Collingwood also sits well down the ladder for centre clearances although one could easily link that to their ruck struggles before the phenom that is Grundy came along. That statistic has also come about because of the absence of Dale Thomas, Luke Ball and Dayne Beams for a lot of the season although Beams and Ball will be part of the midfield this weekend. Collingwood’s forward line seems to have turned a corner recently with the move of Ben Reid up forward taking a lot of pressure of Travis Cloke who previously, and you can use the last time the Pies played Port as a prime example, had been ganged up on by 2-3 defenders at a time. Cloke missed out on the Coleman medal on the weekend by 2 goals but there’s little doubt he is one of the biggest threats to Port Adelaide this weekend.

At selection there weren’t many surprises with Luke Ball and Harry O’Brien returning to replace Ben Kennedy and Jordan Russell. Jamie Elliott and Ben Sinclair didn’t pass fitness tests and are still at least a week away.

OPPOSITION ANALYSIS

It’s been a sensational season for the Port Adelaide Football Club, rising from 14^th last season to now be a part of the 2013 finals series. Most have praised the youth at Port as the major reason for their resurgence but there’s more to it than just that, as first year coach Ken Hinkley has also rejuvenated the careers of some of Port’s older players with Kane Cornes being a great example of that. Yes the Power have had an easier draw than most in the 8 but there’s no one out there who would argue that they don’t deserve to be in the finals. While it may be a great achievement by the Power just to make the finals you can bet that all week Hinkley will be drilling into them that this is an opportunity they have to grab with both hands because you never know if, or when you’ll be back again. The Power have become a far more defensive minded team under their new coach than in previous years as shown by them being ranked third for total tackles throughout the home and away rounds. Port isn’t coming to Melbourne this week just to make up the numbers and when you look at the talent they possess they could be a real threat to the Magpies this weekend.

The Port Adelaide midfield is a grossly under rated area of the ground. Cornes, Boak, Ebert and Cassisi are the experience that lead the way and they have all had very good seasons. It’s been the youth though that has taken this midfield grouping to another level with Oliver Wines and Chad Wingard enabling this side to rotate even more players through the midfield than was probably first planned. If there is a weakness it is in the ruck with Matthew Lobbe taking most of the ruck contests and that is likely to be the approach this week also. Like the Pies youngster Grundy, Lobbe is entrusted with enduring for the majority of the game and the matchup between the two young rucks should be enthralling in itself. Of course the Pies have a very strong midfield with Pendlebury, Ball, Beams and Swan at the core but Port defeated a similar midfield back in round 14 (No Beams) and will be confident of at least matching it with them this week.

The pairing of Trengove and Carlile is very effective in defense.

The Port defense is a very stable grouping who has worked very effectively together in season 2013. Led by the two talls of Alipate Carlile and Jackson Trengove it hasn’t really conceded a heap of goals to any one player and was really restrictive last time the two sides met. The Power’s medium defenders include Broadbent, Hombsch, O’Shea, Jonas and Broadbent and together they provide a good mix of both defensive ability and run out of the defensive half. The main difference Port will face this week in defense is matchup up on Ben Reid, who back in round 14 wasn’t even playing against them let alone playing as a very scary forward. Reid and Cloke booted 10 goals between them last week and if that wasn’t ominous enough small forward Jamie Elliott, Collingwood’s second leader goal kicker, is likely to return also this weekend. Port will back themselves to be able to restrict the dangerous Pies forwards enough to keep them in the game.

The Power’s forward line in 2013 has been very dangerous and has been led by four main players for the majority of the season. Jay Schulz, Chad Wingard, Justin Westhoff and Angus Monfries have all had very good seasons up forward and on their day any one of them is capable of kicking a bag of goals. The probable return of Robbie Gray this week adds just another dimension to a forward line that worried Collingwood significantly back in round 14. The Collingwood backline has improved since that last meeting though with Lachlan Keeffe and Marley Williams really making an impact down back. Nathan Brown’s form has also stayed consistently strong and he is likely to get first crack at Schulz on Saturday night. If Port can get the ball inside their forward 50 and deliver it cleanly their forwards are more than capable of putting a score on the board that can worry the Pies.

