Round 15 Preview: Collingwood v Carlton

Real Footy Collingwood is expected to regain three or four senior players for Friday night's critical game against Carlton, and key midfielder Dayne Beams will play his first game this season in the VFL. But Nathan Buckley's focus is on attitude, rather than personnel, with the Collingwood coach attributing his team's ''really disappointing'' loss to Port Adelaide to the fact Port simply ''wanted it more''. The Pies appear almost certain to regain Ben Reid (hamstring), Andy Krakouer and to pick ex-Hawk Clinton Young for his first game of 2013, while Darren Jolly, too, is a chance to resume in what would be a major turnover from the Port Adelaide loss. Tyson Goldsack, who has been sidelined for much of this season, will also resume in the VFL alongside Beams, according to Buckley. Buckley said Collingwood's 35-point loss to Port was due to the Power's greater desire, which he found ''embarrassing''. He did not, however, accept Paul Roos' suggestion that the Pies were ''lazy''. ''The overwhelming part of it was that Port Adelaide wanted it more,'' he said. ''Port Adelaide outworked us and we're embarrassed by that.'' Buckley said the Pies had been beaten badly in the contested ball and clearances in the last quarter. But he predicted a vast improvement in his players' performance against the Blues after some vigorous internal discussions this week. ''Absolutely we're disappointed with that,'' he said. ''Do we feel it's a blip? Well, it's our most recent example of how we're playing the game and, jeez, we'd want to be better than that. We've had some really strong chats in this very room. If we don't get a spike out of our players this week, I'd be surprised. ''We're a proud group. We understand there's a lot of commentary and speculation that's out and around there at the moment and when you lose games of footy that's happens.'' Buckley confirmed Beams and Goldsack would play in the VFL. ''Beams' last four or five weeks at training have been really solid. ''Tyson Goldsack is an underrated, very important player in our squad. In my mind, he's clearly best 22 and very important for our forward structure. ''He has the ability to swing into the back line as well and is a hard-running player.'' Buckley called the Carlton match ''a massive challenge'' against a team that was No. 1 in the competition for contested ball and clearances. ''You get to games you have to win and this is one of them,'' he said. ''When you lose a game of footy, the opposition have generally wanted to win it more than you. ''Eight times this year we've been the hungrier team to win and five times we haven't. Last week was one of them.'' The coach said Collingwood had lost to five of the seven teams above it and was where it deserved to be on the ladder (eighth). ''The whole 22 weren't as competitive as they needed to be,'' he said. Buckley noted that three of the Magpies' best were younger players, Paul Seedsman, Ben Sinclair and Marley Williams. ''Our leaders need to be better than they were. For us, we'll be shifting in personnel, looking for the players who are prepared to come to the party in regards to that contest and the real want and desire. We'll also be planning to play better football.'' Buckley said Beams' return would hinge on how he fared in the VFL. ''We're running out of time in regards to getting some momentum going. We don't want to be waiting till round 21, 22 to be putting our best side together. ''We've missed Beamsy, we've missed Goldy. But it's got to be case by case. If they're right to go, they'll come in. If they're not they'll get the extra week. ''We'll have 22 fierce competitors that'll go out with a Magpie jumper on with an opportunity to head us in the right direction.''

AFL Collingwood v Carlton Friday July 5, 7.50pm MCG 7mate / Fox Footy 7.30pm Weather: Min 8 Max 13 Chance of rain 50%: 1-5mm Wind: NNW 29kph Betting: Collingwood $1.95 Carlton $1.85 SUMMARY There is always a lot riding on clashes between these two arch enemies, but there is some extra needle this time because hard questions will be asked of the loser. And, of course, Carlton coach Mick Malthouse will be desperate to post his first win against his old club. The Pies can cite significant injuries, but the near full-strength Blues will have no such excuse. The precariously placed Pies (eighth) are two games clear of the Blues (ninth) but this is one occasion where the lower placed team deserves to be the favourite. Carlton has lost its past three games in seesawing clashes with strong opponents, and will probably win well if they reproduce the same intensity. LAST FIVE TIMES R3, 2011, Collingwood 15.12 (102) d Carlton 11.8 (74) at MCG R17, 2011, Collingwood 13.20 (98) d Carlton 11.13 (79) at MCG R3, 2012, Carlton 18.14 (122) d Collingwood 9.8 (62) at MCG R15, 2012, Carlton 12.13 (85) d Collingwood 8.14 (62) at MCG R2, 2013, Collingwood17.15 (117) d Carlton 15.10 (100) at MCG THE SIX POINTS 1. Collingwood’s fortunes have changed dramatically in the space of 12 months. This time last year they were on top of the ladder with just two losses. 2. The Magpies have won six of their past eight games against the Blues. 3. The Pies are ranked first in the AFL for uncontested possessions, while the Blues are 16th. 4. Carlton is fourth in clearances, while Collingwood is 15th. 5. Mick Malthouse will be gunning for his first coaching victory over Collingwood since he guided West Coast to victory in round 18, 1999, at the WACA. 6. In Collingwood's 17-point win over Carlton in round two, young small forward Jamie Elliott (the sixth-ranked Magpie forward in the Official AFL Player Ratings) booted five goals. Jamie Elliott