2018 Round 10: The Team, Preview, Injury List

2018 AFL Round 10 COLLINGWOOD v FOOTSCRAY Time & Place: Friday May 25, 7:50pm EST Etihad Stadium TV: 7mate/Fox Footy 7:30pm EST Weather: Min 9 Max 16 Chance of rain 5%: <1mm Wind: S 2kph Betting: Collingwood $1.44 Footscray $2.80

B: Flynn Appleby, Lynden Dunn, Jack Crisp

HB: Travis Varcoe, Matthew Scharenberg, Jeremy Howe

C: Steele Sidebottom, Scott Pendlebury, Tom Phillips

HF: Jordan De Goey, Ben Reid, Will Hoskin-Elliott

F: Josh Thomas, Mason Cox, Jaidyn Stephenson

Foll: Brodie Grundy, Taylor Adams, Adam Treloar

Int: Josh Daicos, Chris Mayne, Levi Greenwood, Tom Langdon

Emg: Brody Mihocek, Sam Murray, Brayden Sier, Ben Crocker

IN: Josh Daicos, Levi Greenwood, Ben Reid
OUT: Alex Fasolo (ankle), Daniel Wells (rested), Sam Murray (omitted)

COLLINGWOOD NEWS Josh Daicos and Levi Greenwood will play their first AFL games of the season after being included in Collingwood team for the big Friday night clash with the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium. Key position player Ben Reid is also back for his first game since round six. Alex Fasolo (ankle), Daniel Wells (rested) and Sam Murray (omitted) go out of the team that defeated St Kilda last weekend. Greenwood battled a knee problem over the summer, which restricted his pre-season training loads. But he now gets a call-up after playing three games in the VFL over the past month. He has been touted as a chance to line up on in-form Dogs midfielder Jack Macrae. Daicos made his AFL debut in round 22 last season, then stayed in the team for the round 23 win over Melbourne. He now gets his chance to play his third game at the highest level after impressing in the VFL in recent weeks. PIES LOOK TO TURN THE TABLES Collingwood has lost its past five matches against the Bulldogs by an average of 13 points. In their most recent clash in round one last year, Collingwood had 39 more disposals, took more marks, doubled the Dogs in hit-outs, had one more scoring shot and 17 more inside 50s, but trailed at every change as the Dogs posted a 14-point win. BIG NUMBERS It will be a contest between the AFL’s two highest disposal teams. Collingwood is ranked first with 411.3 a game (the only side to average more than 400) and the Bulldogs are second with 391.8.

AFL PREVIEW ROUND 10 COLLINGWOOD V FOOTSCRAY AFL LAST FIVE TIMES R1, 2017, Western Bulldogs 15.10 (100) d Collingwood 12.14 (86) at the MCG R21, 2016, Western Bulldogs 14.11 (95) d Collingwood 14.8 (92) at Etihad Stadium R10, 2016, Western Bulldogs 11.8 (74) d Collingwood 7.11 (53) at the MCG R17, 2015, Western Bulldogs 15.14 (104) d Collingwood 13.8 (86) at Etihad Stadium R13, 2014, Western Bulldogs 16.10 (106) d Collingwood 15.8 (98) at Etihad Stadium LADDER POSITIONS Collingwood: 10 Footscray: 13 INJURY LIST Jamie Elliott (hamstring) – TBC Darcy Moore (hamstring) – TBC Josh Smith (hamstring) – TBC Max Lynch (ankle) – test Ben Reid (Achilles) – test Brayden Maynard (ankle) – 1-2 weeks Jack Madgen (head clash) – 6 weeks Alex Fasolo (ankle) – 6-7 weeks James Aish (knee) – 8-10 weeks Kayle Kirby (medical condition) – indefinite Tim Broomhead (knee) – season Tyson Goldsack (knee) – season SUMMARY If either team is to figure in this year’s finals series, this is simply a must-win encounter against a similarly placed opponent. The Magpies, who are a game clear of the Bulldogs, deserve their favouritism given they have been far more consistent and boast greater depth of quality and experience. The Pies, who have won five of their past seven games, also appear to have at their disposal more potential match-winners, including emerging star Jordan de Goey, who in his past three outings has kicked bags of six and five goals. A Collingwood win would break a five-game hoodoo against the Bulldogs. The Dogs, meanwhile, will be sore after their comprehensive loss to Adelaide in a highly-contested, bruising encounter in heavy conditions at Adelaide Oval. The Dogs will hope they can provide more support for star midfielder Jack Macrae, who over the past three weeks has averaged 40 possessions (23 contested) and 11 clearances. AFL THE SIX POINTS The Bulldogs have dominated the Magpies recently, winning their past five games by an average of 13 points. Collingwood last defeated the Dogs in round 12, 2013. In their most recent clash in round one last year, Collingwood had 39 more disposals, took more marks, doubled the Dogs in hit-outs, had one more scoring shot and 17 more inside 50s, but trailed at every change as the Dogs posted a 14-point win. Collingwood has scored more heavily than the Bulldogs this year, averaging 87 points a game and tallying 100 points on five occasions. In contrast, the Bulldogs are averaging 72 points and have reached three figures just twice. It will be a contest between the AFL’s two highest disposal teams – Collingwood is ranked first with 411.3 a game (the only side to average more than 400) and the Bulldogs are second with 391.8. The Pies lead the competition in uncontested possessions and are fifth in contested possessions, while the Bulldogs are 12th and third respectively. Third-year Magpie Tom Phillips continues to make rapid progress in the Schick AFL Player Ratings. After being ranked No.614 at the end of 2016, and No.318 at the end of last year, he has climbed to No.138. IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …Ed Richards. The Bulldogs’ No.16 pick last year will play his first game against Collingwood – the club he supported as a boy after multiple generations of his family (Richards and Pannam) represented the Magpies with distinction. The flame-haired left-footer, 18, has played the past eight games and has looked at home across half-back. PREDICTION: Collingwood by 19 points

2018: LADDER ROUND 9

Pos Position     P Played     Pts Points     % Percentage     W Won     L Lost
D Drawn     F Points For     A Points Against

Round 9: Collingwood 100 St Kilda 72

THE FACTS

2018 AFL Round 10 COLLINGWOOD v FOOTSCRAY Time & Place: Friday May 25, 7:50pm EST Etihad Stadium TV: 7mate/Fox Footy 7:30pm EST Weather: Min 9 Max 16 Chance of rain 30%: <1mm Wind: WNW 11kph Betting: Collingwood $1.46 Footscray $2.75

COLLINGWOOD   3.3.21   7.6.48   14.7.91  15.10.100
ST KILDA             3.5.23   7.7.49   9.9.63    10.12.72

GOALS - Collingwood: De Goey 6, Stevenson 2, Wells 2, Hoskin-Elliott 2, Thomas, T. Phillips, Pendlebury

BEST - Collingwood: De Goey, Sidebottom, Pendlebury, Howe, Crisp, T. Phillips

INJURIES - Collingwood: Fasolo (right ankle)

REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil

OFFICIAL CROWD -  33,994 at Etihad Stadium

TALKING POINTS

1. That's how you kick De Goals, Saints At half-time St Kilda was up by a point and fans were close to the happiest they had been with their team all season. But just 15 minutes later, they were in a familiar place – their team had given up a run of goals, punctuated with St Kilda behinds. It was in marked contrast to Collingwood forward Jordan De Goey, who took full advantage of a St Kilda defence missing the injured Jake Carlisle, Sam Gilbert and Dylan Roberton. De Goey had a first half to remember, running rampant and eventually finishing with a career-high six goals straight. 2. An unlikely Newnes hero, but Membrey struggles Before the match against Collingwood, the highest number of goals Jack Newnes had kicked in a match was just two. By half-time, the 25-year-old had three and finished the match with 4.2. It was a welcome change for Saints fans, who have put up with woefully inaccurate goalkicking and low scoring this season. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for key forward Tim Membrey, who had another miserable night in front of goal. After recording 1.5 last week, he managed just three behinds and looked bereft of confidence. With Newnes not key-forward size and Josh Bruce out with a back injury, Membrey needs the support of another big body, and quickly. 3. Patchy Pies get the job done It wasn't Collingwood's most convincing performance of the season, but sometimes you just need to bank the four points and move on. The Magpies were generally second to the ball in the first half, but noticeably lifted their pressure in the second half. A seven-goal burst in the third term created a comfortable buffer and was a marked improvement on the team's five-goal effort last week against Geelong. The last quarter rapidly deteriorated in quality, with the teams trading horror turnovers and just 2.6 scored between them. Not one to watch on the replay, but a win's a win.

