Round 18: The Team

Round 18 Collingwood v Melbourne Saturday August 1, 2:10pm MCG Fox Sports 2:00pm Weather: Min 7 Max 12 Chance of rain 60%: <1mm Wind: WSW 18kph Betting: Collingwood $1.30 Melbourne $3.50

B: Tom Langdon, Nathan Brown, Marley Williams
HB: Alan Toovey, Jack Frost, Brayden Maynard
C: Taylor Adams, Dane Swan, Steele Sidebottom
HF: Sam Dwyer, Darcy Moore, Jordan De Goey
F: Alex Fasolo, Brodie Grundy, Jamie Elliott
Foll: Jarrod Witts, Jack Crisp, Scott Pendlebury
Int: Tyson Goldsack, Levi Greenwood, Travis Varcoe, Paul Seedsman
Emg: Jarryd Blair, Matthew Scharenberg, Jonathon Marsh

IN: Taylor Adams, Sam Dwyer, Jamie Elliott, Paul Seedsman
OUT: Adam Oxley (rested), Jarryd Blair, Ben Kennedy, Jesse White (omitted)

Collingwood News A very different looking Collingwood outfit will take to the field against Melbourne at the MCG this Saturday. The Magpies have made four changes as they attempt to end their five-game losing streak. Jamie Elliott bounces directly back into the senior side after a two-week absence with a back injury, as does Taylor Adams, who sat out the same duration due to suspension. Wingman Paul Seedsman returns after a week in the VFL, while for Sam Dwyer, the match will be mark his first senior game since round six. The quartet replaces three omitted teammates – Jarryd Blair, Jesse White and Ben Kennedy – and Adam Oxley, who has been rested. The loss of Blair, White and Oxley marks a significant change, for they have only missed one senior game between them this year. It is the first time Blair has missed due to omission since round 11, 2011, while White was last omitted just under twelve months ago. White’s absence coupled with Travis Cloke’s calf injury gives Collingwood’s forward line a fresh look. Teenager Darcy Moore will lead the way in the goal square, with support likely to come from big men Brodie Grundy and Jarrod Witts. The match signifies a welcome return for Dwyer who has been forced to bide his time as an emergency for several weeks. During his nine games in the VFL, Dwyer has averaged 20.0 disposals, 3.8 tackles and 2.4 inside 50s. He was best afield in last week’s win against the Casey Scorpions, collecting 26 disposals (12 contested, 13 uncontested) and laying 10 tackles. Blair remains in the mix as an emergency, as do uncapped defenders Matthew Scharenberg and Jonathon Marsh.

Preview Round 18: Collingwood v Melbourne

Collingwood News

Round 18 Collingwood v Melbourne Saturday August 1, 2:10pm MCG Fox Sports 2:00pm Weather: Min 7 Max 12 Chance of rain 60%: <1mm Wind: WSW 18kph Betting: Collingwood $1.30 Melbourne $3.50

A July to forget is finally on the backburner. A month full of challenges resulted in five consecutive losses and pushed the Magpies from top four calculations to outside the eight. August has arrived and in the context of Collingwood’s 2015 season, games won’t come much bigger. A win against Melbourne and the Magpies’ finals hopes live on. A loss and Nathan Buckley’s side can essentially kiss this season goodbye.
For the 28th consecutive time, the MCG will be the scene when the Magpies and Demons clash in Saturday’s 2:10pm timeslot. While four of Collingwood past five games have been against top eight sides, Melbourne have played just one team in the upper half of the ladder (West Coast in round 14) in its past eight games. Both sides have one eye cast on the future, however Collingwood need to produce a winning result if their future is going to include a finals appearance in 2015.

Collingwood
After two weeks on the sidelines, Taylor Adams is expected to resume his place in the Collingwood midfield. Adams was handed a two-match suspension at the conclusion of round 15 for using his knee to make contact with the head of Port Adelaide’s Justin Westhoff. It was a night of mixed feelings for Adams, who despite the moment of aggression had a superb two hours of footy. He collected a career-high 38 disposals and kicked the Magpies within a goal of the Power midway through the final quarter. There is no doubting the value of his presence among the likes of Scott Pendlebury and Dane Swan in 2015 and his return adds another string to the midfield bow.
The return of Adams compounds with the VFL form of defender-turned-forward Ben Reid who also put his hand up for selection with three goals against Casey at Victoria Park on Sunday. While Reid is expected to be given more time to adjust to match conditions and recover in the VFL, he could be a left-field selection to add forward value in a combination with the emerging Darcy Moore. Sam Dwyer, Paul Seedsman and Jonathon Marsh also impressed for the VFL Magpies, yet no new injuries from last week’s game means any changes will mean a senior players omission.

Melbourne
A clash between the VFL Magpies and Melbourne affiliate Casey last weekend mean both sides will have sound knowledge of the players which could be included in Saturday’s teams. Alex Neal-Bullen and Rohan Bail both collected 30-plus disposals at Victoria Park, while Mark Jamar also proved a presence in the ruck and could add experience to a Melbourne side which lost to St Kilda by 37 points last Sunday.
The Demons have one of the smallest injury lists in the league, with just five players unavailable for selection. Defender Tom McDonald received a knock to the eye against the Saints, but managed to successfully complete the match, playing 90 per cent of game time. Coach Paul Roos made two changes to his side last weekend, and more could follow this week after a disappointing loss.

Last time
Royal blue beanies filled the MCG as both clubs helped former Melbourne coach Neale Daniher raise awareness for Motor Neuron Disease. When the emotion subsided, the Magpies, and more specifically Travis Cloke started hot, kicking seven goals to three in the opening term. After being kept to just one goal in each of his last two games, the power forward burst to life with four goals in the first term.
Despite Collingwood's devastation in the opening stages, the Demons were quick to respond in the second quarter as they kicked six straight goals and claimed a five-point lead midway through the term. Despite managing to draw level late in the third quarter, this would be the last time they led for the match. Back-to-back goals from Cloke and Jarryd Blair just before three quarter time allowed the Magpies to take momentum into the final term.
After an emotional week, the final quarter failed to encapsulate the intensity evident in the opening stages of the game. Collingwood held Melbourne goalless and kicked three majors of its own to finish with a 25-point victory. Cloke closed out the game with a career-high seven goals, while defender Adam Oxley announced himself on the big stage with 30 disposals and 14 marks across half back.

Familiar foes
They say a week is a long time in footy and it’s hard to believe the Magpies last meeting with Melbourne was just eight weeks ago. The pair’s round 18 clash marks the first time Collingwood will play against an opponent it’s already met this year. It’s also the first time the Demons and Magpies have played twice in a year since 2010.
In a year in which Collingwood was a premiership favourite and Melbourne were the reigning wooden spooners, the pair of clashes between the two sides were hardly billed as blockbusters. However at the conclusion of the two meetings, just one point separated the two teams. Collingwood won by the narrowest of margins in round two, with goals to John Anthony and Leon Davis and allowed the Magpies to overcome the Demons in the dying stages of the game. Ten weeks later in round 12, Mick Malthouse’s side wasn’t so lucky. In one of the most memorable Queen’s Birthday clashes between the two sides, a compromising and hard-hitting battle ended in a draw after Tarkyn Lockyer kicked a goal in the 25th minute to level the scores.
The familiarity continues on an even more recent note with Collingwood’s VFL team having taken on Melbourne-affiliate Casey last Sunday at Victoria Park. After losing at Casey Fields by four points earlier in the year, the VFL Magpies reversed the result, winning by 23 points.

First year phenomenon’s
Four of the AFL’s most promising rookies will take the field at the same time on Saturday afternoon. Darcy Moore, Jordan De Goey, Jesse Hogan and Angus Brayshaw were untried teenagers this time last year, waiting to make their mark on the big stage. 12 months later their time is here as they run onto the field together in front of a packed MCG.
Both sides will rely heavily on first year forwards – Moore at one end for Collingwood and Hogan at the other for Melbourne. Both are proving to be fascinating prospects. Moore roared to life last weekend, spearheading Collingwood’s attack with five goals in just his three AFL game. For the Demons, it hasn’t taken long for Hogan to be the focal point among the forward line. The 20-year-old has kicked 29 goals in 14 games this season, including bags of five against St Kilda in round 11 and four against Brisbane in round 16.
In the middle of the ground, the two top five draft picks De Goey and Brayshaw will meet for the second time in what is set to be a tantalising clash. The pair arguably split the honours in round 10, with De Goey’s 15 disposals shadowed by Brayshaw’s 18 touches. Eight weeks later and both have added a level of consistency to their game. Neither have missed a game since Queen’s Birthday and both have since produced career-high disposal games.