Port Adelaide go into this game with a good bill of health considering we’ve just completed a 23 week, 22 round AFL home and away season. Port regain 3 big names in Carlile, Gray and Hartlett which can only help their cause. Coach Ken Hinkley will implore his team to stick to the “no limits” theme that has taken them so far and I fully expect we’ll see a better Port outfit than we’ve seen in recent weeks. It’s a big game for the Port Adelaide football club but they will perform admirably and if the Magpies are just slightly off their game the Power may cause a big upset here.

TEAMS

Collingwood
B: Paul Seedsman, Nathan Brown, Heath Shaw
HB: Marley Williams, Lachlan Keeffe, Tyson Goldsack
C: Harry O’Brien, Dayne Beams, Alan Didak
HF: Steele Sidebottom, Quinten Lynch, Jarryd Blair
F: Luke Ball, Travis Cloke, Ben Reid
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan
Int: Brent Macaffer, Nick Maxwell, Josh Thomas, Sam Dwyer
Emg: Jordan Russell, Jamie Elliott, Ben Kennedy

IN: Luke Ball, Harry O’Brien
OUT: Ben Kennedy, Jordan Russell (omitted)

Port Adelaide AFL Second Elimination Final team v Collingwood
FB: Cameron O’Shea, Alipate Carlile, Tom Logan
HB: Matthew Broadbent, Jackson Trengove, Tom Jonas
C: Brad Ebert, Travis Boak, Kane Cornes
HF: Robbie Gray, Justin Westhoff, Domenic Cassisi
FF: Chad Wingard, Jay Schulz, Angus Monfries
Foll: Matthew Lobbe, Hamish Hartlett, Oliver Wines
Interchange: Andrew Moore, Jasper Pittard, Sam Colquhoun, Aaron Young
Emergencies: Cameron Hitchcock, Jake Neade, Jack Hombsch

In: Alipate Carlile, Robbie Gray, Hamish Hartlett
Out: Jack Hombsch, Brent Renouf, Lewis Stevenson (omitted)

TIP

Finals are unpredictable but at the same time some of the aspects of the game are predictable. You know each team is going to play with a high intensity, you know they are both going to leave everything on the field and you also know that it will be a highly contested and physical game. Of course there are questions over whether the younger players in both teams will be able to handle their first taste of finals action but you get the feeling that they will handle it quite well. The Power come into the game with a respectively shorter injury list than the Pies and this gives them a chance of at least being competitive for large periods of the game.

The media is talking up Collingwood as the one side from outside the top four who could make a premiership run this September but first and foremost every Collingwood player, and Port player too, will be focussed on bringing their “A game” this weekend. The Pies haven’t been in better form all year and although the Power have the extra days rest I think it’s the team in black and white that will win here and advances to week two of the finals.

MAGPIES BY 19 POINTS.

A thought about John McCarthy

It’s fitting that almost 12 months to the day after ex Collingwood and Port Adelaide player John McCarthy lost his life in an accident in Las Vegas that his two former sides meet in a final. There’s sure to be some emotional thoughts at times about J-Mac from his mates at both clubs.

R.I.P. J-Mac.

AFL Round 14 – Collingwood vs Port Adelaide Match Preview.

Seventh vs Eighth will face off in round 14 of the 2013 AFL premiership this weekend and amazingly Port Adelaide are that eighth place side. Going into this season if anyone, even the most ardent Power fan, had told you they’d be pushing for a place in the finals late in the season you would have returned them a strange look indeed, but Port are now a genuine finals threat. This weekend at AAMI Stadium in Adelaide the Power host Collingwood, the seventh placed team, in a vital game that will greatly effect both teams ability to reach their goals this season, goals that have probably been re-evaluated since the season began. The Magpies have had a tough run with injuries so far this season but even they wouldn’t use that as an excuse for their position on the ladder. The Pies did however improve their win loss ratio with three straight wins before their bye last weekend. Port, after winning their first 5 games of the season, and subsequently losing their next 5, shocked the competition with a win over the reigning premiers Sydney last weekend. That win has sky rocketed the relevance of this game and will ensure a big crowd both attends, and watches this vital game on Saturday evening.

