AFL Round 7 – Collingwood vs Carlton Match Preview.

It’s the most storied domestic rivalry in Australian sport, it’s Collingwood versus Carlton. The relationship between two of the biggest clubs in the VFL/AFL started well enough when the Magpies joined the VFL for it’s inaugural year (1897), but by 1910 it was on. After a brawl broke out in the 1910 Grand Final the aftermath saw the teams accuse each other of lying and being deceitful. The respectful hate, strange combination I know, between the two grew from there and when the two faced off in several Grand Finals in the 70’s and early 80’s the rivalry was entrenched. Carlton got the better of the Pies in those Grand Finals, and for a long time held a big gap in the overall win/loss ratio. But if the Collingwood can win when the two face off on Saturday, the Blues advantage over the Magpies will only be two wins, stretched over an amazing 251 games in total.

Of course these two teams aren’t what they used to be. Carlton have been a mess for the best part of 15 years now, while the Magpies seem to be going backwards every season since being dominant in 2010-11. They both sit in the lower half of the table with a 2-4 record. Carlton though seems to be getting better under new coach Brendan Bolton. After starting the season with four straight losses the Blues have won their last two games, to give their fans some hope for the future. Collingwood however are inconsistent and not performing up to their potential. A heavy loss to the Eagles in Perth on Sunday made things even worse, and the Pies now sit in 13^th position, just one spot ahead of the old enemy.

COLLINGWOOD PREVIEW

Collingwood are struggling, that’s pretty clear to see. They started slowly against the Eagles in Perth on Sunday and trailed by 33 points at quarter time. The Magpies did fight back in the second and third terms, playing some of the best football they have this season to close the margin to 10 points just before three quarter time. Then they fell away, again, as the home town Eagles kicked the next 9 goals and ran away with a 62 point victory. Nathan Buckley lamented the start and criticised the performance in the final term, but it’s become all too much a familiar story for Collingwood in 2016. Play well for patches but get absolutely smashed outside of that.

There were some positives out of the heavy loss, with Josh Smith and Mason Cox impressing in their second senior games. Smith gathered 29 disposals while Cox managed 2 of the Pies 9 goals and helped Brodie Grundy out in the ruck. After that though there wasn’t much to write home about. Pendlebury, Treloar and Sidebottom got plenty of the ball, Jack Crisp played his best game this season but it wasn’t a pretty performance at all. If the Eagles had kicked straight at goal it may well have been an even bigger loss.

There are excuses for the Pies who are missing plenty of top caliber talent due to injury. When you have Elliott, Scharenberg, Ramsay, Varcoe, Adams, Swan, Williams and Langdon unavailable for selection it’s hard to beat anyone, let alone a premiership contending team on their home ground. Replacing that amount of ability is hard, but the good news is several of those should return this week against the Blues. Varcoe, Adams and Langdon will all be tested at training with at least two likely to take their spot in the side on Saturday. Then there’s Travis Cloke, the power forward has spent the past two weeks in the VFL after starting the season poorly. Cloke gathered 22 possessions in a win on the weekend, and with Carlton’s defense weakened through injury, it may be time to recall the premiership star. The problem with leaving Cloke out is it has placed undue pressure on the inexperienced duo of Cox and Moore. Both have fought manfully but it’s time to add Cloke back into the mix. Also in that VFL game where Cloke performed well was a few others who will push their case for selection. Ben Crocker and Tom Phillips are two first year players who have impressed in the first four VFL games. Both are highly skilled players and with the Magpies lacking good ball users, they may debut sooner rather than later.

For Collingwood though winning this game is an absolute must. There’s pressure around the club regarding effort and output already, and that pressure would multiply after a loss to Carlton of all teams. Collingwood should win this game though, they have the superior midfield, a defense that has held it’s own under extreme pressure and a forward line that looks dangerous, especially if Cloke returns.

CARLTON PREVIEW

The external expectations for Carlton were low this season, with most predicting them and the suspension riddled Essendon to battle for the wooden spoon. The Blues finished 18^th last season and collected only their 4^th wooden spoon in club history. They didn’t start season 2016 so well either, with 4 losses. However, the last two weeks have showed that Brendan Bolton has given some life to the Blues for the first time since before Mick Malthouse arrived at the club. The win over the struggling Dockers followed up by last week’s win over the Bombers leaves Carlton with a 2-4 win/loss record, exactly the same as the hyped Pies. Slowly, Bolton and his staff are trying to build a team from the ground up, and the early signs are promising.

If Carlton have an area of strength at the moment it has to be their midfield. Even without looking at statistical rankings you can see there’s enough talent in this area to be competitive. With names like Murphy, Gibbs, Thomas, Cripps (likely to come in this week) and Kerridge it is the most dangerous are of the ground when playing the Blues. Dale Thomas, who left the Magpies a few seasons back, played maybe his best game for the Blues last week, and he’ll want to follow that up this week against his old side. They run into a Magpies midfield that is struggling, especially when it comes to winning the ruck duels. The Pies rank last for hitouts, while Carlton ranks third. Phillips and Kreuzer have formed a nice partnership and will look to dominate the inexperienced pair of Grundy and Cox. If they can get first use to their midfielders it may go a long way to giving the Blues a chance of winning.