4. No goals, but Cox creates carnage Sometimes a key forward doesn't have to hit the scoreboard to have an impact on the game. Despite some close attention from Nathan Brown for much of the match, he was the focal point for many of Collingwood's forward 50 entries. He struggled to hold his marks at times, but the superb roving of the classier Magpies like Daniel Wells and De Goey meant it wasn't too costly. He also managed to clean up both Brown and his teammate Hunter Clark in the final term in a marking contest. Brown did not return to the field, leaving the inexperienced Rowan Marshall to try and contain the giant American. 5. Hey, brother! On the night of the royal wedding and Prince Phillip making a rare public appearance, it seemed fitting the Phillips brothers lined up directly on each other. Older brother Tom made a beeline for Ed, playing just his second game, and the two shared a grin on the wing before play got underway. They spent most of the match loosely matched against each other, with Tom taking the chocolates with 30 disposals to Ed's 19, even celebrating his goal with an unusual "sleeping" mime. It wasn't Collingwood's most convincing performance of the season, but sometimes you just need to bank the four points and move on. The Magpies were generally second to the ball in the first half, but noticeably lifted their pressure in the second half. A seven-goal burst in the third term created a comfortable buffer and was a marked improvement on the team's five-goal effort last week against Geelong.

THE MEDIA
SUPERFOOTY NATHAN Buckley joked this week that he was “losing sleep” over who was going to walk Meghan down the aisle. Sure, he was joking, but Jordan de Goey ensured his coach slept easy on Saturday night. Keeping hold of him, however, might keep a few Magpies awake into the wee hours after the young gun led Collingwood to a dominant 28-point win over St Kilda at Etihad Stadium. As the world stopped for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to make their commitment to one another, half a world away it became evident that there is only one commitment the Magpies should now look to make. “De Goey is the most important signing. The most!,” club legend Peter Daicos exclaimed online. He couldn’t have been more right. The out-of-contract 22-year-old was royally sublime against St Kilda on Saturday night, producing six goals from just 12 disposals right when Buckley needed it – as Darcy Moore and Jamie Elliott nursed their injured hamstrings and Alex Fasolo an ankle injury incurred early. It’s a role de Goey told Channel 7 post-game that he is loving, lauding his teammates’ delivery into attack. The Pies, Buckley said last week, needed “a little bit more information” before they’d commit on a contract. Sure, there’s off-field things to work through after Buckley admitted there had been “a few dust-ups” in their union. But on-field alone, do they need any more than stuff like that? The bloke capable of elite things in the midfield paid his way up forward – a performance that may well have added to his price. De Goey lit things up every time he went near the ball and worked hard for the benefit of his teammates, too – stuff that’s worthy of huge dollars at the likes of North Melbourne and the Saints, who could do little to curtail him. “The relationship is getting stronger, he is investing in it more and is being more consistent,” Buckley said on SEN last week. Jade Gresham in the middle worked for the Saints, and Jack Newnes looked every bit a legitimate forward on his way to four goals. But Tim Membrey’s poor record in front of goal only got worse as he slumped to a 1.10 record from his last 11 shots. Talks on de Goey are off until at least mid-year – which looms – and there may be a few pre-nuptial style conditions as he continues to rebuild trust. “I’m feeling good. Feeling comfortable,” he said after the game. But as one of the hottest players on the market, de Goey can command plenty and will draw big dollars, with the Magpies faithful hopeful that home is where the heart is. Jordan de Goey: six goals “De Goey is the most important signing. The most!,” club legend Peter Daicos exclaimed online. He couldn’t have been more right. The out-of-contract 22-year-old was royally sublime against St Kilda on Saturday night, producing six goals from just 12 disposals right when Buckley needed it.	AFL WHO needs a settled pre-season? Not Jordan De Goey, whose rise from the outhouse to the penthouse has continued, with a career-best six-goal haul that helped spark Collingwood to a 28-point win over St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night. De Goey missed the start of the season courtesy of a club-imposed suspension and then an injured hamstring, but since his return in round four he has given the Magpies (5-4) an X-factor close to goal that now has them knocking on the door of the eight. The 22-year-old booted three goals in the second term as the Pies kicked away to a 16-point lead, but some quick and direct football got the Saints back in the game and they even took a one-point lead into half-time. But the Pies dominated the third term with seven goals to two to take a firm grip on the game. There was some luck involved, however. They hit the front at the 11-minute mark following a goal to Josh Thomas after a missed free kick to St Kilda youngster Nick Coffield for an arm chop. From the bounce Collingwood got the ball to Daniel Wells who goalled with the assist from Will Hoskin-Elliott, who should have been penalised for a hold on a St Kilda defender. And De Goey then got his fifth major when the Pies swooped on a dreadful kick from St Kilda’s Rowan Marshall that badly missed his target. The youngster wasn't just dragged from the ground but was taken into the tunnel behind the interchange bench to be spoken to by coach Alan Richardson, who spent the evening coaching from the boundary line. Somewhere, former Saints coach Ken Sheldon, who did the same to Craig Devonport, also against Collingwood in 1992, would have nodded his approval. By and large, the Saints (1-1-7) could not be faulted for their energy. And for that brief time in the second term they played brave and direct footy that for a few minutes, had the Pies on the back foot. But they couldn't sustain it for long and their field kicking didn't hold up for long enough. And they were wayward in front of goal once again, unable to apply enough scoreboard pressure when they held the edge. With key forwards Josh Bruce and Paddy McCartin again watching from the stands, they needed Tim Membrey to straighten his kicking, but he finished with 0.3. Officially, he has the yips and it was left to Jack Newnes with a career-best four goals to provide a target. Only once this year have the Saints kicked more goals than behinds. Collingwood welcomed back skipper Scott Pendlebury and he glided through the midfield with 30 possessions and a superb left-foot snap in the third term as the Pies kicked away. Steele Sidebottom was prolific with 38 possessions, while Jack Crisp and Jeremy Howe, with 30 touches each, provided great drive from half-back. “It was frustrating at times but for the second week in a row we made adjustments at half time to get things back how we wanted it,” said Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley. “It was a strong enough performance for what we wanted to see.” Apart from Newnes, Luke Dunstan (32), Seb Ross and Jack Steven (both 29) won plenty of the ball for the Saints. But it’s not much good getting the ball if you can’t use it properly. It has been the story of St Kilda so far in 2018 and there isn’t much evidence to suggest it will change any time soon. “They took their opportunities, we didn’t and we were disappointed with that facet of our play,” coach Alan Richardson said. MEDICAL ROOM Collingwood: More ill-luck for small forward Alex Fasolo who will undergo scans this week to learn the extent of a syndesmosis injury. It was his first game back for 2018. NEXT UP The Pies are back at Etihad on Friday night – as the home team – to take on the Western Bulldogs.
REAL FOOTY Alex Fasolo leaves the field. Collingwood will wait for scans to confirm whether forward Alex Fasolo suffered a syndesmosis injury in his first game for the season. After being forced from the ground in the second quarter of the win against St Kilda he sat out the rest of the game with the Magpies fearing he might spend significant time on the sidelines. "He's upset," Buckley said. "These days [syndesmosis injuries] can really linger and hang around. We will know more about it when we get the scans." Fasolo had shoulder surgery in the off-season and spent the past five games in the VFL as he fought to win a spot back in the line-up. He was selected for the match against St Kilda with the Magpies hoping he could provide some much needed goal-scoring power but he was only able to win two disposals before injury struck. "Clearly getting his opportunity and then getting injured early in the game he is a bit dirty and has got plenty of emotions going on but we will get around him," Buckley said. "It's pretty early in the year so we will give it plenty of time." The win softened the blow for the Magpies but it was the third game in succession where they have lost a player for most of the second half with Darcy Moore sidelined last week and Scott Pendlebury the week before. The Saints have their own injury worries with Nathan Brown suffering a suspected medial ligament strain. The key defender hurt himself in a marking contest late in the game and coach Alan Richardson said Brown will have a scan on his knee this week. "He's tweaked his medial ligament. To what extent, we're not sure. He'll get scans so it is likely he will miss a little bit [of football]," Richardson said. "He thought that in the past he has been able to get back after a couple of weeks. He is a real pro. He will give himself every chance so we will just have to wait and see."

