Preview Round 22: Collingwood v Gold Coast

AFL

SUMMARY

Round 22 COLLINGWOOD v GOLD COAST Time, Place, TV: Saturday August 20, 7:25pm Etihad Stadium Fox Sports 7:00pm Weather: Min 6 Max 14 Chance of rain 70%: 1-5mm Wind: WNW 26kph Betting: Collingwood $1.32 Gold Coast $3.41

Either way, a hoodoo will be broken, with neither club winning at Etihad Stadium since 2014. This will be the first clash between the clubs at Etihad Stadium, and just their second encounter in Melbourne, the first resulting in a 97-point win to the Pies at the MCG in 2012. Both clubs have been ravaged by injury this year and, consequently, have performed well below expectations. Both are also planning to finish the season strongly to take some momentum into the pre-season and build a platform for an intended rise next year. Despite the odd aberration, such as Gold Coast's shock loss to bottom side Essendon last round, they have played better in the second half of the year, but Collingwood's greater consistency should give the home side the edge.

LAST FIVE TIMES

1. R8, 2015, Collingwood 20.12 (132) d Gold Coast 9.9 (63) at Metricon Stadium
2. R16, 2014, Gold Coast 11.14 (80) d Collingwood 10.15 (75) at Metricon Stadium
3. R17, 2013, Gold Coast 13.7 (85) d Collingwood 11.12 (78) at Metricon Stadium
4. R10, 2012, Collingwood 23.11 (149) d Gold Coast 7.10 (52) at the MCG
5. R18, 2011, Collingwood 19.15 (129) d Gold Coast 11.9 (75) at Metricon Stadium

THE SIX POINTS

1. The last time they met, the Pies won easily with Dane Swan (36 disposals), Scott Pendlebury (35), Steele Sidebottom (32) and Jamie Elliott (five goals) starring. The Magpies dominated the inside 50s (58-44) and scoring shots (32-18).
2. Neither club has enjoyed playing at Etihad Stadium recently – Collingwood has lost its past six there, while Gold Coast has lost its past four and has won only twice there in its history.
3. Both sides have struggled to finish games this season – Gold Coast is ranked 17th for last quarters won with five, while Collingwood is equal-14th with six.
4. Little separates the sides in terms of scoring this season, with the Magpies 12th with an average of 84 points a game and the Suns 13th with 83 points.
5. Collingwood and Gold Coast meet for the sixth time with the ledger being 3-2 in the Pies' favour. The Suns' two wins have both been by single-figure margins. 
6. Brodie Grundy's star continues to rise, with the young Magpies ruckman jumping to a career-high ranking of No.119 in the Schick AFL Player Ratings. He started the season at No.257.

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …Nathan Buckley.
The Pies coach has had quite a few big weeks this year, and this looms as another one. After just failing in a gallant loss to the Western Bulldogs, his boys simply must get the points against Gold Coast. Particularly after the Suns' disastrous performance against Essendon at the same venue.

PREDICTION: Collingwood by 19 points.

Injury List

Injury Update Monday, August 15, 2016
Player	Injury	Status	Round 22 COLLINGWOOD v GOLD COAST Time, Place, TV: Saturday August 20, 7:25pm Etihad Stadium Fox Sports 7:00pm Weather: Min 7 Max 14 Chance of rain 70%: 1-5mm Wind: WNW 24kph Betting: Collingwood $1.32 Gold Coast $3.40
Taylor Adams	Ankle	Season
Tim Broomhead	Shoulder	Season
Mason Cox	Shoulder	Test
Ben Crocker	Concussion	Test
Jamie Elliott	Back	Season
Alex Fasolo	Shoulder	Season
Tom Langdon	Knee	Season
Jackson Ramsay	Knee	Season
Ben Reid	Knee	Season
Matt Scharenberg*	Knee	Season
Brayden Sier	Back	Test
Ben Sinclair	Concussion	Season
Dane Swan*	Broken leg/foot	Season
* Placed on the club's long-term injury list

Collingwood News Taylor Adams won't play again in 2016 after injuring his ankle against the Western Bulldogs on Friday night. Three Collingwood players won't return to the field again this year with Neil Balme ruling out Taylor Adams, Ben Reid and Ben Sinclair for the remainder of the season. With games against Gold Coast and Hawthorn remaining, the director of football on Monday declared the risk of rushing the trio back too great. Adams sustained an ankle injury in Friday's nail-biting loss to the Western Bulldogs. The midfielder left the field midway through the final quarter after collecting 21 possessions in 73 per cent game time. Earlier in the match he also required attention from the trainers on a concern to his left calf. "Taylor Adams has hurt his ankle," Balme confirmed. "He's pretty sore and will certainly miss two weeks. "I don't think he'll need any surgery but he won't play for the rest of the season." Another man set to be sidelined for the remainder of the year is key defender Reid. Nathan Buckley all but confirmed in his Friday night press conference that Reid wouldn't return in 2016. This was further confirmed on Monday. "He's been suffering from that PCL injury and we'll take him out for the rest of the year," Balme said. "We're still deciding on what the course of action for that is. It may or may not require surgery. "Obviously he has been able to get through a fair bit of the season with that, but now it's not worth taking the risk." Finally, after a year of struggles with concussion, Ben Sinclair's season has officially come to an end. The 24-year-old has played 13 games and suffered four bouts of concussion in 2016. While Balme is confident Sinclair continues to progress well from his latest setback, he will now turn attention to 2017. "He's recovered quite well. He's training but we don't think we'll take a risk for the rest of the year with his concussions," Balme said. "He's very keen to play, as we are. But naturally there'll have to be a bit of testing for him to go through to ensure that he's okay." Despite the growing number of Magpies on the long-term injury list, a few will attempt to return to the field before the season is out. Mason Cox (shoulder), Brayden Sier (back) and Ben Crocker (concussion) are all seeking to prove their fitness, while Darcy Moore has escaped from his crash with the Etihad Stadium fence with only a cut head and black eye. "He's fine," Balme said of Moore. "Obviously he scratched his head and had a bit of bleeding. But that won't stop him this week."

Herald Sun SUMMARY: COLLINGWOOD has put Taylor Adams, Ben Reid and Ben Sinclair and in cotton wool. The trio were on Monday ruled out for the rest of the season with two games left. Magpies football manager Neil Balme confirmed the decision on Monday. "Today we can rule out Taylor Adams, Ben Reid and Ben Sinclair who won't play again this year," he said. Adams will avoid surgery after hurting his ankle against the Bulldogs on Friday night but would miss at least two weeks while Reid "may or may not need surgery" on a PCL injury. Sinclair has suffered multiple concussions this season and Balme said the club needed to get to the bottom of the problem. "We need to get to the bottom of it and give him a decent chance to be able to put some games together," he said. "We obviously miss him and we're keen for him to come back, but with all those concussion things we're very concerned about his future so we'll do everything we can to make sure he's OK." Balme said Alex Fasolo and Tim Broomhead were "pretty sore" after shoulder surgery and both would take 3-4 months to "get back to square one". The news is better for Darcy Moore, who is fine after crashing head-first into the Etihad Stadium fence. ON THE BLOCK: Tom Phillips won't enjoy when the match review shows him playing on in the first quarter right in front of goal. The young Pie had his kick smothered and watched in horror as the footy whisked to the other end for Jake Stringer to goal. Adam Oxley didn't have a huge Friday night. ON THE CUSP: Travis Cloke kicked five, but are his papers stamped? Brent Macaffer was best-afield as the VFL side prevailed yet again while Mason Cox could return. Ben Reid is likely to be put on ice for the remainder of the season after succumbing to a knee injury that has plagued him for most of the season. SAM LANDSBERGER'S FORECAST: These Magpies should beat Gold Coast and won't be without a sneaky shot against Hawthorn. They sit No.2 on the injury ladder and their form against the best has been impressive. The Dogs might have been younger, but Bucks still fielded the fifth-most inexperienced side of Round 21. Plenty of promise for 2017, while Adam Treloar might be on his way to a Copeland Trophy in year one as a Pie. A decision on Dane Swan is due. Have we seen the last of the champ?