PREVIOUS FORM

The Power had a great win over Sydney last week.

After losing 5 games in a row, the Power have bounced back in sensational style in their past two games with an expected easy win over GWS followed by one of the upsets of the season, an 18 point win over a real premiership contender, the Sydney Swans. The Power didn’t start the game so well trailing by 17 points at quarter time but from then on they controlled the majority of play as they ran away with one of the best wins in the club’s history. The Port midfield led the way with Ebert, Cornes, Broadbent and Wingard all in the best and Justin Westhoff continuing his remarkable 2013 form around the ground and up forward. Chad Wingard was the real star though gathering 20 possessions and booting 3 crucial goals. The win catapulted the Power into 8^th spot and places them in a position where they can genuinely think about making the finals for the first time since 2007 when they made the Grand Final.

The Magpies are coming off the bye this weekend, and before that they got their first mini winning streak of the season going by putting together three victories over the Lions, Demons and Bulldogs. While the standard of the opposition wasn’t high it was more about getting some wins on the board and increasing the measly percentage they had (compared to teams around them). Neither of the three wins were overly impressive, and as stated by coach Nathan Buckley and the players post match(s), there was not one four quarter performance. The last win over the Bulldogs was a great example of this as the Pies jumped out to a massive lead early on, only to be pegged back in the second half and notch a rather demure 34 point win. The Pies will have to play better this weekend though as Port are yet another step up in class as their draw starts to get harder now.

COLLINGWOOD PREVIEW

It’s been a stuttering season for the Magpies and most of it has come down to them not being able to get their best 22 on the field at any one time. Of course Dayne Beams or Clinton Young haven’t played a senior game yet and first choice players Alan Toovey and Alex Fasolo are out for the rest of the season. But within the gloom and doom that the media has tried to portray at Collingwood there has been plenty of shining lights, and one of them has been Paul Seedsman. Seedsman, in his third season has stepped up this year and is now a large part of the future of the club going forward. Still though the Magpies have their problems and the one stand out weakness all year has been the forward line, whether it be the forwards ability to effectively apply a vice like forward pressure, or the ability to assist consistent scorers Travis Cloke and Jamie Elliott. Coach Nathan Buckley may be waiting for the return of Lachlan Keeffe to senior action though as the 200cm + defender could become part of a rotation plan with Ben Reid up forward and down back. Andrew Krakouer is a big chance to return after some problems off field before the bye, while Alan Didak may also come into contention after being omitted for the Bulldogs game.

One positive this week is the almost certain return of Luke Ball who missed the Dogs game and the tough midfielder should be on the plane to Adelaide and should take his place in Saturday’s team. A few Pies players had minor surgery during the two week break with Scott Pendlebury getting his wisdom teeth taken out, while Travis Cloke had surgery on the finger(s) he injured earlier on in the season. Both are expected to take their place in the side this weekend. Collingwood need this win for so many reason, but more so for their confidence going forward because the draw only gets harder as it goes along. If the Magpies still have dreams about finishing top four they can not lose a game like this, they just can’t afford to.

The Magpies will need the likes of Ball and Krakouer back if they are to succeed where very few have so far in 2013, winning a game against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

OPPOSITION ANALYSIS

It’s been a remarkable turnaround for Port Adelaide in 2013 as so far, after just 12 games they have already racked up more wins than last season. The change has come about largely thanks to new coach Ken Hinkley and his coaching group who have changed the way Port play, adding a defensive edge to the team that had been missing. Port had decent group of senior players when Hinkley arrived but he knew youth was going to be the approach going forward and that faith in the club’s youngsters has Port sitting in the top 8 with 10 games remaining. Port’s youngsters have delivered with the likes of Wines, Wingard, Neade, Hombsch, Jonas, O’Shea and Pittard all contributing to the rise up the ladder. Port still rely on the return to form of some of their experienced players though and none has returned to better form that Kane Cornes, who in his 14^th AFL season may arguably be playing his best football. Port have talent on every line and it’s no shock to see where they are when you look at players they do have.