Carlton’s forward line has gone through more changes that any other area, maybe in the entire AFL in the last few seasons. With plenty of experienced talent heading to other clubs, they’ve tried to put together a makeshift group while their youngsters develop. Liam Jones and Levi Casboult are the current two who are being asked to hold down the fort, and while both are flawed in many areas, they are capable on their day. Jones stepped up as the match winner in Perth against the Dockers for example. But when Matthew Wright, a medium forward is you leading goal kicker with 7 goals after 6 games, it says a lot about the attack. The Blues rank second last for total score, although they will look to exploit Collingwood’s obvious weakness, their transition defense. That may be the only way the Blues can create scoring opportunities this Saturday.

Carlton’s defense has performed above expectations so far this season. Number one draft pack Jacob Weitering has been mightily impressive, although the youngster will miss 2-3 weeks after injuring his shoulder in the win over the Bombers on Sunday. The Blues under Bolton are using a team defense that is working, they rank in the top 6 for least points conceded, and although at times the game style may be ugly, it’s getting the job done defensively. Rowe, White, Plowman and Docherty will be asked to defend this week while Touhy and Simpson will give them some drive out of the back half. The Magpies forward line is a mess at the moment too, whether or not Travis Cloke plays. They have a group that is inexperienced or just not hitting the scoreboard, so this disjointed Carlton defense may be able to hang in there.

It’s not looking too bad for Carlton after 6 rounds. Back to back wins have given their fans, and their players some hope going forward. A win against the old enemy would make their season though, and with the Magpies struggling with a long injury list it’s not out of the realm of possibilities. If Cripps returns and the Blues can strangle the Magpies for the first few quarters, they may be able to steal yet another win on Sunday.

TEAMS

MAGPIES

B: A. Toovey, J. Frost, B. Maynard

HB: A. Oxley, B. Reid, J. Smith

C: T. Broomhead, A. Treloar, S. Sidebottom

HF: J. De Goey, D. Moore, L. Greenwood

F: A. Fasolo, M. Cox, J. Howe

R: B. Grundy, S. Pendlebury, J. Crisp

I/C: J. White, J. Blair, J. Aish, B. Crocker 39

EMG: B. Macaffer, T. Phillips, T. Cloke

IN: J. White, J. Aish, B. Crocker

OUT: N. Brown (Omitted), B. Sinclair (Concussion), T. Langdon (Ankle)

NEW: B. Crocker

BLUES

B: Z. Tuohy, S. Rowe, S. Docherty

HB: A. Walker, L. Plowman, D. Thomas

C: K. Simpson, P. Cripps, J. Lamb

HF: L. Sumner, L. Casboult, M. Wright

F: S. Kerridge, S. White, L. Jones

R: M. Kreuzer, B. Gibbs, M. Murphy

I/C: C. Byrne, D. Armfield, E. Curnow, A. Everitt

EMG: D. Buckley, N. Graham, M. Jamison

IN: A. Walker, A. Everitt, P. Cripps

OUT: A. Phillips (Hamstring), N. Graham (Omitted), J. Weitering (Shoulder)

TIP

On Saturday the 13^th and 14^th placed teams on the AFL ladder will get together. That says it all, these two teams are struggling, and although Carlton haven’t beaten Collingwood since 2012, this game is by no means a foregone conclusion. The Blues will try and keep the scores down, and with windy and possibly wet weather forecast they may well be able to do that. The Magpies are struggling, that much is clear, due to an extended injury list and some under performing senior players. However they did dispose of Essendon a lot easier than Carlton did, and that’s probably the best reference point for this game.

The Pies destroyed Essendon in the first half, and if not for some injuries around half time, they would have continued that demolition. Meanwhile the Blues struggled against the Bombers last week, and at one point in the final term Essendon looked like winning. So based on that reference point, and on little else, I’ll go with Collingwood to defeat the old enemy for the 7^th time in a row.

MAGPIES BY 18 POINTS

VFL

In somewhat of a reverse double header, the Collingwood VFL side will play it’s round 5 fixture after the Collingwood vs Carlton match on Saturday. The game versus Sandringham, to be played at the Holden Centre, is set down for a 4.50pm start, which should be about 30 minutes after the seniors finish at the MCG.

AFL Round 7 – Collingwood vs Richmond Match Preview.

That old school footy feeling, that’s what occurs when Richmond play Collingwood at the MCG. It’s well known that the Tigers and Magpies have the most passionate, loud and downright football mad fans in the AFL, so when they clash there’s always an added component to the game. This Sunday at the MCG the two will get together for the first time in 2015 in what has become a crucial game, especially for the Tigers. Richmond are in trouble, let’s not beat around the bush here, they sit with a 2-4 win loss record after 6 games and their draw hasn’t been extremely hard. Coming off finals last season the Tigers were expected to push for a spot in the 8 again this year but just like 2014 they have started the season slowly. Collingwood on the other hand started the season better then most expected, and sit in a lofty third place on the ladder with a 4-2 win loss record. Simply put Richmond need to win this game or face a mounting backlash from their members, supporters and the football media.

