Preview Round 16: Collingwood v Greater Western Sydney

AFL

SUMMARY

Round 16 COLLINGWOOD v GWS Time, Place, TV: Saturday July 9, 1:40pm Sydney Showgrounds 7mate / Fox Footy 1:30pm Weather: Min 12 Max 19 Chance of rain 50%: 1-5mm Wind: SSE 23kph Betting: Collingwood $8.00 GWS $1.05

Greater Western Sydney returns from its mid-season bye for a clash with Collingwood, the first of an eight-game run towards what should be an historic maiden finals berth. The Pies haven't played at Spotless Stadium since late 2014 and will want to remain undefeated at the venue, and against the Giants, with Nathan Buckley's men victorious in all four of the clubs' encounters. However, it looks a monumental task. GWS hasn't lost a game at home this year while easily accounting for fellow top eight sides Hawthorn, the Sydney Swans and the Western Bulldogs, so the Pies will need to produce something special to take the points. The home side has two small forwards in rare touch with veteran Steve Johnson and Toby Greene both on 28 goals for the season, so the Pies' backmen will need to lock down on the clever pair of Giants.

LAST FOUR TIMES

1. R11, 2015, Collingwood 18.11 (119) d Greater Western Sydney 11.11 (77) at the MCG
2. R22, 2014, Collingwood 11.9 (75) d Greater Western Sydney 9.13 (67) at Sydney Showgrounds
3. R18, 2013, Collingwood 15.16 (106) d Greater Western Sydney 10.6 (66) at the MCG
4. R18, 2012, Collingwood 26.18 (174) d Greater Western Sydney 7.12 (54) at Sydney Showgrounds

THE SIX POINTS

1. Travis Cloke was impressive the last time these teams met and kicked five goals; Taylor Adams had 36 disposals and while Collingwood had fewer disposals and tackles, they had 14 more inside 50s and won the match easily.
2. There is a big scoring difference between the sides this season; the Giants are ranked second with 109 points per game, while the Magpies are 14th with 81 points per game.
3. The Giants and Magpies will meet for the fifth time with the visitors still searching for their first win. Three of the four games between the sides have been decided by 40 points or more.
4. GWS continues to be the best clearance team in 2016, averaging 40.4 per game; in complete contrast Collingwood is ranked last with only 32.4 per game.
5. The Pies have lost their past two matches played in Sydney, both to the Swans, but overall they've won 11 of 14 games there since 2006.
6. Collingwood midfielder Adam Treloar is ranked 22nd in the Schick AFL Player Ratings, and will meet his former side for the first time since he left the Giants at the end of last season.

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …Levi Greenwood.
The Magpies stopper will likely get a role on one of the Giants' batch of gun midfielders, and good luck picking one. Dylan Shiel, Callan Ward and Stephen Coniglio are in outstanding form and are coming fresh off a week's rest, so Greenwood will definitely be in for a tough trip to Spotless Stadium. 

PREDICTION: Greater Western Sydney by 63 points