Keeffe and Thomas Receive Infraction Notices

Collingwood News

Round 18 Collingwood v Melbourne Saturday August 1, 2:10pm MCG Fox Sports 2:00pm Weather: Min 7 Max 12 Chance of rain 60%: <1mm Wind: W 22kph Betting: Collingwood $1.30 Melbourne $3.50

Collingwood players Lachlan Keeffe and Josh Thomas have been handed infraction notices by the AFL after tests revealed they had taken the performance-enhancing drug clenbuterol.
Keeffe and Thomas are now facing suspensions, with Magpies CEO Gary Pert saying it is up to the players to decide whether to accept likely two-year bans.
"It's not like we've been involved in the process, but from here what we believe are the next steps is for the players to decide whether they're going to contest – whether they want to say they accept the ruling or not, or the severity of the penalty," Pert told SEN on Wednesday.
"Once they've made that decision, they'll advise ASADA. So there will be no contest or they decide to contest it. If they contest it, ASADA advises the AFL, who then organises a (Anti-Doping) Tribunal hearing at some stage."
Asked if the players were already aware of their proposed penalty, Pert

Lachlan Keeffe

said: "I think we are all aware of the fact that if they're guilty and

Josh Thomas

both samples are positive, that it's pretty much an automatic two-year suspension".
Clenbuterol is not a specified substance on the AFL Anti-Doping prohibited list and as such, has required the players to be provisionally suspended. It is, however, a WADA-prohibited substance.
The announcement from the AFL confirms the players' B-samples had come back positive after tests on April 14.
Their A-sample tested positive on February 10, with ASADA notifying the League of the possible doping offences in March.
In a statement on Wednesday, the AFL said 24-year-old Keeffe and Thomas, 23, had been issued with infraction notices by general counsel Andrew Dillon for potentially breaching the competition's Anti-Doping Code.
"The AFL will now work with the players’ representatives and ASADA in scheduling the next steps in the anti-doping process," the statement said.
"The substance, clenbuterol, is not a specified substance on the AFL Anti-Doping prohibited list and as such, has required the players to be provisionally suspended.
"The AFL will not comment further on this issue at this time."

Notice On Wednesday, AFL General Counsel Andrew Dillon issued Infraction Notices to Lachlan Keeffe and Josh Thomas of the Collingwood Football Club, after being formally notified by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority of the recent decision of the Anti-Doping Rule Violation Panel that those Players had possibly breached the AFL Anti Doping Code. The AFL will now work with the players’ representatives and ASADA in scheduling the next steps in the Anti-Doping process. On Friday 27 March 2015, ASADA informed the AFL that samples taken from Lachlan Keeffe and Josh Thomas of the Collingwood Football Club on 10 February 2015 had tested positive for the presence of a WADA-prohibited substance. The substance, clenbuterol, is not a specified substance on the AFL Anti-Doping prohibited list and as such, has required the players to be provisionally suspended.

Collingwood has continued to support the suspended players since they were provisionally suspended.
Pert said the club has had no conversations with the pair about their football futures.
But if they accept their bans and are potentially delisted by Collingwood, he said the Magpies wouldn't have preferential access to recruit them again via the rookie draft.
"In the hypothetical sense of if they ended up on a rookie list, we get no preferential access to a player in that circumstance," Pert said.
"So that would be a normal system where the bottom team gets the first pick (in the rookie draft) and all the way through."
Magpies forward Travis Cloke hopes the pair, both from Queensland, are given a second chance if they do get banned.
"Whether it's in 12 months, two years, I'd like to see them back at the club," Cloke told 3AW this week.
"We do need to remember that they're only young kids. We want to make sure they've got their life on track."

Preview Round 18: Collingwood v Melbourne

SportsMatt

Round 18 Collingwood v Melbourne Saturday August 1, 2:10pm MCG Fox Sports 2:00pm Weather: Min 7 Max 12 Chance of rain 60%: <1mm Wind: W 22kph Betting: Collingwood $1.30 Melbourne $3.50

For the first time since 2005 the Collingwood football club has lost five games in row. It’s been a disastrous stretch for the biggest sporting club in the land. All seemed rosy at the Westpac centre when the Magpies entered their mid season bye with 8 wins and 3 losses. Five weeks later and it’s all fallen apart. A mixture of injuries, form slumps, inaccuracy in front of goal and quality opposition has merged to create the perfect storm against the Pies. It now leaves them with an 8-8 win/loss record and now in danger of missing the finals for a second consecutive season.
There is hope for Collingwood as the draw gets easier, at least for the next two weeks. On Saturday they host Melbourne back at the MCG, a ground the Pies have only played once at in the past 7 weeks. The Demons have had another season to forget, currently sitting in 15th place on the ladder with 5 wins out of 16 games. The Dees are also ugly to watch at the moment, they can’t score and that has led to some poor games of late. The two sides did meet earlier in the season in the traditional Queen’s birthday fixture. Despite Melbourne threatening at times in that game the Magpies ran away with a 25 point win. Once again there is an added edge to this game with ex Magpies Chris Dawes and Heritier Lumumba running out for Melbourne now. This really is a game Collingwood should be winning to keep their faint finals hopes alive.

PREVIOUS FORM
Collingwood’s form has gradually got worse throughout the 5 game losing streak. It started off with respectable losses to Fremantle and Hawthorn but it’s got worse after that. The loss to Port Adelaide was a real let down for the club, especially considering the type of season Port are having. Then came the loss to the Eagles, in a performance that may well have been the worst of the Pies season so far. That left them needing to beat the Bulldogs last week to avoid their worst losing streak in 10 years. They didn’t, and realistically they never looked like winning despite getting within striking distance in the final term. Just about the only positive out of that loss to the Dogs was the performance of third gamer Darcy Moore who kicked 4 second half goals (5 in total) to give a taste of what he has to offer in the future.
Melbourne went in the mid season break with a bit of hope. They’d pushed Collingwood and should have beaten St Kilda, and then had done what for years was impossible, defeat Geelong on their home ground. Since then though it hasn’t been pretty, with the only win in the last 4 games coming against the worst side in the competition at the moment, the Brisbane Lions. Last week’s loss to St Kilda was probably a season low for the Dees. Considering just a few weeks earlier they went so close to defeating the Saints at Etihad Stadium, most thought they would put up a fight versus the Saints back at the MCG. They didn’t, they were poor, as they went down to the Saints by 37 points. There weren’t many positives for Melbourne fans to see with only Grimes, Viney and Watts playing above expectations.

COLLINGWOOD PREVIEW
It’s now or never for Collingwood, another loss this week and their finals hopes will be dead in the water. The last 5 weeks have thrown up some great contests and a few poor performances yet absolutely zero return for any effort. Of course now there’s the obvious comparisons to last season where the Pies went 8-3 in the first half of the year then 3-8 in the second half. But it’s a different Collingwood team this season, last year was ripped apart by injuries and off field problems, with several players clearly not happy with their situation at the club. This year, even after 5 consecutive losses, and despite some crucial injuries, the group seems more tight knit then ever under Nathan Buckley. It’s not showing up in the results though, and that has to change soon or the Pies will miss the finals for the second season in a row.
There are some positives though leading into this clash with Taylor Adams certain to return after serving a two week suspension. Collingwood’s VFL side also had another strong win and out of that game the likes of Sam Dwyer, Clinton Young, Paul Seedsman, Matthew Scharenberg and Jonathan Marsh will all be seeking promotion to the seniors. It does seem though that the long awaited return of Ben Reid will have to wait one more week at least despite the all Australian playing a full game in the VFL win. Travis Cloke and Jamie Elliott are also unavailable once again. Who goes out of the side is as much a debate as who comes in with several Magpies struggling with form throughout the recent losing streak. Jarryd Blair has been used as the substitution of a few occasions and that;s usually a sign that he’s on the verge of being omitted. Adam Oxley, Jarrod Witts, Jesse White and Alan Toovey are also struggling at the moment so there may be 3-4 changes.
The Magpies should win this game though, they disposed of Melbourne relatively easily last time around and there’s little doubt that the Demons are an easier team to beat now then they were then. It’s all about attitude and effort for the Pies and if they bring a high level of intensity they should end their losing streak at five.

