Round 11 Preview: Collingwood v Melbourne

AFL

SUMMARY

Collingwood v Melbourne Monday, June 10 3.15pm MCG 7mate / Fox Footy 3.00pm Weather: Min 8 Max 16 Chance of rain 60%: 1-5mm Wind: N 28kph Betting: Collingwood $1.01 Melbourne $21.00

The backdrop could not be more ghoulishly familiar for Melbourne fans. The team has won just one game with most presuming the coach will be sacked at some stage in the next three months. Collingwood is not exactly in great form either as it crosses the bumpy isthmus to move from one era to another. The Magpies are yet to win two in succession but will have Travis Cloke back in the team. Melbourne, on the other hand, is missing Mitch Clark, Jack Grimes, Colin Sylvia and now James Frawley. If the Demons can manufacture a competitive performance, they will win plaudits. If not, anything could happen.

LAST FIVE TIMES
R11, 2012, Collingwood 19.15 (129) d Melbourne 13.9 (87) at MCG
R12, 2011, Collingwood 19.15 (129) d Melbourne 6.5 (41) at MCG
R10, 12, 2010, Melbourne 11.10 (76) drew Collingwood 9.22 (76) at MCG
R2 2010, Collingwood 12.14 (86) d Melbourne 12.13 (85) at MCG
R11, 2009, Collingwood 19.12 (126) d Melbourne 8.12 (60) at MCG

THE SIX POINTS

1. Collingwood has dominated Melbourne recently winning seven of the last eight games. Melbourne's only points came from a draw in round 12, 2010.
2. Travis Cloke (the 13th highest ranked forward in the Official AFL Player Ratings) has yet to really fire against Melbourne kicking 17 goals in 11 games. He's kicked multiple goals only four times.
3. The most recent victory for Melbourne over Collingwood was round 11, 2007 when it won by 13 points. Russell Robertson kicked seven goals and earned three Brownlow votes. Just four Melbourne players from that game remain on its list compared to 11 Magpies on Collingwood's.
4. Melburne has kicked the least amount of goals in the AFL this season with 100. Collingwood has kicked 133 and is ranked 10th.
5. Collingwood is ranked fifth for total disposals this season while Melbourne is ranked 17th.
6. Melbourne has conceded at least 100 points in every game this season while Collingwood has conceded 100 points on five occasions. The Magpies have only won once when it has conceded 100 points.