2018 Round 9: The Team, Preview, Injury List

2018 AFL Round 9 COLLINGWOOD v ST KILDA Time & Place: Saturday May 19, 7:25pm EST Etihad Stadium TV: Fox Footy 7:20pm EST Weather: Min 9 Max 15 Chance of rain 40%: <1mm Wind: WSW 11kph Betting: Collingwood $1.32 St Kilda $3.40

B: Sam Murray, Lynden Dunn, Jack Crisp

HB: Travis Varcoe, Matthew Scharenberg, Jeremy Howe

C: Steele Sidebottom, Scott Pendlebury, Tom Phillips

HF: Jordan De Goey, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Alex Fasolo

F: Josh Thomas, Mason Cox, Jaidyn Stephenson

Foll: Brodie Grundy, Daniel Wells, Adam Treloar

Int: Flynn Appleby, Chris Mayne, Taylor Adams, Tom Langdon

Emg: Jarryd Blair, Callum Brown, Josh Daicos, Brody Mihocek

IN: Alex Fasolo, Tom Langdon, Scott Pendlebury
OUT: Darcy Moore (hamstring), Callum Brown, Ben Crocker (omitted)

COLLINGWOOD NEWS Collingwood has made three changes for Saturday night’s clash with St Kilda at Etihad Stadium. Scott Pendlebury returns after recovering from the leg injury he suffered against the Brisbane Lions in round seven, while Tom Langdon is back after overcoming a leg injury of his own. Langdon’s most recent AFL appearance was in the win over Essendon on ANZAC Day. Fasolo, meanwhile, will play his first AFL game since round 21 last year. He has been named on a half-forward flank. Darcy Moore (hamstring) is out injured, while Callum Brown and Ben Crocker have been dropped. Brown is among the emergencies, along with Jarryd Blair, Josh Daicos and Brody Mihocek. Tom Phillips has been cleared to play despite suffering concussion in the loss to Geelong on Sunday. FAZ RETURNS After a pre-season interrupted by shoulder surgery, Alex Fasolo been building his form in the VFL in recent weeks. He has played up forward and averaged 17 disposals and four tackles across five games. He has also kicked 11 goals. Now the 25-year-old, who was Collingwood’s leading goalkicker in 2016, gets his chance to show once again that he belongs at the highest level.

AFL PREVIEW ROUND 8 COLLINGWOOD V ST KILDA AFL LAST FIVE TIMES R4, 2017, St Kilda 9.15 (69) d Collingwood 7.13 (55) at Etihad Stadium R3, 2016, St Kilda 18.11 (119) d Collingwood 14.6 (90) at the MCG R3, 2015, Collingwood 21.14 (140) d St Kilda 10.6 (66) at the MCG R11, 2014, Collingwood 21.14 (140) d St Kilda 8.6 (54) at Etihad Stadium R6, 2013, Collingwood 15.13 (103) d St Kilda 11.11 (77) at Etihad Stadium LADDER POSITIONS Collingwood: 11 St Kilda: 16 INJURY LIST Tom Langdon (leg) – Available Tom Phillips (concussion) – Test Scott Pendlebury (ankle) – Test Ben Reid (Achilles) – Test Jamie Elliott (hamstring) – TBC Darcy Moore (hamstring) – TBC Max Lynch (ankle) – 1 week Brayden Maynard (ankle) – 1-2 weeks Josh Smith (hamstring) – 5-6 weeks James Aish (knee) – 8-10 weeks Kayle Kirby (medical condition) – 12-14 weeks Tim Broomhead (broken leg) – season Tyson Goldsack (knee) – season SUMMARY It's been a brutal season for St Kilda, which has not won since round one against Brisbane. The Saints are bereft of confidence but their third term in last week's loss to Fremantle, when they kicked six goals, should give them some hope. Fixing their kicking, both in play and when trying to score, is critical. Meanwhile, Collingwood has shown signs they can be a good team but injuries to key players have hurt. While the Pies were 11th going into round nine, they were 4-4 with a percentage of 102. It's a decent position to be in but with Darcy Moore and Jamie Elliott succumbing to hamstring injuries and Ben Reid unavailable as he deals with an Achilles issue, they're missing talent up forward. Nathan Buckley will need to find a way to manufacture goals, although St Kilda is the lowest-scoring side in the competition this year, so that might not be a significant problem. AFL THE SIX POINTS When these sides met in 2017, St Kilda had 27 more disposals, 43 more marks, laid 31 more tackles and had 16 more inside-50s. Jack Billings notched up 28 disposals, 10 marks and one goal. The Saints are ranked last for points per game with 64. Collingwood is mid-table, averaging 86 points. St Kilda has won the past two clashes between the two sides, ending Collingwood’s dominance after it won seven straight matches in 2010-15. Nothing separates these teams at Etihad Stadium – they have each won six times. St Kilda has one win from five games at Etihad this season while Collingwood has won three of its past four matches at the venue. This could be a high handballing game: no team handballs more than Collingwood, averaging 192 per game. St Kilda is second with an average of 178. In-form Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy is ranked No.11 in the Schick AFL Player Ratings – a career-high. IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …Collingwood's medical and fitness staff With talented forwards Darcy Moore and Jamie Elliott suffering hamstring injuries again last week, in the AFL and VFL respectively, the club will review its practices and can ill-afford to lose more guns to injuries. PREDICTION: Collingwood by 15 points.