PREVIOUS FORM

Collingwood started this season with a bang, winning 4 of their first 5 games to have them near the top of the ladder. Wins over Brisbane, St Kilda, Essendon and Carlton were all emphatic and it looked as if this Magpies outfit was on the rise once again. Then came the match versus Geelong last Friday night. The signs weren’t good early on, Geelong were desperate, they needed a win to keep them on track for the finals and Collingwood just didn’t look to have that same intensity that they had weeks before. The Cats jumped out to a 52 point lead at half time and from there the result was a foregone conclusion. The Pies fought back hard in the third quarter and early in the last had the chance to close to within 17 points, but once again inaccurate kicking at goal from several forwards cost them dearly. It was a wake up call of sorts for a Collingwood team that had previously looked formidable.

Richmond started season 2015 well with wins over Carlton and Brisbane in their first 3 games and a competitive loss to the rampant Western Bulldogs. Since that round 3 win in Brisbane though they have been ordinary to say the least, with losses against Melbourne, Geelong and North Melbourne leaving them on the precipice of irrelevance. Senior coach Damien Hardwick has hinted at big changes that may include some younger players to rejuvenate the playing group. The loss to North Melbourne on Saturday summed up the Tigers season so far, competitive and at times dominant, but not able to compete at a high level for four quarters. Somehow they will have to find a way to improve or face falling to 2-5 this weekend.

COLLINGWOOD PREVIEW

After six completed games Collingwood would be satisfied with a 4-2 win/loss record yet would know there are obvious areas for improvement. The losses to Geelong and Adelaide have come about more so due to a lack of intensity on the day more then anything tactical or concerning skills. The use of the ball is a problem for the Magpies though, they rank number 2 for contested possessions, showing they can win the ball, but also have the third worse disposal efficiency in the AFL. The latter is a concern for sure, especially when the game has evolved to the point where turnovers are as much a scoring mechanism as anything today. The absence of Paul Seedsman, Steele Sidebottom and Ben Reid has reduced that number and if the Pies can get those players back into the side soon they may be able to remedy their biggest weakness. In regards to intensity and more so being a side that relies almost entirely on it, there’s not much more the coaching staff can do. With a younger playing list then most other clubs the Magpies will be inconsistent this season and it’s really something that can’t be predicted accurately. After a loss like the one last week to the Cats there is a greater chance that the intensity level will be high on Sunday.

The one positive to come out of the loss to Geelong was the lack of injuries for once. After losing Seedsman and Ramsay the week before only Sam Dwyer is under an injury cloud of the 22 who played against the Cats. Seedsman himself is a chance to return while Ramsay and the uber talented Steele Sidebottom are probably still one week away from being available. The VFL side had a stunning win up at Bendigo against the Cats reserves though, with youngsters De Goey, Gault, Kennedy and Marsh once again putting their hands up for selection. The return to form of live wire forward Alex Fasolo wouldn’t have gone unnoticed either as he gathered 16 disposals and 3 goals. It gives the selection committee at Collingwood a chance to pick a very strong 22 against a Tigers side that won’t have too many surprises in stall for them, unlike the Cats.

OPPOSITION ANALYSIS.

Being a Richmond supporter can’t be easy, it’s been 35 years since their last premiership win now, and 14 years since they’ve been seen in the final four, a preliminary final. Yet their fans remain as passionate and as loyal as any in the league. Last season the club repaid a little of that faith with a stunning run of form in the second half of the season to sneak into the final 8 and set up an elimination final versus Port Adelaide. Of course that final was over before it had barely began but it gave the Tigers hope leading into season 2015. They started this season well enough too, and sat with a 2-1 win/loss record after 3 rounds. Since then though the doubts have set and for the most part they have performed well below expectations. Sitting with only 2 wins after 6 games this really does become a must win game for Richmond.

Richmond’s forward line is an area that has to improve. With a heavy reliance of star full forward Jack Riewoldt, the Tigers are really lacking for support for their Coleman medal winning goal kicker. Apart from Riewoldt only one other Tiger averages more then a goal a game and that’s Ben Griffiths who is doubt for this game afters suffering concussion in the loss to the Kangaroos. The coaching staff may turn to youngster Liam McBean or the ever frustrating Tyrone Vickery to assist Riewoldt this week but they are really lacking for quality options. Against a Magpies defense that is as good as any in the league at the moment coach Damien Hardwick will have to figure out an effective way to score of risk having the ball rebound out of forward 50 too easily.

The Tigers midfield is full of star names but in recent weeks it has under performed to say the least. Richmond rank in the bottom six of the league for contested possessions and clearances and it’s clearly an area that they need to improve upon. They do come up against a Collingwood team missing Levi Greenwood and Steele Sidebottom from their central core so this may be an opportunity for a better output from the Tigers midfield. Led by captain Trent Cotchin along with Brett Deledio, Dustin Martin, Anthony Miles, Brandon Ellis and Shaun Grigg they really should be winning more of the contested ball then they do. One are they may be able to get on top of the Pies is in the ruck, with class ruckman Ivan Maric in good form although he does have little support. Whether the Magpies decide to play two genuine rucks versus Maric will be an interesting thing to look out for when the final squads are announced. To win this game this is an area that Richmond will at least have to break even in to have any hope of no falling to their fifth loss of the season.

