| NAB Pre Season Week 3 Collingwood v Brisbane Saturday, 6:40pm EDT, Mar 9, 2013 Etihad Stadium TV: FOX FOOTY |
FORM: Collingwood have enjoyed a perfect pre-season so far with three wins from as many matches. After defeating Essendon and the Western Bulldogs in the opening round, the Pies went over to Perth last week and posted a comfortable 20-point win over the Eagles.
Brisbane have also been faultless, but were far from convincing last week when they needed a late Sam Michael goal to sneak past GWS in Wagga Wagga. In the first round the Lions defeated Hawthorn before easily accounting for a weakened Suns side.
WALKING WOUNDED: Collingwood were dealt a blow with key defender Ben Reid hurting his knee in last week's clash against West Coast. Fortunately for the Pies, he escaped any structural damage and although he won't play this week, he should be right for the season opener. Dale Thomas will also miss as he battles to overcome his ankle complaint, but Luke Ball should feature in his first competitive hit-out since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in April last year. Big guns Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan, Travis Cloke and Heath Shaw might be rested for the clash, but Dayne Beams and Harry O'Brien could return after missing last week.
Brisbane are set to welcome back a number of first-team regulars with Daniel Rich, Daniel Merrett, Ashley McGrath and reigning club champion Joel Patfull all joining captain Jonathan Brown for his first pre-season match. Veteran Simon Black will not play at all in the NAB Cup and is likely to miss the start of the regular season as he continues his recovery from knee surgery.
WHO'S HOT: Classy midfielder Scott Pendlebury was the Pies' best player last week with yet another sublime performance. After starting forward and spending time through the midfield, Pendlebury finished with 26 touches, nine marks and two goals.
Aaron Cornelius was the dominant forward on the ground last week with five goals in a performance that suggests he could be ready to take the next step this year. It could have been even better for the 22-year-old if he had kicked straight with four shots missing.
WE THINK: This match is shaping as a virtual preliminary final with the winner all but guaranteed a spot in next week's NAB Cup grand final.
Collingwood will head into the clash as favourites, but anything can happen in the NAB Cup and Brisbane should be going all out for the victory with the lure of playing in the final on offer.
The Pies will be firmly focused on the regular season with their premiership window very much open and would perhaps not be as keen on playing in the NAB Cup decider.
But for Brisbane, who have only played finals once since losing the 2004 decider to Port Adelaide, this match gives the Lions a perfect opportunity to give their fans something to cheer about.
They will also have a relatively strong side and have enough quality to trouble the Pies in a close contest.
Lions by 12 points.
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