Round 8: Geelong 66 Collingwood 45

THE FACTS

2018 AFL Round 9 COLLINGWOOD v ST KILDA Time & Place: Saturday May 19, 7:25pm EST Etihad Stadium TV: Fox Footy 7:20pm EST Weather: Min 9 Max 16 Chance of rain 90%: 1-5mm Wind: SW 13kph Betting: Collingwood $1.25 St Kilda $4.00

GEELONG             2.4.16   4.7.31   7.10.52   9.12.66
COLLINGWOOD     1.3.9   1.6.12   4.11.35   5.15.45

GOALS - Collingwood: Phillips 2, Grundy, de Goey, Hoskin-Elliott

BEST - Collingwood: Scharenberg, Howe, Treloar, Sidebottom, Mayne, Grundy

INJURIES - Collingwood: Pendlebury (ankle) replaced in the selected side by Crocker, Moore (hamstring), Phillips (concussion)

REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil

OFFICIAL CROWD - 44,602 at the MCG

TALKING POINTS

1. A few Moore injuries hit the Magpies Just two hours after Jamie Elliott lasted 15 minutes in his VFL return after a hamstring injury, Darcy Moore succumbed to what appeared to be the same fate. In just his second game back from a round two hamstring injury, Moore failed to return to the ground after coming off in the second term. Tom Phillips (concussion) joined Moore watching the second half from the sidelines. Moore, who had an interrupted pre-season due to Achilles soreness, is one of five players to have suffered hamstring injuries this year alongside Elliott, Josh Smith, Taylor Adams and Jordan De Goey. 2. New-look Cat attack Patrick Dangerfield played predominantly as a forward as the Cats looked to offset the loss of Tom Hawkins (suspension) and Daniel Menzel (groin). Dangerfield pushed deep and was opposed to Jeremy Howe, giving the Cats' forward line two Brownlow medallists for much of the afternoon as Gary Ablett played a high half-forward role. Playing his second game for the Cats, Stewart Crameri provided an option across-half forward and finished with 11 disposals, while Esava Ratugolea's presence grew throughout. It was the first time the Cats had entered a match without Hawkins or Menzel since round three, 2015. 3. Bucks fires up his troops Whatever Nathan Buckley said at half-time, he needs to bottle it for the rest of the season. As the Pies recorded their lowest half-time score against Geelong in 106 years, the 19-point half-time lead could've been more, such was Geelong's dominance. The Pies came out a different-looking side in the third term, amassing 34 tackles in 31 minutes of play after laying 26 in the first-half. Winning the third-quarter inside 50 count 17-10, the three-quarter time margin could have been closer than 17 points had they have taken their chances in front of goal.

4. Veterans return Three star veterans returned from injuries, all impacting the match at different stages. Gary Ablett (hamstring), played his first match since round three and picked up 32 touches, including 10 in the final term. He copped an innocuous head knock from Daniel Wells late in the third term before brushing himself off. Held back prior to Sunday with an Achilles injury, Wells returned and threatened to keep Collingwood alive in the last quarter, starting at full-forward. Opposed to Jake Kolodjashnij, he worked the Cats defender under the ball deep in attack before scuffing a snap which would've brought the Pies within 12 points. The 33-year-old finished with 13 touches. Meanwhile, Harry Taylor took a back seat as Tom Stewart patrolled the Geelong defence, Taylor solid in his first game since round one after plantar fasciitis. 5. Big Sav stands up In his seventh game AFL game, Esava Ratugolea responded to Chris Scott's call for him to be the No.1 target by taking the opportunity with both hands. He finished with 1.2 and three contested marks from 15 disposals in his most imposing performance to date. "We have been looking for a second target down there for a long time if you don't include Menzel in that category," Scott said post-match. "It was not him playing second fiddle today with Hawkins (out) today, it was a requirement for the team he stood up. Some of those big contested marks, he's a formidable proposition for the opposition." Just two hours after Jamie Elliott lasted 15 minutes in his VFL return after a hamstring injury, Darcy Moore succumbed to what appeared to be the same fate. In just his second game back from a round two hamstring injury, Moore failed to return to the ground after coming off in the second term.

