Collingwood is full of confidence after a 41 point win against arch enemy Carlton. The Magpies sit comfortably in the seventh position on the ladder. In the months to come, Collingwood has a real chance to press for a top four position. Nonetheless, a loss to Adelaide this round could mean that the Magpies will only remain in the top eight by one game. Despite the big win last round, Collingwood has generally been inconsistent this year, and one slip up could leave the Magpies with a battle to hold onto a finals berth. Adelaide on the other hand is languishing in twelfth spot, a full two games behind eighth placed Port Adelaide and three games behind Collingwood. This is perhaps Adelaide’s last chance to turn its season around and put itself back in finals contention. The Crows looked sure things last round, holding a 13-point lead deep in the final quarter. But a late fight back by the Eagles and a last minute goal to Josh Kennedy handed earned them a crucial six-point win. Overall it has been a roller coaster season to date for both sides considering they both finished in the top four last season. Both sides have had to deal with injuries and pre-season departures, but they are highly talented and can challenge any side on their day. Recent History It has been well over a year since these sides last met, with the last clash back in round nine, 2012. In this match, it was an undermanned Collingwood side that caused a minor upset winning by 26 points. Dayne Beams announced himself as a genuine A-grade player, picking up 36 disposals and kicking two crucial goals. He was rewarded with the three Brownlow votes. His mate Steele Sidebottom polled the two votes with 31 disposals and two goals, while Scott Pendlebury polled one vote with 29 disposals and one goal. Dane Swan did not play, nor did Nathan Brown or Ben Reid. The defence was further tested when Lachlan Keeffe injured his knee. The injury kept him out of the game for over a year. Adelaide led by one goal at three quarter time yet was unable to kick a goal in the final quarter. The Crows were only able to kick six goals for the entire game, with Matthew Jaensch one of the only bright sparks for the side with 28 disposals. Patrick Dangerfield was well held by Dale Thomas who had 29 disposals of his own. At the Selection Table Collingwood looks set to welcome back Dayne Beams for his first game of the season. Beams was fantastic in his return to VFL last round, picking up 28 disposals and kicking two goals. His return will be critical to the side considering he was adjudged best on ground when these sides last faced off. It looms as the first time Collingwood will have had the combination of Beams, Ball, Swan and Pendlebury available in over a year. Coach Nathan Buckley has a few other dilemmas this round. After Ben Reid’s impressive four goal game as a forward, the temptation will be to promote Lachlan Keeffe from the VFL to fill the hole down back to allow Reid to stay forward. If Keeffe is selected, it will be his first senior game since injuring his knee against Adelaide last season. Keeffe has had a solid month of VFL footy and is edging closer to his return. But Buckley will be conscious of going in too tall against the talented Adelaide midfield. Others that were impressive in the VFL were Jordan Russell, Martin Clarke, Jackson Paine, Brodie Grundy and Kyle Martin. In a year dogged by injuries, Buckley will be pleased to have such depth playing well at VFL level. Quentin Lynch may also push for a recall after missing last round with injury. His spot will not be assured with Reid and Jarrod Witts performing well in the forward line last week. Harry O’Brien will again be watching on from the sidelines. Turning the focus onto Adelaide, and coach Brenton Sanderson will have to make at least two forced changes this round with Shaun McKernan out through suspension and Aiden Riley out for the season with a broken leg. McKernan’s injury could open the door for Richmond ruck discard Angus Graham, while Jared Petrenko will also push for senior selection after he returned to the SANFL last week. Richard Tambling, Luke Thompson and Jarryd Lyons have also shown form at SANFL level and Mitchell Grigg is closing in on a debut. Season ending injuries to Brent Reilly and Taylor Walker has made the job even more difficult for the Crows in recent weeks. Focus on Collingwood Last round, Collingwood played its most impressive game this year since the Geelong win. After initially starting slow, the Magpie midfield really lifted its rating and played with more freedom than I have seen in some time. Importantly, the team looked quick and had direction going forward. Ben Sinclair in particular was terrific providing run out of defence whilst also locking down on an opponent. With Reid playing an important foil for Travis Cloke, the Collingwood forward line looked more dangerous than it has all season. Witts also played an important role for the team up forward. Standing 208cm tall, he ensured that he took a key defender, which opened up space for Cloke and Reid. He also kicked two goals, had nine possessions and took 16 