2016: LADDER ROUND 21

Pos Position   C Change from last round    P Played    W Won   L Lost    D Drawn    F Points for
A Points against    % Percentage    Form Past five results    Next Next opponent    Pts Points

Round 21:Western Bulldogs 95 Collingwood 92

THE FACTS

WESTERN BULLDOGS   3.3.21   7.6.48   11.7.73   14.11.95
COLLINGWOOD              2.4.16   7.5.47   11.7.73    14.8.92

GOALS - Collingwood: Moore 3, Sidebottom 2, De Goey 2, Oxley 2, Treloar, White, Phillips, Greenwood, Maynard

BEST - Collingwood: Treloar, Sidebottom, Aish, Moore, Goldsack, Grundy

INJURIES - Collingwood: Adams (corked calf), Moore (cut eye)

REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil

OFFICIAL CROWD - 35,010 at Etihad Stadium

TALKING POINTS

1. Anything you can do, I can do better You could have been excused for breaking out the popcorn as two of the League's brightest young stars went head-to-head in a see-sawing third quarter. Collingwood's Adam Treloar caught fire in the third term, racking up 12 disposals as he ignited the Magpies' charge. On the back of Treloar's work through the midfield, Collingwood opened up a game-high 18-point lead with the first three goals of the second half. Not to be outdone, Bulldogs young gun Marcus Bontempelli lifted as he also collected 12 disposals, as well as kicking a goal and dishing out a goal assist to revitalise his side. Bontempelli finished the game with 26 touches, 17 of which came after half-time, while Treloar had a game-high 34 touches in a thrilling footy match. 2. Lin Jong's audition Lin Jong may have been getting a glimpse into what makes his teammates tick, and they may or may not be the players wearing black and white. The Bulldogs midfielder made headlines in July after he toured the Westpac Centre, meeting with coach Nathan Buckley and other Magpies officials. Jong is still undecided about his future but he did his market value no harm against his suitors on Friday night. The 23-year-old was one of the Bulldogs' best, racking up 18 disposals and kicking two goals in the third term when his team needed him to stand up. Jong's crash and bash style, and touches of polish, makes him an attractive proposition for opposition clubs. Pendlebury finished the game with 24 disposals against the Bulldogs. Pendlebury is renowned for his silkiness, but his ability to play through pain and adversity goes largely unnoticed. His toughness is certainly starting to receive attention.

3. Moore's mixed night Returning from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for a week, Darcy Moore was in the thick of the action against the Bulldogs. Without Travis Cloke, who was dropped for the third time this season, Moore was the main man in the forward line. The young star nailed three goals and was dangerous all night long, but his night will be remembered for a nasty looking incident in the second quarter. Contesting against Bulldogs opponent Joel Hamling, Moore lost his balance in a marking contest and went careering, head-first, into the fence. Thankfully, nothing serious came of it and Moore escaped with little more than a cut above his right eye. 4. Pendles the Brave Scott Pendlebury could barely walk after last Friday night's loss to Richmond and appeared almost certain to miss the clash against the Western Bulldogs with a sprained foot. In fact, the Magpies were fearful his season may have been over before he had a scan on Monday. But after a week of intensive rehab, the skipper managed to get himself up for the game and typically led his team with aplomb. In a nod to his professional approach, Pendlebury finished the game with 24 disposals against the Bulldogs. Pendlebury is renowned for his silkiness, but his ability to play through pain and adversity goes largely unnoticed. His toughness is certainly starting to receive attention. 5. Bulldogs keep top-four hopes alive Despite an extensive injury list, the Bulldogs still have an opportunity to claim a double chance at the end of the year. The narrow win over Collingwood takes the Dogs to 56 points, drawing equal with the Sydney Swans, Adelaide, Greater Western Sydney and Geelong. However, those four teams still have a game in hand. With two matches to play (after this weekend), the Dogs will be hoping for a slip-up from any of those four teams and they will be ready to pounce if the opportunity arises.

THE MEDIA

COLLINGWOOD NEWS Nathan Buckley can't wait to unleash the Adam Treloar-Darcy Moore partnership on the competition for years to come, after the young stars almost lifted Collingwood to an unforgettable victory over the Western Bulldogs on Friday night. While focus was rightfully on the performances of Treloar and Moore, Buckley also confirmed star defender Ben Reid would almost certainly miss the rest of the season with a knee complaint. Treloar was best afield in a gut-wrenching three-point loss to the Bulldogs, racking up a game-high 34 touches, including 22 after half-time, in what was an intriguing battle against Bulldogs midfielder Marcus Bontempelli. "There's pot shots coming from all angles for anyone at the Collingwood Football Club at the moment… but Adam Treloar is not someone who should be copping it," Buckley said. "He's got great wheels. He can win the ball inside, he can get outside. He can clean up his use and we can make more of his touches, but he just breaks the game up. He's going to be a very good midfielder in the competition and he'll be very important for us going forward." In Travis Cloke's absence, Moore spearheaded the Magpies' forward line, as he booted three goals and took six marks (three contested) against a Bulldogs defence that struggled to contend with his height and speed. "We'll build a forward line around Darcy for the next ten years and he's ready to go now," Buckley said. "He's only played 25 games and he's ready to impact the competition in a big way and he's going to be really important for us starting now." Moore's performance was made more impressive for the way he returned from a week's layoff with a hamstring injury, while he also suffered a heavy blow to the head when he went spiraling into the LED boundary signage in the second quarter. "It looked pretty full on, pretty significant. He's got LED dimples in the side of his head. It wasn't a small knock but he bounced back from that OK," Buckley said. Reid, who missed the game against the Bulldogs, has been carrying a niggling knee injury for a number of months and the Magpies have conceded it would be better to put him on ice for the rest of the season. "He's been carrying that knee for the most part of the year and it's reached the tipping point," Buckley said. "It's unlikely we'll see him back for the rest of the year. "He'll be better than what we've got out of him in season 2016 after his last two years. He's still been running around at 85 per cent fit, so when he gets that knee right and when he's 100 per cent fit, touch wood, we'll be better again." Buckley said the way his team performed against the Bulldogs was what he had come to expect of his side post-bye. "We just lost a game of footy that we had every intention of winning and we could have and should have," Buckley said. "That's what all Collingwood people should be expecting from their team, and they were bleeding on it last week, as we were, and that's my challenge as a coach and it's Pendles' (Scott Pendlebury) as the senior leader of our playing group, to make sure that what we saw tonight is the minimum standard and we don't see the games that we played last week."                                  REAL FOOTY Collingwood gave the Western Bulldogs an almighty scare on Friday night, making them work all match for a three-point win. The Pies managed to contain a usually free-flowing Doggies team in the first half at Etihad Stadium, then matched them goal for goal until the final siren. When the siren sounded the Bulldogs embraced while the men in black and white remained sprawled across the grass. It was one of those strange late-season matches which should not counted for much, but actually meant a lot. The Bulldogs cleaned up eighth-placed North Melbourne last weekend, but a question mark still hung over the Bulldogs, a team so unlucky with injuries in 2016. Meanwhile Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley had admitted during the week that he was feeling under pressure, with his team set to miss finals for another season. In a scrappy first quarter, a couple of poor passages of play from Collingwood resulted in turnovers and scores for the Dogs. The Bulldogs went into that first break five points up and seemed to have the momentum – season-long form would suggest they were about to pull away from the Pies. And indeed in the opening minutes of the second term they got a stroke of luck. In a scramble for the ball in front of the goal, what looked like a throw from Marcus Bontempelli went unpunished, and Nathan Hrovat was able to skip through the contest, scoop up the ball and boot a goal. Clay Smith got the next major score of the quarter, on the run from about 30 metres out, even as he was being tackled by Tyson Goldsack. But Collingwood was not going to let the Doggies get away with it that easily. Darcy Moore kicked his second goal of the night, only to have the Bulldogs' Zaine Cordy returning the favour. Jordan De Goey, Steele Sidebottom and Adam Oxley scored three in a row for the Magpies, bringing them well back into contention – Sidebottom with a snap shot around his body in front of goal. The Western Bulldogs went into half-time one point up. Their back line, ravaged by injury all year, had not been able to match the Collingwood talls and the Pies had successfully thwarted their trademark quick-paced, running style. Picken moved to play on Steele Sidebottom in the third quarter and reduced the influence of the Magpies' vice-captain. Collingwood played smoother, more confident football than they had for much of the year, piling on three goals early as dark clouds gathered for the Bulldogs. But inspiration for the Dogs came in the form of Lin Jong, who kicked two goals. Collingwood are interested in recruiting Jongand their coaching staff must have been impressed by this performance. In the centre, Bontempelli and Adam Treloar were equally good, two classy young stars of the game each creating important opportunities for his team. A sense of desperation entered the game in the last quarter – with less than 10 minutes to go Brayden Maynard, under immense pressure, kicked a soaring goal to level the scores. With the Dogs holding on by three points with 30 seconds to go, Jong tapped the ball towards the boundary and the umpire called it deliberate. But the Magpies could not make anything of that last half-chance.                                  NOTES MEDICAL ROOM Taylor Adams required some attention to his left calf in the second term but he returned to take the field. However, after being crunched in a tackle late in the game the key midfielder hobbled from the ground with the help of trainers with a lower leg injury. NEXT UP Collingwood comes up against the Gold Coast at Etihad Stadium next Saturday night as it hopes to continue its better form to end the season. LAST TWO Gold Coast, Hawthorn "We'll build a forward line around Darcy (Moore) over the next 10 years. He's ready to go now and he's only played 25, 26 games and he's ready to impact the competition in a big way. He's going to be really important for us, starting now. He's mobile, athletic, he always threatens in the air and his contest at ground level is strong as well." Nathan Buckley

