2019 Round 21: The Team & Preview

2019 AFL Round 21 COLLINGWOOD v MELBOURNE Time & Place: Saturday August 10, 1:45pm AEST MCG TV: Fox Footy 1:30pm AEST Weather: Min 5 Max 11 Chance of rain: 80% 10-20mm Wind: WSW 25kph Betting: Collingwood $1.44 Melbourne $2.75

B: Brayden Maynard, Jordan Roughead, Jeremy Howe

HB: Jack Crisp, Matthew Scharenberg, Chris Mayne

C: Tom Phillips, Scott Pendlebury, Josh Daicos

HF: Callum L. Brown, Brody Mihocek, Travis Varcoe 

F: Jamie Elliott, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Steele Sidebottom 

Foll: Brodie Grundy, Adam Treloar, Taylor Adams 

I/C: Levi Greenwood, Jack Madgen, Josh Thomas, Rupert Wills

Emg: Tim Broomhead, Tyler Brown, Ben Crocker, John Noble

In: Jack Madgen
Out: Mason Cox (Injured)

Collingwood News Jack Madgen returns to the AFL side for the first time since round 10. Collingwood has called up defender Jack Madgen for Saturday’s clash with Melbourne at the MCG. The 26-year-old will provide the Magpies with much needed height after Mason Cox was ruled out for the remainder of the season after having surgery to repair a torn retina. After booting four goals last week, Will Hoskin-Elliott lines up at full forward and is set to go head-to-head with Melbourne’s Oscar McDonald. In what will be one of the most anticipated ruck contests of the season, Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn are in career best form and sit among the top 3 on the AFL Player Ratings. Collingwood have named Tim Broomhead, Tyler Brown, Ben Crocker and John Noble as the emergencies. The first bounce is set for 1.45pm, with the MCG expected to attract 45,000 fans. Jordan De Goey (hamstring), Darcy Moore (hamstring) and Jaidyn Stephenson (suspension) were unavailable for selection.

AFL Preview Round 21 Collingwood v Melbourne Jeremy Howe: Mark of the Year contender What it means for Melbourne: Not much more to salvage but pride from this disappointing year. A win over traditional rivals Collingwood would be a sweet note to take into the end of a sour season. What it means for Collingwood: The push for top four continues for the Pies after their percentage-boosting win over Gold Coast. Can almost guarantee a top-six finish with a win against Melbourne. The stat: Collingwood's biggest strength is its ability to win the ball. The Magpies lead the competition in average disposals with 403.6 a game. By contrast, Melbourne is in 13th position with an average of 363.1 touches per match. The match-up: Max Gawn v Brodie Grundy Everyone's favourite ruck battle. Gawn is ranked the best player in the competition in the AFL Player Ratings, while Grundy is sitting 3rd overall. Both were Virgin Australia AFL All Australians last year, with Gawn pipping Grundy for the starting ruck role. It's a big week for: Braydon Preuss The ruck recruit was always going to struggle to get a match ahead of Gawn but is now desperately needed as a key forward due to Melbourne's injury woes. Didn't make much of an impact against Richmond and the Dees need a marking target. Big call: Jeremy Howe loves a hanger, especially against his old side. Don't be surprised if the JLT Mark of the Year is taken in this match. Prediction: Magpies by 39 points