hitouts. Although his spot is not secure, it provided a blueprint for Buckley to play three key forwards. Collingwood ranks second in the AFL for disposals. This stat has counted for little of late given the poor disposal efficiency the side has had this year. However, if Collingwood demonstrates the same level of skill as it did against Carlton, it should be able to run Adelaide off its feet. Dane Swan – Yet again, Dane Swan responded to a poor game with a best on ground performance. He picked up 41 disposals against the Blues and was one of the key reasons why Collingwood was able to turn a slow start around. Although many have been critical of his form at stages this year, Swan still averages 31 disposals a game and just under four tackles. He is not kicking as many goals this year which is surprising considering he is spending more time up forward. Amazingly, no other Collingwood player has had over 40 possessions in a decade. Swan has managed this feat 12 times since 2003. Luke Ball – Ball has made a huge difference since returning to the side. He sets the standard for tackling and averages 24 disposals a game which is a great effort considering he is coming off a knee reconstruction last season. He is also averaging seven tackles a game which is so important considering the side was lacking intensity before he returned to the side. His 24 disposals against Carlton last round were so hard fought. He is the heartbeat of the Collingwood midfield and will have a huge job squaring off against Scott Thompson this round. Andrew Krakouer – Although not as prolific on the scoreboard as we have become accustomed to, Krakouer made a huge difference to the side last round with his polished ball use. The Magpies have really struggled to hit targets going forward this season, but you knew last Friday night that something good would happen whenever Krakouer had the ball in his hands. His defensive efforts were also high and he still managed to kick a goal as reward for his efforts. With key targets like Cloke, Witts and Reid up forward, Krakouer is the missing link as he is an extremely clean crumber and is very smart with his positioning. The Magpies need him to play consistent footy for the rest of the season. Focus on Adelaide The Crows have been disappointing on a number of counts this year. In particular, they aren’t moving the ball with the same speed and direction as they did in 2012. Tackling remains an issue, whilst the midfield is not playing with the same dominance either. A lot comes down to the departure of Kurt Tippett and the season ending injury of Taylor Walker. No side in the AFL could perform without its two key forwards, and Adelaide is no exception. That said, the departure of Kurt Tippett has opened up spots for Jenkins, Lynch and McKernan, and all have showed signs this season. Although injuries should not be used as an excuse, the Crows have had to use their substitute very early in the game for the last two weeks in a row. It has really restricted Sanderson’s ability to keep his midfield rotations up. The other issue for Sanderson is the form of Sam Jacobs who hasn’t matched his 2012 form which saw him become the most dominant tap ruckman in the competition. His lack of impact is having a flow on effect on the Crows midfielders. Brad Crouch – A real positive to come out of this season has been the emergence of Brad Crouch. Similar to Gold Coast’s Jaeger O’Meara, Crouch was selected in the 2011 draft but was unavailable to play until this season. His last two rounds in particular have been really impressive, picking up 31 and 26 disposals respectively. This is a huge achievement for a guy who has only played six games. He adds real depth to the Adelaide midfield and needs to be monitored by the Magpies this round. Patrick Dangerfield – It’s hard to do a write-up on Adelaide without discussing Dangerfield. Sanderson has used him up forward, in the midfield and in defence this year. Sanderson would kill for two or three Dangerfields as he is so dominant even though he is usually very tightly tagged. It is very hard to see Collingwood finding a suitable match-up for him, with the only genuine tagger in the side being Brent Macaffer. However, I feel that Macaffer may not have the tank to go with him, and he played good footy as a half forward last round. Buckley may therefore opt to go head-to-head with Dangerfield as he did last year with Dale Thomas. Perhaps Dane Swan may go onto him in a dream match-up for the fans. Dangerfield is averaging 24 disposals and has kicked 21 goals so far this year. Richard Douglas – Douglas is one of the in-form Adelaide players at the moment. He is averaging a goal a game from 23 disposals and has bounced back from a difficult 2012 season. He is a very hard runner and sneaks under the radar quite often. He also adds great leadership. The Wrap Up Expect a very fired up Adelaide side this Friday night considering the result will be critical to its final chances. All recent matches between the two sides have gone down to the wire, with the last three results at the MCG determined by four, five and three points respectively. Both sides have star-studded midfielders, with Swan, Pendlebury and Dangerfield all ranking in the top 10 for AFL Player Ratings in 2013.I just get the feeling that Collingwood’s defence and forward line is a little more settled at the moment. It will be interesting to see whether Buckley uses Reid forward, or uses him as a Plan B if the Magpies need a boost. If Collingwood moves the ball as quickly as it did last week, I can’t see Adelaide keeping up. However, the Crowd have been competitive in most games this year and will take some beating. Buckley has been demanding consistency from his side for some time, and the Magpies get their chance to capitalise on the important win last round. Pies by 22 | ||