SUPERFOOTY COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley has poured praise on Darcy Moore after the emerging forward shone in the Pies' fighting loss to the Western Bulldogs. Moore, returning from a hamstring injury, kicked 3.3 from 13 possessions and three contested marks in another highly promising performance. The Pies played with vigour and energy and were dejected over a three-point loss. But Buckley's disappointed was softened by a collection of excellent performances, including Moore's. "We'll build a forward line around Darcy over the next 10 years," Buckley said. "He's ready to go now and he's only played 25, 26 games and he's ready to impact the competition in a big way. He's going to be really important for us, starting now. "He's mobile, athletic, he always threatens in the air and his contest at ground level is strong as well." Moore sent a scare through the Collingwood camp, however, when he crashed hard into the advertising fence, resulting in a gash over his right eye. "It looked full-on, it looked pretty significant," Buckley said. "He's got LED dimples in the side of his head so it wasn't a small knock, but he bounced back from that OK." With Travis Cloke dropped for the third time and Mason Cox sidelined with injury, the Pies' more mobile front half swarmed and its forward pressure stifled the Dogs' famed rebound. Asked if he thought Cloke would be at Collingwood next year, Buckley said: "There's plenty of time for that. Travis is contracted and our endeavour all along ... has been to get him back to playing the best footy he can play. "I'm pretty confident Trav can regain his confidence and form and we expect that to be with us next year." With Moore, Adam Treloar led the Collingwood charge, finishing with 34 possessions — 22 coming in the second half. "There's pot shots coming from all angles for anyone associated with the Collingwood Football Club at the moment and there's plenty we would like to have worked better ... but Adam Treloar is not one who should be copping it," Buckley said. "His just got great wheels, he's fast, he wins the ball inside, he can get outside. He can clean up his use but he just breaks the game up so he's going to be a very good midfielder in the competition as he has been and very important for us going forward." The Pies won the tackle count 87-74 and matched the Dogs for contested ball, clearances and inside 50s leaving Buckley to lament a "couple of howlers" that cost them the game. "That's got to be a minimum effort for us, but we brought the right intent, tried to play our brand for four quarters and it was a marginal result," he said. "Our use, on the whole, was pretty good but we just had four or five key decisions or key execution errors that cost us goals. Isolated errors hurt us."                                  AFL THE WESTERN Bulldogs have survived a scare to go a step closer to confirming their place in the top-six on the ladder with a thrilling three-point win over Collingwood. In a game that saw the scores leveled 11 times throughout the night at Etihad Stadium, the Dogs held on to the important victory to keep alive their top-four hopes. On several occasions the Dogs looked to be heading to a costly defeat that would have had repercussions for their chances of playing an elimination final in Melbourne, but Luke Beveridge's men stuck to their guns to secure the 14.11 (95) to 14.8 (92) win. A Nathan Hrovat mark and goal midway through the final term put the Dogs ahead by six points before the Pies drew level when Brayden Maynard powerfully busted through a tackle to kick a left-foot goal at the 22-minute mark of the final term. Both sides had their chances from there, but the Dogs' three behinds was the difference in an entertaining and high-scoring affair. Although the game was an important one for the top-eight Dogs against the Pies, whose season expires in two weeks, at times the larger contest was the sideshow to the main attraction: Adam Treloar up against Marcus Bontempelli. Two of the game's brightest young talents were brilliant throughout the night, with Bontempelli gathering 26 disposals, two goals and six inside-50s and standing up when his side needed him. Treloar was equally as influential, finding a game-high 34 touches, kicking a goal and being the most valuable midfielder in the game. The former Greater Western Sydney on-baller's zip in the final moments in dodging three tackles pinned against the boundary line was crucial in giving the Pies one last shot at victory. Luke Dahlhaus (31 disposals), Lachie Hunter (27) and Matthew Boyd (24) were also important for the Dogs, while Liam Picken was close to best afield with 20 disposals and nine tackles. Picken moved to Pies midfielder Steele Sidebottom in the second half and shut down the key mover. "I imagine it was a pretty good spectacle for the viewers. My heart was jumping out of the chest for most of the night but I thought Collingwood threw the kitchen sink at us and it was an enormous effort in the end to arrest it and hang in there," Beveridge said after the win. "If it goes for another few minutes who knows who gets the result, but it's a really important win again and somehow we grafted it out and walk away pretty pleased." Treloar was well supported by James Aish (28 disposals) and Scott Pendlebury (24) in the midfield, while Jeremy Howe was terrific in his stopping job on Dogs star Jake Stringer, who had just four kicks. "That's got to be the minimum effort for us. We brought the right intent and tried to play our brand of footy for four quarters and it was a marginal result in the end," Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said. "Our [ball] use on the whole was pretty good but we just had a couple of howlers that really hurt us." It was a game that was even from the very start, despite the consequences for one side and the lack thereof for the other. The Bulldogs took some time to get into their groove but the Pies helped them find it. An error from youngster Tom Phillips in front of Collingwood's goal was quickly swung to the Dogs' end where Stringer converted a clever snap, and it showed the class gap between the sides with the Dogs holding a five-point lead at the first change. The difference in finishing skills was evident early in the second term, when Nathan Hrovat swooped on a ball inside 50 and snapped a crafty goal, before Clay Smith continued his goal-scoring run of form to boot another to put the Dogs ahead by 18. They had the chance to go 23 points up midway through the term when last week's NAB AFL Rising Star nominee Josh Dunkley had a shot from directly in front, but his kick pushed to the left and the Pies quickly responded. Darcy Moore, who replaced Travis Cloke in Collingwood's forward line, was influential. He put aside an ugly incident where he skidded into the Etihad Stadium fence and cut open his forehead, to remain a presence in attack. The Pies not only were able to contain the Dogs, but had their own weapons to break way. The leg speed of Sidebottom and Treloar cut through the Bulldogs' midfield, with the latter's running goal late in the second term leveling scores. Despite Collingwood carrying no hopes of a finals position, it was the Pies rather than the Dogs who played with the intensity of a side on the verge of a September berth. But, as has been the story of their season, the Magpies' wayward foot skills stopped them from opening up a bigger lead. It took the polish of No.5 draft pick Jordan De Goey to give the Pies the lead they deserved, with his long major midway through the third term creating a 14-point buffer. A smart and assured kick from teammate Phillips, courtesy of some brilliant groundwork and quick handball from Moore, saw the Magpies jump to an 18-point advantage. But good teams respond when challenged and the Dogs have been top-four contenders since the start of the season with good reason. Within seven minutes the Dogs had kicked four goals (including two to Lin Jong) to snatch back a seven-point lead and evaporate the Pies' enthusiasm. The fluctuating periods of dominance between the clubs continued in the final term, with the Bulldogs booting the first two goals of the last quarter before the Pies hit back with the next two. The game came down to the final moments, as was probably warranted given the quality and evenness of the clash across the night.