The Richmond backline should be an area of strength with Troy Chaplin, Alex Rance and Jake Batchelor holding down the key position defensive posts. It seems Richmond have had a focus on the defensive side to their game also this season with a game style that has been described as ugly by some. One problem for Richmond is the ball movement out of defense, with plenty of turnovers already costing them dearly in season 2015. The ever reliable Chris Newman has been an offender also, and just maybe his best football is beyond him now. The good news for Richmond is the Collingwood forward line is dysfunctional at the moment. The Pies rely on Jamie Elliott and Travis Cloke to create most of their scoring chances and are really lacking any great assistance at the moment. The battle between the Richmond defense and the Collingwood offence may well decide just how close this game is going to be.

You would assume that Richmond will come out fired up for this game, they simply have to. If they fall to 2-6 on the season it’s hard to see them coming back and making the finals, even though they did last season. The good news is they have a shorter injury list then the Magpies and they face the Pies at a time when they are still an inconsistent team. There are plenty of options for Hardwick to consider after the Richmond VFL side had a big win last weekend. The likes of Dea, Vickery, Lennon, McBean, Arnot and Castagna have put their hands up and there is certain to be a few changes at least. Overall though the Tigers have to lift, they have to find a way to play consistently for four quarters or risk falling well off the pace so early in the season.

TEAMS.

Collingwood
B: Alan Toovey, Nathan Brown, Marley Williams
HB: Tom Langdon, Jack Frost, Tyson Goldsack
C: Adam Oxley, Dane Swan, Paul Seedsman
HF: Jamie Elliott, Jesse White, Travis Varcoe
F: Patrick Karnezis, Travis Cloke, Jarryd Blair
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Taylor Adams, Scott Pendlebury
Int: Jarrod Witts, Tim Broomhead, Jack Crisp, Jordan De Goey

IN: Jordan De Goey, Paul Seedsman
OUT: Tony Armstrong, Sam Dwyer (omitted)

Milestone: Nathan Brown (100 AFL games)

Richmond
B: Dylan Grimes, Jake Batchelor, Alex Rance
HB: Bachar Houli, Troy Chaplin, Nick Vlastuin
C: Brandon Ellis, Trent Cotchin, Kamdyn McIntosh
HF: Dustin Martin, Shane Edwards, Anthony Miles
F: Brett Deledio, Jack Riewoldt, Ty Vickery
Foll: Ivan Maric, Taylor Hunt, Shaun Grigg
Int: Steven Morris, Liam McBean, Todd Elton, Corey Ellis
Emerg: Connor Menadue, Ty Vickery, Matt Dea

IN: Corey Ellis, Todd Elton, Liam McBean, Ty Vickery
OUT: Ben Griffiths (concussion), Chris Newman (groin), David Astbury (omitted), Nathan Gordon (omitted)
NEW: Liam McBean (20, Calder U18)

TIP.

This game may well be 3^rd vs 13^th on the AFL ladder but that doesn’t tell the whole story. Richmond are capable of playing a lot better then they are and the Magpies have been flattered a little by an easy draw. Having said that the Pies have so far won every game they should have, and maybe one they weren’t expected to win vs the Bombers on ANZAC day. The same can’t be said for Richmond who currently have only defeated the bottom two clubs.

Richmond has an advantage in terms of a healthier list although the Pies do seem to possess more depth and young talent then the current Tigers outfit. When it comes down to it though Collingwood should win this game, they will play better and have a higher intensity then they did last week and with a four quarter effort they will grab their fifth win of the season.

MAGPIES BY 21 POINTS.

AFL Round 7 – Collingwood vs Carlton Match Preview.

 

RIVALRY, true rivalry, is rare in sport. Yet on Friday night at the M.C.G. Australia’s greatest domestic sporting rivalry will write another chapter into it’s long history. It’s Collingwood vs Carlton of course, the biggest and oldest rivalry in the AFL which dates back to the start of the VFL competition. The relationship started well enough between the two clubs, with Carlton even being of great assistance to Collingwood being created in 1892, yet only 18 years later it all turned sour after a brutal and controversial 1910 VFL Grand Final. After that game in which Collingwood won the premiership be defeating Carlton, accusations of cheating and misrepresentation were bought forward against each club. The ensuing public spectacle began the raw and now developed feeling that you simply do not like the other team if you follow the other team.

Throughout the years there’s been classic clashes, from that day in 1910 to the 1970 Grand Final, through to recent games which have been spiteful and aggressive in nature. Of course this year there’s an added spice to the mix with 2010 Collingwood premiership coach Mick Malthouse (in his 2^nd year with Carlton) and premiership player Dale Thomas being in the enemy camp wearing navy blue now. Most of the focus this week will be on Thomas, Malthouse, Buckley and McGuire but the game itself presents as a crucial matchup for both clubs.

Carlton’s season looked dead and buried after just four weeks, but with two wins in a row there is hope at the end of a long tunnel for Blues fans. Collingwood is travelling a bit better though, with 2 more wins on the board after 6 games but that gap could be closed with a Carlton win this Friday.