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The most important period of the 2013 AFL home and away season is upon us as every team who is still in finals contention clambers for vital wins that will qualify them for the finals. The Adelaide Crows and the Collingwood Magpies are two clubs that are still in contention and this Friday night they will do battle at the MCG. For the Crows it may well be their last opportunity to salvage something out of a season that has seen them fall from a top four position last season to currently sitting in 12th, two wins out of 8th position. The Crows have had their fair share of injuries to key players, just like this weeks' opponent the Magpies but realistically it has been a disappointing season for Adelaide so far in 2013. Collingwood's season hasn't been much better, but with four wins in their last 5 games the Pies' have moved their way up to 7th and now look certain to play in their 8th consecutive finals series. It hasn't all been smooth sailing for Collingwood recently though with the now well known Harry O'Brien issue causing a media frenzy at the club over the past week or so, and because of this Harry won't be in line for selection this week. This is a vital game though for both teams, as I said it's Adelaide's last hope at keeping their finals hopes alive while the Pies need the win to continue their recent good form, and push towards a top four spot. PREVIOUS FORM The Crows are really struggling, there's no easier way to put it, as they find themselves in 12th spot, 2 wins and percentage outside of the final eight. While the Crows have had some long term injuries to key players so far this season their fans would still have expected this line up to be doing better than they are. Last week's loss to the Eagles was devastating really, not only did the Crows hand 4 points to a fellow finals challenger, but they also lost youngster Aidan Riley for the rest of the season with a broken leg. It's the third season ending injury for the Crows with Taylor Walker and Brent Reilly also out for the rest of the 2013 season. Despite the injuries though, with a few minutes to go against the Eagles the Crows looked like their season was going to be revived, as they led by two goals, only to see the Eagles kick the final three goals to seal a victory that all but condemns the Crows to missing the finals this season. That's a mighty fall from grace, to go from missing the Grand Final last season by a kick to this season missing the finals altogether, and injuries can't be the only excuse for such a drop. Yes the draw is harder but the Crows wouldn't be happy with their form, even given the injuries they have suffered. Collingwood on the other hand have put some wins together lately, winning four of their last 5 games to sit 7th and quite secure inside the final eight. Yes, the draw has been a little easier in the past few weeks but the Magpies draw was tough before that period, so they were due for a bit of relief. Last weekend the Pies went in as underdogs against their oldest foes, Carlton, and after a slow start that saw them trailing by 28 goals just before quarter time, the Pies lifted and ran away with a very easy 41 point win. The midfield dominated with Swan and Pendlebury smashing the Blues in the middle yet it was the move of Ben Reid up forward that provided the biggest change in momentum and efficiency for the Magpies. Reid booted 4 goals in what was the perfect complementary performance to star forward Travis Cloke, who kicked 5 goals himself. Reid started his career as a forward but after several failures was moved to centre half back where he played in a premiership and earned All Australian honours. The move of Reid forward may well be the catalyst the Magpies need going forward as they push to finish as high in the final eight as they possibly can. COLLINGWOOD PREVIEW Despite the win on Friday night over their arch rival it has been a chaotic week at Collingwood with the Harry O'Brien saga stretching on longer than most anticipated. The Pies premiership defender turned wingman had a shouting match with the senior coach last week and subsequently spent almost an entire week away from the club dealing with some personal issues. The media has jumped on this story like beggars would a gold piece, with an almost disgusting over reaction to one player's personal problems and his absence from the club for a