Round 21: The Team

Round 21 COLLINGWOOD v WESTERN BULLDOGS Time, Place, TV: Friday August 12, 7:50pm Etihad Stadium 7mate / Fox Footy 7:30pm Weather: Min 7 Max 15 Chance of rain 90%: 1-5mm Wind: N 30kph Betting: Collingwood $3.25 Western Bulldogs $1.35

IN: Jordan De Goey, Tyson Goldsack, Darcy Moore, Adam Oxley, Tom Phillips

OUT: Ben Reid (knee), Mason Cox (shoulder), Ben Crocker (concussion), Marley Williams (omitted), Travis Cloke (omitted)

B: Jonathon Marsh, Nathan Brown, Jeremy Howe

HB: Josh Smith, Tyson Goldsack, Brayden Maynard

C: Steele Sidebottom, Adam Treloar, James Aish

HF: Rupert Wills, Darcy Moore, Travis Varcoe

F: Adam Oxley, Jesse White, Jarryd Blair

Foll: Brodie Grundy, Scott Pendlebury, Taylor Adams

Int: Jordan De Goey, Tom Phillips, Levi Greenwood, Jack Crisp

Emg: Brent Macaffer, Alan Toovey, Travis Cloke

Collingwood News Darcy Moore has been given the all-clear to return from a hamstring injury to take on the Western Bulldogs. A host of changes means Collingwood will take a vastly different team into Friday night's game against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium. Five changes include the omissions of Marley Williams and Travis Cloke, while injury will keep out Ben Reid (knee), Mason Cox (shoulder) and Ben Crocker (concussion). Darcy Moore headlines the list of inclusions, with the young forward overcoming a hamstring injury to return to take on the Bulldogs. Joining him will be Jordan De Goey, Tyson Goldsack, Adam Oxley and Tom Phillips. One constant in the rapidly changing team is Scott Pendlebury. The captain will take his place in the midfield after overcoming a foot injury. Pendlebury was sidelined midway through the final term last week and wore a moonboot during the early stages of the week. Yet today Neil Balme confirmed he would line up under the Etihad Stadium lights on Friday night. "Scotty feels very good. He ran well today," Balme said. "We're very pleased." Unfortunately the same can't be said for a fellow Copeland Trophy hopeful in Reid. The defender has played 17 games in 2016, his greatest tally since playing 22 in 2013. However a sore knee now has Reid's season hanging in the balance. "He's had a bit of an issue with his PCL, amongst other things," Balme said. "He may play over the next couple of games, but he may not." Crocker suffered a concussion during Collingwood's final training session of the week, while Cox has struggled to recover from shoulder soreness sustained against Richmond. Williams and Cloke will return to VFL level this week as the VFL Magpies take on Port Melbourne at Victoria Park. Williams has played four VFL games this season, while the attention-grabbing Cloke has kicked 9.8 in five performances under Dale Tapping. Three players who won't join them are Phillips, Oxley and Goldsack. All three were named among the best players against Coburg last week, with Goldsack taking the honours thanks to an impressive game in defence. Oxley now looms as an x-factor in his return to the AFL side. Formally a defender, the Queenslander kicked three goals experimenting as a forward against Coburg last week. He has been named to start in a forward pocket on Friday night, alongside Jesse White and the returning Moore. Against the Bulldogs, the Magpies will be looking to reverse a round 10 result which saw Luke Beveridge's side walk away with a 21-point victory.

110 years on: The Story Behind Good Old Collingwood Forever

Collingwood News - Michael Roberts - Club Historian

For decades, the history of our stirring club song, Good Old Collingwood Forever, has been shrouded in mystery. We knew it was based on an old Boer War song called Dolly Gray and had been written by a three-game player called Tom Nelson, but not much else.
Now, after extended research by Robin Murphy, of the club's Archives Committee, and club historian Michael Roberts, we know the full story.
Part of that story is that today, 11 August, marks the 110^th anniversary of the song's first public airing – during a club trip to Tasmania in 1906. We know how and when it was played, and listeners' first reactions. We also know a lot more about Tommy Nelson and how he came to be on the trip, even though he'd never played a senior game to that point.
Good Old Collingwood Forever remains the oldest known of all football club songs. Today, at last, we can tell the full story of how it came to life.

The song that has come to define the Collingwood Football Club could hardly have been created in a less 'Collingwood' environment. It was written by a player who at that stage had never played a game for the club, during a holiday to Tasmania, using as its base a song written by an American composer during the Spanish American War.
But from that unlikely combination of circumstances emerged what has become one of the most stirring and well known of all Australian football anthems.
The magic happened during Collingwood's tour of Tasmania in August of 1906 – a two-week sojourn that was mostly R&R but which also featured four exhibition games in eight days against various local opponents. These trips, whether to regional Victorian destinations or interstate, were considered one of the few 'perks' of being a footballer in those days. Travel was expensive and leisure time scarce, so a club-funded trip was quite an attraction. They were also great bonding experiences, and useful PR for the club in terms of attracting future players.
Just before they left, the Magpies used the lure of the forthcoming trip to tempt a promising young Yarraville defender called Tom Nelson to join the club. Much to his local club's chagrin, Nelson agreed, meeting many of his teammates for the first time just before they boarded the Loongana to Launceston on Monday 6 August.
Nelson settled in quickly. Social activities such as music and singing were a central part of club trips, and Nelson was adept at both, having performed concerts and musical theatre around the traps in Yarraville. He was soon being noted for the energy of his musical contributions on board (and also his dancing when they got to Tasmania).
The touring party landed in Launceston on Tuesday, visited the Cliff Grounds and Electric Power Station that afternoon then played a game against Northern Tasmania on Wednesday (which they won by the best part of nine goals). They travelled to Hobart by train on Thursday, preparing for a game against a Southern Tasmanian combination on Saturday.
Saturday 11 August was wet and miserable (Bob Nash would attract attention later in the day for playing in the game while holding an umbrella!), but the party set out and were driven from the Carlton Club Hotel in Hobart to visit the historic Elwick Racecourse, and from there back to the Upper Cricket Ground in Hobart where the game was to be played.
A reporter from the Collingwood Observer newspaper was with the touring party on that fateful trip, and he takes up the story:
"Singing had by this time become a settled part of our trip, and Tom Nelson led Collingwood by introducing one good chorus, and in this respect he emulated the deeds of his worthy namesake of old. His chorus was to the air of "Dolly Gray" and ran as follows:

'Good old Collingwood for ever, they know how to play the game,
Side by side they stick together, to uphold the Magpies' name.
Hear the barrackers are shouting, as all barrackers should,
Oh, the premiership's a cakewalk, for good old Collingwood.'