The Power midfield is probably their strength even if the stats don’t completely back this up. Port’s central brigade only ranks 11^th for clearances but it does seem to be more effective than that, or at least it has been in the 7 victories that Port have had so far this season. The midfield is led by club stalwarts Kane Cornes and Dominic Cassisi along with ex Eagle Brad Ebert who has been a great recruit for the club. This season though the addition of Chad Wingard and Oliver Wines has really given this area a boost and will ensure the Power are able to be competitive against a Collingwood midfield that is still missing Beams and Dale Thomas. The ruck isn’t as strong as an region for the Power though with the club swapping between Matthew Lobbe and Jarrad Redden throughout the season and it now seems that Lobbe is now the number one choice. Port Adelaide only rank 13^th for average hitouts but their opponents this week are struggling even more, currently sitting last in the hit outs category, which is a clear sign that Darren Jolly isn’t playing anywhere near his best at the moment. Most AFL games these days are won or lost in the midfield and the battle between these two highly talented groups will go a long way to deciding this game.

Chad Wingard has made an immediate impact this season.

Port’s forward line is dangerous and at the same time still slightly unsettled. Schulz, Westhoff and Monfries are the three main stays of this forward line but surely Port want to include John Butcher in this group going forward, and the young tall may well be recalled this weekend. There has been one great assistant to the scoring this year though with Chad Wingard, despite spending plenty of time in the midfield, sitting second on the club’s goal kicking table with 22 goals. Wingard kicked an all important goal last week and if you ask any club in the AFL goal kicking midfielders are as valuable as any other playing stock. There’s really no shock that the Magpies and Port find themselves side by side on the total goals list as scoring is usually a great indicator of where a team is on the ladder anyway. If there’s one area Port may be able to exploit the Magpies it may be on the fast break going forward with the speed of Neade and Wingard and the goal accuracy of Monfries and Gray, if the Power can clear the ball out of the middle, or the Magpies forward line they will do some damage. Collingwood has improved their counter attack defense a little bit lately though with the inclusion of Ben Sinclair and Marley Williams to cover the loss of Alan Toovey. The Magpies defense is still strong in a traditional manner with Brown, Reid and Maxwell all able to restrict the influence of any calibre of tall forward in the competition.

Port’s backline had to change leading into 2013 as they lost Troy Chaplin to the Tigers during the trade period. The hope was that youngster Jackson Trengove would fill that absent key position defender spot but injuries have slowed him this season and Alipate Carlile has been left alone at times down back with very little tall assistance. Somehow though Ken Hinkley has created a defensive mindset amongst his team that has covered some of the weakness that the club has down back. Port currently have only conceded the 4^th least amount of points, and while the Magpies don’t sit too far back in 7^th it’s a remarkable achievement for a young and developing team to be so effective in restricting the opposition from scoring. That’s not to say that Port don’t have a defensive structure in place though, with Carlile well supported by a group of youngsters that include Pittard, Heath, Jonas, Broadbent and O’Shea, which shows what Hinkley has in mind going forward. How Port cope with Travis Cloke this week will be one of the big questions, as the leagues’ best contested mark is as dangerous as any forward in the competition at the moment. This may not be where the match is won or lost but what happens inside the Magpies forward zone will have a large bearing on the match, that’s for sure.

The next three weeks will tell us more about just how good the “new” Port Adelaide are, with games against the Magpies, Bombers and Hawks following on from their win over Sydney. They passed the first test successfully last week and it will be interesting to see how they fare over the next few weeks. Hinkley will continue to build on his policy to develop the list through getting games into youngsters although he’ll be hoping captain Travis Boak is right to go this week. Trengove is also an outside chance of returning but the likes of Butcher and Boak are the more likely inclusions. The Power will carry a lot of belief into this game and if their inspirational skipper does return this could be a tight battle throughout.