 

PREVIOUS FORM.

Carlton timed their run perfectly to beat the Eagles last week.

After four rounds of the AFL season Carlton was in turmoil, they hadn’t won a game despite playing against some low quality opposition. The loss to Melbourne in round 4 was the low point and made them the laughing stock of the entire AFL. However, as you’d always expect of a team coached by Mick Malthouse they have found a way to fight back with two wins over the Bulldogs and the Eagles. That win over the Eagles, last Saturday at Etihad Stadium, was a gutsy come from behind win, the type that galvanises a playing group and leads them to bigger and better things. Led by new recruit Dale Thomas and club stalwarts Gibbs and Simpson Carlton launched from 24 points down halfway through the final quarter to keep alive their slim finals hopes. They’ll have to recreate the way they played late in that game to get anywhere near the Pies though.

Collingwood not unlike Carlton came back from a large deficit to win their most recent game also. On ANZAC day, in front over 91,000 people the Pies found themselves 37 points down early in the second quarter having not registered a goal of their own yet. Somehow the Magpies recovered though, they lifted their intensity and all of a sudden they looked like a top four side again, pressuring Essendon out of the game and running away with a stunning 23 point win. Pressure is the key word with this Magpies team too, when they win they do so because of their approach towards the opposition ball carriers, and that was none more evident that in the second quarter against Essendon. Of course the Magpies midfield stars led the way with Pendlebury, Swan, Beams, Sidebottom and Ball all contributing but what would have impressed coach Nathan Buckley was the way his young defense responded after being poor early on. The Magpies are playing like a strong team unit now, and will be tough to beat for Carlton.

 

COLLINGWOOD PREVIEW.

After a tough start to the season (1-2 win/loss after 3 rounds) the Magpies have found their mojo and are now playing some very good football. If there’s a problem it’s that they haven’t yet been able to put it together for four quarters in a game and at times have had big lapses. Against all of Richmond, North Melbourne and Essendon the opposition has kicked multiple goals in a row and it’s an area the coaching staff know needs improvement. But for every problem that does exist you have to admire the way this team has picked itself up and improved week by week. The fact is the Pies haven’t been able to post anywhere near their best 22 players on the field in one given game yet, but they have shown signs that if they do get those players back soon they could be a top four team after all. Another positive is the form of the VFL side who had another strong performance on Saturday that sees several more players pushing for senior selection once again. The two most obvious players from that VFL team are Marley Williams and Taylor Adams, both fighting through problems to get back into the senior team. Williams return from a long break due to legal issues looked to be right on track until he went down with an injured ankle in the third quarter, but from all reports he pulled up well and is on contention for selection this week, at either level. Adams has been a strange one, recruited in a swap for club legend Heath Shaw, the pressure may have got to him early and after he copped a one week suspension he may have dropped his bundle and really struggled. Adams has done the opposite though, basically ensuring the VFL side held on against a fast finishing Essendon on Saturday with some great hard ball gets.

Whether either player gets a game this week will depend on the fitness of Clinton Young and Alex Fasolo, with both under injury clouds and very little other room in the senior side based on form. It’s the most cohesive and together this Collingwood team has looked under Nathan Buckley and it’s kind of ironical that it’s this week where the Pies face up to two old contributors in Malthouse and Thomas. What effect that has on the playing group from the Magpies is anyone’s guess but with the determination and will they showed against Essendon these Pies won’t be afraid of Carlton.

 

OPPOSITION ANALYSIS.

Just two weeks ago Carlton were gone, their season was over, well if you listened to the media hype that was anyway. Carlton had just lost to Melbourne of all teams and was win less after four games. The two wins in a row after that have taken some of the pressure of the Blues but they know they have to keep winning or their finals hopes for season 2014 really will be over soon. This week they come against a side in form, but one that they have competed well against in the past, leading the Pies in the first game last season before being over run late. Carlton’s speed is the weapon that can hurt the Magpies and it’s one they’ll have to use well or face a heavy loss. There have been question marks about Carlton’s forward line and back line although both areas do have talented players.

Carlton’s defense is a problem as the Blues have conceded the second most points of any side in the AFL after six rounds. That’s not entirely due to the struggling backline as they do play a very attacking brand of football, but the backline has to take some of the blame here. Carlton have tried to build a backline around the very stable Michael Jamison and Andrew Walker although it’s not reaping any rewards yet. Sam Rowe, Lachlan Henderson, Simon White and Andrejs Everitt have all been used in key position defensive roles but most seem better in other, more attacking positions. Dylan Buckley was impressive last week though and along with Walker should provide enough drive out of the backline this week. The matchups don’t seem to favour Carlton though, Jamison on Cloke, Rowe on the resting ruckman, White on White (Simon on Jesse), it just doesn’t seem right. Then there’s the plethora of goal kicking midfielders and smalls who rotate through the Pies forward line. This is the area of the ground of most concern for the Blues on Friday night.

Henderson and Waite are the talls in a dangerous Carlton forward line.