"The sentiments are very pretty and the Tasmanians were delighted with them, but the ideas are too confident for the writer's liking."
And with that, Good Old Collingwood Forever – with all its 'too confident' ideas – was born.
Mind you, it could just as easily have been something else. Jack 'Doogan' Peppard, a club official who also fancied his vocal talents), introduced his own song that same day. The tune wasn't recorded but the words were:

"The Collingwood, the Collingwood,
The Magpies famous crew.
Their style of game has won them fame,
They've shown what they can do.
On every ground they are renowned,
For system, style and pace.
And take my tip for the Premiership,
They're sure to take first place."

Collingwood's Tasmanian tour concluded the following Friday and the team arrived back in Melbourne via the Coogee on August 18. The players got changed and went straight to Victoria Park for their game against Melbourne, where Tom Nelson made his senior debut. He played two further senior games without attracting much attention before being released back to Yarraville in 1907. But he'd already left an indelible mark on the Collingwood Football Club.
One of the great ironies of the song's birth is that it took place during one of Collingwood's unhappiest ever seasons, with unprecedented levels of infighting, including the captain being stood down for poor form and the coach and vice-captain suspended for causing dissension within the team. Yet out of all this mayhem came one of the greatest and most enduring symbols of club unity and success.

* Additional research for this article was provided by Robin Murphy of the Collingwood Archives Committee.

Preview Round 21: Collingwood v Western Bulldogs

SportsMatt

Round 21 COLLINGWOOD v WESTERN BULLDOGS Time, Place, TV: Friday August 12, 7:50pm Etihad Stadium 7mate / Fox Footy 7:30pm Weather: Min 8 Max 15 Chance of rain 60%: <1mm Wind: N 28kph Betting: Collingwood $3.05 Western Bulldogs $1.38

As the Collingwood Football Club meanders towards the end of yet another disappointing season it should be no shock that their form is still fluctuating. Last week against Richmond, a club that has become a modern day target of parody and ridicule, the Magpies themselves became the joke when they gave up a win in very easy fashion. It looked as if the Pies would redeem themselves late in the final term as they hit the front but they then rolled over and let the struggling Tigers record a much needed win. It was just the most recent forgettable chapter in what is becoming a familiar pattern year on year. Collingwood hasn't been a good team for 4 seasons now, and while there is hope for the future this season is a write off, once again.
There's still 3 games to be played though, and on Friday night the Pies will travel a few kilometers down the road to be hosted by the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium. The Dogs are the buzz team of the AFL right now, the media love them, and so apparently do all the neutral fans. I say apparently because it seems as if there's a fallacy that Dogs are everyone's second team. I'm not going to speak for anyone else but they are far from that for me. These two have met once already this season and in that game the Magpies took the game right up to the favoured Dogs at the MCG before a stack of in game injuries cost the Pies any chance of winning. The Bulldogs recorded a 21 point win in a low scoring game as they continued to push for a top 4 spot. They are still an outside chance of getting one of those key double chance finals positions, but with a rather ironic (at least in Pies fans eyes) rash of injuries of late these Dogs may have to settle for a home elimination final.

COLLINGWOOD PREVIEW

Is it over yet? That's the question most Magpie fans are asking, and unfortunately it's not. There's still these 3 now meaningless games to play and the Pies players will have to find a way to self motivate themselves for this game. The Dogs are a defensive beast and with the current formation and production of an injury plagued Pies forward line this could get ugly. There is hope however, the Bulldogs do have a long injury list, maybe even longer and more talented than the Pies. Collingwood does have some players to call upon though with the VFL side yet again winning, this time their 10^th win in a row. It's remarkable that with all the injuries and problems that the senior side is having that the VFL Magpies are still winning. Tyson Goldsack was the standout in the latest win, and if he isn't included in the seniors this week something more sinister is going on there. Youngsters Tom Phillips and Jordan De Goey were also great in the reserves win and will come under heavy consideration to return to the seniors. There may be good news on the injury front too with Darcy Moore pushing to return after missing one week and captain Scott Pendlebury adamant that he won't be left out despite an ankle injury sustained late against Richmond.
So the Pies will field a side of sorts against the Dogs, but as we've come to expect with this Magpies team it's all about what level of effort they will bring to game day. If they bring their best, like they did against the Dogs the first time, they may well pull of an upset win. Anything less of an effort though and this could get ugly, well uglier for the men in black and white.

WESTERN BULLDOGS PREVIEW

The Western Bulldogs were one of the most talked about teams coming into season 2016 and they haven't disappointed. Even with a recent run of extreme injuries they still sit in 7^th spot with a 13-6 win/loss record. The Dogs injury problems did seem like they were going to derail their season, with back to back losses against Geelong and St Kilda, but a fighting 14 point win over North Melbourne last week has them back on track. With three very winnable games left (Pies, Bombers, Dockers) these Bulldogs still think they can finish top 4.
The Western Bulldogs team defense is remarkable really. Coming into this season they were thought of as a primarily attacking team who basically outscored sides into submission. But this season it's been completely different, with the Dogs conceding the third least amount of total points, with only the Cats and Swans better than them. It starts with the backline too, and Dale Morris is still leading this group after all these years. He acts as not only a leader of the defense but also as an on field coach, and allows the likes of Hamling, Roberts, Biggs, Johannisen and Wood to provide adequate rebounding. This week the Dogs backline will face off against one of the more listless forward lines going around, and that's if Darcy Moore gets up. If he doesn't it's almost certainly the worst forward line in the AFL at the moment. Obviously the Pies forward line has been hit hard by injuries but the replacements aren't standing up at all and the Bulldogs should dominate in this area.
The Bulldogs midfield has some star names in it, yet it doesn't exactly dominate teams on a weekly basis. The Dogs are in the middle of the pack for contested possessions and clearances but if they can get that ball to the outside they do remarkable damage to the opposition. They do have a high rate of inside forward 50 entries showing just how effective they are if you give them any time at all outside the packs. The loss of Mitch Wallis obviously hurts their midfield brigade but with Bontempelli and Liberatore leading the clearance count, they can match it with a Pies midfield that is struggling. The one area the Dogs may struggle is in the ruck this week, with Brodie Grundy starting to show his potential and dominating games like a player beyond his limited age and experience. This is where Collingwood need to dominate if they stand any chance at all.
The Dogs forward line has been the topic that is usually brought up when speaking about this team's future. The obvious target of debate is Tom Boyd, who the Bulldogs pulled away from GWS in a mega trade (and a mega contract). Boyd is only know starting to show what he is capable of but it will still be a few years before a definitive result of this trade will be known. They do struggle to put the score on the board though, with the worst inside 50 conversion rate of the top 8 sides by a long way. In fact they are the only top 8 side not ranked in the top half of the league for total points scored this season. They rely on a spread of goals to score with 4 scoring options standing out, Bontempelli, Redpath, Dickson and Stringer. The good news of the Bulldogs however is the Pies backline is as inconsistent as other areas of their game, and at Etihad allowed North Melbourne to score 124 points only a few weeks back.
After a strong win last week the Western Bulldogs will go into this game knowing nothing but a win will keep them in top 4 contention. Realistically they have to win out from here on and hope the sides above them lose a few games. For this game against the Pies they are unlikely to make too many changes with Matt Suckling the most likely inclusion if he overcomes his most recent injury setback. That is a positive though, as for the previous few weeks they've lost players due to injuries in decent numbers, and quality. The Dogs should win this game if they have any ambitions of doing damage in the finals.

TIP
Collingwood will go into this game as clear underdogs, and that's not a shock given their recent form. The one advantage Collingwood may have this week is they run into a team that has been hit bu injuries just as hard as them. A lot may depend on final selection, with Pendlebury, Moore, Smith and Suckling all needing to pass fitness tests to play. If the Pies can get their captain and star young forward on the park they just may be able to outscore this defensively minded Dogs outfit.