THE MEDIA
AFL GEELONG has eventually wore down a battle-weary Collingwood, holding firm to record a 21-point victory in a scrappy contest at the MCG on Sunday afternoon. The Cats separated themselves from the Magpies in what was largely a dour affair, with consecutive goals to Sam Menegola in the third term opening up a game-high 27-point lead. However, to their credit an injury-depleted Magpies hung tough and at least made the Cats work for the 9.12 (66) to 5.15 (45) victory that propelled them to third spot on the ladder. With Gary Ablett and Patrick Dangerfield spending plenty of time up forward, Tim Kelly (22 touches and six clearances) continued his superb run of form through the midfield with his instinctive stoppage craft a real highlight. Menegola proved to be the circuit-breaker for the Cats with the hard-bodied high half-forward gathering 24 disposals (13 contested), taking 10 marks and kicking three of Geelong's nine goals for the afternoon. Tom Stewart's ascension to being one of the AFL's top defenders continued in earnest, with the 25-year-old winning critical contests at crunch times for his side. Stewart, who collected 28 disposals against the Magpies, would have to be in All Australian contention at his point of the season. Returning from a hamstring injury, Gary Ablett racked up 32 disposals and did enough to suggest he will be an extremely important weapon for Geelong to rely on in the second-half of the year. With Tom Hawkins missing through suspension, exciting young forward Esava Ratugolea also displayed incredibly encouraging signs as the predominant target inside 50 with his one-grab marking (three contested) a feature. Cats coach Chris Scott said he never felt safe with the lead his side maintained throughout the game. "It never really felt to us in the box like we had the game completely in control, even though the scoreboard, especially in the last quarter, reflected that," he said. "We also acknowledge they played their fourth game in whatever it was, 20 days, and lost two players as well. It's not a performance we'll be getting too carried away with because we acknowledge the difficulties for the opposition but once again we had some younger players really stand up when it counted." The Magpies were down to two men on the bench for the majority of the second half when Darcy Moore (hamstring) and Tom Phillips (concussion) were ruled out of the game and it hurt as they tried to mount a charge late in the game. Despite its lack of rotations, Collingwood, which lacked potency up forward as it managed just 5.15, did its best to remain in striking distance and closed the gap to 21 points at the final change. Emerging defender Matthew Scharenberg was outstanding for Collingwood in what was his best game at AFL level, notching 29 disposals at 82.8 per cent efficiency to go with 14 marks. Adam Treloar amassed 34 disposals and Jack Crisp had 32 touches, although at times the pair were the biggest culprits as Collingwood torched the football through the middle of the ground – the Magpies recorded 18 midfield turnovers in the first half. Jeremy Howe was also as solid as ever in the backline with the high-flying defender waging an entertaining battle with Dangerfield when he was stationed up forward. The Pies desperately tried to stage a late comeback, but with their run and energy sapped by having two men on the bench proved to be too big of a hurdle to overcome. "It was a dour old game, bit of cat and mouse in it, both defensive structures pretty strong. I thought they (Geelong) defended the ground really well," Magpies coach Nathan Buckley said. "We didn't use the ball very early and time ran out (on us in the end)." As such, the final margin remained the same as what it was at three-quarter time – 21 points – as the final siren sounded. MEDICAL ROOM Collingwood: Darcy Moore came off the ground in the second quarter complaining of a hamstring injury. The club confirmed it was the same hamstring he injured earlier in the season against Greater Western Sydney in round two. Tom Phillips left the field groggy after his head collided with teammate Chris Mayne's leg when he kicked a goal in the third quarter. Not long after he was ruled out of the game. NEXT UP The injury-hit Magpies will face off against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium next Saturday night.	REAL FOOTY AFL football operations boss Steve Hocking said days ago that the quality of a game is not defined entirely by scoring. Football is more than numbers, he argued, pointing to a game’s closeness and its player on player contests as the type of things people remember from a day at the footy. But of course numbers can’t be ignored. Last week’s win against Brisbane wasn’t Nathan Buckley’s kind of game. Open, freewheeling, goals aplenty, fans liked it, but premierships aren’t won by getting into the habit of conceding 18 goals to a bottom two side. So in a sense, this was much better. Deep into the second term his side had only allowed Geelong to kick two majors. The Pies were dogged deep in defence and the Cats hadn’t managed to break away. The problem was down the other end. The Pies had pumped through 19 majors at the Gabba seven days earlier. On Sunday at the MCG they mustered just one in the first half.  Collingwood hung in for large parts of what was a grim struggle, but Geelong prevailed, as the numbers suggested should be the case. The Cats finished comfortably ahead in the count that really counts on the back of winning key facets of the game. Geelong jumped the Pies, taking control of the clearances. With brother Scott out of the side, the Cats were down to just one Selwood, but Joel was plenty for Collingwood to handle. The Geelong skipper set the tone with his typical ferocity around the ball, helping ensure large parts of the first term were played near his side’s goal. Selwood’s presence was all the more telling given the Pies were without their captain, Scott Pendlebury withdrawn on match day after failing to overcome the ankle injury he sustained seven days earlier in Queensland. The other critical numbers were played out on the bench. Collingwood lost Darcy Moore early to another hamstring injury and Tom Phillips early in the third term to concussion. The numbers suggest that won’t end well for a side, particularly an outfit that was already playing catch-up football. The Cats, with their extra legs on the pine, were well-positioned to withstand any second-half challenge from the Pies. After being stifled by a disciplined Geelong effort in the first half, Collingwood tried to isolate Jordan De Goey as a deep forward after the long break. Phillips soccered through a goal in the scramble that led to his game being ended, before De Goey jagged another and the Pies had cut the margin to less than two goals. But down the other end Geelong had answers. The big number for the Cats before the season was three, or more to the point, “the big three”. One of the trio, Patrick Dangerfield, had been stationed near goal himself, and he slotted a steadying set shot. But it wasn’t Dangerfield, Selwood or the returned Gary Ablett who shone brightest for the Cats. Rather it was the easily forgotten figure of Sam Menegola whose tidy snapping shut the gate on Collingwood. The West Australian kicked three goals from midway through the third term to the early stages of the last. In a low-scoring game, they were priceless. Ablett, a day before his 34th birthday, kept finding the footy but is not the player he used to be. Still, his dancing feet and irresistible skill provided Geelong a goal late in the second term, among the few take-away moments of what was ultimately a dour encounter. The Pies finished with 5.15, and while part of that was because of the Cats’ gritty work deep in defence. Tom Stewart in particular deserves praise in that area - Collingwood were wasteful, sometimes through decision making, often through execution. Playing his first game of the season Daniel Wells could have made a big difference but finished with 0.3. It wasn’t an easy day to be a Pies forward, but Mason Cox’s impact was negligible, while Jaidyn Stephenson - a revelation in the early part of the season - fell back to earth. The Pies looked blue-collar, and the bottom line number on the today was 0 - the premiership points they take away.
AFL COLLINGWOOD will review its injury management practices for the second time in three weeks after two fresh recurrences to key players. Magpies forward Darcy Moore re-injured his hamstring in the second quarter of the club's 21-point loss to Geelong at the MCG on Sunday, with the key forward to have scans this week to assess the damage. It was Moore's second match back after missing four matches with a hamstring injury he suffered in the Pies' round two loss to Greater Western Sydney. That followed Jamie Elliott's own hamstring injury just hours earlier in his comeback game through the VFL, with the high-flying forward missing a month with the same injury through April. Taylor Adams, Jordan De Goey and Josh Smith are other Magpies to have suffered hamstring injuries this season, with Smith re-aggravating his hammy in the VFL last weekend. The Magpies were down to two men on the bench for the majority of the second half after Tom Phillips suffered a head knock when he accidentally ran into teammate Chris Mayne's knee early in the third term. "Every team has injuries. We've had a few recurrences. Clearly Jamie today and Darcy today are issues for us. Rest assured we're not sweeping them under the carpet. We've got to find the answer to it. We want access to our best players more often," coach Nathan Buckley said. "We're not sitting on our hands, not assessing whether we can do things better or what the mechanisms might be. And they're slightly different with each player. "But it is significant. We have looked at it. We looked at it as a group about three weeks ago, and we'll have another look now. "We need to keep providing the best opportunity for players, we need to keep getting rehab right so we can get players back, and fit, and standing up to the competition." Collingwood played three games in 11 days after the Anzac Day blockbuster against Essendon which Buckley said was a challenge, although he also said the club had planned diligently around that. Ben Crocker, Travis Varcoe and Callum Moore were all managed and missed a game during that period. "Sometimes there's a bit of luck in it as well, but we'll look after what we're in control of and leave the rest to the gods," Buckley said. Buckley said the results of scans on Moore and Elliott's hamstrings would determine how best to handle their rehabilitation methods. "What a lot of people don’t realise is it’s a bit of a moving target. We might put four or five weeks on both of those boys for instance," Buckley said. "If they respond well, they might come a week in, if we want to be more prudent or we feel like they need an extra couple of weeks training then it could go out to seven or eight. "But in the end you make decisions on what's best for the player and what their signs are telling us. And we need to look at that and make some shifts or understand what the mechanisms are so that we can improve it." Buckley said a call on Scott Pendlebury's involvement in the game against Geelong – with the skipper a late withdrawal because of an ankle complaint – was made on Saturday.

2018: LADDER ROUND 8

Pos Position     P Played     Pts Points     % Percentage     W Won     L Lost
D Drawn     F Points For     A Points Against

2018 Round 8: The Team, Preview, Injury List

2018 AFL Round 8 COLLINGWOOD v GEELONG Time & Place: Sunday May 13, 3:20pm EST MCG TV: 7mate / Fox Footy 3:00pm EST Weather: Min 16 Max 25 Chance of rain 60%: < 1mm Wind: SSW 15kph Betting: Collingwood $2.30 Geelong $1.63

B: Flynn Appleby, Lynden Dunn, Jack Crisp

HB: Travis Varcoe, Matthew Scharenberg, Jeremy Howe

C: Steele Sidebottom, Scott Pendlebury, Tom Phillips

HF: Jordan De Goey, Darcy Moore, Will Hoskin-Elliott

F: Josh Thomas, Mason Cox, Jaidyn Stephenson

Foll: Brodie Grundy, Taylor Adams, Adam Treloar

Int (from): Jarryd Blair, Callum Brown, Sam Murray, Josh Daicos, Chris Mayne, Ben Crocker, Daniel Wells, Alex Fasolo

IN: Callum Brown, Josh Daicos, Alex Fasolo, Daniel Wells

COLLINGWOOD NEWS Scott Pendlebury has been included in Collingwood’s 26-man squad for Sunday’s big clash with Geelong at the MCG. However, a decision on whether he plays won’t be made until after the team’s main training session at the Holden Centre on Friday. The skipper suffered an ankle injury in the narrow win over the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba last weekend. He was subsequently cleared of serious damage but was diagnosed with bruising around his tibia and ankle. The Pies have added four players to the team that defeated the Lions, with Callum Brown, Josh Daicos, Alex Fasolo and Daniel Wells all named on the extended bench for Sunday’s game. Collingwood will name its final 22-man team at 5pm on Friday. GOOD RECORD The Pies should go into the game with plenty of confidence. Not only are they coming off an entertaining win over the Lions, they have won three of their past four games against Geelong. However, they were beaten by the Cats in their most recent clash, which was in round 22 last year. PIES’ HIGH SCORES Collingwood has scored 100 points in four of its past five games. It’s a dramatic improvement from the opening two rounds of the season, when the Magpies scored 67 points against Hawthorn and 79 against Greater Western Sydney. PHILLIPS POWERING AHEAD Pies midfielder Tom Phillips has enjoyed a great season so far. He is averaging 28 disposals and six marks per game and has also kicked four goals. Phillips racked up 38 touches against Richmond in round six and was sensational against the Lions last weekend, finishing the game with 28 disposals, 10 marks and a goal.