OPPOSITION ANALYSIS
It’s been another tough season for the Demons. There have been signs of improvement though. Melbourne finished 17th in each of the past two years yet this season they are likely to improve at least a few positions on the ladder. Their fans demand more and rightfully so given the recent history of this once proud football club. Of course there’s been positive signs from some of the young talent they have with Brayshaw, Hogan, Tyson, Viney, Neal-Bullen and Gawn showing signs that they will form the basis of this side going forward. Melbourne showed only a few weeks back that they are capable of an upset and their fans would love nothing more then to beat one of their old enemies on Saturday.
The Melbourne forward line has plenty of talent but the ball simply isn’t getting down there. The Demons forwards are the least supplied in the AFL, averaging 16 less inside forward 50 entries then the leagues’ best side, Hawthorn. It’s a pity because as mentioned there is talent on this forward line. Led by the emerging superstar that is Jesse Hogan and the very good off season recruit in Jeff Garlett this is the one are of the ground where Melbourne can do some damage. This season’s output does drop off after those two but with Dawes, Watts and Vandenburg in attack also it has the potential to be an area of strength if they can get the ball there more often. The Magpies defense has been strong this season though so the Dees will need to figure out how to get the ball inside 50 more then what they have been doing.
The Demons midfield should be there are of strength really, with names like Jones, Vince, Cross, Brayshaw, Tyson, Grimes, Lumumba and Viney. But it is struggling and has been for most of the season. While they rank a respectable 9th for contested possessions it’s in the middle where the problems really are. Melbourne are the 14th best team at winning the clearances, and quite simply that shows why their forward line has been so under supplied this season. They run into a Pies midfield that is as good as anyone in the competition at winning the contested ball, and better then the Demons at the clearances. If there is one area that the Demons may be able to dominate it’s in the ruck with Max Gawn really coming into his own in recent weeks and the option to include Mark Jamar if deemed necessary.
The Melbourne backline has been weakened off late with the loss of the likes of Rivers and Frawley through free agency. Jeremy Howe has made the move down back in many games this year and is starting to show he can play down there for sure. He’s helping out the likes of Dunn, McDonald, Garland and Jetta and with time this backline could develop into something strong. At the moment though senior coach Paul Roos is relying on a team defensive mentality to keep games closer then they would be other wise. The positive for the Dees is that Collingwood is missing their best two forwards at the moment, Cloke and Elliott. Just maybe the restrictive brand of football the Demons are playing will be able to keep them in this game long enough.
The Demons list looks better then it did at this time last season but the results still aren’t coming through. They would see this game as an opportunity to repay the faith their fans have shown in them and defeat one of their greatest rivals. To do that though they will have to figure out a way to get the ball insider their forward zone and score. That all starts with the midfield and against a Pies midfield that hasn’t been great of late they may be able to make this a contest.

TIP
Collingwood go into this game as favourites despite Melbourne winning more games in the last 5 weeks then the Pies. That favouritism is based on talent and potential more then form but the Demons will think they are a chance here. In the first matchup between the two this season it was Melbourne who looked the most impressive side for a lot of the game until the stronger Pies got on top late. The only chance the Dees have to win this game is to get an early lead and hold on.
Realistically though, even with the recent losing streak this Collingwood team should win this game. The absence of Cloke, Reid, Broomhead and Elliott doesn’t help but if they can regain their form from a few weeks back they’ll come away with a comfortable win.

MAGPIES BY 23 POINTS

Preview Round 18: Collingwood v Melbourne

AFL

Round 18 Collingwood v Melbourne Saturday August 1, 2:10pm MCG Fox Sports 2:00pm Weather: Min 7 Max 12 Chance of rain 60%: <1mm Wind: W 22kph Betting: Collingwood $1.30 Melbourne $3.50

SUMMARY
Collingwood has lost its past five games – its worst run since 2005-06 – and although you'd expect the Pies to have won one or two of those encounters, each defeat was against a difficult opponent. There will be no such excuse against the Demons, who have won just five games this season. A Pies win will keep them in the hunt for an unlikely finals berth. There will be enormous interest in the performances of both side's young key forwards – Melbourne's Jesse Hogan and Collingwood's Darcy Moore, who bagged five goals last week in just his third AFL game.

LAST FIVE TIMES

1. R10, 2015, Collingwood 17.8 (110) d Melbourne 13.7 (85) at the MCG
2. R12, 2014, Collingwood 8.13 (61) d Melbourne 3.10 (28) at the MCG
3. R11, 2013, Collingwood 17.20 (122) d Melbourne 5.9 (39) at the MCG
4. R11, 2012, Collingwood 19.15 (129) d Melbourne 13.9 (87) at the MCG
5. R12, 2011, Collingwood 19.15 (129) d Melbourne 6.5 (41) at the MCG

THE SIX POINTS

1. How fortunes change. When they met in round 10, Pies spearhead Travis Cloke bagged 7.0 and Adam Oxley starred as a loose man in defence with 30 possessions and 14 marks. Cloke is now sidelined and Oxley was subbed out last week.
2. The Pies have lost five games in a row, which they haven’t done since they lost the last eight games of 2005 and their 2006 season-opener.
3. The Demons are ranked last for inside 50s with only 43.3 a game, while the Magpies are ranked fifth with 51.9.
4. No team uses the interchange more than Collingwood, which averages 113 rotations a game. Melbourne is ranked equal 10th with 107.
5. Collingwood has won its past five games against Melbourne, and nine of the past 10. The Demons' only premiership points against the Pies since 2008 came from a draw in 2010.
6. Pies skipper Scott Pendlebury (652.4 points) has lost his No.1 mantle in the Official AFL Player Ratings to Freo superstar Nat Fyfe (657.9).

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley. His team was better than gallant against the might of Hawthorn and Fremantle – many believe the Pies should have won both games – but a sixth straight loss, particularly to a battling Melbourne, would raise concern. 'Bucks' needs to get his boys over the line before defeat becomes a habit.

PREDICTION: Collingwood by 20 points

Injury List

Injury Update Tuesday, July 21			Round 18 Collingwood v Melbourne Saturday August 1, 2:10pm MCG Fox Sports 2:00pm Weather: Min 7 Max 12 Chance of rain 80%: <1mm Wind: W 24kph Betting: Collingwood $1.30 Melbourne $3.50
Player	Injury	Status
Brenden Abbott	Shoulder	Season
Tim Broomhead	Fractured shoulder	4-6 weeks
Travis Cloke	Calf	Test
Jamie Elliott	Back	Test
Nathan Freeman	Hamstring	1-2 weeks
Brent Macaffer*	Knee	2-3 weeks
Jackson Ramsay	Shin	3-5 weeks
*Placed on the club's long-term injury list

Collingwood News Star forwards Travis Cloke and Jamie Elliott have not been ruled out of Saturday’s must-win clash with Melbourne, although Director of Football Neil Balme concedes the club is likely to err on the side of caution with the injured pair. Cloke (calf) and Elliott (back), who have kicked a combined 60 goals this season, both sat out Sunday’s loss to the Western Bulldogs. “Travis is recovering reasonably well. Whilst we would not rule him out of playing this week, he is a little bit unlikely but he is going very well, so we are pleased with that,” Balme told CollingwoodTV’s Blackmores Injury Update. “Jamie's back is similar. We have not ruled him out for this week but we will see how he goes. We won’t be taking any risks with him, either, with that kind of problem.” Balme classified the pair as short-term on the club’s injury list. Tim Broomhead was not as lucky, with Balme explaining he is likely to miss the remainder of the year with his cracked shoulder injury. “We don’t really expect Tim to be able to play any more this year,” Balme said. “He is not totally ruled out, but he is certainly long-term with that shoulder.” "Travis is recovering reasonably well. Whilst we would not rule him out of playing this week, he is a little bit unlikely but he is going very well, so we are pleased with that. Jamie's back is similar. We have not ruled him out for this week but we will see how he goes. We won’t be taking any risks with him, either, with that kind of problem." Director of Football Neil Balme

Ben Reid Ben Reid will be discussed by Collingwood's match committee for this Saturday's game against Melbourne at the MCG, but coach Nathan Buckley is still unsure whether the key forward is ready to play senior football. Reid kicked three goals, to go with 15 disposals, in the VFL at the weekend after having not played for nearly a month due to a setback pertaining to his susceptibility to soft tissue injuries. "He got through the game which was the first port of call. We will discuss him as the week plays out, starting this afternoon," Buckley said at the Westpac Centre on Tuesday morning. "My gut feel is that he's going to need more footy, but we'll make that call later in the week." The 2011 All-Australian has not played a senior game this season and his last match, his 99th, remains the round 21 meeting with the Brisbane Lions at the MCG last season. Collingwood has dropped five games in a row and, despite reasonable form against some of the competition's top sides, the Magpies find themselves in 11th position on the ladder. Buckley indicated that in the recent losses to West Coast and the Western Bulldogs his side had gone away from the style of play that makes it hard to beat. "Our brand is contest and defence first, and offence off the back of it," Buckley said. "It won't be surprising anyone to say that's where our focus is. At our best we're very hard to get (the ball) through when we setup defensively and bring heat on the ball."When we play really solid team defence we're pretty hard to beat." The Magpies return to the MCG for the first time since facing Hawthorn in round 14 and Buckley implied the dimensions of that venue, as opposed to Etihad Stadium, suits how his team structures up.

