| Round 14 COLLINGWOOD v FREMANTLE Time, Place, TV: Friday June 24, 7:50pm MCG 7mate / Fox Footy 7:30pm Weather: Min 6 Max 11 Chance of rain 90%: 1-5mm Wind: WSW 33kph Betting: Collingwood $1.80 Fremantle $2.05 |
Fremantle, on the other hand, is yet to have its bye, but goes into this game with a lot of momentum after three straight wins. After losing the opening ten games of the year, the turnaround has been somewhat unexpected and the Dockers are looking more and more like the side that claimed the minor premiership last season. Many experts expected big things from Fremantle this year, so the first half of the year has been extremely disappointing. That being the case, the Dockers have unearthed a lot of young players and now look well placed going into the rest of this year and beyond.
It will be interesting to see how Collingwood's bye impacts on this game. On the one hand, the Magpies should be fresh and should also have addressed a number of structural issues. On the other hand, Fremantle has confidence going into this game and will be a difficult opponent. Last season, the majority of sides lost the week after their bye. Unfortunately for Collingwood, this is not the same Fremantle side that lost its opening 10 games and the Magpies will need to be at their best to win this game.
The weather will be the other factor as the forecast for Friday is cold and wet. It will make contested footy important, as well as playing the percentages and not trying to overuse the football.
Recent History
These sides last met in round 13 last season. It was very different circumstances as both sides were in the top four and in red hot form, unlike this season where both sides are battling to stay out of the bottom four. The game was a classic as well, with the Magpies taking it right up to Fremantle at Domain Stadium. Collingwood was on top for large periods of the match, but the Dockers rallied in the last quarter to win by seven points. Nat Fyfe polled three votes with 32 disposals and two goals, while Aaron Sandilands was arguable the difference with 50 hitouts, polling him the two votes. Scott Pendlebury polled one vote for the Magpies with 25 disposals, and Taylor Adams was also good with 29 disposals.
At the Selection Table
Both sides have suffered numerous injuries this season which is a large reason why they have both dropped off so dramatically.
Collingwood had the bye last round in both the VFL and AFL, so predicting selection this round will be difficult. Despite the heavy injury list, the Magpies also have a number of fit and experienced players available for selection. Topping that list is Travis Cloke who was absolutely brilliant in his last VFL appearance. Notably, this performance was in wet and cold conditions, which will not be too dissimilar to what the Magpies will face on Friday night. Given Collingwood's recent forward line woes, Cloke must be on the cusp of selection this week.
Nathan Brown and Tyson Goldsack have both been very good at VFL level and must also be in line for selection, as will Brent Macaffer and Alan Toovey. It will be interesting to see whether Buckley calls upon his experienced players, or whether he persists with youth like Ben Crocker, Tom Phillips, Jonathon Marsh, Josh Smith and Mason Cox. The Magpies went in very tall last week, so in wet conditions I would expect a much shorter line-up. James Aish and Rupert Wills have also impressed at VFL level.
Turning the focus onto Fremantle, and its injury list remains extensive. Nat Fyfe and Aaron Sandilands polled the three and two votes respectively when these sides last met, but remain sidelined, as do key players such as Michael Johnson, Harley Bennell, Jonathan Griffin, Alex Silvagni and Alex Pearce.
Fremantle only has 28 fit men to choose from this week. There will only be one forced omission from the senior side with Tanner Smith ruled out of the clash, which opens the door for Jack Hannath. As Fremantle has won its previous three games, it will select a fairly settled line-up this week despite the injury crisis. There is some doubt over whether Matthew Pavlich will play as he has been rested from numerous interstate trips this season, but Ross Lyon has already indicated he will be named to play.
Focus on Collingwood
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| Scott Pendlebury won 25 disposals and laid six tackles in Collingwood's last meeting with Fremantle in round 13, 2015. |
When the year started, many would have considered Collingwood's forward line to consist of the likes of Travis Cloke, Darcy Moore, Jeremy Howe, Alex Fasolo, Jamie Elliott and Dane Swan. Howe is the only one currently in the side, but he is playing defence. It may be time for Buckley to try Howe up forward again to provide a target, and recall Travis Cloke to the senior squad. Either way, Buckley needs to address his forward line because it looked dysfunctional in Collingwood's last two games.
Buckley conceded last round that the Magpies may have gone in too tall against Melbourne with Jarrod Witts, Brodie Grundy and Cox all in the side. I imagine one of those players will make way this round, but I wouldn't be surprised if Buckley went for a much smaller side altogether and two of these big men make way. Whatever the coaches try this week, I think it is important that the Magpies start getting some consistency with their structure and stability in the line-up.