week. Harry is back at the club now and he will receive all the assistance he requires to get him back playing football, but more importantly to help him get through this tough time. On the field there may be a massive boost for the Magpies this week with reigning Copeland Trophy winner Dayne Beams likely to return for his first game in 2013. The star midfielder suffered a quadricep injury just days before Collingwood's round 1 fixture and re injured it while trying to make a comeback about 6 weeks ago. Beams' performance in the VFL on Saturday was nothing short of sensational as the premiership winning midfielder lifted his young team over the line with two last quarter goals. If he pulled up well, which by all reports he has, he will make his senior debut for the season on Sunday, and just in time for the Pies' to push for a top four spot. The win against Carlton showed what the Magpies are capable of, and the inclusion of Beams and the new tactic of being able to move Ben Reid forward may lead to a resurgence from a Magpies line-up that has struggled for consistency so far in 2013. A win against the Crows would be yet another step in the right direction for a club that has overcome plenty of internal crisis' so far this season. Apart from Beams the Pies do have a few other choices to make at the selection table with Quinten Lynch likely to be fit to return after a week off while Lachlan Keeffe looks almost ready to return after a few games in the VFL. Keeffe suffered an ACL knee injury last season and if he could return to the seniors would make the move on Ben Reid up forward more permanent. Also in contention are the likes of Kyle Martin, Caolon Mooney, Marty Clarke and Brodie Grundy, who is looking like a future superstar for the Magpies in the ruck. The Pies finally have some options at selection and it will be interesting to see what direction the coaching staff choose to go down. Collingwood should win this game, they should be high on confidence coming off a great win over the old rivals but the Crows are still a dangerous team, so the boys in black and white will have to play near their best to notch yet another win up for season 2013. OPPOSITION ANALYSIS Adelaide entered 2013 knowing it was going to be a tougher year than 2012, a season where they only marginally failed to make the grand final after that loss to the Hawks in an epic preliminary final. Losing Kurt Tippett was always going to make life more difficult and then the worst case scenario occurred when their remaining elite key forward, Taylor Walker went down with a knee injury and was ruled out for the rest of the season. The Crows weren't in a terrible position a few weeks back but 4 losses from their last 5 games has all but ended their hopes of playing finals this year, with only an upset win and a subsequent winning run their only chance of reigniting their season. The Crows still have talent on every line though, even with their injury concerns. If there's one area of the ground that the Crows are still going well in, it's their backline, with club stalwart Ben Rutten and Daniel Talia holding down the key position spots. The two reliable tall defenders are assisted by names such as Otten, Smith, Henderson and Petrenko (a likely in) and a midfield that has a defensive mindset, even if it is struggling to get the ball itself. This weekend it will be interesting to see who the Crows have to deal with, but it would be tempting to see Talia vs Reid and Rutten vs Cloke, as the visitors would consider themselves a big chance of at least breaking even in those battles. Collingwood's small forwards haven't been that dangerous this season so Adelaide will also be confident of restricting their effectiveness, but it's just a matter of whether the probability of a large discrepancies in inside 50′s will overwhelm the capable Crows defense. The Crows midfield really should be performing better than it is, but those who know the Crows well would tell you that there's more reasons than meet the eye why the Crows are struggling in the key midfield stats categories. Patrick Dangerfield has done his best to carry the team this season, but constant interruptions to the seasons of his assistants in the midfield has at times meant he has had to carry too much on those broad shoulders. Scott Thompson is still a warrior, but along with Bernie Vince is a week to week proposition on fitness due to the injuries he is carrying, and the loss of Brent Reilly for the season has just added to the problems. Sam Jacobs has battled manfully in the ruck but the Crows have struggled to find a replacement for Tippett as that second ruckman/forward and McKernan being suspended this week makes that problem even more obvious. The Pies rucks aren't top class either, especially with Jolly missing so maybe this is one game Jacobs can dominate. On paper though it seems as if the Crows will struggle to keep up with a Pies midfield that just seems to be finding it's form, and the probable return of Dayne Beams may just make it too difficult for the Crows to hold on in the middle. Adelaide's forward line is a mess, there's really