MAGPIES BY 1 POINT

Preview Round 21: Collingwood v Western Bulldogs

AFL

SUMMARY

Round 21 COLLINGWOOD v WESTERN BULLDOGS Time, Place, TV: Friday August 12, 7:50pm Etihad Stadium 7mate / Fox Footy 7:30pm Weather: Min 8 Max 15 Chance of rain 60%: <1mm Wind: N 28kph Betting: Collingwood $3.05 Western Bulldogs $1.38

After booking a finals spot with their victory over North Melbourne last week, the sixth-placed Bulldogs should be looking for a convincing win against the Magpies to keep their slim top-four hopes alive. With scoring efficiency an ongoing problem, an encounter with an understrength Magpies' outfit looms as perfect opportunity for Luke Beveridge's men to build some proficiency in attack. After going goalless against the Kangaroos, high-priced recruit Tom Boyd should get plenty of chances to hit the scoreboard. The Magpies on the other hand will be out to capture that consistency that has eluded them all season, after coach Nathan Buckley labeled last week's fade out after quarter-time against Richmond as the 'worst three quarters of the year.'  If they can replicate the effort they displayed against the Dogs in round 10, the Pies will make a game of it. 

LAST FIVE TIMES

1. R10, 2016, Western Bulldogs 11.8 (74) d Collingwood 7.11 (53) at the MCG
2. R17, 2015, Western Bulldogs 15.14 (104) d Collingwood 13.8 (86) at Etihad Stadium
3. R13, 2014, Western Bulldogs 16.10 (106) d Collingwood 15.8 (98) at Etihad Stadium
4. R12, 2013, Collingwood 15.9 (99) d Western Bulldogs 9.11 (65) at Etihad Stadium
5. R6, 2012, Collingwood 15.8 (98) d Western Bulldogs 11.11 (77) at Etihad Stadium
   

THE SIX POINTS

1. Collingwood led narrowly at every change in round 10 before the Bulldogs ran away to win, with the Magpies suffering a number of injuries. Luke Dahlhaus was the star with 37 disposals and one goal.
2. The Western Bulldogs continue to be difficult to score against, ranked third for least points conceded with 73. Offensively Collingwood has struggled to score, ranked 13th with 84 points per game.
3. The Western Bulldogs have now won the last three clashes between the sides after Collingwood had dominated, winning the previous six in a row.
4. The Bulldogs remain the highest disposal side in 2016 averaging 415.9 per game, 21 more per game than the next best side. Collingwood is eighth with 375.9 per game.
5. The teams have played 17 times at Etihad Stadium with 10 wins to seven in Collingwood's favour. This is the Magpies second game at Etihad in 2016 compared to the Bulldogs 13th.
6. Marcus Bontempelli's stellar game against North Melbourne last week saw him rise to seventh place overall on the Schick AFL Player Ratings. Magpie skipper Scott Pendlebury remained steady as the game's third-best player on 611.6.

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …Tom Boyd.
After one his best senior games against Geelong in round 19, the young key forward had a very quiet outing against North Melbourne last week. If the Dogs are to go deep into September they'll need more than the four disposals and five hit outs he contributed against the Kangaroos.

PREDICTION: Western Bulldogs by 42 points.

Injury List

Injury Update Monday, August 8, 2016
Player	Injury	Status	Round 21 COLLINGWOOD v WESTERN BULLDOGS Time, Place, TV: Friday August 12, 7:50pm Etihad Stadium 7mate / Fox Footy 7:30pm Weather: Min 8 Max 15 Chance of rain 60%: <1mm Wind: N 29kph Betting: Collingwood $3.00 Western Bulldogs $1.40
Tim Broomhead	Shoulder	Season
Jamie Elliott	Back	Season
Alex Fasolo	Shoulder	Season
Tom Langdon	Knee	Season
Darcy Moore	Hamstring	Test
Scott Pendlebury	Foot	Test
Jackson Ramsay	Knee	Season
Matt Scharenberg*	Knee	Season
Brayden Sier	Back	1-3 weeks
Ben Sinclair	Concussion	Test
Dane Swan*	Broken leg/foot	Season
* Placed on the club's long-term injury list

Collingwood News Alex Fasolo on Monday had surgery on his injured shoulder. As Scott Pendlebury's season was kept alive on Monday afternoon, two of his Collingwood teammates faced the more daunting prospect of season-ending surgery. Both Alex Fasolo and Tim Broomhead have succumbed to separate shoulder injuries and will now turn their attention towards recovering for the 2017 pre-season. "Alex Fasolo and Tim Broomhead today both had shoulder surgery," Collingwood director of football Neil Balme broke the news on the 'Blackmores Injury Update'. "Both of those boys will miss the rest of the year. "They have slightly different conditions, but both were in a situation where they couldn't play anymore." Fasolo's 12 games in 2016 acted as a season full of promise. Since kicked six goals against Richmond in round two, the 24-year-old was a constant threat in the forward line. He continues to sit at the top of Collingwood's goal-kicking leaderboard with 25 majors, despite playing just two games since injuring his shoulder against the Western Bulldogs in round 10. Surgery for Broomhead ends a season to forget. The 2015 Rising Star nominee spent three rounds in the VFL before playing in Collingwood's AFL side in round six and seven. He was then sidelined by a persistent ankle injury before hurting the shoulder which has now ruled him out for the remainder of the year. Broomhead and Fasolo join Jamie Elliott (back), Tom Langdon (knee), Jackson Ramsay (knee), Matthew Scharenberg (knee) and Dane Swan (foot) as Collingwood players who won't return to the field in 2016. One who will is captain Scott Pendlebury. Pendlebury hobbled from the field midway through the last quarter of the Magpies' 15-point loss to Richmond at the MCG on Friday night. He wore a moonboot as he watched the VFL Magpies at the Holden Centre on Saturday, and later had scans to inspect any damage to his foot. "We had a scan straight away and fortunately there was no cracks, no fractures or no great problems," Balme reported. "He was a little bit sore, but he is a reasonable chance to get up this week. "He'll need to train, but he's certainly a short-term test." Another player who is a chance to take on the Western Bulldogs is young forward Darcy Moore. Moore kicked a bag of five goals against the Dogs in just his third AFL game in round 17 last season. After being named as a short-term injury last week, he is this week considered a stronger chance to return to the field. "He's running pretty well and some decent chance for this week," Balme said. "We won't take any risk with him." Ben Sinclair will continue to face concussion tests in a bid to return to the field this season, while Brayden Sier has been listed as short-to-medium term with an injured back.

Herald Sun SUMMARY: COLLINGWOOD captain Scott Pendlebury is a chance to play this week but two more Magpies have been ruled out for the rest of the season. Pendlebury hurt his foot during Friday night's clash against Richmond and scans have cleared him of serious injury. "We had a scan straight away and fortunately there was no cracks, no fractures, no great problem," football manager Neil Balme told the Pies website. "He's a little bit sore, but he's a reasonable chance of getting up for this week." Alex Fasolo and Tim Broomhead both had shoulder surgery on Monday and won't play again this year. But Balme said Darcy Moore (hamstring) is a "decent chance" to face the Bulldogs on Friday night and Ben Sinclair could also return from multiple concussions. "He'll need to train and he'll need to feel well, with the concussions obviously we're quite conservative," Balme said. "He'll need to be 100 per cent and really feel like playing before we pick him, but we're very confident he'll give himself a chance." ON THE BLOCK: Coach Nathan Buckley declared it was the "worst three quarters" he had seen all season from his side in Friday night's loss to Richmond, and he could well come out swinging. The forwards were a big focus for Buckley, who labelled them completely ineffective in the 15-point defeat, and the likes of Mason Cox, Jonathan Marsh and Marley Williams all struggled to have an influence. Scott Pendlebury's ankle has the Pies sweating, with the skipper to be watched closely during the week. ON THE CUSP: Young forward Darcy Moore faces a test on his hamstring this week and could provide the spark the attack so desperately needs. Jordan De Goey contributed in front of goal at VFL level, while Tyson Goldsack was dominant in a huge win for the VFL Magpies and could well regain his spot. LAUREN WOOD'S FORECAST: There's nowhere to hide for the Pies, who will no doubt bear the wrath of a smarting Nathan Buckley this week. Friday night, Western Bulldogs, Etihad Stadium. The trifecta. Ball use simply has to improve if they are to maintain any pride – which is all that's left to play for – over the last few rounds. If Pendlebury misses, things could get ugly.

