2015 LADDER: ROUND 22

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 22: Collingwood 110 Geelong 62

THE FACTS

COLLINGWOOD   7.1.43  11.5.71   13.6.84   17.8.110
GEELONG              1.1.7    3.3.21    6.6.42      9.8.62

SCORERS - Collingwood: Fasolo (3.2), Elliott (2.0), Moore (2.0), Sidebottom (2.0), White (2.0), Adams (1.1), Swan (1.1), Varcoe (1.1), Greenwood (1.0), Grundy (1.0), Maynard (1.0)

BEST - Collingwood: Greenwood, Pendlebury, De Goey, Adams, Crisp, Moore, Grundy

INJURIES - Collingwood: Travis Cloke (hamstring soreness) replaced in selected side by Jesse White, Dane Swan (right knee), Ben Sinclair (broken hand)

SUBSTITUTES - Collingwood: Dane Swan replaced by Jonathon Marsh at half time

REPORTS: Nil

OFFICIAL CROWD: 40,582 at the MCG

TALKING POINTS

1. Menzel stands tall After 1450 days and four knee reconstructions, Geelong's Daniel Menzel played just the 22nd senior game of his career on Friday night, and he was brilliant. It didn't take long for Menzel to show his class, kicking a behind at the five-minute mark after taking a leaping mark. When he kicked a goal at the 12-minute mark of the opening quarter, he was mobbed by his ecstatic teammates, and coach Chris Scott celebrated in the box. The moment was a triumph for player and club after such a long and arduous road. Better was to come; in the final quarter, Menzel took a contender for mark of the year by plucking a screamer on top of Tom Langdon. His long kicking off one step and ability to tease the football in traffic is still a delight to watch. Menzel finished with a career-best 20 disposals and four goals to be the Cats' best. On a dark night for Geelong, few of his teammates followed his inspirational lead. 2. No Cloke, no worries Collingwood spearhead Travis Cloke suffered hamstring tightness in the warm-up and was a late withdrawal, replaced by Jesse White. But what many thought would be negative for Collingwood turned into a positive, as the Magpies banged on seven goals to one in the first quarter to match their tally for the entire game a week earlier against Richmond. They appeared less predictable and had nine individual goalkickers in the first half, dominating in the air with 72 uncontested marks to 36, and using the ball much better than Geelong. Suddenly, within a half, Nathan Buckley's statement that the Magpies were better placed now than at the same time last season was much easier to defend. By the end of the game, Collingwood had kicked straight, defended well and had 11 individual goalkickers. 3. Cats out of lives Geelong has spluttered for most of the season after losing three of its first four games, but the final nail went into the Cats' coffin in the first half against Collingwood, and they will miss the finals for the first time since 2006. Missing Mitch Duncan and Josh Caddy was always going to be a problem, but their midfield was obliterated in the first half, with the Magpies recording 28 inside 50s to 16 and winning the centre clearances eight to three. Champion veterans James Kelly and Corey Enright had ordinary nights, but they were hardly alone. But Friday night's meek surrender means any lingering doubts that the Cats needed to move into the next era with a new list were dispelled once and for all.

4. Stepping back, stepping up Collingwood skipper Scott Pendlebury was criticised after last Saturday's loss to Richmond, when he admitted it was strange to play without a finals spot on the line for the first time in his career. Regardless, Pies coach Nathan Buckley recognised an opportunity to give his captain a challenge on Friday night and started him off half-back, where he controlled the game in the first quarter and set the Magpies on their winning path. In that quarter, Pendlebury had 11 disposals, but 10 of them were uncontested, and he found a teammate with all 10 of them. He ended the game with 33 disposals at 90 per cent efficiency. 5. Top Cats fall flat There has been a lot of focus on the performances of the Cats' crew of 30-somethings this season, but the reality is that, for a variety of reasons, Joel Selwood, Harry Taylor and Tom Hawkins have had their least consistent seasons for a long time. On Friday night, Selwood was battered from pillar to post by Levi Greenwood, again without much protection from the umpires off the ball. He has been dragged down, and needs midfield support next season. Taylor has not played the general role down back, seeming lost at times and struggling to take his normal quota of marks. Hawkins has had a tough year, but played nowhere near his best and failed to fire often enough for the Cats to challenge. The class and character of the trio is unquestioned, and they will be expected to bounce back hard in 2016. They (Collingwood) appeared less predictable and had nine individual goalkickers in the first half, dominating in the air with 72 uncontested marks to 36, and using the ball much better than Geelong. Suddenly, within a half, Nathan Buckley's statement that the Magpies were better placed now than at the same time last season was much easier to defend. By the end of the game, Collingwood had kicked straight, defended well and had 11 individual goalkickers.

