Preview Round 13: Collingwood v Fremantle

AFL

Round 13 Collingwood v Fremantle Thurday June 25, 8:10pm Subiaco Oval, Perth 7mate / Fox Footy 8:00pm Weather: Min 5 Max 19 Chance of rain 5%: < 1mm Wind: NNW 15kph Betting: Collingwood $4.25 Fremantle $1.22

SUMMARY
The Magpies face their biggest test of the season as they travel west to take on the ladder-leading Dockers. Collingwood’s recent form has been irresistible, winning its last four and kicking 17 goals or more on each occasion. But the Dockers are the number one defence in the AFL and represent a far greater challenge. The home side will be refreshed after a week off, but they will need greater scoring output this week - in their last three matches they have averaged just 64 points per game compared to 97 over the first eight rounds of the season.

LAST FIVE TIMES

1. R1, 2014, Fremantle 17.14 (116) d Collingwood 5.16 (46) at Etihad Stadium
2. R7, 2013, Fremantle 15.10 (100) d Collingwood 10.13 (73) at Subiaco Oval
3. R14, 2012, Collingwood 15.17 (107) d Fremantle 12.6 (78) at the MCG
4. R23, 2011, Collingwood 20.12 (132) d Fremantle 8.4 (52) at Subiaco Oval
5. R8, 2010, Collingwood 20.13 (133) d Fremantle 15.7 (97) at Subiaco Oval

 THE SIX POINTS

1. Collingwood was held to its lowest score against Fremantle the last time the two sides met. Aaron Sandilands was the difference collecting 19 possessions, 39 hit-outs and the three Brownlow votes.
2. The Magpies are the number one contested possession team in 2015 averaging 148.3 per game. The Dockers are ranked sixth with 139.5 per game.
3. Collingwood is ranked third for goals per game this season averaging 14.9. Fremantle is ninth with 12.9 goals per game.
4. The two teams have clashed eight times at Domain Stadium, winning four games each. The Magpies have lost their last three games at the venue.
5. The Magpies are number one for marks inside 50 in 2015 with 15 per game. Travis Cloke, Jesse White and Jamie Elliott are all ranked amongst the top 20 players in the AFL for marks inside 50.
6. The number one and two ranked players on the Official AFL Player ratings go head to head this week. Nat Fyfe is leading the AFL Coaches Association award and is the reigning AFLPA MVP, but the ratings have him second behind Scott Pendlebury.

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Hayden Ballantyne
The 2014 All Australian has played well at stages this year without much going his way, but he hasn't been able to impact the scoreboard as much he would have liked, kicking just eight goals so far this season. A bag of goals would be the perfect start to the second half of the year.

PREDICTION: Fremantle by 20 points