AFL PREVIEW ROUND 8 COLLINGWOOD V GEELONG AFL LAST FIVE TIMES R22, 2017: Geelong 10.10 (70) d Collingwood 9.5 (59) at the MCG R6, 2017: Collingwood 15.17 (107) d Geelong 11.12 (78) at the MCG R9, 2016: Collingwood 16.8 (104) d Geelong 11.14 (80) at the MCG R22, 2015: Collingwood 17.8 (110) d Geelong 9.8 (62) at the MCG R6, 2015: Geelong 15.10 (100) d Collingwood 8.11 (59) at the MCG LADDER POSITIONS Collingwood: 9 Geelong: 6 INJURY LIST Jamie Elliott (hamstring) – available Max Lynch (ankle) – available Rupert Wills (soreness) – available Scott Pendlebury (ankle) – test Tom Langdon (leg) – 1 week Brayden Maynard (ankle) – 1-2 weeks Ben Reid (Achilles) – 1-2 weeks Josh Smith (hamstring) – 3-4 weeks James Aish (knee) – 8-10 weeks Kayle Kirby (medical condition) – 12-14 weeks Tim Broomhead (broken leg) – season Tyson Goldsack (knee) – season SUMMARY Collingwood has a good recent record against Geelong, and this time the Magpies are far better placed to knock of the more-fancied Cats. After a slow start, the Pies have won four of their past five games, and they have done it with a more attacking style with an emphasis on fast chains of handball, while generally squeezing the opposition (although in the past five-and-a-bit quarters they have conceded 28 goals to their own 22). The ninth-placed Magpies are expected to be without skipper Scott Pendlebury (ankle), while sixth-placed Geelong will be boosted by the return of Gary Ablett. The Cats have won three of their past four games and are fresh from belting the Giants at home, with Mitch Duncan finding touch and Tim Kelly enhancing his standing as one of the season's best recruits. AFL THE SIX POINTS Collingwood has won three of the past four clashes between the clubs. Geelong's 11-point win late last year was the closest finish between them since early in 2014. Collingwood has won two of their five games at the MCG this year, while Geelong has one win from two games. The Cats have won four of their past six games on the hallowed turf since the second half of last season. The Magpies' scoring has improved dramatically. In the opening two rounds they averaged just 73 points, but have since lifted it to 99 a game. They have reached 100 points in four of their past five outings.  The Cats' midfield was the difference when the sides last met in round 22 last year, with Patrick Dangerfield and Mitch Duncan each having 32 possessions and Sam Menegola 28 in Geelong's 11-point victory. Dangerfield and Menegola also kicked two goals apiece. Collingwood remains the highest possession team and is one of only two teams to average more than 400 a game. The Cats are equal-eighth with 374. Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy has climbed to a career-best ranking of No. 14 in the Schick AFL Player Ratings. He is the third-ranked Magpie and is first among ruckmen.  IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Gary Ablett After overcoming his second hamstring injury since February, Ablett is back, but doubts remain over whether the Cats' decision to recruit a now injury-prone veteran will ultimately prove a success. A vintage performance would at least allay some concerns, and he is odds-on to do just that given he has averaged 40 possessions in his past four games against the Pies. PREDICTION: Geelong by 15 points

2018: LADDER ROUND 7

Pos Position     P Played     Pts Points     % Percentage     W Won     L Lost
D Drawn     F Points For     A Points Against

Round 7: Collingwood 121 Brisbane 114

THE FACTS

2018 AFL Round 8 COLLINGWOOD v GEELONG Time & Place: Sunday May 13, 3:20pm EST MCG TV: 7mate / Fox Footy 3:00pm EST Weather: Min 9 Max 17 Chance of rain 0% Wind: SSE 11kph Betting: Collingwood $2.30 Geelong $1.63

COLLINGWOOD    4.2.26   10.3.63   15.4.94   19.7.121
BRISBANE             3.0.18   10.0.60   14.2.86   18.6.114

GOALS - Collingwood: De Goey 5, Thomas 3, Stephenson 2, Pendlebury, Mayne, Howe, Treloar, Moore, Phillips, Cox, Varcoe, Hoskin-Elliott

BEST - Collingwood: De Goey, Thomas, Sidebottom, Phillips, Howe

INJURIES - Collingwood: Pendlebury (ankle)

REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil

OFFICIAL CROWD - 21,850 at the Gabba

TALKING POINTS

1. Lions brave but De Goey class the difference It was an old-fashioned shootout at the Gabba but in the end Collingwood continued its recent run of dominance over the Lions with a hard fought seven-point win. Scores were level with two minutes to go but the class of Jordan De Goey was the ultimate difference, with five goals and a smart handball to set up Jaidyn Stephenson for the match-sealing goal. Collingwood fans will be happy with the strong team effort, while Lions fans will again leave the Gabba broken-hearted after another close home loss, having come back strong but ultimately failing against Melbourne and Gold Coast. 2. Goals galore at the Gabba Maybe other teams should look at what boots both sides were wearing. Goalkicking inaccuracy has been a massive talking point across the competition this season, but it wasn’t evident at the Gabba on Sunday night. On the back of a massive 13-goal second quarter, the half-time scoreboard showed 20 goals were scored between both teams with only three behinds, with both teams on 10 goals each. The Lions' first point was a rushed behind early in the third quarter. Their first kicked behind came 17 minutes in. In the end 37 goals were kicked with only 13 behinds. 3. Collingwood’s big guns step up The Collingwood engine-room has been in impressive form of late and its stars stood up again. Steele Sidebottom (34), Tom Phillips (28) and Adam Treloar (26) found plenty of the football and made their possessions count. Collingwood’s midfield potency was highlighted in the first minute of the second quarter, when a string of handballs from Sidebottom to Pendlebury to a running Treloar resulted in a goal. While Pendlebury’s ankle injury in the third quarter was a sour note, Sidebottom in particular picked up the slack for his skipper.

4. The two Dayne’s back in good form Dayne Zorko’s struggle with the hard tag this year has been well-documented, but the All Australian was paid less attention by Collingwood and the Brisbane star took full advantage. He finished with four goals – the third after a great mark close to the goalsquare – and 34 disposals in his best performance for the year. Skipper Dayne Beams led from the front for the Lions against his old team, racking up 31 touches and kicking two goals in a strong game. 5. 'The Recruit' makes his debut It’s been an unusual path to the big stage for Matt Eagles but the 28-year-old Lion realised every footballer’s dream with an AFL debut at the Gabba. From amateur footy to the Lions via Foxtel’s reality program ‘The Recruit’ in 2016 as a rookie, Eagles impressed coach Chris Fagan enough with his recent NEAFL form to earn a game in the seniors. It was a tough start for Eagles, who gave away two free kicks early in the first quarter and missed a spoil which led to Collingwood’s second goal of the game. However, he steadied his way into the game, including a nice baulk and a good defensive mark in the third quarter to finish with 11 possessions and four marks. Scores were level with two minutes to go but the class of Jordan De Goey was the ultimate difference, with five goals and a smart handball to set up Jaidyn Stephenson for the match-sealing goal.