TEAMS

Port Adelaide
B: Jackson Trengove, Alipate Carlile, Thomas Jonas
HB: Tom Logan, Jack Hombsch, Cameron O’Shea
C: Kane Cornes, Domenic Cassisi, Angus Monfries
HF: Chad Wingard, Justin Westhoff, Andrew Moore
F: Robbie Gray, Jay Schulz, Jake Neade
Foll: Matthew Lobbe, Oliver Wines, Travis Boak
Int: Brad Ebert, Hamish Hartlett, Matthew Broadbent, Jasper Pittard
Emerg: Matt Thomas, John Butcher, Paul Stewart

In: T.Boak, J.Trengove
Out: M.Thomas, C.Heath

Collingwood
B: Nathan Brown, Nick Maxwell, Heritier O’Brien
HB: Jordan Russell, Heath Shaw, Marley Williams
C: Steele Sidebottom, Brent Macaffer, Luke Ball
HF: Jamie Elliott, Quinten Lynch, Dane Swan
F: Ben Kennedy, Travis Cloke, Josh Thomas
Foll: Ben Hudson, Scott Pendlebury, Jarryd Blair
Int: Kyle Martin, Ben Sinclair, Paul Seedsman, Sam Dwyer
Emerg: Andrew Krakouer, Martin Clarke, Adam Oxley

In: L.Ball, B.Hudson, J.Russell
Out: D.Jolly (toe), B.Reid (hamstring), A.Oxley

 

TIP

The return of Luke Ball just might be the difference here.

With decent weather predicted for Saturday afternoon and evening in Adelaide on Saturday we should be in for a high quality game between two sides who have plenty of talent and are exciting to watch when they are on. Collingwood need this win though, there’s no other way of putting it, because a loss will damage any slight chance they have of finishing in the top four at the end of the home and away season. The return of Ball and Krakouer will add experience to a Pies side that seemed to struggle late in it’s last few games which may be a sign that some of it’s youngsters were really looking for the bye.

Certain teams seem to relish the bye and come out fired up the week after, as Port did last week so it will be interesting to see how the week off affects the men in black and white. The Powers’ midfield and defense will be relied upon to put pressure on the Pies ball carriers throughout the game. The Pies will be primed for this game though, and have a stunning record at this ground in recent times and I believe they will start the second half of the season in good fashion and record a tough win over an improving home side.

PIES BY 19 POINTS.

AFL Round Four – Collingwood vs Port Adelaide Match Preview

FRIDAY THE 13TH, 2012 turned out to be a true nightmare for the Collingwood Football Club in more ways then anyone could ever have imagined. Not only did last seasons Grand Finalists lose to their arch enemy Carlton by ten goals, but they also lost inspirational midfielder Luke Ball for the rest of the season with a knee injury, and on top of that 2011 All Australian Centre Half Back Ben Reid hurt his quad and will miss up to a month. The night just kept going from bad to worse for the Magpies, with a low intensity beginning by the men in black and white handing Carlton an all important early lead, and once the two aforementioned players went down, everything began to spiral out of control. Even the ever reliable stars the Magpies have, like Dane Swan and Heath Shaw turned the ball over in uncharacteristic fashion, as Friday Night at the MCG really did turn into a horror show for the black and white army.

The next day it continued, with recently departed senior coach, Mick Malthouse, and club president Eddie McGuire partaking in a nasty public argument, that threatened to derail the clubs season almost before it had began. But through all the problems emerged a shining light, as on Tuesday new coach, and club champion Nathan Buckley fronted a media pack frothing at the mouth for more controversy, calmly and confidently spoke more about how the club needed to concentrate on the upcoming clash against Port Adelaide, and how the happenings of the last few days needed to be largely forgotten if the club was to recover and improve going forward. This response by the previously under siege Coach drew applause from all parts of the AFL world, and may well be remembered as the exact moment that Collingwood’s 2012 premiership campaign got back on track.