no other way to say it, with Tippett leaving and now Walker out for the season, the Crows may have to play Jason Porplyzia at full forward this week. Jenkins and Lynch will be asked to give Porpylzia some help this week but the loss of McKernan makes that forward line even less stable and reliable than it was before. Add that the Pies defense looked near it's best last week (after quarter time) and it seems very unlikely that the Crows will be very efficient when they go forward. The Crows will once again use Dangerfield up forward at times, just like the Pies have done with Dane Swan, basically to fill a gap that exists because of personnel shortages. As the Magpies have discovered though it's pretty tough to win games against good sides when you decide to put your most effective midfielder in a position that relies on effective and constant ball supply. The best case scenario for the Crows is that this game turns into a low scoring scrap that suits their inability to kick a high score at the moment. The forecast for Friday isn't bad though and as we saw last Friday Night a dry MCG, even on a cold night, is still more than capable of providing a high scoring, entertaining match. The Crows won't know the make up of their final side until probably their last training session with injury concerns over several players, including Vince and Thompson. The Crows do have a few options though with Petrenko, Lyons, Grigg, Tambling, Callinan, McKay and Hartigan all looking to force their way into a struggling senior side. Senior coach Brenton Sanderson has talked tough for a few weeks now about spirit and belief at the club but this really is the last chance for the Crows to resurrect a disappointing season. TIP Collingwood go into this game with plenty more to play for than the Crows yet as shown above Adelaide might still pose a threat here. The last time the Crows visited the MCG though they were smashed by a Tigers outfit who were probably in the best form of the season and it's worry that Adelaide run into the Magpies at maybe their highest point of the year, having smashed their arch rival in Carlton. The probable return of Dayne Beams is massive in so many ways for Collingwood, he was a top 10 player in the entire AFL last season, won the Pies best and fairest and is that rare breed of a tough, inside midfielder who also kicks goals. If he's right to go it definitely tips this game massively in the Pies favour, he's just that good. The Crows will be hoping he is rested for one more week (no VFL game this weekend for the Pies) but they will also hope that Vince and Thompson pass fitness tests and are right to play. Regardless of final selection I can't see the Pies losing this one. PIES BY 29 POINTS. |
SUMMARY The Pies have a fair bit to play for on Friday night. They're a game and a half out of the top four, but their draw in the next few weeks presents opportunity to keep pushing for the double chance in the finals. They looked sublime from late in the first quarter against Carlton and a repeat of that form should hold them in good stead against the Crows, whose narrow home defeat to West Coast on Saturday might all but put paid to their hopes of a repeat finals appearance. Adelaide's midfield has been down on last year and the forward line lacks bite. Of note here will be whether Ben Reid will line up forward for Collingwood once again. He is on the verge of joining the ever-growing ranks of AFL swingmen. LAST FIVE TIMES R9, 2012, Collingwood 10.15 (75) d Adelaide 6.13 (49) at AAMI Stadium R9, 2011, Collingwood 20.15 (135) d Adelaide 14.8 (92) at Etihad Stadium R21, 2010, Collingwood 6.18 (54) d Adelaide 7.9 (51) at the MCG 1SF, 2009, Collingwood 12.11 (83) d Adelaide 11.12 (78) at the MCG R19, 2009, Collingwood 13.11 (89) d Adelaide 9.14 (68) at AAMI Stadium THE SIX POINTS 1. Collingwood and Adelaide last met in round nine last season at AAMI Stadium with the Magpies winning by 26 points. Dayne Beams starred with 36 possessions and three Brownlow votes. 2. Collingwood has dominated Adelaide recently winning the past five contests. Adelaide's last win over Collingwood came in the opening game in 2009 at the MCG. 3. Three of the top 10 players in the Official AFL Player Rankings will appear on Friday night. Patrick Dangerfield (second), Scott Pendlebury (sixth) and Dane Swan (ninth) are three of the most watchable players in the competition. 4. Did you know the last three times Collingwood and Adelaide have met at the MCG they have gone to the wire, decided by four, five and three points? 5. Did you know that Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley and Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson are practically best mates with each other? 