2015 LADDER: ROUND 17

Pos Position  C Change from last round  P Played  W Won  L Lost  D Drawn  F Points for
A Points against   % Percentage   Form Past five results   Next Next opponent   Pts Points

Round 17: Western Bulldogs 104 Collingwood 86

THE FACTS

COLLINGWOOD                  3.4.22   7.7.49    9.7.61       13.8.86
WESTERN BULLDOGS        5.5.35   9.6.60   13.9.87   15.14.104

SCORERS - Collingwood: Moore (5.0), White (2.2), Grundy (2.1), Pendlebury (1.1), Varcoe (1.1), Greenwood (1.0), Sidebottom (1.0), Swan (0.1), Witts (0.1)

BEST - Collingwood: Sidebottom, Swan, Moore, Langdon,  Pendlebury

INJURIES - Collingwood: Nil

SUBSTITUTES - Collingwood: Jarryd Blair replaced Adam Oxley in the third quarter

REPORTS: Jack Macrae (Western Bulldogs) reported for rough conduct on Brayden Maynard (Collingwood) in the last quarter

OFFICIAL CROWD: 40,581 at Etihad Stadium

TALKING POINTS

1. Moore please With Pies spearhead Travis Cloke sidelined with a calf injury, young gun Darcy Moore was promoted to a key forward role in his third AFL game. The 19-year-old son of club great Peter Moore hadn't kicked a goal in his previous two games but proved a bright spark in attack with a game-high five goals. Moore slotted three of four goals the Pies scored between the 19-minute mark of the second term and the 22-minute mark of the third. He kicked Collingwood's only two goals of the third term to keep the Pies in touch, using his pace to run in for an easy goal, and four minutes later took a contested mark and converted from just inside 50. He moved well, competed strongly, showcased an impressive arm extension to the ball and displayed terrific athleticism. 2. Lachie becomes the Hunter Bulldogs youngster Lachie Hunter had broken the 20-disposals barrier just twice in his previous 28 games, but amassed a game-high had 20 by half-time. Late in the third quarter the skillful left-footer had already passed his previous personal best of 24 touches. In just his fifth game of the season, the 20-year-old finished with 32 possessions and was one of the best-afield. Another Bulldog to enjoyed a career-high was former Swan Shane Biggs, who controlled play in the back half and ended with 28 possessions. 3. Deadeye Dickson's half-century Dogs goalsneak Tory Dickson started his 50th game on fire, and appeared set to challenge his career-best haul of seven goals, which he bagged in the round seven loss to Fremantle at the same venue. By the five-minute mark of the second term, he'd had three kicks and kicked three goals. The best of them was his third, which came from a neat left-foot snap from 25m. He finished with four majors and now has 18.1 from set shots. The 27-year-old, in his fourth season with the Dogs after VFL stints with Frankston and the Bendigo Bombers, is second on the club's goalkicking list with 30 goals, behind only Jake Stringer (32).

4. Macrae reported In the dying minutes with the result beyond doubt, Western Bulldogs midfielder Jack Macrae was reported for rough conduct on Brayden Maynard, after bumping him in the back after a free kick had been awarded to the Pies. At first glance it seems Macrae would be stiff to cop a suspension, but it was certainly a silly thing to do and marred an otherwise terrific 28-possession game from the left-footer. 5. Dress rehearsal for the 2016 opener? At the pre-match function, Bulldogs president Peter Gordon revealed the Dogs and Pies are lobbying the AFL to play an annual round-one clash at the MCG, and this clash proved a great advertisement for the concept. The two promising young teams opened the game at breakneck speed, with a goal to Collingwood skipper Scott Pendlebury inside 20 seconds, and the tempo was maintained for much of the contest, as the Bulldogs strengthened their finals chances while the Magpies slumped to a fifth straight loss. Moore slotted three of four goals the Pies scored between the 19-minute mark of the second term and the 22-minute mark of the third. He kicked Collingwood's only two goals of the third term to keep the Pies in touch, using his pace to run in for an easy goal, and four minutes later took a contested mark and converted from just inside 50. He moved well, competed strongly, showcased an impressive arm extension to the ball and displayed terrific athleticism.

THE MEDIA

Collingwood News Collingwood has found itself off the finals pace in the past five weeks because of its inability to step up when games are on the line, coach Nathan Buckley says. The Magpies lost their fifth straight match on Sunday against the Western Bulldogs, dropping from fourth spot in round 12 to now sit 11th, precariously placed with an 8-8 record. They had an opportunity to pounce in the fourth quarter on Sunday when they cut the margin to 11 points, but back-to-back goals for the Bulldogs from crumbing opportunities iced the game. Buckley said the common thread in the past five weeks had been such lapses at crucial moments that let the opposition secure victory. "The consistent theme is when the games are there to be won we haven't quite stepped up to the plate," he said. "When the question is asked and when it's in the balance, we want to be a footy club that answers in the affirmative … at the moment we haven't been able to. "Against Fremantle, Port Adelaide, West Coast and again today where we've been that goal-and-a-bit down, we've had momentum, we've had four or five inside 50s in a row, and if we'd done the basics well we'd be able to hit the scoreboard and make a real game of it, but we haven't been able to do that. "The opposition have weathered the storm, made the most of some opportunities, and we've given them to them. The game's done." As well as close losses to the Dockers, Power and Eagles, Collingwood let a slim lead against Hawthorn slip in the fourth quarter in round 14, rounding out a horror run of near misses. "We know the reality of where we're at and at the moment I think sides come up against us and they think they're a chance. We've got to turn that around," Buckley said. "We're all a little bit inpatient, aren't we, even the coach and the players. "But we're doing a lot of things right. It's just doing those little things right to be able to take the next step." Buckley said teenage forward Darcy Moore had produced "a first class" performance, kicking five goals in just his third game. The 19-year-old led a forward line that Buckley said was let down by its small forwards. "When you get your opportunities and you take your opportunities, it makes a big difference," he said of Moore. "His contest was really good, his aerial was excellent, and above all when he earned his opportunities he took them. "We schooled him up as a defender through the pre-season and early in the year. "But we've been looking for a little bit more forward of the ball and he's been able to provide that."                             AFL THE WESTERN Bulldogs have withstood a late charge from Collingwood to win by 18 points at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, leaving the Magpies with a challenge ahead just to play finals. The Bulldogs move a game clear inside the top eight with their 10th win of the season and two games clear of 11th-placed Collingwood, who have lost five straight games for the first time since 2005. The 15.14 (104) to 13.8 (86) result could even help the Bulldogs move into top-four calculations as they draw level on points with fifth-placed Richmond. In front of 40,581 fans, the Bulldogs' biggest home crowd since 2010, Luke Beveridge's team produced a high-octane first half before grinding out the match. The Magpies' only rally came at the start of the fourth quarter, when teenage forward Darcy Moore sparked a three-goal run that cut the margin to 11 points. Moore was the shining light for Collingwood, kicking five goals in just his third game, playing with confidence to take contested marks and convert his chances. The Bulldogs were led by Lachie Hunter, who stepped up and played his best game for the club to finish with a career-high 32 possessions. Veterans Robert Murphy (26 possessions and seven inside 50s) and Matthew Boyd (38 and 12 marks), were the Dogs' anchors, with sharpshooter Tory Dickson booting 4.0. Liam Picken continued his excellent season with 33 possessions and eight tackles, while Mitch Wallis dominated the stoppages with an equal game-high nine clearances. "We were able to keep up the pace for four quarters, which was quite outstanding by our players," Beveridge said. "I was a bit worried the game was so quick that we were going to drop off … and Collingwood capitalised a few times on some blatant turnovers that we'd like to clean up. "But we had a really even contribution from all our players, and that always points you in the right direction." With the AFL spectacle a hot talking point, the Bulldogs and Magpies put on an entertaining, fast-paced first half. Stoppages were down to 21 in the first half, down on an AFL average of 36 this season, and both teams capitalised on turnovers to move the ball quickly and kick running goals. The Bulldogs did this best in the first quarter, playing on at every opportunity to rack up 65 handball receives to 35. Murphy was the architect early across half-forward and moving like a player in his prime. Forward Stewart Crameri was also on his game early, taking big contested marks and finding space inside 50. Trailing by two goals and clearly on the back foot at the first change, the Magpies needed a fix and it came with increased pressure on the ball carrier after quarter time. They used the Bulldogs' blueprint of forcing turnovers and playing on to work back into the game, with Moore benefiting from the new approach to kick his first AFL goal. The 19-year-old then grew in confidence and worked into dangerous positions. In the third quarter he swept onto a loose ball and exploded past Shane Biggs to kick his second, and five minutes later he took a big contested mark to set up his third. The alarm bells sounded for the Bulldogs when Moore converted a 50m set shot in the opening five minutes of the final term to cut the margin to 22 points. It was the first of three straight goals the Magpies kicked in a seven-minute burst. However, when Wallis and Bailey Dale converted opportunities the game was over and the Magpies were sent back to the drawing board in their search for a win. The Magpies were best served by Steele Sidebottom (33 possessions and a goal), Dane Swan (33 and nine clearances), Tom Langdon (22 and six rebound 50s) and Scott Pendlebury (29 and a goal). Coach Nathan Buckley said the Pies' inability to hold up the Bulldogs' running defenders had proved costly. "They were clearly flicking it around a little bit and we expected that, we welcomed that," he said. "We rate our ability to put pressure on the opposition, but to their credit they stuck to it and were able to get through a bit more often that we'd have liked. "We tackled at just over one-in-two effective tackles. We need to be tackling better."                             Stats Leader Steele Sidebottom followed an equal career-high 38 disposals against the Eagles with another 33 against the Western Bulldogs. Sidebottom, who missed six weeks with a broken thumb earlier in the year, has been one of Collingwood's most consistent performers in the second half of the year. He took eight marks and laid three tackles to go with his 33 disposals against the Dogs, level with Dane Swan (33 disposals) and narrowly ahead of Scott Pendlebury (29), Marley Williams (24 disposals) and Tom Langdon (22).