Collingwood players leave the field after their loss to Carlton last Friday Night

This weekend, at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne’s Docklands, Collingwood will face up against another old foe, this time in the form of the Port Adelaide Power, a team who have shown marked improvement compared to the rabble that was representing them on field last season. Already this season Port have defeated St Kilda in front of their parochial fans, pushed finals contender Essendon to within a few kicks and matched it with top four contender Sydney for most of the match. On Saturday, in Adelaide at AAMI Stadium, Port pushed the more experienced and physically stronger Sydney Swans for almost the entire match, and with the sides only separated by 3 points at three quarter time, many though Port might be able to cause their second big upset of this young season. But Sydney showed their poise and experience, and ran away with a hard earned 22 point win. The Power were really a joke on field last season, with only a win in the final round saving them from the utter embarrassment of the wooden spoon, but with some smart recruiting and finally with some luck with injuries for a few of their young stars, Port are, for the first time in a few years, seen to be heading in the right direction on the field.

The Power/Magpies rivalry is fairly intense for one that is relatively young, with Port and Collingwood playing off in numerous famous finals, and the always continuing argument between the two clubs regarding who are the “real magpies” fuelling a rivalry that should continue to grow over time. On Saturday, both teams will look to level their win/loss ration at 2 wins and 2 losses, which is proof of how important this game is to both teams potential success this season. The loser will fall to one win and three losses, which will put them well behind the finals pack, let alone the top four contending teams, where Collingwood want to be come seasons end. The Pies have an injury list that may only be matched by one other club in the AFL (Essendon), and head into this game needing to manage it’s list due to having to play two games in four days, with the famous ANZAC day clash on Wednesday afternoon. Collingwood should welcome back experienced small defender Ben Johnson, after several good games in the VFL, and may also decide to roll the dice on enigmatic forward Alan Didak, who impressed in his first VFL hitout of the year. Also in contention is key defender Nathan Brown, and with the likes of Tarrant and Reid absent from the backline, Brown may be rushed back into the team to cover one of Ports tall forward options. Outside of the experienced names, youngsters such as Jackson Paine, Kirk Ugle, Tom Young, Peter Yagmoor and Paul Seedsman may also be considered for senior selection, with all showing signs over the past few weeks of their future potential.

Luke Ball after injuring his knee last week

Collingwood’s biggest problem may be how to replace Luke Ball though, with Ball being the clear contested possession leader at the club for the past two seasons, the coaching committee may choose to internally promote one of the young mid-fielders to the role, or consider an option from outside the current senior side. Developing midfielders Steele Sidebottom and Dayne Beams were amongst Collingwood’s best in an overall poor team performance last week, and will be asked to step up their respective games even more in the absence of Ball. Other options include the recently returned Sharrod Wellingham, gusty small Jarryd Blair and also Marty Clarke, whose form has been very good so far this season. Another problem that has been continuous this season at the Westpac Centre has been who to play as Darren Jolly’s support in the ruck, and after last weeks debacle, where the Pies were smashed in the centre clearances by Carlton, there are serious concerns as to whether Cameron Wood is the man to assist the two time premiership ruckman long term.

 Whichever twenty two Nathan Buckley and the Collingwood selection committee select for this match, one thing will surely be asked of them, to play with high intensity from minute one, and continue to play at a high intensity for four quarters, something that has been sorely missing from the group wearing the famous black and white stripes so far this season.

 Opposition Analysis.

 

Last season, the Power ended the home and away rounds in 16^th (out of 17 teams), in what can only be described as their worst season since their inclusion into the AFL. Come 2012, and most the so called experts weren’t tipping Port to rise much at all, in fact some had them marginally ahead of the expansion teams, the Gold Coast Suns and the Greater Western Sydney Giants, as the worst established club in the AFL.

But round one put a lot of those experts back in their place, as the good old fighting spirit of the Port Adelaide Football Club seemed to return, as they grounded out a gutsy four point win over perennial finalists St Kilda. Although they have since lost their most recent two games, there are definite signs of improvement for the Power.

In the ruck, Port have been using newcomer Jarrad Redden as their number one ruck, and while at times he has struggled, for the majority of the first three rounds the 21 year old has held his own against some very handy, more experienced ruckman. He has been ably assisted by second ruckman/forward Daniel Stewart, who has managed to play that role to the level required in the first few games, and the match up with Jolly and most likely Wood will be a decisive one indeed.

