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.