SUPERFOOTY COLLINGWOOD’S losing streak was extended to five matches on Sunday as the emerging Western Bulldogs’ side overcame a case of stage fright to steady with two late goals to claim a 18-point win. Magpies’ fans could take heart from the performance of 19-year-old son of a gun Darcy Moore, who booted five goals in his third game. But the Bulldogs had far too much run, dominating the uncontested possessions and marching to their 10th win of the season. Choosing to go into the game without big forward and high-priced recruit Tom Boyd, the Bulldogs relied on mobile forwards Tory Dickson (four goals) and Stewart Crameri (two goals) in front of a crowd of 40,581 at Etihad Stadium. The Bulldogs had 11 goalkickers while the Magpies’ big forward Jesse White kicked two goals but didn’t have a major influence on the game. Matthew Boyd had a game-high 38 disposals but Lachie Hunter had more influence in a big match with 32 touches and skipper Rob Murphy was everywhere early in attack and defence, with 26 possessions and a goal. Liam Picken played a typical hardworking game in midfield and had 33 touches in an excellent effort but the Bulldogs also received good service from youngster Bailey Dale who kicked a crucial late goal. The Bulldogs continued their surge towards September and displayed clean ball use in their fifth win in six outings, while the Magpies (8-8 win-loss record) missed a chance to return to the top eight. Goals from turnovers was a big concern for the Magpies. The Bulldogs had been averaging nine inside-50 marks per game and reached that tally by quarter-time against Collingwood. By half-time the Bulldogs held an 11-point lead, kicking nine goals including three to Dickson. Jake Stringer’s first goal of the day closely followed by Dickson’s fourth stretched the home side’s margin to 25 points at the 12-minute mark of the third term. Crameri’s second goal after the three-quarter time siren put the Bulldogs 26 points clear at the final change. Collingwood fought back by kicking the first three goals of the last term to edge within 11 points at the 12-minute mark. Mitch Wallis snapped a goal and survived a score review to give the Bulldogs an 18-point and Wallis won the next centre clearance as Bailey Dale goaled on the run to end Collingwood’s hopes. The Bulldogs’ Jack Macrae was reported for rough conduct after a clash with Brayden Maynard. “We just backed our speed in today, get the ball into the forward half,” Picken told Triple M Radio. Dane Swan with 33 touches and nine clearances and Steele Sidebottom were influential for the Magpies alongside the exciting forward Moore.                             REAL FOOTY When Lachie Hunter was told he had to start the season playing for the Western Bulldogs' VFL side and prove to his teammates that he deserved to be pushed back into the senior team, he wasn't sure how long it would take him to do that but didn't think it would take too long. "With where we've been in the last couple of years," he said, "it hasn't felt too hard to get a game." Hunter felt like he started to work hard straight away, and like he was playing as consistently as he ever had before. But the games weren't coming, and the longer he had to wait the more he sensed his team's improvement and that he was part of a much more competitive squad. Hunter got his chance six weeks ago, and knew he wanted to hold onto it. He knew what Sunday meant to both his team and the Collingwood side that hadn't won since the middle of June and played the best match he ever has: busy, smart and involved from start to finish. "I probably thought I'd come back a bit easier than I did but I realised pretty quickly that I'd have to do a lot of work just to get a game let alone stay in the team," said Hunter, who had 32 possessions and took 10 marks, working hard to cover a lot of ground and move the ball both into and out of dangerous spots. "Everyone here wants to play in games like this because we all know how competitive it is to get a game now and that if you do the wrong thing, you'll be out. We had to fight pretty hard for the win, and I think that's because we are all on edge." The Bulldogs couldn't get away with putting up one fight, either. This match was probably decided in two areas: ball use, particularly coming out of defence, and the two forward line set-ups, but each time the Bulldogs seemed to push away the Magpies lunged back at them. The Dogs were frantic early on. Collingwood went after the ball, too, but when the Bulldogs got to it they moved it quickly. They had spoken in the rooms before the game, said Hunter, about making the more urgent start. They had 58 more possessions in the first quarter and created their five-to-three goal lead through brisk, precise ball movement and pressure. They kept it going, too, absorbing a string of challenges from Collingwood and continuing to do the things they knew worked for them. They had Matthew Boyd, Shane Biggs and Jason Johannisen able to take care of their opponents and run the ball consistently from defence. A little further up the field were the likes of Luke Dahlhaus, Bob Murphy, Marcus Bontempelli and Jackson Macrae, able to keep the ball moving at pace. Such was the speed and intensity at which they played, they were able to find forward targets in space, and set up reasonably easy shots on goal. That's where the differences between the two teams collided. When they looked forward, the Bulldog runners had options. In the first quarter it felt like Stewart Crameri was everywhere. At times, Tory Dickson and Jake Stringer seemed to be the ones bobbing up, finding space and taking marks. For a later patch it was Jack Redpath charging out from the goal square. Those four players kicked seven goals between them but also got out of each other's way at the right times and made sure they kept getting the ball to ground so that smaller players could score. Collingwood knew before they went in that they needed to find new ways to create goals. Without Travis Cloke and Jamie Elliott they were missing their best tall and best small. At times, it felt like they blew some chances to get the ball into good spots simply because things weren't as predictable as usual. At other times, they were able to find their talls. Brodie Grundy kicked two goals as part of a much broader game. Jesse White didn't play particularly well but was able to add two, too. Darcy Moore scored five: in career game three he was quick, athletic and highly exciting. What the Pies didn't have was the same number of small goalkickers, or the sort of reliable, clean delivery the Bulldog targets found themselves on the end of. A few times, long, direct kick ins by Tyson Goldsack helped create goals. When the Pies did score, they were able to score quite quickly. But they weren't able to do that while slowing the Bulldogs up for long enough, or to lock the ball in their forward line for long enough to create pressure and force shots.. This was a good game. Collingwood hung in, persisted and the Bulldogs were up for it each time. It wasn't until Mitch Wallis snapped a low, angled snap with a few minutes to go then went into the centre square and won two clearances that it felt like the Dogs had done just about enough. Hunter was pleased that they held off the last-quarter challenge, but also those that came before it. "We knew they were going to play well and keep coming but I thought we kept trying to play on the edge and keep trying to win the game," he said. "The intensity had gone out of our game in the last couple of weeks, but we got it back and now we've got to keep it like that." "The consistent theme is when the games are there to be won we haven't quite stepped up to the plate. When the question is asked and when it's in the balance, we want to be a footy club that answers in the affirmative … at the moment we haven't been able to."  Nathan Buckley

Round 17: The Team

Round 17 Collingwood v Western Bulldogs Sunday July 26, 1:10pm Etihad Fox Footy 1:00pm Weather: Min 7 Max 11 Chance of rain 70%: 1-5mm Wind: W 34kph Betting: Collingwood $1.75 Western Bulldogs $2.25

B: Tom Langdon, Nathan Brown, Marley Williams
HB: Alan Toovey, Jack Frost, Travis Varcoe
C: Paul Seedsman, Dane Swan, Steele Sidebottom
HF: Ben Kennedy, Jesse White, Jordan De Goey
F: Alex Fasolo, Tyson Goldsack, Brodie Grundy
Foll: Jarrod Witts, Jack Crisp, Scott Pendlebury
Int: Jarryd Blair, Levi Greenwood, Brayden Maynard, Adam Oxley
Emg: Darcy Moore, Sam Dwyer, Patrick Karnezis

IN: Tyson Goldsack
OUT: Travis Cloke (calf)

Fast Fact
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge played a key role in Collingwood’s 2010 premiership campaign. Beveridge, 44, was a development coach at the Westpac Centre in 2009 and 2010.