Player Focus - Collingwood
Brayden Maynard – With so many injuries in defence this year, Maynard has been able to solidify his spot in the side and is gaining valuable experience. His decision making can let him down at times, but he is a tough nut and he does have a beautiful left boot on him. It's easy to forget he is still 19, so he has a bright future ahead of him. He just needs to play the percentages a bit more and make better decisions when he has the ball deep in defence. In general though, his kicking is a weapon.
Marley Williams – Marley was a welcome return to the Collingwood side on Queen's Birthday and settled back into the side quickly with 19 disposals. Williams is an underrated component on the Collingwood side because he plays on dangerous small forwards and also is Collingwood's best rebounding defender. He is so aggressive at the football as well. Marley has had an injury riddled first half of the year, so will be hoping to regain his consistency in the second part of this season.
Steele Sidebottom – Sidebottom started the Queen's Birthday match like a house on fire, but was completely tagged out of the game in the second half by Tomas Bugg. He finished with 17 disposals which is well down on his usual output. He was also tagged out of the game against Port Adelaide as well the week prior. It is a big compliment that opponents are now decided to tag him over the likes of Pendlebury and Treloar, but Sidebottom needs to learn to work through the tag better and keep influencing games.
Focus on Fremantle
It has largely been a year to forget for the Dockers and finals are realistically out of the question from here. But regardless, I feel as if Fremantle has taken giant strides in the past three weeks and is now positioning itself nicely for a tilt at the flag in 2017.
For mine, there is no doubt that Ross Lyon made a decision over the off-season to be more offensive, which was highlighted by the addition former Hawthorn players David Hale and Brent Guerra to the coaching panel. The side effect of playing a more attacking brand of footy has been that the defensive side of the game suffered. In the past three rounds, however, the Dockers have rectified this issue, with an average score of 120 points, while only conceding an average of 60 points. It seems as if Fremantle is finally adapting to this new game plan.
The other pleasing thing for Fremantle over the past three weeks has been the rapid development of a number of younger players. With so many injuries, Lyon has been forced to blood his rookies. They haven't let him down either, with the likes of Blakely, Weller, Taberner, Collins and Tucker all contributing well. When star players such as Fyfe, Bennell and Sandilands return to the side, the Dockers will have developed impressive depth, and they may look back at 2016 as the year they simply had to have.
Player Focus - Fremantle
Michael Barlow – At the mid-way point of the season, it seemed as if Barlow had fallen well out of favour with his coach, and was destined for the scrapheap. But Barlow's response to his omission has been amazingly impressive. He has been re-invented as a run-with player and has taken big scalps in recent weeks while still winning a lot of the football. His game against Port Adelaide last week was one of his best games in his career. Barlow not only held Robbie Gray to 18 disposals, but had 43 of his own and kicked two goals. He may be given the job this week on Sidebottom, which would be an enthralling battle.
Matt Taberner – The Dockers have been very patient with Taberner, and it has taken him a while to really establish himself in the side. At 198cm tall, he is terrific size, but he just hasn't been able to impose himself in games in his career to date. That has changed in the previous few games, and he is clunking some beautiful marks. His five goal game against Brisbane a fortnight ago was a break-out for him. He has performed well with or without Pavlich in the side as well.
Lachie Weller and Connor Blakely – Along with Lachie Neale, the Dockers have been crying out for some young talent to break through in the midfield and add an extra dimension to the side. Weller and Blakely have been standouts for Fremantle and have now cemented their positions. Weller is all class and is a beautiful finisher around goals, while Blakely is a big bodied midfielder and fits in well with the other tall midfielders in the side.
The Wrap Up
Although this is a battle between 14th and 15th on the ladder, there is plenty to play for as both these clubs are too proud to just fall away meekly this year. The Magpies need to regain some confidence after their bye and need a few wins to release some of the pressure which has built in recent weeks. Fremantle, on the other hand, has its bye next week and would love to go into the break on the back of four straight wins.
Weather will have an impact on this match, but ultimately it's just going to be a battle of which midfield wants it more. Collingwood will need to be switched on to will need to play four solid quarters against this dangerous opponent.
Selection will also be essential for Collingwood this week. The coaching staff needs to nail selection this week. Finding the best structure is the challenge.
At the MCG though, I think the Pies should get up.
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