THE MEDIA

AFL COLLINGWOOD was playing for "pride and respect" on Friday night and did what was needed to atone for what coach Nathan Buckley said was the worst quarter of football played under him. Despite facing a Geelong team playing to keep its finals hopes alive, it was the Magpies who were more desperate and committed at the MCG, returning to the team-first principles Buckley has tried to instill and winning by 48 points. In the aftermath of a result that will provide a springboard for 2016, Buckley praised his players for responding after turning into "22 individuals" in a nightmare fourth quarter against Richmond last Saturday. "We spoke about pride and respect," the coach said after the easy win over the Cats. "In this day and age in footy, you can get jumped on pretty quickly, and that was as poor a quarter as I've seen us play in my time as senior coach. "The players to a man have given great effort, so we didn't want to put in a performance like that or lower our colours to that extent [again] … that was pretty much the discussion in the review. "So to see the players take ownership of the performance and of the preparation and then to execute was really good sign." Friday night's win saw the Magpies lead from start to finish, building a 50-point lead at the main break and fighting off two minor challenges from the Cats in the second half. A feature of the performance was the Magpies' instinct to help each other both when they had the ball and when they were defending. "We want to continue to be a side that plays for each other," Buckley said. "It was back to what we've expected and back to what we've seen for the majority of the year. "That was probably one of the closer performances to four quarters that we've seen from us all year. "That was an encouraging aspect of the game." There were encouraging signs right through the Collingwood midfield on Friday night, most notably the run-with job of Levi Greenwood on Geelong star Joel Selwood. Greenwood missed the first 10 matches this season with a leg injury but, after returning through the VFL, has played the last six matches and shown he will be a key cog in 2016. "There's no guarantees in footy, but Levi's a mature player," Buckley said. "He's a contested ball animal. He hunts the ball, he hunts the man and he's really disciplined. "We've got a glimpse the last couple of weeks of what we recruited and the character of a bloke who gives himself absolutely to the team cause. "His last eight quarters have been very impressive." Buckley said the Magpies were unlikely to risk Dane Swan in round 23 after he suffered a medial tweak, while Ben Sinclair's season was ended by a broken hand. Travis Cloke was a late withdrawal on Friday night after the final warm-up with tightness behind his knee but Buckley said the key forward had not suffered a fresh injury. "He should be right, but we'll see when the dust settles," Buckley said. "We had a fresh, fit player there in Jesse (White), so we made that call late."                             SUPERFOOTY MAYBE it was the dawn of one era, and the end of another. Before Friday night’s match began, Collingwood was written off for a second-straight season as a disappointing also-ran and Geelong was out to extend its magnificent run to nine-straight finals campaigns. But by the time the plucky Pies iced this 48-point upset victory at the MCG, it felt like the wheel had turned for both clubs in the most significant fashion. Then again, at least the Cats had Daniel Menzel, who after four devastating knee reconstructions produced the kind of Cindarella comeback he desperately deserved. The clever forward would have invoked goose bumps in lounge rooms nation-wide, bagging four goals from 20 disposals in his first AFL game since 2011. But the Collingwood story was big in a different way and every aspect of the club was under fierce pressure this week, after perhaps their most embarrassing loss in Buckley’s coaching career last round, surrendering to Richmond in a rampant last term. But the work-rate, discipline and skill execution the Magpies produced to overwhelm the Cats in a ferocious first quarter, showed the kids that make up the bulk of this side not only have some ticker, but also play desperately for the coach. And they did it without spearhead Travis Cloke, who went down with a hamstring injury in the warm-up, allowing the Collingwood forward line to finally find some much-needed balance. Dane Swan’s night also finished with a knee injury in the second term, likely ending his season. It was billed as a night to reclaim lost respect for Collingwood and it started with an unexpected tactical move from Buckley. For the first time in his glittering career, captain Scott Pendlebury played as a permanent defender. Throughout the first 30 minutes, the skipper made a far greater statement than anything that can be read into his “last week meant nothing in terms of finals” comments. Pendlebury used the ball with the ice-cold class that has been missing from the Collingwood backline. He had 11 touches at 100 per cent efficiency at the first change to provide the backbone of their seven-goal first-term blitz. The game seemed over, then. The Pies butchered the ball last week, failing to kick even one goal from 20 inside-50s in the second term. But on Friday night they turned the tables from the get-go, showing so much more composure with three majors from their first five entries forward. Jesse White stepped up in Cloke’s absence, Darcy Moore was fearless in the aerial contests in his first season and Levi Greenwood helped curtail Cats’ skipper Joel Selwood. Encouragingly, the Magpies next generation engine room was brilliantly led by Taylor Adams and Jordan De Goey, who had 22 stoppage wins between them. They are hard-nosed competitors who took charge of the clinches in Pendlebury’s onball absence. Brodie Grundy also excelled in the air and on the ground against a makeshift Geelong ruck setup. For Geelong, this was perhaps a clean break on an incredible premiership era. The warning signs were there for the Cats during a draw with St Kilda last week and while they went into last night still trying to pull off an unlikely finals berth, the reality is the Cats will undergo major transformation over the next two months. It was always going to be hard to farewell the club’s champion veterans but a deplorable first half will give the Cats’ front office more reason to chase the signatures of Crows’ Patrick Dangerfield, Blue Lachie Henderson and Eagle Scott Selwood even harder. Midfielder James Kelly, a triple-premiership stalwart, looked tired and frustrated with seven clangers at half time, with the Pies already up by 50 points. Tom Hawkins and Harry Taylor, the two premiership cornerstones of the forward and back lines, had had no influence on the contest when the heat was on. And skipper Selwood was battered at every turn by Greenwood. The two scrapped and fought throughout the whole night. The Magpies dominated the clearance battle 41-21, even with Pendlebury mostly out of the centre square. Geelong needs Dangerfield and his brother, Scott, to provide the Cats’ inspirational leader some onball support, or face risk having Selwood’s career cut short by the weekly physical punishment he receives. Otherwise, Collingwood showed far greater intent. The Pies outworked the Cats on the spread with 72-36 uncontested marks and 32-17 tackles at the main break. The beautiful silver lining for Geelong was, of course, Menzel. Before he went down with the first of his four knee reconstructions there were some who thought he could be a top-10 player in the competition and you had to agree as he showed the cleanest of hands and an acute goal radar bagging the Cats’ first two majors of the night. When he ran onto his third goal in the goal square it cut Collingwood’s lead to 38 points and gave the Cats their first taste of momentum for the night, but it was short-lived.