Collingwood News STOP PRESS Collingwood has finalised its team for Sunday’s clash with the Western Bulldogs. The match committee has made just one change, recalling Tyson Goldsack, who has recovered from his knee tendonitis, in place of the injured Travis Cloke. Sam Dwyer, Darcy Moore and Patrick Karnezis are the three emergencies. Four forwards are vying for their place in the Collingwood line up that will take on the Western Bulldogs on Sunday evening. With no Travis Cloke or Jamie Elliott at its disposal, the match committee has opted to add Darcy Moore, Patrick Karnezis, Tyson Goldsack and Sam Dwyer to its 25-man squad. The team is due to be finalised after Friday’s training session at 5pm. Cloke, sidelined with a calf injury, has missed just nine games since the opening round of the 2007 season. He, along with Elliott, have combined to kick 60 of the Magpies’ 203 goals in the first 15 games of the year. Each of the four potential inclusions have proven track records when playing as forwards at various levels. Moore is the most obvious like-for-like replacement for Cloke, for he stands at 199cm and has played in attack in the TAC Cup, the VFL and on debut in the AFL. He has kicked five goals in his past two VFL games after starting his season in defence. Karnezis’ elevation back into senior contention comes at a good time, for he has been among the VFL team’s best in recent weeks. He kicked four goals in the loss to Footscray a fortnight ago, before collecting 25 disposals in the midfield against Frankston last Sunday. He has not played a senior game since round seven. For Goldsack, a return would mark his first game since the trip to Fremantle in round 13. Knee tendonitis limited him to light duties on the training track, but a clearance to play would give coach Nathan Buckley flexibility in the form of a player who can be assigned a role at either end of the ground. As for Dwyer, if selected, the match would be his fifth for the season and his first since round six. He is currently averaging 19.3 disposals in the VFL, where he has played eight games to date this year. The 28-year-old won 22 disposals and had three score involvements against Frankston on Sunday.

Preview Round 17: Collingwood v Western Bulldogs

Collingwood News - David Natoli

Round 17 Collingwood v Western Bulldogs Sunday July 26, 1:10pm Etihad Fox Footy 1:00pm Weather: Min 7 Max 11 Chance of rain 70%: 1-5mm Wind: W 34kph Betting: Collingwood $1.62 Western Bulldogs $2.30

This week’s Ultimate Preview takes an in depth look at the mini-final between Collingwood and Western Bulldogs, which will be played at Etihad Stadium on Sunday. I call it a mini-final because the battle for a position in the top eight is well and truly heating up, and as expected there is a logjam of teams trying to force their way into a finals position.
The Bulldogs sit in sixth position with nine wins, while the Magpies dropped out of the top eight last weekend and now sit ninth on eight wins. Fortunately, Collingwood’s percentage is higher than the Bulldogs and will see it leapfrog the Dogs if it wins on the weekend.
After four consecutive losses against quality opponents, the Magpies are desperate for a win. While Collingwood was competitive in all these games, it has taken no premiership points away and now faces an uphill battle just to make finals. It means a win this weekend well and truly gets Collingwood’s season back on track.
The Western Bulldogs are a tough team to predict. At their absolute best, the Doggies have an ability to challenge any team on its day. But last weekend was an example of the other end of the spectrum whereby the Bulldogs were beaten by an understrength Geelong side.
Although the Bulldogs were not embarrassed, they were below their best. Nonetheless, this is a significantly improved Bulldogs side, which is clearly evident by the fact that it has won nine games this season and is a real chance to play finals. Despite this patchy form, the Bulldogs have won five of their last seven games.
It is the second week in a row the Magpies will play at Etihad Stadium. Last week demonstrated that Collingwood does not enjoy playing on this ground, which is a concern considering the Bulldogs play at Etihad often and typically play well. It will suit their quick rebound off half back and good skills. Collingwood needs to clean up its own foot skills, which have been below par over the past two weeks. With the perfect conditions under the roof, there is no excuse for errant kicking.

Recent History
The Bulldogs had a massive victory over Collingwood in the NAB Challenge this year, but the most recent home and away battle was in round 13 last season where the Bulldogs won a thriller at Etihad Stadium by eight points.
Travis Cloke polled the three Brownlow Medal votes, booting six goals for the match. Liam Jones polled two votes, booting four goals of his own, and Tom Liberatore was the dominant midfielder with 34 disposals and 10 tackles. Interestingly, not one of these players will be available on Sunday.

At the Selection Table

By The Numbers Collingwood Media breaks down the facts and figures that help make up the story of Collingwood's 150 meetings with the Western Bulldogs since 1925. 4,398,337 - The total number of people to watch a Collingwood v Western Bulldogs match since 1925. 94,104 – Largest crowd to attend a Collingwood v Western Bulldogs game (in the 1956 Preliminary Final). 29,322 – The average crowd for a Collingwood v Western Bulldogs fixture. 14,310 – Total number of points scored by the Magpies against the Western Bulldogs. 5,500 – The lowest crowd for a Collingwood v Western Bulldogs game (Victoria Park in 1942). 7,504 – Total number of scoring shots between the two teams. 477 – Combined number of games between captains Scott Pendlebury and Robert Murphy. 421 – Games coached for Collingwood and Western Bulldogs by Mick Malthouse. 536 – Disposals Tony Shaw had in his career against Western Bulldogs. 184 – Highest Collingwood score against the Western Bulldogs (Victoria Park in 1926). 150 – Games played against the Western Bulldogs. 122 – The number of times Collingwood played against Footscray before they became the Western Bulldogs in 1997. 121 – Average percentage against the Bulldogs. 95 – Collingwood’s average score against the Bulldogs. 80 – Games played for both the Bulldogs and Collingwood by Richard Osborne. He played a total of 283 for four clubs. 71 – The score both teams finished with in our only ever draw in 1995. 70 – Most combined scoring shots in a Collingwood v Western Bulldogs game (1980). 62 – Points allowed by Collingwood in the 2010 Qualifying Final win. 44 – Lowest Score in a win v Western Bulldogs (1931). 43 – Games lost to the Western Bulldogs. 34 – Games won by the Magpies at the Western Oval. 33 – The number worn by Tyson Lane during his 42 games for Collingwood. He had previously played 19 games for the Western Bulldogs, kicking four goals against the Magpies in round 18, 1998. 30 – The number of disposals collected by Taylor Adams in the two sides’ clash last year. It marked a career-high for the first year Magpie. 28 – Both teams lowest final score in a game. 25 – Dane Swan’s disposal average against the Bulldogs. 22 – Number of disposals won by Paul Seedsman in last game against the Bulldogs. 14 – More premierships Collingwood have won than Western Bulldogs. 13 – Last met in round 13, losing to the Bulldogs by eight points. 11 – Goals over the past two Magpies-Bulldogs games by Travis Cloke. 8 – Disposals won by a 19-year-old Dane Swan on debut against the Bulldogs in round 13, 2003. 8 – Eight of the last ten games between Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs have been played at Etihad Stadium. Seven of these have been won by the Magpies. 6 – Collingwood has won six of the last seven games against the Bulldogs. 6 - Venues that have played host to a Collingwood v Western Bulldogs game. 6 – The number of games in Collingwood’s winning streak against the Bulldogs from round one, 2010 to round 12, 2013. 6 – The number of goals kicked by Travis Cloke in round 13 last year. 6 – The number of times Collingwood have met the Western Bulldogs/Footscray in a final. The Magpies have a winning record of 5-1. 4 – Debutants (Guy Richards, Tom Davidson and Bo Nixon) selected by Collingwood to take on the Western Bulldogs in round two, 2004. 4 – Disposals won by Tom Davidson in his one and only AFL game. He debuted for the Magpies against the Bulldogs in round two, 2004, rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament. He never played at the highest level again, but spent the 2006 season on the Dogs’ rookie list. 4 – Goals kicked by Bulldog Brett Montgomery after being flattened by Brodie Holland in the 2006 Elimination Final. 4 – Goals kicked by Leon Davis against the Western Bulldogs in round 19, 2001. 3 – The number of seconds between the opening bounce of the final and Holland’s hit on Montgomery in 2006. 3 – The number of games played for Collingwood by Todd Curley. He went on to add 115 for the Western Bulldogs between 1997 and 2001. 3 – The number of clubs Josh Mahoney played for. He started his career with Collingwood and then spent two years at the Western Bulldogs before becoming a premiership player with Port Adelaide. 1 – Draw played between the teams. 0 – Disposals won by Bo Nixon in his AFL debut against the Western Bulldogs in round two, 2004.