THE MEDIA
AFL COLLINGWOOD has survived a huge scare, outlasting a gallant Brisbane by seven points at the Gabba on Sunday night. In a pulsating match, Lions skipper and former Magpie Dayne Beams levelled the scores with a clutch set shot from 50m with two minutes remaining. But Chris Mayne scrapped a behind to put the Magpies in front and Jaidyn Stephenson iced the win with a goal in the dying seconds when he ran into an empty goalsquare. Collingwood won 19.7 (121) to 18.6 (114) to move to a 4-3 record – narrowly outside the top eight on percentage - ahead of a huge match at the MCG next Sunday against Geelong. The Magpies' win was even more meritorious considering they played the final quarter-and-a-half without skipper Scott Pendlebury who was taken off with an ankle injury in the third term and did not return. Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley had mixed emotions after the victory. "I can't say it was pleasant viewing from our perspective," he said. "That was the worst we've defended all year, but we were able to show enough pluck to get the job done. "There's a lot we'll have a look at that we won't like on tape, but we get the four points and the lesson, which is a good problem to have." They led by 19 points early in the last quarter and the toll of three games in 12 days looked to be too much as the Lions stormed home, but the visitors steadied. Jordan De Goey was brilliant all night and proved the difference between the teams, kicking five goals – and giving the handpass for Stephenson's match-sealer – while Steele Sidebottom (34 touches) continued his fine season. For the Lions, it was yet another heartbreaking defeat. Dayne Zorko returned to form in stunning fashion, set free to play without the handbrake of a tagger, and kicked four goals in his 34 disposals to go with 10 tackles. Beams (31 touches and two goals) was also fantastic, Lewy Taylor (four goals) had his best game of the season and first-year players Cam Rayner and Zac Bailey made huge contributions. It was the fifth time in their seven losses the Lions have been within a kick during the last quarter. "At some point in time we’ll start winning those, but the good thing is we’re having them – we’re in games," Brisbane coach Chris Fagan said. "I really rate that performance by us tonight. In terms of our development, probably, in my short time at the club, that’s our best performance." At the end of a week where the state of the game was highly scrutinised, the two teams played a thrilling duel with fantastic goalkicking. In a scrappy first quarter where the Lions butchered the ball going into their forward 50, Collingwood made the most of its chances to lead by seven points. The second term was a complete reversal of ball use, a thrilling 13-goal exhibition of open, attacking footy. With neither team deciding to clamp down on opposition midfielders, Brisbane kicked seven goals to six as the momentum swung wildly. Adam Treloar goaled from 50m in the opening 15 seconds after a wonderful long handpass from Pendlebury into his path, and that opened the floodgates for the exciting term. The Lions kicked four straight, the Pies answered with four of their own – three to Queenslander Josh Thomas – before the home team went into the main change trailing by three points after kicking the final three of the half. While the big names of Zorko, Beams, Pendlebury and Sidebottom did their thing, fourth-gamer Bailey was super impressive for Brisbane, showing composure while many around him floundered. MEDICAL ROOM Collingwood: The major concern for the Magpies is Scott Pendlebury. Coach Nathan Buckley confirmed his skipper had a sprained ankle and said "we'll know more in the next day or two", but you'd think he'd have to be in some doubt for next week. NEXT UP Collingwood will try to move into the top eight when it plays Geelong at the MCG next Sunday afternoon.	REAL FOOTY Collingwood’s banner at the start of this game told us that the game was in trouble – at least, according to the media. Perhaps they wanted to show us what it could still be: few would have predicted that this game against the Brisbane Lions would turn into one of the fastest, most entertaining and open of the season to date. After an ugly opening, the game lifted several cogs and was played at breakneck pace thereafter. Both sides’ prime movers were prominent: Dayne Zorko returning to form with a brilliant game for the Lions, Sidebottom continuing his golden season for the Magpies, Brodie Grundy and Stefan Martin fighting a tremendous duel in the ruck. Zorko, tagged out of the last two games, dragged his side back from what looked like an irretrievable position, 20 points down midway through the last quarter. He took a classic hanger 15 metres out to bring the margin back to 14, then kicked a checkside out of traffic to bring the crowd back into the game. Daniel McStay made it three points with a big contested mark in front of goal. Then Jordan de Goey – who is more than repaying Collingwood after another pre-season indiscretion – kicked his fifth goal, a career-best effort, from a strong mark. Dayne Beams, also in great form, responded to level the scores. Then de Goey sealed it, this time with a handball to a tearaway Jaidyn Stephenson to finish a tremendous contest, aided upfield by a crucial mark by the big American Mason Cox. For the Lions, it was another heartbreaking case of close, but no cigar. But Collingwood, perhaps, have a bigger problem. A shudder had gone through the Magpies in the third quarter as Scott Pendlebury went off, taking his boot off and going straight down the race. He was back quickly, then off again, clearly impeded by an ankle problem. The results of the inevitable scans will surely be a determining factor in Collingwood’s year. The first quarter was a rotten spectacle, with both sides turning the ball over, especially inside their own forward half. Heavy dew in Brisbane is often used as an excuse in these twilight games, but most of the clangers were being made by foot, and both sides wasted opportunities to score. Players who were clean stood out, none more so than Pendlebury, who looks back to his brilliant best after a thumb injury curtailed his season in 2017. He strolled in for the Magpies’ first after 11 minutes. He’s no quicker than he ever was, but who needs speed when you still play the game like you’re hypnotising chickens? Minutes later he was involved again in a chain that ended with Chris Mayne, and at the beginning of the second quarter he released Adam Treloar with a looping handball out of traffic. The Magpies looked to be bursting clear, Jordan de Goey opening up a 20-point lead from a Luke Hodge error. From there, the second quarter turned into a frenzied shootout. The Lions kicked the next four goals, Lewis Taylor briefly pinching the lead for the home side with his first. Zorko didn’t have a hard tag and was damaging; so too captain Dayne Beams, the pair accumulating 37 touches for the half. Clawed back: Brisbane's Darcy Gardiner tackles Jaidyn Stephenson of Collingwood. Collingwood steadied, though, and hit back with Josh Thomas continuing an excellent run of form with three goals in 10 minutes, Darcy Moore also getting involved in his return with a fast lead and excellent conversion from the boundary line. Then the Lions replied again, Charlie Cameron and Taylor making it a three-point game. It gave the Lions the points for the quarter with seven goals to six, and asked some questions of both coaches. Nathan Buckley, praised for his remodelled defence this year, has been bitten by his reluctance to lock down on players. But Chris Fagan had problems, too, with Pies playmakers Sidebottom and Pendlebury also off the chain. Neither blinked. Sidebottom continued to have a picnic for the Pies.Charlie Cameron’s influence grew for the Lions, threading the needle twice with passes to Taylor (for his third goal) and Zorko, who continued to find, and be given space. Travis Varcoe gave Collingwood space; Taylor’s speed netted him a fourth. By this point, Pendlebury was off, and Taylor was involved again in gifting a goal by hand to Bailey. Stephenson kept the Magpies eight points clear at the last change, and he was crucial in the final exchange to seal the deal.
AFL COLLINGWOOD won its fourth game in five weeks, but coach Nathan Buckley was filthy following Sunday night's victory over Brisbane. Conceding 18 goals to the winless Lions and sneaking home late to win by seven points, Buckley said it was the worst the Magpies had defended this season. He did however say it was nice to learn a lesson and take four premiership points in the process. Collingwood are 0.2 per cent outside the top eight with a 4-3 record, but Buckley said a lot would have to change for the Magpies to continue their winning ways. "I can't say it was pleasant viewing from our perspective," he said. "It was a high-scoring shootout, there was high scores from stoppages, high scores from turnovers. "That's the worst we've defended all year, but we were able to show enough pluck to get the job done. "There's a lot we'll have a look at that we won't like on tape, but we get the four points and the lesson, which is a good problem to have." Playing their third game in 12 days, the Magpies looked like being over-run in the final term, with a Dayne Beams' goal levelling the scores after Collingwood gave up a 19-point lead. But a Chris Mayne behind and Jaidyn Stephenson goal sealed victory. "Our expectations are growing and there's nothing wrong with that. you've got to earn every win," Buckley said. "Our back six and our team defence just didn't hold up as well as we have for the most part of this year. "It's not our brand on full display." Collingwood's task of making it five wins from six against in-form Geelong next Sunday could be made more difficult with Scott Pendlebury in doubt with an ankle injury. The captain hobbled off in the third quarter, went to the rooms and tried to return, but failed to play the final quarter-and-a-half. "It's a sprained ankle at this point," Buckley said. "He just couldn't get it going. We'll know more about that in the next day or two. "He was fairly bullish about it but felt like he was impeded enough to not play his role, but we'll see what happens when the dust settles."

