Preview Round 12: Collingwood v Melbourne

AFL

SUMMARY

Round 12 COLLINGWOOD v MELBOURNE Time, Place, TV: Monday June 13, 3:20pm MCG 7mate / Fox Footy 3:00pm  Weather: Min 7 Max 14 Chance of rain 20%: <1mm Wind: N 23kph Betting: Collingwood $2.35 Melbourne $1.59

Melbourne will enter Monday's Queen's Birthday clash against Collingwood as favourites for the first time in more than a decade. The Demons fell just short of causing a huge upset against Hawthorn in wet conditions last weekend and now face a downtrodden Magpie unit. Nathan Buckley's side put in a terrible performance against Port Adelaide, going down by 67 points. With its season on the line, Collingwood will be desperate to atone and keep its slim finals hopes alive. Based on existing form lines, the Demons should win comfortably. But Melbourne is prone to inconsistency and it has been shown to cost the Demons already this season.

LAST FIVE TIMES

1. R4, 2016, Melbourne 16.6 (102) d Collingwood 9.13 (67) at the MCG
2. R18, 2015, Melbourne 13.13 (91) d Collingwood 7.12 (54) at the MCG
3. R10, 2015, Collingwood 17.8 (110) d Melbourne 13.7 (85) at the MCG
4. R12, 2014, Collingwood 8.13 (61) d Melbourne 3.10 (28) at the MCG
5. R11, 2013, Collingwood 17.20 (122) d Melbourne 5.9 (39) at the MCG

THE SIX POINTS

1. Melbourne is ranked equal second for centre clearances, averaging 14.5 per game. Max Gawn is the No.1-ranked ruckman this season with a total of 457 hit-outs.
2. Jack Watts enjoyed one of his best games against Collingwood earlier this season, kicking four goals in Melbourne's 35-point win.
3. Melbourne has now won the past two clashes between the sides, ending Collingwood's dominance. The Magpies had won the previous five games including two wins by more than 80 points.
4. The Demons continue to be the highest ranked side kicking for goal this season, with an accuracy rating of 57.7 per cent. The Magpies have been well below that, travelling at 51 per cent.
5. If the Demons win, it will be the first time since 1988 they have defeated Collingwood twice in the same season.
6. Gawn is charging up the Schick AFL Player Ratings, rising from 295th in the competition at the start of the season to 87th after the weekend.

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …Travis Cloke.
The Magpie spearhead was held goalless in his return against Port Adelaide last weekend after being dropped ahead of Anzac Day. Cloke slammed home seven goals in last year's Queen's Birthday fixture and will be hoping to do the same this time around. The Magpies desperately need a focal point in attack and in-form version of the Collingwood forward gives them that. The question is, can he break out of his form slump?

PREDICTION: Melbourne by 28 points