The Carlton forward line is a little dysfunctional at times but they do know how to put the score on the board, with Carlton actually scoring 2 more points so far this season that the 4^th placed Pies. Once again that has to do with the attacking game style but there’s little doubt that if Carlton get the ball inside forward 50 enough, they’ll put a decent score on the board. Henderson and Waite both look dangerous up forward as the main key position attackers, while Ellard, Yarran, Garlett and several midfielders have chipped in for goals also so far this year. Carlton don’t really have a trouble scoring once they get it inside forward 50 against most teams, but they may face a harder task this week against a young and improving Pies backline. Without Reid, Brown and Williams most though the Pies backline would implode early in 2014 but youngsters such as Frost and Langdon have actually added another element to the defensive zone. Carlton will have the try and move the ball quickly and cleanly inside forward 50 because if they don’t the Pies defense will have a field day.

Carlton’s midfield is still it’s strength, even with the absence of a few first choice players. The absence of Judd and Kreuzer has meant that others have had to step up and in recent weeks that has happened. Carlton’s midfield is ranked 3^rd for contested possessions and clearances which shows this is clearly the area of the ground working best for them at the moment. Murphy, McLean, Carrazzo and Gibbs have led the way in this area in the last fortnight and will have to be on their game again as they face off against one of the most damaging mid-fields’ in the competition. One area that Carlton will look to exploit Collingwood is in the ruck, with youngsters Witts and Grundy still developing their game for the Pies while Robert Warnock has been in good form for the Blues, especially last week with 38 hitouts and 7 clearances of his own. This may well be where the game is decided, Carlton don’t even have to win the central battle but they have to restrict the effectiveness of the Pies midfielders if they want to be competitive here.

Carlton are back on track, they have hit some form after a terrible start to the season but they have to improve yet again if they are to defeat a top four contender like Collingwood. The midfield battle will be crucial and the Blues defense will also have to perform better than it has so far this season. The return of Carrazzo will help the Blues out in the middle and also in stopping the star Magpie midfielders. Carlton won’t be scared of the predicted wet weather it may actually help them defensively but they will have to deal with a tackling pressure that they haven’t seen yet, with players like Goldsack, Blair and Elliott helping the Pies lead the league for effective tackles that lead to turnovers. Carlton will give themselves a chance though, their game style will worry Collingwood at times, there’s little doubt about that.

 

TEAMS.

 

Collingwood
B: Nick Maxwell, Jack Frost, Marley Williams
HB: Clinton Young, Lachlan Keeffe, Heritier Lumumba
C: Steele Sidebottom, Brent Macaffer, Dane Swan
HF: Sam Dwyer, Jesse White, Luke Ball
F: Jamie Elliott, Travis Cloke, Tyson Goldsack
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Dayne Beams, Scott Pendlebury
Int: Tom Langdon, Jarryd Blair, Jarrod Witts, Josh Thomas
Emg: Ben Kennedy, Taylor Adams, Nathan Brown

IN: Sam Dwyer, Marley Williams
OUT: Alex Fasolo (toe), Alan Toovey (hamstring)

Carlton

B: S.White M.Jamison S.Rowe
HB: Z.Tuohy A.Walker K.Simpson
C: H.Scotland A.Carrazzo M.Robinson
HF: B.McLean J.Waite D.Thomas
F: T.Menzel L.Henderson L.Casboult
R: R.Warnock M.Murphy B.Gibbs
INT: D.Buckley A.Everitt K.Lucas J.Garlett
EMG: T.Bell M.Watson S.Docherty

 

TIP.

Collingwood should, and probably will win this game but this rivalry in the past has thrown up unpredictable results. The forecast wet weather should keep the scores close and with Collingwood losing Toovey and Fasolo off half back it might bring Carlton into the game. Ultimately though no matter what the conditions are, or who is selected in the final teams I’m expecting the superior team to win.

 

MAGPIES BY 22 POINTS.

 

VFL.

 

The Collingwood VFL side travels to Williamstown on Sunday to play the Seagulls in a crucial round 5 matchup. The game is at Burbank Oval and starts at 2pm on Sunday.

 

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 7 – Collingwood vs Brisbane Match Preview

On Saturday Night at the GABBA in Brisbane, the Collingwood Magpies and the Brisbane Lions will face off in round 7 of the AFL Premiership Season. There’s plenty of history between these two teams, with the obvious highlights coming in the 2002 and 2003 final series when the two sides met three times, including in back to back AFL Grand Finals. The 2002 Grand Final is still considered one of the best modern day Grand Finals, mainly because the Magpies made a game of it when no one expected them to. In fact, in that Grand Final on a wet September day in 2002, Collingwood hit the front in the last quarter only to finally be defeated by the rampaging Lions thanks to controversial goals from Alastair Lynch and Jason Akermanis.

The following year the two sides faced off in the first week of the 2003 finals series, with Collingwood winning the qualifying final matchup at the MCG by 15 points in a low scoring game. But three weeks later, the two sides met again in the Grand Final, and with Collingwood missing several key players, the Lions secured their third premiership in a row with a 50 point defeat of the Magpies. What occurred in that time, including some of the comments made by the victorious Lions players has no doubt lead to ill feeling between the two clubs, and has fed the rivalry to this current day. There’s also added spice to the rivalry this time around, with the two club captains from that era, Michael Voss (Brisbane) and Nathan Buckley (Collingwood) facing off for the first time this weekend as senior coaches. There is an added edge to any contest between these two proud clubs, and it will be evident both on and off the field on Saturday Night.