Collingwood News Geelong's golden era came to a close on Friday night, with the Cats locked out of finals for the first time since 2006 following their 48-point loss to Collingwood at the MCG. After 21 finals, four Grand Finals and three premierships in the past nine years, it was painfully obvious that one of the greatest teams of the modern era has achieved all it will, eventually losing 17.8 (110) to 9.8 (62). The shining light on a dark night was the remarkable return of young Cat Daniel Menzel after four knee reconstructions, with the 23-year-old booting four goals and taking one of the marks of the year to remind the competition of his quality. But a fresh chapter in his career could mark the departure of triple-premiership stars like James Kelly, Steve Johnson and Andrew Mackie, who all had horror moments on Friday night with their team's season on the line. The Cats' veterans were shown up by a younger, quicker Collingwood team set on redemption after being described as "22 individuals" by coach Nathan Buckley last week. The Magpies' response to that stinging critique came immediately, building a first-quarter blitz on relentless tackling pressure, led by Jordan De Goey and Levi Greenwood, who tagged Geelong captain Joel Selwood. And while the young Magpies did the grunt work, captain Scott Pendlebury was left by Geelong to work off the back of stoppages, racking up 10 damaging possessions in the first quarter. The change of role for Pendlebury (33 possessions) was a masterstroke from Buckley, and as a result the Magpies kicked seven of the first eight goals to lead by 36 points at quarter-time, extending that to 50 at the main break. Geelong challenged briefly in the third quarter and again in the fourth, but each time Collingwood responded by controlling the ball and taking the pace out of the game. The result sealed the top eight – and took the sting out of a round 23 match-up between Adelaide and the Cats – with the Crows and North Melbourne locked in for September action with two games each to play. De Goey was outstanding for the Magpies, winning 25 possessions and 10 clearances, sidestepping the Geelong midfielders to put an exclamation point on his impressive debut season. Greenwood, meanwhile, tagged Selwood relentlessly all night and kept the champion Cat to 19 possessions. The former Kangaroo ran forward when he could and finished with 21 touches and one goal. Brownlow Medallist Dane Swan played his role in the first half but was substituted out at half time with a knee injury, potentially ending his season as the Magpies look to 2016. The Cats can now do that also, with optimism that Menzel will be a vital part of their future following his amazing return. After waiting 1450 days to play his 22nd game, Menzel attacked the ball and won his first possession inside the first 20 seconds, taking a big contested mark on the lead minutes later. He was mobbed by teammates halfway through the first quarter when he converted on the run with his right foot from 50 metres. His second on his right was equally classy and decisive.                             REAL FOOTY The late withdrawal of Collingwood powerhouse Travis Cloke, and a fairytale four goals and a late mark-of-the-year entry from Geelong's comeback kid Daniel Menzel, would have suggested the football gods were on the side of the Cats at the MCG on Friday night. Nothing, however, could have been further from the truth. When all was said and done, it was the Pies who had stormed to a 48-point win in front of a poor crowd of 40,582, bankrolled by a seven-goal-to-one opening term sparked by the clever decision to place skipper Scott Pendlebury in a sweeping role across half-back. The Pies' victory, just their second since round 11, had a cascading effect. Its most significant impact was denying the Cats the chance to make the finals, ending a grand era, one which had involved eight straight finals appearances since 2007, including three premierships. The defeat almost certainly will end the career of some of their distinguished