2016: LADDER ROUND 20

Pos Position   C Change from last round   P Played   W Won   L Lost   D Drawn   F Points for

A Points against   % Percentage   Form Past five results   Next Next opponent   Pts Points

Round 20: Richmond 92 Collingwood 77

THE FACTS

RICHMOND           3.0.18   7.3.45   10.7.67    14.8.92
COLLINGWOOD    5.2.32   6.3.39     8.7.55   11.11.77

GOALS - Collingwood: Cox 2, Aish 2, Adams, Cloke, Crocker, Varcoe, Wills, Pendlebury, White

BEST - Collingwood: Crisp, Sidebottom, Aish, Adams, Grundy, Howe

INJURIES - Collingwood: Cox (shoulder), Pendlebury (left ankle)

REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil

OFFICIAL CROWD - 49,122 at the MCG

TALKING POINTS

1. What 'external noise'? Richmond had to come out firing. Had to. You don't lose by 88 points to Greater Western Sydney the previous week and not expect seven days full of fierce scrutiny to envelop you at Tigerland. Halfway through the first quarter things looked to be going pear-shaped again, as the Magpies booted the first four goals of the contest. But, to their credit, the Tigers steadied to kick six of the next seven and took a six-point lead into the major break. Despite Collingwood controlling parts of the second half, Richmond kicked away late in the game to record a much-needed victory as it eased the pressure on under-fire coach Damien Hardwick. 2. Milestone Martin puts on another clinic Dustin Martin has raced to 150 games. The star Tiger has missed just four games in his career on his way to becoming one of the biggest names in the game and has excelled because of his talent and durability. 'Dusty' has had a sensational season and he continued in that fashion against Collingwood. The 25-year-old led all comers on the ground with 18 disposals to half-time and finished the game full of running, amassing a game-high 34 disposals to lead the Tigers to victory. There is no doubt he should be a contender for this year's Brownlow medal. 3. Aish announces himself Whenever you go to Collingwood on a lucrative long-term deal as a 20-year-old, you're always going to cop some heat if your performances aren't up to scratch. But, despite being dropped, former Lion James Aish never dropped his head and worked extra hard to return to the team. The youngster has seen a considerable spike in his production in the last month and continued his sparkling form against the Tigers. Aish, who joined the Magpies in a complicated trade that landed the Lions draft points for their academy graduates, Ryan Bastinac and a future second-round pick, had 18 disposals in one of his best games in the black and white. But it was his ability to unflinchingly mark the ball above his head (three contested marks), often with opponents bearing down, that stood out the most. Still only in his 44th game, the No.7 pick from the 2013 NABAFL Draft has plenty of scope for improvement.

4. The Magpies miss their main man Collingwood has been so reliant on skipper Scott Pendlebury in tight games, but was forced to do it without him down the stretch against the Tigers. Pendlebury succumbed to an injury to his left ankle in the final term, leaving the ground in the last 10 minutes of the game to ice the ankle in a tracksuit on the bench. Pendlebury's absence was notable as the Tigers kicked the final two goals to close out the match. The skipper's poise and experience was sorely missed in the dying stages as the Magpies dropped a game that should have been theirs for the taking. 5. Dimma's hidden gem shines After the Tigers' round 11 loss to North Melbourne, which all but ended their finals hopes, coach Damien Hardwick said it was time to give the "promising" kids a go. True to his word, the embattled coach has done just that giving Jason Castagna, Liam McBean, Nathan Drummond, Jayden Short and Adam Marcon opportunities at AFL level. But it was one youngster – Oleg Markov – that shone brighter than any of his contemporaries against the Pies. Markov, selection No.50 in last year's NAB AFL Draft, displayed energy to take the game on and assuredness with the ball in his possession. Markov finished with 26 disposals (25 uncontested) and 12 marks to play a vital role in Richmond's win. Pendlebury's absence was notable as the Tigers kicked the final two goals to close out the match. The skipper's poise and experience was sorely missed in the dying stages as the Magpies dropped a game that should have been theirs for the taking.

THE MEDIA

COLLINGWOOD NEWS Collingwood will assess captain Scott Pendlebury over the coming days after the star midfielder was unable to complete Friday night's match against Richmond due to an ankle injury. Pendlebury rolled his left ankle midway through the final term after teammate Brodie Grundy inadvertently bumped him in a contest, immediately leaving the field to receive treatment. The skipper was spotted on crutches, with his left foot in a compression sleeve after the game, and coach Nathan Buckley is fearful the injury may be significant. "It's sore. He wasn't able to come back on and that tells me that there's something amiss but we'll find out more in the next couple of days," Buckley said. The Magpies missed their skipper's cool head in the final stages of the game as the Tigers kicked clear to claim a 15-point win. "It looked like he was up and about in that last quarter and we were coming. Whenever your skipper goes down, the leadership void hurts, especially when we had a few passengers on the night," Buckley said. "It wasn't Pendles' best night but he's the type of bloke with the maturity and leadership to understand that it might not be his game, but it might be his moment and he looked like he was on his way to doing exactly that." What looked like a promising night, after the Magpies kicked the first four goals of the match, quickly turned sour for Buckley's side. The coach lamented his team's ball use, but above all he was most disappointed with his side's team defence. Collingwood conceded 132 uncontested to Richmond marks and, knowing full well that was the brand of footy the Tigers were going to play, the Pies failed to stop them in their tracks. "It was really disappointing. Our first 10 minutes looked great – our offence and our connection forward looked good," Buckley said. "Contested ball (29-24 in the first quarter) and clearance (13-3) was in the green and then we proceeded to play the worst three quarters that we've played all year and we were still two points up with eight minutes to play. "We just had too many blokes that had 'mares'." Although many of his players were down on the night, Buckley was quick to single out youngsters James Aish, Rupert Wills and Josh Smith who he thought were "up for the fight." Aish, 20, who was traded from the Brisbane Lions to the Magpies in the off-season, continued his stellar month with 18 disposals and five marks (three contested) against the Tigers. "To come into a new club it took him a while to settle, as you'd expect, playing with all new teammates," Buckley said. "He's a very professional and focussed guy and once he had an opportunity to get his head around the role he needed to play we're seeing some pretty good footy. "He's rewarding us, even in these early stages for the interest we had in him and we're looking forward to seeing where he can go after the form he's displayed over the last five or six weeks." Buckley said he expects Darcy Moore (hamstring) to be fit for next Friday night's clash with the Western Bulldogs, although Alex Fasolo (shoulder) is unlikely to play and there is a chance the Pies could call an end to his season. "We won't be taking any risks with him (Moore) but if he's fit he'll play," Buckley said.                                  REAL FOOTY Richmond showed what they were made of in a tenacious win against Collingwood after a shocking start. And they even gave their disgruntled fans a few moments of brilliance, with a standout performance from Alex Rance and beautiful snap-shot goals from Jack Riewoldt and Dustin Martin. After successive thrashings at the hands of top teams Hawthorn and Greater Western Sydney, Richmond coach Damien Hardwick was proved correct in his prediction that his team would be more competitive against the Magpies. In a strange sort of way it was an important game even so late in the season and played between two teams that would not make the finals. Richmond has been humiliated in Canberra by the Giants last weekend, scoring just 3.5 (23) to the Giants' 17.9 (111). Criticisms of Hardwick resurfaced, as did disapproval of the board's decision to extend his contract by two years. And in the early going Richmond looked every bit the team under fire – buckling under pressure, not rising to the occasion. The Tigers were cautious and often handpassed when a kick would have created better opportunities for their teammates. Less than two minutes into the match, the ball had been turned over from right in front of their goal and James Aish had booted a goal at the other end. But Richmond steadied, led from the back line by Rance and Bachar Houli, then Martin at half-forward. The latter two did not always use the ball as well as they could have, but they got plenty of it and gave the team some of the energy they lacked against GWS last week. Travis Cloke kicked a freakish goal from the boundary line after the siren to help the Pies pull ahead, but the quarter-time score was arguably more cheering for the Tigers. Although they went into the first break just 14 points down, Richmond had nearly matched their score for their entire game last week. Perhaps a good sport psychologist could say something interesting about why it was that in the second term Richmond so dramatically lifted their game. Brodie Grundy was excellent for Collingwood in the middle, but the Tigers seemed to develop a bit of dare, and became better at finding teammates. Few would have predicted Richmond would go into half-time six points up, helped along by goals from Shaun Grigg, Nathan Drummond, Jack Riewoldt and second to Ty Vickery. It was not a high-standard match, but in the third term Martin showed his class with a beautiful snap shot and goal, breaking the monotony of end-to-end mistakes and misses. It was only in the final term, with the game on the line, that the game really amped up. Collingwood lifted their intensity and began to dominate out of the centre. By 16 minutes in the scores were tied and a behind to Adam Treloar put the Pies just in front, but when skipper Scott Pendlebury left the ground with an ankle injury and did not return, he took some of Collingwood's confidence with him. When Riewoldt goaled in the dying minutes, pulling the ball out of a scramble and snapping it over his shoulder, it had Tigers fans on their feet and most likely, some of those higher up at Tigerland breathing a sigh of relief. NOTES MEDICAL ROOM Collingwood: The outlook for Pendlebury is not good, with the skipper on crutches post-match and awaiting scans to his left ankle. Ruckman Mason Cox was able to play out the match with his shoulder strapped, but he received a lot of treatment and appeared sore. NEXT UP Collingwood is back on the Friday night stage next week, against the Western Bulldogs, who they have not beaten since 2013. LAST THREE Western Bulldogs, Gold Coast, Hawthorn

