Preview Round 22: Collingwood v GWS

AFL

Collingwood v GWS Saturday August 23, 4.40pm GWS Stadium 7mate / Fox Footy 4.30pm Weather: Min 9 Max 18 Chance of rain 90%: 5-10mm Wind: E 12kph Betting: Collingwood $1.52 GWS $2.55

GREATER Western Sydney will welcome Collingwood to its Spotless Stadium home for the first time in round 22. The Giants are coming off a superb 62-point victory over the Demons, their first win in Melbourne and their biggest winning margin to date. However, they could find things a little tricky against a Magpie outfit that simply must win to have any chance of revitalising its faltering finals hopes. But with Travis Cloke, Dayne Beams and Ben Reid adding their names to a lengthening injury list, and with GWS in good form, it won't be easy in Sydney's west.

LAST TWO TIMES

1. R18, 2013, Collingwood 15.16 (106) d GWS 10.6 (66) at the MCG
2. R17, 2012, Collingwood 26.18 (174) d GWS 7.12 (54) at the MCG
   

THE SIX POINTS

1. Collingwood has won both games against GWS to date, but it was a close run thing last time around. The Giants led at half-time and trailed by just two points at the last change before falling away.
   
2. The Giants will sorely miss Jeremy Cameron following his season-ending ankle injury. He has kicked nine goals in two games against the Pies, including a club-record seven last year.
   
3. Collingwood will need to work hard on its foot skills in the lead-up to next season. This year, the Magpies are ranked 17th with 71 per cent disposal efficiency and are fourth in clangers with 46.6 per game.
   
4. GWS has a 3-4 record at home this season. The club started with consecutive home wins in 2014, but since round 10, it has lost four out of five, with the one victory coming against Carlton in round 14.
   
5. Following a strong start to the season, which had them right in top-four calculations, the Pies have fallen away badly. Since round 13, they are ahead of only Melbourne and St Kilda on an AFL form ladder, conceding 99 points per game in that stretch.
   
6. Captain Scott Pendlebury continues to lead the Pies in the Official AFL Player Ratings, ranked second to Gold Coast's Gary Ablett. GWS counterpart Callan Ward leads his side in 21st position.
   

Prediction: Collingwood by 8 points