It is a big week for Nathan Buckley as his side’s injury list has expanded massively over the past fortnight. It’s a real test for Collingwood’s depth.
The big injury to come out of the weekend was Travis Cloke who has a calf injury and will miss the next fortnight. Collingwood’s next most potent forward, Jamie Elliott, will also miss another week at least with a back complaint, leaving the forward line really bare. Also absent are Taylor Adams, who has one more week to serve of his suspension, and Tim Broomhead, who will miss most of the remainder of the home and away season with a shoulder injury.
There is depth to call upon though. Tyson Goldsack continues to recover from knee tendonitis and is a chance to return this week if he gets through training on Friday. His experience could be vital.
For me, the real test relates to how Buckley will re-organise his forward line without his two best players. Darcy Moore and Patrick Karnezis will be two players that could be considered following solid performances at VFL level last week. If Goldsack is available, he may even be an option to go forward. Sam Dwyer continues to impress at VFL level, while Clinton Young has now put together a solid month. Defensively, Jonathon Marsh and Matt Scharenberg also continue to impress and are awaiting their call up. Ruckman Mason Cox may also come into calculations following his rapid development at VFL level.
In more positive news, Ben Reid, Corey Gault, Tony Armstrong and Ben Sinclair are all in the frame to return to the VFL side this week. Gault and Reid, in particular, will be looking to return quickly as they are options to replace the injured Cloke.
Turning the focus onto the Bulldogs, and Koby Stevens may miss the rest of the season with stress fractures in his foot. Mystery also surrounds injured ruckman Will Minson who is not on the injury list, but did not play last weekend. He may be a chance to return this week depending on his fitness.
Lin Jong looks set to return to bolster the midfield which is currently missing Stevens, Liberatore and Clay Smith. Joel Hamling may also be a chance to return to strengthen the defence. Michael Talia, Shane Biggs and Lukas Webb have strong VFL form behind them and will press for senior selection his week.

Focus on Collingwood
The media attention this weekend will be on Collingwood’s forward set-up, but my eyes will be firmly entrenched on the midfield. The midfield was comprehensively beaten from clearances last weekend. This translated into a very low inside 50 count for the Magpies, which would make it tough for any forward line to kick a winning score. With a make-shift forward line in operation this weekend, Collingwood’s midfield needs to get on top and the likes of Dane Swan, Scott Pendlebury and Jack Crisp need to hit the scoreboard as well.
In general, Collingwood’s tackling intensity has been pretty good throughout the last month, and I have no question marks about the effort. Against good sides, the Magpies have been in all of the games, they just haven’t had the polish to get across the line. Foot skills were an area of focus for the Magpies in the off-season, but have been an Achilles heel again over recent weeks. Set shot kicking has been below par, and speed of ball movement has often been poor as well.
Earlier in the season, Collingwood was quick to switch the ball and had more confidence to take risks going through the centre. In recent weeks, though, the quality of the opponent has really slowed the ball movement at times and there is less willingness to take the risky kick to open the game up.
Despite the losses over the past month, the Magpies have kept quality sides to low scores. In the past month, Collingwood has only conceded on average 84 points. But the issue has been that it has only been averaging 71 points of its own. Without its two leading goal-scorers, the Magpies need to find alternative avenues to goal. The Doggies like taking the game on, so Collingwood cannot expect to win this week without scoring around the 100 point mark.

Player Focus – Collingwood
Jack Crisp – I have written about Crisp a number of times this year, but he continues to improve and impress me. He was very good in a losing cause last week, picking up 31 disposals and leading the way for clearances. He is also Collingwood’s highest tackler for the year and has also kicked 13 goals. His disposal has significantly improved and he can be quite damaging by foot. He doesn’t play a tight tagging role, but he does manage to limit the influence of key players. Last week, he got the job on Luke Shuey who only had 13 disposals. This week, he may get his toughest job yet, matching up on the unique Marcus Bontempelli, who has really taken the competition by storm this season.
Levi Greenwood – It was a long wait for Greenwood to pull on the Collingwood guernsey, but he was a timely inclusion given the absence of Adams. He eased his way back into the side with 18 disposals last week and seven tackles. He will look to step up his game this week as he slowly tries to recapture his 2014 form which saw him finish runner up in the best and fairest with the Kangaroos. The Bulldogs are lacking an in and under without Liberatore or Stevens, so Greenwood can have a huge influence at the stoppages.
Travis Varcoe – Not many would have predicted Varcoe to have this sort of influence at Collingwood, but he has become one of the recruits of the season. We always knew he could be classy, but we didn’t know he could be this tough. In many regards, he has become a human wrecking ball, throwing his body recklessly into contests and laying some bruising tackles. He had another six tackles last week (five of which came in the first half), and also picked up 20 disposals. He has been asked to play a lot more across half back given the shortage of small defenders at the moment, but I think he looks his most dangerous on a wing or forward where his silky skills directly correlate to goals.

Focus on the Western Bulldogs
When Tom Liberatore went down in the pre-season, most experts had the Western Bulldogs in their bottom four calculations, especially given the departures of Adam Cooney and Ryan Griffen last season. But the Bulldogs have really impressed this season, and are getting such a great output from the young players. Jackson Macrae and Bontempelli have taken ownership in the midfield, whilst the forward line has become very dangerous with mid-sized forwards like Tory Dickson, Jake Stringer, Stewart Crameri and Luke Dahlhaus buzzing around.
For mine, the greatest strength of the Western Bulldogs is the terrific defence it has built. The mid-sized defenders in particular have offered so much dash off half back and are a real weapon. Older heads such as Dale Morris, Robert Murphy and Matthew Boyd have wound back the clock, whilst Easton Wood and Jason Johannisen have really elevated their games to the next level.
The Magpies not only need to find avenues to goal, but also need to find a way to pressure the strong rebound out of their forward 50 and make players such as Easton Wood accountable.
I feel the game will be won and lost based on Collingwood’s ability to lock the ball inside 50 and lock down on these running defenders. If the Bulldogs are allowed easy releases out of their defensive 50, then their speed of ball movement will be too hard for the Magpies to contain.

Player Focus – Western Bulldogs
Easton Wood – He is undoubtedly in the rolling All-Australian team at the moment following what has been a career best year so far. It took Wood a long time to overcome significant injury issues to start his career. But in recent times, he has become the prototype mid-sized defender with his ability to dash off half-back, coupled with his fearless attack on the footy in marking contests. He is one of the best players in the competition at taking intercept marks and has a terrific set of hands. With the understrength Collingwood forward line this week, Wood looms as one of the most important players. The Magpies need to find ways to keep him accountable and avoid kicking it long to contests where he is able to provide the out-number.
Liam Picken – No one would have expected Picken to perform the way he has in 2015. He was initially thought of as no more than a scrapper, who either tagger or played as a defensive back pocket or forward. But this season he has become a real weapon who wins a lot of the ball and tackles like a machine (he averages 24 disposals and seven tackles a game). He has also kicked 10 goals for the season. While unfashionable to many outsiders, Picken is one who continues to slip under the guard of his opponents and is having a big influence on games. He has become a real leader of the football club.
Jackson Macrae – Since getting dropped in round seven for his lack of defensive output, Macrae has not missed a beat since returning to the side in round nine. His disposal and tackling numbers are enormous and match any elite player of the competition. He is similar to Scott Pendlebury in so many ways, and also has more pace, making him a real weapon for the Bulldogs midfield. He has needed to step up as well in the absence of key midfielders and following the departures of Cooney and Griffen last season. He and Bontempelli are the new prototype midfielder, standing over 191cm tall with an ability to kick goals and play midfield. It makes the Bulldogs midfield really strong and tough to match-up on.

The Wrap Up
The Bulldogs will probably go in favourites this week given the massive omissions from Collingwood’s forward line. The Bulldogs have a more settled defence and forward line, and will really look to run Collingwood off its feet.
But Collingwood has a deeper midfield, and simply needs to get on top in the contested possessions (an area the Magpies still rank number one in the AFL). The Bulldogs are also without key players as well, so injuries are no excuse for either side.
Despite the winless month, Collingwood must still believe it is in reasonably good form given it has faced the best sides in the competition and challenged. It is just a test to see whether this tough run of games has burnt out the Collingwood side, or whether it has steeled it for a more favourable draw to come. It is also a test for the depth given the growing injury list.
How Collingwood structures its forward line will be interesting, and whether it can lock the ball inside 50 will also be the challenge. On the other hand, the Bulldogs will fancy themselves if the game opens up, and especially if they can get the running game going from half back. They will also be grateful the match will be played at Etihad Stadium.
Collingwood’s season may well be on the line, while the Bulldogs have a real opportunity to cement themselves in the top eight with a reasonable run home as well.

Pies in Paris

Madame Fifi's lawyer and friend, Russell Patrick, adding a touch of class to The City of Light.