 The form of both sides over the first six rounds has been somewhat concerning, with Collingwood starting the season very slow, and only now getting a small three game winning streak going to get itself on the right side of the win/loss ledger at 4-2. The Lions season started brightly, with a surprise win over Melbourne at the MCG in round one, but the only win to come in the following five games for the Lions has been against lowly cross town rival the Gold Coast Suns, although in that game the Lions did look very promising once again. But the last two weeks have been embarrassing for a club looking for improvement, with a heavy loss to reigning premiers Geelong on a wet night at the GABBA, and then last weekend a deplorable effort against Essendon in Melbourne last Saturday resulting in a 67 point loss to the in form Bombers. The poor recent run has put pressure on Michael Voss, who will need to see some improvement in his teams output over the coming weeks or face the pressure that will undoubtedly come from the local and national AFL press.

Dayne Beams has been in top form for the Pies

Collingwood is finally looking like they are close to gaining back the form that saw them only lose three games last season, with a gutsy performance against the Dogs last week, although once again Collingwood’s injury curse struck, with club stalwart Ben Johnson badly injuring his shoulder and joining Luke Ball, Brent MaCaffer and Andrew Krakouer as long term injuries at the club. But out of the darkness has arisen opportunity for some younger players to step up, and no one has stepped up more then Dayne Beams, who has been given the responsibility as Ball’s replacement and has grabbed that chance with both hands, as shown by disposal counts of 27, 32 and 33 in the three games since Ball’s season ending injury occurred. But it’s not just the statistics that show how Beams has stepped it up, with his attack on the ball and ability to win the contested possession surprising many who hadn’t seen him in that role before. Beams has been ably assisted by Steele Sidebottom, and with Dane Swan and Scott Pendlebury basically unstoppable on a weekly basis, the Collingwood midfield all of a sudden looks like the teams strength, when it seemed all may be lost in the middle. Collingwood’s backline has also been doing a remarkable job, with Lachlan Keefe and the returning Nathan Brown both holding down key posts with the recent absence of Chris Tarrant and Ben Reid. And with Reid returning last week, all be it mainly up forward, the Pies backline looks like it will be back to it’s menacing best this week in Brisbane. Collingwod may also regain the services of three of it’s best 22 this week, with Jarryd Blair and Dale Thomas almost certain to return, and enigmatic forward Alan Didak also a chance to make his season debut at senior level.

 The Magpies coaching staff will be satisfied with the teams gradual performance, but they also know that with tougher games to come against Geelong and Adelaide in the next few weeks, this in the game against Brisbane the team has to improve even further if it wishes to be any chance of winning the following two games. Also under consideration is Collingwood’s poor record at the GABBA, with the Magpies having played at the ground a total of 15 times, for a poor return of just four wins, which means the GABBA in percentage terms is the most unsuccessful venue in the history of the Collingwood Football Club. A sobering though indeed for Collingwood fans.

Opposition Analysis.

 

The Lions started the season on fire in round one, yet since then there has been little to get enthused about for the Brisbane faithful. The last two losses in particular have hit the club hard, with the loss to Geelong on the night Simon Black celebrated his 300^th game particularly being seen as the poorest of poor performances from the Lions in 2012. But amongst the poor results there has been some positive signs, with plenty of young, up and coming players being tested at the big level, with a varying degree of success.

The Lions midfield is probably it’s greatest strength, with the great Simon Black still leading the way, and with able assistance from three very good young midfielders who are just coming into their own, the middle hasn’t been the weakest area for Brisbane in 2012. The three youngsters I talk of are Tom Rockliff, Jack Redden and Daniel Rich, who happen to also be 1,2 and 3 on the clubs disposal total list for the season so far. Rockliff is the star of that lot though, he is tough, can win the contested ball but also has the ability to run forward and hit the scoreboard, as he’s shown this year with a club lead equalling 6 goals in 5 games. He also leads the club in tackles, contested possessions, total possessions and marks, showing just how much of an all around player the boy from Benalla has become. The Lions also have a handy ruckman on hand, with the experienced ex Bulldog Ben Hudson making the move north this year, and with Matthew Leuenberger again struggling with injury, and first year player Billy Longer not yet up to AFL standard, Hudson has been a good recruit for the Lions, and will contest well against either Jolly or Wood this weekend.

 The Lions backline has held up pretty well considering the amount of ball that has been coming inside it’s defensive area so far in the 2012 season, and although Daniel Merrett has played forward at times, surely this week he would have to return down back to help Joel Patfull and Matt McGuire out in attempting to restrict Collingwood’s star forward Travis Cloke, and his strike partner Chris Dawes. The Lions are also trying plenty of youth down back, with Mitchell Golby and Ryan Lester, along with several others being given the chance to assist the experienced crew down back. Also it seems that premiership player Ashley McGrath will play, despite looking as if he’d had quite a serious injury to his groin last week, but all reports state that he is fit and ready to go. And with Thomas, Didak and Blair adding to Collingwood’s scoring options this weekend, the Lions backline will have to be in top form to keep their side in the game.

