Preview Round 3: Collingwood v St Kilda

AFL

Collingwood v St Kilda Friday April 17, 7.50pm MCG 7mate / Fox Footy 7.30pm Weather: Min 10 Max 18 Chance of rain 70%: 5 - 10mm Wind: E 12kph Betting: Collingwood $1.37 St Kilda $3.10

SUMMARY
When the 2015 fixture was released last October, Collingwood fans would have pencilled in this game against the reigning wooden spooner as a percentage-boosting exercise, just like it was in their round 11 encounter last year.
Suddenly it's a danger game for the Magpies, who were completely outplayed by Adelaide last week. Both teams are 1-1 and the Saints are in the eight for the first time in a while after upsetting finals aspirant Gold Coast.
And while a lot of pre-season excitement at St Kilda centred on No.1 draft pick Paddy McCartin, the club might well have unearthed another promising key forward after Josh Bruce's six-goal effort against the Suns.

LAST FIVE TIMES

1. R11, 2014, Collingwood 21.14 (140) d St Kilda 8.6 (54) at Etihad Stadium
2. R6, 2013, Collingwood 15.13 (103) d St Kilda 11.11 (77) at Etihad Stadium
3. R19, 2012, Collingwood 12.19 (91) d St Kilda 13.7 (85) at the MCG
4. R21, 2011, Collingwood 14.5 (89) d St Kilda 10.10 (70) at Etihad Stadium
5. R11, 2011, Collingwood 16.12 (108) d St Kilda 7.9 (51) at the MCG

THE SIX POINTS

1. UPDATE: Injury List
   Taylor Adams	Lower leg	Test
   Levi Greenwood*	Fractured ankle	8-10 weeks
   Brent Macaffer*	Knee	6-8 weeks
   Scott Pendlebury	Ankle	Test
   Matt Scharenberg	Knee	2-3 weeks
   Steele Sidebottom	Broken thumb	8-10 weeks
   Ben Sinclair	Hamstring	4-6 weeks
   Clinton Young	Hamstring	3-5 weeks
   *Placed on the club's long-term injury list

   These teams haven’t played on a Friday night at the MCG since round 15, 2000. This is the 26th time they have met there, with the Pies leading 15-9. There has also been a draw.
2. The Magpies were smashed by the Crows all over Etihad Stadium last week: in disposals (426-352), marks (126-61), inside 50s (58-44) and scoring shots (30-18).
3. Saints skipper Nick Riewoldt continues to be a leading markologist, ranking equal-second for marks this season with 22. Collingwood’s best is Jesse White with 14.
4. Pies champions Dane Swan and Scott Pendlebury have started the season well, ranked fourth (35) and equal-seventh (34) respectively for kicks. Best for the Saints is Shane Savage, who is also equal-seventh (34).
5. Collingwood’s 86-point win over St Kilda at Etihad Stadium in round 11 last year was the result of domination in inside 50s (63-41), disposals (394-339), tackles (77-61) and scoring shots (35-14). Ex-Pie Dayne Beams was best afield with 33 touches.
6. Collingwood's three top-ranked players in the Official AFL Player Ratings are all clear of the Saints' best, but only two of these Pies are playing – Scott Pendlebury (No. 2) and Dane Swan (39). Steele Sidebottom (14) is injured. Meanwhile, the Saints' best is Jack Steven (51).

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …
Jesse White … The big, athletic key forward has shown some promising signs this season, and was far from the Pies' worst player in the loss to the Crows, and now is the time for him to take a game apart as he has threatened to do for several years. The ex-Swan has been leaping and generally marking well, and should prove a handful. Can the 27-year-old add to his Brownlow Medal tally of one career vote?

PREDICTION: Collingwood by 35 points.