Brad Edbet has been a great recruit for the Power

Ports midfield coming into this season was seen as a relative weakness, with major concerns over the possible return of Kane Cornes to near his best, after a rather odd season on and off the field last year. But Cornes, has started the season in as good a form as he may well ever have, averaging 26 disposals over the first three games. As always, club captain Domenic Cassisi has also been great, averaging 22 possessions and a club leading 6 tackles per game. But it’s been the two experienced recruits that Port have added to increase their depth and output in the midfield that have had the biggest impact. Arriving in different manners, Brad Ebert (from West Coast) and John McCarthy (from Collingwood) have been two absolute shining lights for Port over the first two rounds, with both averaging over 20 possessions, and also showing their liking for kicking goals. The bonus, if you would like to call him that has been the emergence of young star Hamish Hartlett, who after several years of injury setback after injury setback, seems to have finally been granted some luck from the football gods and is showing the talent the whole football world saw him possess at under age level before being drafted. In Hartlett Port have a star in the making they can build a midfield around, he is tough, intelligent with the ball in hand, and also is showing leadership abilities beyond his experience and age. Port will also need the likes of Pearce, Broadbent and Boak to assist with the rotations this week, against a Collingwood side that still rotates it’s midfield more then anyone, but the signs really are promising for Port.

 

The Power forward line might be where they can gain a distinct advantage this week, especially if star youngster John Butcher can return this week from a hamstring injury he suffered in round one. With no Reid or Tarrant this week, and most likely no Nathan Brown either, Port will look to their tall forwards to give them a chance of staying in the game for a long period. If Butcher does play, Port may well choose to go with a four tall set up in the forward line to stretch the weakened Collingwood defense. In the first few rounds, ex Tiger Jay Schulz has lead the way with eight goals, and Justin Westhoff has also been effective with seven majors to this point. Add second ruck Daniel Stewart and the possible return of Butcher, and several Port forwards may be literally looking down at their smaller opponents on Saturday afternoon. What Port may lack though is that dangerous small forward to worry Collingwood, with Cyril Rioli and Eddie Betts running rampant in the two Collingwood losses so far, Port will be hoping the possible return of Brett Ebert, or a move up forward for Daniel Pearce may give them another string to their forward bow.

John Butcher and Jay Schulz embrace after a goal in Port's round one victory

If Port have an apparent weakness, it’s their backline, or at least the defensive side of their game. In both their losses this season, Port have conceded over 100 points, and as historical percentages show, if your opponent manages to break that 100 point barrier, your chances of winning greatly decrease. On paper, the Port backline doesn’t look that bad, with names like Carlile, Trengove, Chaplin and Paul Stewart, but ideally the Port coaching staff would expect the backline to be performing better then it has been. But maybe that’s being a little unfair, in the three games they have played, small forwards statistically have been more effective against them then the talls, with the two Jettas (Leeroy and Lewis) and Stephen Milne each kicking multiple goals in their respective games. The good thing for Port may be that without Leon Davis and Andrew Krakouer Collingwood’s small forwards don’t look as dangerous as they once did, although Alex Fasolo and Jarryd Blair are still getting on the scoreboard, despite the teams poor overall performances.

 Port have improved already from last season, I don’t think there’s nay doubt about that, but now they must run into a top four contender coming off their most humiliating loss in several seasons, it may well prove too much, but time will tell.

 Key Matchups;

 

Chaplin/Carlile vs Cloke/Dawes

I think Port will prefer Trengove to play on the resting ruckman for the pies, so the two power forwards for Collingwood will have to contend with Carlile and Chaplin. Dawes’ form has been poor, while the supply to Cloke and the double teaming that most teams have tried has been effective so far this year. Cloke will be looking to break out here though, so Port’s talls will have to pay close attention the monster forward.

Travis Cloke and Chris Dawes share a laugh

Renouf vs Jolly

Jolly seemed to considerably struggle against the more agile and athletic Carlton rucks last week, and while Redden isn’t exactly slow, he’s not a Kreuzer type. Jolly, if all reports are true, just had a bad match last Friday Night, and if he can regain his form from the first two rounds, the ex Hawk may be in for a tough day in his debut for Port.

