Preview Round 4: Collingwood v Richmond

AFL
 

Collingwood v Richmond Friday April 11, 7.50pm MCG Fox Footy / 7mate 7.30pm Weather: Min 15 Max 19 Chance of rain 80%: 5-10mm Wind: SSW 27kph Betting: Collingwood $1.60 Richmond $2.40

Both teams are coming off a loss – Collingwood from its tough 11-point downing by Geelong and Richmond from a two-point defeat by the Western Bulldogs. The results leave both teams out of the eight, with the Magpies 13th and the Tigers 12th. The Pies were buoyed by five goals to Jamie Elliot but lost the midfield battle against the Cats and Travis Cloke was held goalless. The Tigers put in an atrocious second quarter to trail by 37 points at half-time against the Dogs. They fought back in the second half and briefly led but couldn't finish the job.

LAST FIVE TIMES
R4, 2013, Collingwood 16.17 (113) d Richmond 11.13 (79) at the MCG
R2, 2012, Collingwood 12.13 (85) d Richmond 8.16 (64) at the MCG
R4, 2011, Collingwood 24.17 (161) d Richmond 13.12 (90) at the MCG
R17, 2010, Collingwood 19.13 (127) d Richmond 6.9 (45) at the MCG
R20, 2009, Collingwood 22.20 (152) d Richmond 8.11 (59) at the MCG

THE SIX POINTS

1. The last time these sides met, Travis Cloke starred. He kicked seven goals in round four last year when the Pies won by 34 points.
2. After three rounds, Cloke is rated 46th for contested marks and the Magpies third last. Last season, he was first and his team sixth.
3. The sides are faring differently in clearances. The Tigers are ranked second with an average of nearly 45 a game while the Pies are equal second last with 36.
4. Still, the Pies have the upper hand in recent history. They've beaten the Tigers the last six times with round 19, 2007 the last yellow and black victory.
5. Brett Deledio and Shaun Hampson could return for the Tigers while Nick Vlastuin is being monitored after being concussed. The Pies are confident Nick Maxwell (ankle) will play.
6. Scott Pendlebury remains second on the AFL Official Player Ratings, brought to you by Gatorade, but Dane Swan has fallen from ninth to 13th.

Prediction: Collingwood by 19 points.