2018 Round 7: The Team, Preview, Injury List

2018 AFL Round 7 COLLINGWOOD v BRISBANE Time & Place: Sunday May 6, 4:40pm EST Gabba TV: Fox Footy 4:30pm EST Weather: Min 16 Max 25 Chance of rain 40%: < 1mm Wind: SSE 23kph Betting: Collingwood $1.37 Brisbane $3.11

B: Sam Murray, Lynden Dunn, Jack Crisp

HB: Travis Varcoe, Matthew Scharenberg, Jeremy Howe

C: Steele Sidebottom, Scott Pendlebury, Tom Phillips

HF: Jordan De Goey, Darcy Moore, Will Hoskin-Elliott

F: Ben Crocker, Mason Cox, Jaidyn Stephenson

Foll: Brodie Grundy, Taylor Adams, Adam Treloar

Int from: Jarryd Blair, Alex Fasolo, Chris Mayne, Callum Brown, Josh Thomas, Brayden Sier, Sam McLarty, Flynn Appleby

IN: Taylor Adams, Ben Crocker, Alex Fasolo, Sam McLarty, Darcy Moore, Brayden Sier, Travis Varcoe
OUT: James Aish (knee), Brayden Maynard (ankle), Ben Reid (Achilles)

COLLINGWOOD NEWS Some good players out, some good players in. That sums up Collingwood’s team selection for the round seven clash with the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on Sunday evening. Darcy Moore, Ben Crocker, Taylor Adams and Travis Varcoe are the confirmed additions to the team that lost to Richmond last weekend. The Pies have also brought Alex Fasolo, Sam McLarty and Brayden Sier into their 26-man squad. Fasolo, McLarty and Sier have been named on the extended bench. The confirmed outs are James Aish (knee), Brayden Maynard (ankle) and Ben Reid (achilles). The final team will be named at 5pm on Friday. GREAT GABBA RECORD Collingwood is aiming to post its fifth straight win at the Gabba when it takes on the Lions on Sunday. The Magpies last played at the Gabba on a Saturday night in May 2016. That night the Pies won by 78 points and Adam Treloar finished with 36 disposals and three goals (he later received the three Brownlow Medal votes as well). TERRIFIC TRAV Travis Varcoe will be looking to continue his perfect record against the Lions. During his career with Geelong and Collingwood, the speedy midfielder has played 11 games against the boys from Brisbane (nine of those when he was with the Cats) and has won all of them. Varcoe’s career win-loss record is quite incredible. He has played 190 games and has won 139, a winning percentage of 73.16. WHERE WILL MOORE PLAY? Darcy Moore spent a lot of time training as a backman during the pre-season. He then played a bit at both ends of the ground before going down with an injury in the round two loss to Greater Western Sydney. But Ben Reid’s absence means he’s likely to play in the forward line on Sunday.

AFL PREVIEW ROUND 7 COLLINGWOOD V BRISBANE AFL LAST FIVE TIMES R10, 2017, Collingwood 18.21 (129) d Brisbane Lions 13.6 (84) at the MCG R8, 2016, Collingwood 20.23 (143) d Brisbane Lions 10.5 (65) at the MCG R1, 2015, Collingwood 12.14 (86) d Brisbane Lions 11.8 (74) at the Gabba R21, 2014, Brisbane Lions 18.15 (123) d Collingwood 8.8 (56) at the MCG R10, 2013, Collingwood 14.16 (100) d Brisbane Lions 7.9 (51) at the Gabba  LADDER POSITIONS Collingwood: 10 Brisbane: 17 INJURY LIST Kayle Kirby (medical condition) – TBC Taylor Adams (hamstring) – available Ben Crocker (managed) – available Levi Greenwood (knee) – available Darcy Moore (hamstring) – available Josh Smith (hamstring) – available Travis Varcoe (managed) – available Tom Langdon (knee) – test Jamie Elliott (hamstring) – 1-2 weeks Brayden Maynard (ankle) – 1-2 weeks Ben Reid (Achilles) – 1-2 weeks James Aish (knee) – 8-10 weeks Tim Broomhead (broken leg) – season Tyson Goldsack (knee) – season SUMMARY Collingwood is one of the early-season surprise packets and Brisbane are still winless, but this looms as a danger game for the Magpies. Fresh off blockbuster wins against Adelaide and Essendon on Anzac Day, Collingwood enhanced its reputation with a gritty performance against Richmond before a late fade. They head to the Gabba with a 3-3 win-loss record and, despite sporting a white-hot midfield led by Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom and Adam Treloar, have some injury concerns that may tilt the balance of favouritism ever-so-slightly. Aside from one poor showing against the Tigers, the Lions have been ultra-competitive in the opening six weeks despite failing to register a win. They have matched their opponents most weeks in contested footy and clearances with ruckman Stefan Martin a central figure to this. That all said, if the Magpies want to see September action, these are the types of games they simply must win. AFL THE SIX POINTS Collingwood’s midfield stars were the difference when the sides played in 2017. Scott Pendlebury had 31 disposals and eight tackles, Steele Sidebottom 34 touches and small forwards Jamie Elliott and Alex Fasolo combined for six goals. The Lions are the lowest-scoring team so far in 2018, averaging just 63 points a game. In two of their past three matches they've been held to just two and five goals. Collingwood is averaging 87 points a game. Collingwood has dominated Brisbane recently, winning the past three matches and six of the past seven. In total the teams have played 44 times with the Magpies holding a 25-19 advantage. At the Gabba it's a different story though with the Lions leading 11-8. The Magpies are the highest disposal team in 2018, one of only three averaging more than 400 a game. In contrast the Lions are 14th with an average of 364.8. Brisbane hasn’t started a season 0-7 since 2011. Since 2013 they’ve managed only seven wins from 41 games in the first seven rounds of the season. The Magpies have five players – Pendlebury, Treloar, Brodie Grundy, Sidebottom and Jeremy Howe – ranked in the top 50 of the AFL's Official Player Ratings and Taylor Adams is right next door at 51. The Lions have just one – Dayne Zorko. IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Dayne Zorko The word is out – Zorko can be shut down with a tag. Last year's All Australian has had a super slow start to 2018, averaging just 15 disposals a match. Against Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney in the past fortnight that has plummeted even further, with just 10 touches in each match. For the Lions to win, Zorko must find a way to lift. PREDICTION: Collingwood by 19 points