servants. It also meant the current top eight sides would feature in the finals, despite there being one full round remaining. All that's still to be rubber-stamped is the final configuration. Nathan Brown of the Magpies and Steve Johnson of the Cats take a swing at each other. Had the Cats won, and the Adelaide Crows lost to the West Coast Eagles on Sunday, next week's clash between the Cats and Crows would have determined the top eight. While it was a largely bleak outing for the Cats, there was some joy, with Menzel emerging unscathed in his first match since the 2011 qualifying final against Hawthorn. Having endured four knee reconstructions since, it was somewhat fitting that he scored the Cats' opening two goals. Unfortunately for him, and the Cats, his first, a shot on the run from about 45 metres near the boundary and created through some Steven Motlop dash, came after the Magpies had the early momentum with two goals. His second came at the start of the second term when his side already trailed by six goals. Magpies cheer squad leader Joffa Corfe adds insult to injury, holding up a handbag to Cats fans. The Magpies' attack on the ball and willingness to run and help a teammate was reminiscent of the vigour which had helped them to an 8-3 record – and certainly not what was dished up in a 91-point loss to Richmond in round 21. "Every time we play there is something on the line. It was a great fightback by the boys in that first quarter," Pendlebury said. They had a 32-17 tackle count to half-time, while Pendlebury was instrumental in their domination in a stunning first term. This wasn't the typical Pendlebury working feverishly hard as an inside midfielder. Rather, coach Nathan Buckley came up with the crafty tactic of having him stationed largely across half-back where his composure and skills were used in a creative sweeping role. But that wasn't the end of it. At stoppages, Pendlebury would begin a few metres off the ball on the defensive side. Again, this meant his sore body was preserved, while allowing him to dictate terms when the ball fell his way. And it did – 11 times in the first term. Cory Gregson appeared to be his opponent, but Pendlebury found himself alone so often. Steve Johnson then finally had the job on him in the second term, and held Pendlebury to four touches. But the damage had been done, and Pendlebury reasserted himself in the second half. Cloke was hurt during the warm-ups on the ground and was replaced by the much-maligned Jesse White. But it didn't matter as the Pies had nine goal-kickers to half-time. Jack Crisp, Taylor Adams and Steele Sidebottom all provided run, Levi Greenwood infuriated Joel Selwood with his hard tagging (although they shook hands post-match), young Darcy Moore continued to show flashes, while Dane Swan, until he jarred a knee midway through the second term and was subbed off, was a handful inside the attacking 50 and up the ground. For the Cats, with so much to play for, this was a humbling experience, although fans had good reason to just be happy about Menzel's extraordinary comeback. He had a goal in each quarter, tallied a career-high in disposals and capped off a fine solo display with a high-flying grab over Tom Langdon in the final term. He has much to look forward to next year. "When I take a little bit of time, absolutely, I will be really proud of my achievement tonight but it was not the result we wanted," Menzel lamented later. At the other end of the spectrum, James Kelly, one of a handful of veterans facing an uncertain future, found the ball but too often turned it over. The Cats clearly missed the run of Josh Caddy and Mitch Duncan. There was a brief surge early in the third term but it was a dirty night for Tom Hawkins and Harry Taylor. Hawkins was goalless and did not have a mark in the first half, and things did not improve after the break. His only goal was from a free kick. The Cats now turn their attention to another challenging task – announcing whether a handful of their premiership veterans play on next year.