6. Collingwood remains high for total disposals this season ranked second while Adelaide is ranked seventh. Yes, there was a superb win against Carlton last Friday, prompting coach Nathan Buckley to remind everyone just how young his team was, but it's a selection decision this week that also has the club buoyed. Dayne Beams, last year's best and fairest, will be considered for a recall for Friday night's clash against Adelaide. Having impressed against Box Hill in the VFL last weekend, the classy midfielder could return for his first senior match of the season, having overcome a prolonged quad issue. And as Buckley noted on Tuesday: ''If Beamsy plays, it will be the first time Beams, [Luke] Ball, [Dane] Swan, [Scott] Pendlebury … have played in the same team since round two last year.''AdvertisementThe imminent return of Beams means the Magpies will have their prime midfield movers back in the fold - a must if they are to create trouble in September. Ball was absent for most of last season because of a knee injury but will continue his comeback by celebrating his 200th match on Friday. As the fallout from the Harry O'Brien drama continues, Ball, the president of the AFL Players Association, has been a no-fuss operator. ''We love Bally. On the backdrop of what we have got at the moment, [Ball is a] private schoolboy, potentially not much trauma or duress in his life, but a very strong example for all players,'' Buckley said. ''He hits the ball at a million miles an hour, is harder than a cat's head, just plays the game the way you would love to see it played.'' Ball left St Kilda after the 2009 grand final loss on sour terms, with questions over his endurance and kicking ability. He would play in the Magpies' premiership a year later - against St Kilda - and be given a contract extension. ''He has been able to stay relevant in the game because he has improved his fitness over the last two or three seasons,'' Buckley said. ''But contested ball is king in footy, and when you have a bloke that can win clearances, and halve clearances, more importantly when the opposition gets their hands on the ball, it's invaluable.'' Buckley also defended Steele Sidebottom, who will play his 100th game. ''He is a fit player, he is smart player, he is a hard-working player. I think that as this side becomes more settled, he will be the type of player that will really benefit from that over the next two, three weeks and beyond.'' Defender Lachlan Keeffe is also a chance to play his first senior match of the season. Lachlan Keeffe is fit again and coach Nathan Buckley could flirt with the idea of bringing him in to allow swingman Ben Reid to spend more time up forward. The Crows will be forced into at least two changes with Aidan Riley injured and Shaun McKernan suspended. Jared Petrenko will come back in after impressing in the SANFL following shoulder surgery, while Mitch Grigg continues to play well and must be close to a senior debut. With McKernan out the door is open for former Tiger Angus Graham to make his first appearance for his new club. As Richmond’s top four prospects were being spruiked last week after its 64-point caning of St Kilda, pundits and fans were reading Collingwood its last rites. A six-goal loss away from home to finals contenders Port Adelaide was deemed adequate evidence the Pies had capsized thanks to coach Nathan Buckley’s shoddy navigation. The reality is Richmond have not been that great and the Pies have not been that poor. A little context is needed when considering the seasons of both sides. The Tigers are yet to encounter either of last year’s grand finalists, Sydney or Hawthorn, and the highest ranked opponent they have slain is eighth-placed Port Adelaide. Collingwood’s results have been no more commendable but the Pies have managed to entrench themselves in the top eight despite a frightful spate of injuries. Lynchpins Dale Thomas, Heath Shaw, Darren Jolly, Dayne Beams, Luke Ball and skipper Nick Maxwell have all had their seasons curtailed by injury. Faced with such a health crisis, many teams would collapse. Collingwood, meanwhile, remain an outside chance of earning a top-four spot. Their next three matches – Adelaide at home, Gold Coast away, and GWS at home – are against struggling sides. After Round 18, Collingwood could well boast an enviable win-loss record of 12-5. The Pies will desperately require such impetus as they then tackle heavyweights Essendon, Sydney and Hawthorn in consecutive weeks. Each of those sides dismantled Collingwood in their earlier encounters this season. Buckley would undoubtedly be distressed by his side’s performances in those games. But also he would be optimistic that, with 2012 best and fairest winner Beams and warrior ruckman Jolly to return to the side in coming weeks, they are in a solid position to make an impact in September. The raft of injuries has allowed the Pies to foster the gifts of greenhorns Kyle Martin, Josh Thomas, Jamie Elliott, and Marley Williams, advancing the team’s depth. This greater spread of youth may help explain Collingwood’s recent inability to maintain its performance across all four quarters. Aside from its sporadic endeavour, the Pies next most pressing concern is their reliance on power forward Travis Cloke. No player in the competition is more often the target of his side’s kicks inside 50. Pies forward Quinten Lynch’s form has evaporated the past month, heightening the focus and burden on the hulking Cloke.  | |
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