SUPERFOOTY COLLINGWOOD delivered its "worst three quarters that we've played all year" Friday night, with coach Nathan Buckley left ropeable after a complete dissolution of his team's defence. The Magpies led four goals to the Tigers' no score before things went south for Buckley's men, who eventually fell 15 points short of Richmond at the MCG. "Our offence and our connection forward were good — contested ball clearance was in the green (in the first 10 minutes)," he said. "And then we proceeded to play the worst three quarters that we've played all year and we were still two points up with eight minutes to play. "It was a disappointing night all round, and there were probably a couple of individuals that played really well." Buckley said Collingwood simply allowed the Tigers to run rampant with the ball, and by allowing that to happen, they only made their own job harder — particularly in defence. But while they were presented with exactly what they expected from the Tigers, Buckley's charges simply failed to counter it. "Richmond (was) able to move the ball far too easily," he said. "It's something we've done particularly well ever since the bye, and it's part of the reason that we've been more competitive. That was the most disappointing part. "They moved the ball exactly how we thought they would. They were clean and slick, especially through the back. Their defenders had ridiculous numbers of marks and kicks and touches. "Our finish, first, to be able to win one-on-ones was poor in the front half. We couldn't win a ball at ground level, and then our complete inability to pressure their backs on the way out was probably the biggest challenge that we had. It's pretty hard to win games against an opposition that wants to kick it around if you can't get that right." Scott Pendlebury finished Friday's match on the bench with an ankle injury. Captain Scott Pendlebury was the biggest casualty in the loss, sitting out the last 20 minutes of the game after suffering an ankle injury in the final term. "It was sore, which indicates to me that there is something amiss," Buckley said. "We'll find out more in the next couple of days." Buckley has been left wishing he could turn the clock back to the post-bye form his side showed against the likes of Carlton and Greater Western Sydney. "We do want to finish the season off strongly," he said. "We want to see more of our post-bye, positive form and less of what we saw for the most part of tonight."                                  AFL RICHMOND has produced the fighting performance it desperately needed with its back against the wall, ending a week of turmoil with a thrilling 15-point win against Collingwood at the MCG. The under-siege Tigers produced some of the most committed football of their disappointing season, with a late goal to star forward Jack Riewoldt sealing the 14.8 (92) to 11.11 (77) win. After three-and-a-half seesawing quarters, they kicked four of the last five goals of the match to transfer at least some of the pressure they have been feeling to the disappointing Pies. Scores were tied with 10 minutes to play after improving Magpie James Aish capped a strong night with a contested mark and goal. However, it was around that time captain Scott Pendlebury limped from the ground with a left ankle injury that would end his night and rob the Magpies' midfield of their leader. It ultimately proved too much of a hurdle for Nathan Buckley's men, who led by 25 points early but went on to produce what the coach described as "the worst three quarters we've played all year". The Tigers deserve credit for putting their foot on their opponents' throats at the crunch, however, with Brandon Ellis holding his nerve to kick a clutch set shot and Sam Lloyd marking late and converting. Daniel Rioli, one of five Tigers with less than 15 games experience on Friday night, also kicked a crucial goal in the fourth quarter after the Magpies had stolen a slim lead. Star defender Alex Rance was immense, shutting down opponent Jesse White and finishing with 26 possessions, eight marks and nine rebound 50s. In his 150th game, gun midfielder Dustin Martin won a game-high 34 possessions, also finishing with seven clearances and a goal. His milestone was celebrated in the Tigers' rooms with a haka performed by three friends, which could be heard through the bowels of the MCG. Captain Trent Cotchin (28) led brilliantly in the middle and had a game-high eight clearances, while first-year Tiger Oleg Markov (26 and 10 rebounds) announced himself on the big stage. "Our skipper was outstanding from the word go, the way he led the players and they responded and gathered around him to get a good result for us," Damien Hardwick said. "I was just really happy for them. We have been disappointing the past two weeks, but for the players to respond and play as well as they did … it was really pleasing. "I think our fans walk away and can be happy with the effort our guys gave." After a horror fortnight on-field that has translated to off-field murmurings and the threat of board challenges, Richmond needed an immediate response on Friday night. But the emergency sirens were sounding early as Collingwood piled on four unanswered goals and hunted their opponents, who were struggling to win the ball and making poor decisions when they had it. When Riewoldt walked into the protected area after a Taylor Adams mark, setting up another Magpie goal, the margin was 25 points and a familiar story was being written after just 12 minutes. The unlikely hero to break the deadlock was maligned forward Ty Vickery, who sparked a three-goal run for the Tigers and showcased the contested marking that interested rival clubs are now taking notice of. Recycled midfielder Andrew Moore, mature-age rookie Adam Marcon and mid-tier midfielder Shaun Grigg all chipped in with goals and, soon enough, the Tigers had their noses in front as the game turned on its head. They built a 13-point lead by the final change and it was enough for them to protect, giving their tortured supporters the chance to sing their famous song at the MCG at least one more time this season. Collingwood was well served by midfielders Taylor Adams (25 possessions and six clearances), Jack Crisp (25 and six) and ruckman Brodie Grundy, who won his match-up against Shaun Hampson. The Magpies finished the match ahead in clearances (38-27), inside 50s (48-39) and tackles (71-52), but they crumbled at important times, with Buckley lamenting off-nights for too many of his players. "It was really disappointing. Our first 10 minutes looked great – our offence and our connection forward looked good," the coach said. "Contested ball and clearance was in the green, and then we proceeded to play the worst three quarters that we've played all year and we were still two points up with eight minutes to play. "We just had too many blokes that had 'mares'." "Contested ball and clearance was in the green, and then we proceeded to play the worst three quarters that we've played all year and we were still two points up with eight minutes to play. We just had too many blokes that had 'mares'." Nathan Buckley