Round 22: The Team

Round 22 Collingwood v Geelong Friday, Aug 28 7:50pm MCG 7mate / Fox Footy 7:30pm Weather: Min 10 Max 13 Chance of rain 80%: 1-5mm Wind: WSW 25kph Betting: Collingwood $3.15 Geelong $1.37

B: Tom Langdon, Nathan Brown, Marley Williams
HB: Brayden Maynard, Jonathon Marsh, Ben Sinclair
C: Jack Crisp, Dane Swan, Steele Sidebottom
HF: Travis Varcoe, Ben Reid, Jamie Elliott
F: Alex Fasolo, Travis Cloke, Darcy Moore
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Levi Greenwood, Scott Pendlebury
Int: Jarryd Blair, Taylor Adams, Matthew Scharenberg, Jordan De Goey
Emg: Ben Kennedy, Jesse White, Adam Oxley

IN: Nathan Brown, Matthew Scharenberg
OUT: Alan Toovey (rested), Jack Frost (omitted)

Fast Fact
Only two of Collingwood’s past twenty games against Geelong have been played during the day. You have to wind the clock back to round three, 2003, to find the club’s last win against the Cats during the daylight.

Collingwood News Collingwood will take its third look at Matthew Scharenberg when it meets Geelong at the MCG on Friday night. Scharenberg, the club’s first selection in the 2013 National Draft, debuted against Melbourne in round 18 but was omitted after his second game. He has remained in contention as an emergency for the past two weeks, and fine performances in the VFL have led to his recall in the penultimate round of the season proper. The teenager joins Nathan Brown to form the two inclusions to Friday night’s team. They take the place of fellow defenders Alan Toovey, who has been rested, and Jack Frost, who has been omitted. It marks the end of a run of 42 consecutive senior appearances for Frost, who has not missed a beat since taking on Fremantle in the opening round of the 2014 season. Frost’s 42-game streak was the longest of any player on Collingwood’s list, leaving Travis Varcoe (33 consecutive games for Geelong and Collingwood) as the club’s new leader. Saturday’s VFL clash with Port Melbourne will be Frost’s first game in the state league since the club’s Elimination Final against the same opposition in 2013. In his absence, it means Brown is likely to be the man given first crack at Geelong powerhouse Tom Hawkins. Brown sat out last week’s loss to Richmond due to suspension. Collingwood’s three emergencies for Friday’s game are Ben Kennedy, Jesse White and Adam Oxley.

Preview Round 22: Collingwood v Geelong

Collingwood News - David Natoli

Round 22 Collingwood v Geelong Friday, Aug 28 7:50pm MCG 7mate / Fox Footy 7:30pm Weather: Min 10 Max 13 Chance of rain 80%: 1-5mm Wind: WSW 25kph Betting: Collingwood $3.15 Geelong $1.37