 Keefe vs Schulz

With no Tarrant, Reid and Brown this weekend, Collingwood is likely to go with young 204cm defender Lachlan Keefe as the main matchup for Schulz. Schulz to me is the most dangerous of the port forwards, he is experienced enough to take advantage of any lapses in the defensive structure, and the young Pie defender will have to be on his game to ensure the ex Tiger doesn’t hurt the Pies too much.

 Midfield vs Midfield.

The depth in both midfields’ seems fairly strong, with Luke Ball the most obvious out for Collingwood, and Port looking at fielding as close to a full strength midfield as they have in several years. Collingwood will be relying on star midfielder Scott Pendlebury bouncing back after his poorest game in years last week, and the likes of Wellingham, Swan, Sidebottom and Beams will also be called upon to assist. Port, as mentioned above in my analysis have increased their depth, and John McCarthy is sure to give an insight for his fellow Port midfielders regarding any weaknesses in his old team mates abilities that can be exploited. This battle within a battle should be great to watch.

Teams;

Collingwood

B: Harry O’Brien, Lachlan Keeffe, Ben Johnson
HB: Simon Buckley, Nick Maxwell, Tyson Goldsack
C: Dane Swan, Tom Young, Sharrod Wellingham
HF: Jackson Paine, Chris Dawes, Ben Sinclair
F: Dayne Beams, Travis Cloke, Alex Fasolo
Foll: Darren Jolly, Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom
Int: Martin Clarke, Jarryd Blair, Alan Toovey, Paul Seedsman
Emg: Nathan Brown, Cameron Wood, Kirk Ugle

In: Ben Johnson, Simon Buckley, Jackson Paine, Paul Seedsman, Tom Young
Out: Luke Ball (knee), Ben Reid (quad), Dale Thomas (hamstring), Heath Shaw (hamstring), Cameron Wood (omitted)

Port Adelaide

B: Jacob Surjan, Alipate Carlile, Jackson Trengove
HB: Ben Jacobs, Troy Chaplin, Danyle Pearce
C: Hamish Hartlett, Dominic Cassisi, Kane Cornes
HF: Travis Boak, Justin Westhoff, Robert Gray
F: John Butcher, Jay Schultz, Chad Wingard
Foll: Brent Renouf, Bradley Ebert, John McCarthy
Int: Paul Stewart, Matthew Broadbent, Daniel Stewart, Darren Pfeiffer
Emg: Matt Thomas, Simon Phillips, Aaron Young

In: John Butcher, Brent Renouf, Darren Pfeiffer
Out: Matt Thomas, Jarrad Redden (rested), Cameron O’Shea

New: Brent Renouf (Hawthorn), Darren Pfeiffer

Tip.

While Port Adelaide may have improved from the woeful team they were last year, I still can’t see how they can challenge a top four contending side, even with the injury weakened backline the Magpies will put on the field. Also, the loss to Carlton has to have hit the players hard, and in a week that could almost be described as the “week from hell”, Collingwood’s experienced players will be looking to lift their intensity from the very start of the match.

With the lack of experience down back, Collingwood will have to get their hands on the ball first, and even the loss of Luke Ball, they still have some of the elite midfielders of the competition to call on to do so, and this may prove too much for the Power to contend with over four quarters. Although the late news of the loss of Heath Shaw and Dale Thomas to hamstring injuries has to be of some concern.

Ultimately, Collingwood’s class and experience should see it run out winners, but I’m expecting Port to put up a real fight against a still out of sorts and under strength Magpies line up.

PIES BY 16

 VFL

This weekend, the Collingwood VFL side travel to face the Box Hill Hawks, with the game scheduled to start at 1.10pm at Box Hill City Oval on Saturday. Alan Didak is likely to be the biggest name there, with the club suggesting he needs at least one more run in the reserves before returning to senior level. The game is also live on ABC TV into Melbourne and some surrounding areas.