Preview Round 17: Collingwood v Western Bulldogs

SportsMatt

Round 17 Collingwood v Western Bulldogs Sunday July 26, 1:10pm Etihad Fox Footy 1:00pm Weather: Min 9 Max 11 Chance of rain 90%: 1-5mm Wind: WSW 33kph Betting: Collingwood $1.62 Western Bulldogs $2.30

It’s been a tough month on field for the Collingwood football club. After turning at the mid point of the season with an 8-3 win/loss record they knew the next 4 games would test their spirit, resolve and their talent. In front of them stood 3 of the top 4 teams in Fremantle, Hawthorn and West Coast and a top 4 side from last year, Port Adelaide. While the effort from the Pies players has been immense in the last 4 weeks they have nothing to show for it. Four losses in a row leaves the Magpies outside the top 8 for the first time since round two and heading into a game this weekend that is a must win game.
That game is against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Sunday. The Dogs are another young and improving side that themselves have been tested at times this season. They sit one win above the Pies in 6th place, with an inferior percentage to Collingwood. To say this game is important for both teams is a massive understatement. The Magpies can’t afford to drop a fifth game in a row while the Dogs don’t want to lose their second in a row following the loss to Geelong last week. It’s almost certain that the winner of this game will finish ahead of the loser and that will be absolutely vital in determining if either of these two clubs play finals.
Recent form between the two doesn’t give a great insight into what may happen with the Pies winning three of the last four regular season games but they’ve only clashed once in each of the past 4 seasons. The Dogs did beat Collingwood at Etihad Stadium both in the pre season (by a big margin) and in round 13 last season but the Pies won the two previous encounters at this venue. Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs go into this game knowing a win will set them up for a finals spot while a loss will severely hurt their ambitions.
 
PREVIOUS FORM
Last weekend it seemed the Magpies bubble burst a bit. With Jamie Elliott and Taylor Adams not available the Pies went in as under dogs yet again against one of the in form sides of the competition, the West Coast Eagles. The Pies started well enough but were dominated for most of the last 3 quarters and eventually went down by 31 points. Of course their cause wasn’t helped when key forward Travis Cloke was subbed out of the game only minutes in with a calf injury. Prior to that the Pies had been brave even though they’d lost the previous 3 games. The efforts against Fremantle and Hawthorn were applauded by all but with no wins and a mounting injury list this last month has hurt the Pies immensely.
Last weekend the Western Bulldogs finals hopes took a bit of a knock also. After four wins in a row against weaker opposition the Dogs travelled down to Geelong and most expected them to account for a struggling Geelong side missing star midfielder Joel Selwood. But the Dogs were never really in it and despite fighting back late to only lose by 8 points they went down to a side that probably won’t play finals themselves. The Bulldogs form hasn’t been great really, it took a massive last quarter to dispose of the lowly Gold Coast Suns while previous scrappy wins over Carlton, St Kilda and Brisbane weren’t impressive. But they were wins, and for a developing side like the Bulldogs every win counts.
 
COLLINGWOOD PREVIEW
 Some Collingwood fans are shouting “deja vu” from the rooftop as the Magpies 2015 season seems to be eerily following the same direction of 2014. Last year the Pies were 8-3 at the half way mark before injuries, form and off field disruptions saw them take a fall out of finals contention. The past 4 weeks have that feeling about it, and while three of those losses were to genuine top 4 teams the rising injury toll is casting the bigger shadow. The loss of Cloke and Elliott for up to a month is the biggest blow of all. They had been covering the absence of Reid, Macaffer, Freeman, Ramsay and Sinclair but to lose their only two quality forwards is a back breaker indeed. The main problem is there’s not too much in terms of backup in terms of forwards. Darcy Moore has massive potential but is still a first year player, Patrick Karnezis hasn’t performed well when given a chance and Corey Gault has also been unimpressive in the senior games he’s played. Senior coach Nathan Buckley and his staff have a real task on their hands to somehow construct a forward line that is capable of kicking a winning score against the Bulldogs.
The mounting injury list meant that the Magpies VFL side went around with a limited amount of senior listed players but there were a few who put their hands up in the win over Frankston. Sam Dwyer, Jonathon Marsh, Matthew Scharenberg and the aforementioned Karnezis and Moore all pushed their case for selection. One interesting player to watch was big American Mason Cox. The 211cm ruckman was arguably the VFL Magpies best player and is showing massive improvement in just his first season in the system. There is also some good news on the injury front with Tyson Goldsack, Ben Reid, Corey Gault, Tony Armstrong and Ben Sinclair all likely to return this weekend. Of those returning players only Goldsack will be in senior contention though.
The loss of Cloke and Elliott and the absence of Adams for one more week really does hurt the Pies chances of winning this game but there is little doubt that the opposition they face this weekend is a step down from anything they’ve come up against in the last month.
 
OPPOSITION ANALYSIS
Not many expected the Bulldogs to be fighting for a place in the 8 this season. In the off season the club under went plenty of on field and off field changes including the loss of Ryan Griffen and Shaun Higgins. With the loss in experience most tipped the Dogs to stagnate but they’ve proved plenty wrong so far in 2015. To sit in 6th place with a 9-6 win/loss record and have their finals destiny in their own hands has been impressive. It hasn’t been all easy though with Tom Liberatore and Clay Smith suffering long term injuries and the recent news that Koby Stevens will miss 6-8 weeks with a stress fracture of the heel. Now most can see what the Bulldogs internally always thought, that they are going places rather quickly.
There’s been a myth about the Bulldogs for a while now that they are a fast ball movement team that struggles to win their own ball. Nothing can be further from the truth. This Bulldogs team under the tutelage of Luke Beveridge thrives on the contest and it’s midfield obviously leads the way there. The loss of arguably the best contested ball winner in the competition in Tom Liberatore should have slowed their clearance rate down but even without him the Bulldogs win their own ball. They rank 5th for contested possessions and 7th for clearances which is remarkable given Liberatore’s absence and the loss of Ryan Griffen. Also they have achieved this without a consistent or dominant ruck combination with Will Minson having a below average year for his high standards. Having Wallis, Bontempelli, McRae, Dalhaus and Picken has made the Dogs into one of the best clearance teams in the league. It’s an area Collingwood excel in also so it will be a battle royale around the contests on Sunday for sure.
For years now the Bulldogs have been trying to build a forward line that could stand up against the best defences in the AFL under extreme pressure. While this current forward structure is still a work in progress you can see that they are on their way to becoming a very dangerous attack indeed. The Dogs obviously made a huge investment in former number 1 pick Tom Boyd and are currently developing Jack Redpath to be his partner in the future. Tory Dickson has improved immensely this season and has added another element to the Dogs attack that most didn’t expect. They run into a Magpies defense that has held up well under extreme pressure in recent weeks but did crack a bit against the Eagles last week. This isn’t the area of the ground that the Bulldogs look to exploit teams in yet but they’ll have to be efficient going inside 50 on Sunday to beat the Pies.
Surprisingly the Bulldogs backline doesn’t rank too high for average rebounds out of the defensive 50 area. With the likes of Wood, Murphy, Boyd, Roughead and Johannisen you would think they’d be one of the best attacking defences in the league. Defensively the Dogs have been fairly good so far in 2015 with only 4 opposition teams breaking the 100 point barrier against them. Dale Morris has had some luck with injury for once and last week played his 200th game. He’s a main stay of this defense for sure. This Sunday they come up against a decimated Magpies forward line and this has to be the area of the game that the Dogs dominate if they are to win. Collingwood is likely to rely on Jesse White and a cast of fill ins so if there’s one week where the Bulldogs defense should be on top it’s this week vs the Pies.
The Bulldogs enter Sunday’s game knowing a win and they are well on their way to becoming a finals side once again. They get to host the Magpies on a ground that the Pies don’t like but that the Dogs call home and play some of their best football at. The loss of Stevens hurts but is off set by the Magpies injury woes for sure. The Bulldogs would have been disappointed with their effort and execution versus Geelong but back at home you’d expect they’d play a lot better under the roof.
 
TIP
There’s two possibilities as to the type of game we will get on Sunday. Either it will be a high scoring, free flowing affair and the Bulldogs will win rather easily, or more then likely it will be a scrappy, contested game that will mirror recent games from these two. Collingwood know going in that they are going to struggle to kick a winning score, so they have to figure out a way to keep the scores low. The Dogs last two games at Etihad were low scoring affairs in which the under dog team almost stole victory against the Bulldogs.
If Collingwood can somehow create a game that is similar to those last two Bulldogs games at Etihad then they can win this game. The absence of Cloke, Elliott and Adams hurts their chances but with the level of opposition down on what they’ve been facing lately they can win this game.
MAGPIES BY 9 POINTS.