Preview 1 Round 4: Collingwood v Saint Kilda

AFL

SUMMARY

COLLINGWOOD v SAINT KILDA Time & Place: Sunday April 16, 3:20pm EST Etihad TV: 7mate / Fox Footy 3:00pm EST Weather: Min 10 Max 23 Chance of rain 50%: <1mm Wind: NNW 25kph Betting: Collingwood $1.80 Saint Kilda $2.02

These talent-laden, developing teams entered the season with great expectations that were tempered externally after they slumped to 0-2 starts. However, they got their seasons back on track with wins at the weekend, with the fast-starting Pies being the more impressive in clawing to a one-point win over Sydney at the SCG, while a wasteful St Kilda did as expected against the Brisbane Lions. The Saints are rapt to still have the services of miracle man Nick Riewoldt and would dearly love to have midfield guns Jack Steven and David Armitage available to take on the Pies' brilliant running brigade led by Scott Pendlebury, Adam Treloar, Taylor Adams and Steele Sidebottom. St Kilda's key targets in Josh Bruce, Tim Membrey, Paddy McCartin and Riewoldt will stretch the Collingwood defence.

LAST FIVE MEETINGS

1. R3, 2016, St Kilda 18.11 (119) d Collingwood 14.6 (90) at the MCG
2. R3, 2015, Collingwood 21.14 (140) d St Kilda 10.6 (66) at the MCG
3. R11, 2014, Collingwood 21.14 (140) d St Kilda 8.6 (54) at Etihad Stadium
4. R6, 2013, Collingwood 15.13 (103) d St Kilda 11.11 (77) at Etihad Stadium
5. R19, 2012, Collingwood 12.19 (91) d St Kilda 13.7 (85) at the MCG

THE SIX POINTS

1. St Kilda is aiming for consecutive wins over the Magpies for the first time since 2009-10. Before the Saints' drought-breaking win last year, Collingwood had been victorious in their previous seven matches dating back to the 2010 Grand Final replay.
2. Collingwood is No.1 in the competition in both tackles (averaging 79 a game while St Kilda is 13th with 64) and contested possessions (158 compared to 13th-ranked St Kilda's 143.3).
3. Collingwood continues to be a high disposal side, ranked second for disposals with an average of 412.7, while St Kilda is 17th with 353.
4. The Saints dominated the last time the sides met, having more disposals (446-349), marks (126-72) scoring shots (29-20) and inside 50s (54-49). Leigh Montagna was best-afield with 40 disposals, 14 marks and seven inside 50s.
5. This will be the 12th time the Pies and Saints have clashed at Etihad Stadium with Collingwood leading 6-5 after triumphing in their past three clashes at the venue. St Kilda hasn't beaten the Magpies there since 2010.
6. Taylor Adams' star continues to rise with the Pies' co-vice-captain climbing to a career-high ranking of 88th in the Schick AFL Player Ratings. He leapt 15 places after a best-afield performance in the win over Sydney. His previous best ranking was No. 96 late last year.

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Nathan Brown.
The Magpies' 2010 premiership hero, who performed superbly on then Saints skipper and now teammate Nick Riewoldt in two Grand Finals in the space of a week, will come up against his old side for the first time since joining St Kilda as a restricted free agent last October.

PREDICTION: Collingwood by 9 points