If the Lions have a real apparent weakness, it seems it is their forward line, with Daniel Merrett even being asked to play a considerable amount of game time up forward this year. There are good signs though, with champion forward Jonathan Brown looking as if he is close to returning to his best form after several years of terrible injuries, and his battle with Nathan Brown should almost be worth the price of admission itself. We all know how good Brown is, but the Lions lack support for him, with the likes of Banfield, Karnezis, Cornelius and Harwood being used up forward with very little success so far in 2012. And against an in form Collingwood defense, the Lions forward line will have to improve remarkably if it is to have any significant impact on the scoreboard on Saturday Night.

Jonathan Brown celebrates his 500th goal a few weeks back

Truth be told the Lions are still in a rebuilding phase, and while on their day they have the ability to perform as a competitive unit against any side, looking at their side it would take a near miracle for them to defeat last years Grand Finalists this weekend. But I expect a better effort from the Lions this week, back on their home ground, against a side the club despises, and with the added interest of champion player versus champion player in the coaches box, it isn’t unfair to expect a lift in intensity from the Lions this weekend.

 

Key Matchups;

 

Brown vs Brown

Jonathon Brown seems as if, after a few runs back from injury he is ready to explode out of the blocks, although he will run into one of the best young defenders in the AFL this week, when Nathan Brown lines up on him. Both have had significant injury setbacks over the past few seasons, but both are enormously talented and to see them go head to head should be something special.

Merrett vs Cloke

Brisbane have to get serious here, if they don’t move Merrett down back onto Cloke, the game well be over before it begins, as otherwise the best marking forward in the game will just toy with McGuire or Patfull. Merrett is a class defender, and is the only defender the Lions have who can curtail Cloke’s influence of the game. If they match up on each other as I hope, it will be as exciting a battle as the Brown vs Brown one.

Rockliff vs Beams

Two of the best young midfielders in the AFL going head to head, wouldn’t that be something to be seen under the lights at the GABBA? Both are in career best form, both are contested ball winners who can also go forward and kick goals, and both know no fear, I pray this matchup occurs, even if it’s only for a small period of time.

Pendlebury vs Black

The two best extractors in the AFL in my opinion could go head to head on Saturday Night. Black is still in top form, despite recently passing the 300 game mark, while Pendlebury continues to rack up the possessions and have an enormous influence on the game, and it would be epic to see these two go head to head for a majority of the game.

Teams;

Collingwood
B: Harry O’Brien, Ben Reid, Nathan Brown
HB: Simon Buckley, Nick Maxwell, Tyson Goldsack
C: Dane Swan, Sharrod Wellingham, Jarryd Blair
HF: Heath Shaw, Chris Dawes, Ben Sinclair
F: Dayne Beams, Travis Cloke, Alan Didak
Foll: Cameron Wood, Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom
Int: Martin Clarke, Lachlan Keeffe, Alan Toovey, Paul Seedsman
Emg: Jackson Paine, Kirk Ugle, Peter Yagmoor

In: Didak, Blair, Seedsman

Out: Johnson (shoulder), Fasolo (knee), Ugle (omitted)

Brisbane

B: Hanley (11), Maguire (36), McKeever (40)
HB: Golby (41), Patfull (24), Rich (10)
C: Hawksley (12), Rockliff (38), Drummond (39)
HF: Polkinghorne (31), Brown (16), Banfield (18)
F: McGrath (9), Merrett (21), Karnezis (28)
Foll: Longer (5), Black (20), Redden (30)
Int: Polec (4), Raines (29), Harwood (2), Zorko (15)
Emer: Retzlaff (8), Crisp (47), Green (6)

In: Niall McKeever, Josh Drummond, Andrew Raines, James Hawksley, Dayne Zorko

Out: Aaron Cornelius (omitted), Ben Hudson (general soreness), Ryan Lester (general soreness), Jack Crisp (omitted), Jed Adcock (groin)

Tip.

Dale Thomas should boost the magpies midfield with his return this week

The win/loss decision is fairly easy in this one, Collingwood should win, and win without being really troubled, but something tells me this one will be closer then what most expect. Be it the poor venue record for Collingwood, or the fact Brisbane have to make a stand at some point, I can see the Lions putting up their best performance of the year since that round one demolition of the Demons in Melbourne.

Selection may play a large part in the final result though, with Brisbane hoping McGrath and Drummond are fit to go, while Collingwood also having their own prayers about Blair, Thomas and Didak being available for the trip to Brisbane. In Thomas Collingwood has a line breaker, something that they have seemed to be missing out of the midfield over the past few weeks, and if he returns it will make the task harder for the Lions indeed.

Ultimately though Collingwood strengths seem to heavily out weight the Lions abilities, and with the return of several key players over the past few weeks, the Magpies season should continue to evolve with a fourth straight win.

PIES by 28

 

VFL

Chris Tarrant may return through the VFL this weekend

The Collingwood VFL side returns to action this Saturday versus the undefeated Port Melbourne. The game is once again out at Victoria Park, with a 2pm start time. Chris Tarrant is a possibility to return through the VFL, and if he is named he is sure to drag a few extra fans through the (open) gates.