The 2015 Home and away season enters its final fortnight, with Collingwood to face Geelong at the MCG this Friday night.
For the Magpies, any slim hope of making the finals was quashed last week by a dominant Richmond side. The 91-point loss was Collingwood’s biggest of the season, and the first time all year that the Magpies have been genuinely thrashed. I noted in my last preview that there was a risk of such a loss following the heart-breaking finish to the Sydney game the week prior. Collingwood had treated that trip to Sydney like a final, and the loss clearly left the side very deflated.
Geelong also had a very disappointing result last week, with a nail-biting draw to lowly-ranked St.Kilda. The draw means the Cats remain a mathematical chance to make finals, but is six points out of the top eight and therefore needs to rely on Adelaide losing its final two matches. This is not totally out of the question. The Crows face red hot West Coast this week, and then travels to Simmonds Stadium to play Geelong in round twenty three. If Geelong wins this week, and Adelaide loses, it will make the round 23 game a live match, with the winner going on to make the finals. Geelong has everything to play for this weekend. If it loses, the top eight is locked in and all matches in round 23 will be dead rubbers. If it wins, life remains in the 2015 home and away season.
Despite the pressure and hype surrounding the Cats, don’t write off the Magpies this week. There is no doubt that the loss to Richmond stung, and the side will be hell bent on regaining some respect this weekend. Whilst a finals spot is no longer possible, Collingwood needs to utilise the last two weeks as a building block towards the 2016 pre-season. With a clash against Essendon looming in round 23, there is an opportunity for Collingwood to finish off the season well and enter the pre-season full of confidence.

Recent History
When these sides last met in round six, an 11 goal-to-two first half meant the game was over very quickly. The Magpies were able to even the game up slightly in the second half, but eventually lost by 41 points.
Mitch Duncan was best on ground with 38 disposals and 12 marks, whilst Jackson Thurlow also had a breakout game with 30 disposals. Mark Blicavs was very important, shutting down Scott Pendlebury whilst also picking up 27 disposals.

At the Selection Table
Expect a few changes from both sides this weekend.
Collingwood should welcome back Nathan Brown after suspension. The VFL side had a big win last weekend, with a number of players really staking their claims. Ben Kennedy continues to dominate, as does Sam Dwyer. Clinton Young was adjudged best on ground, whilst Matt Scharenberg also continues to impress and could be recalled. Patrick Karnezis was rested, but has strong form behind him, whilst Jarrod Witts has been playing good football since been demoted to VFL. Adam Oxley kicked two goals as he returned to the VFL side last week while teammate Paul Seedsman was also dominant with 30 disposals.
Mason Cox was a big story last week, kicking five goals in a dominant second half. Despite his form, coach Nathan Buckley has stated that it is unlikely he will play this week. In other news, Tyson Goldsack has been ruled out for the rest of the year as he requires surgery for his knee tendonitis issues, whilst Nathan Freeman, Brendon Abbott and Jackson Ramsay have also all been ruled out for the rest of the season.
Turning attention towards Geelong and Daniel Menzel could make his long awaited return from injury. Selection would mean his first game since the 2011 qualifying final. Shane Kersten is in good form at VFL level, booting five goals last week, while James Kelly and Matthew Stokes could also press for selection, particularly if Josh Caddy is unavailable with his knee complaint. Duncan is also pressing for selection following a calf strain.

Focus on Collingwood
While the loss last week was disappointing, I think the way Collingwood approaches this game will tell a lot more about the mental character of this side than the loss to Richmond. This is a group of proud players who have fought tooth and nail all year, and last week was the first time where the team seemingly gave up. Finishing off the year so poorly would take a lot of gloss off a promising development year. Therefore, I am expecting a swift response.
Despite the big loss last week, Collingwood dominated the inside 50s count and also led the contested possession for most of the match. It is an indication that the midfielders are doing the hard work, but the execution inside 50 has left a lot to be desired. Collingwood’s forward line looks good on paper, but didn’t work hard enough offensively or defensively. Up the other end of the ground, Richmond proved extremely efficient, making the most of their inside 50s and nailing theirs shots on goal.
Collingwood did not utilise its loose man in defence. Instead, this man was often caught too high up the ground, which left too much space for the Tigers forwards to work into. The Magpies need to do a lot of work in the off-season on defensive positioning, and not getting sucked into the contests. The spare man needs to place himself a lot better.
Player Focus
Levi Greenwood – I thought Greenwood was one player who could hold his head high after last week’s performance. He had a tight tagging job on Trent Cotchin, and limited him to only 13 disposals. Greenwood had 24 himself, along with a whopping 10 tackles and also a goal. The former North Melbourne midfielder has found it difficult since returning to the side after injury, but this was clearly his best game for the club to date. He is likely to get the tagging job on Joel Selwood this week.
Scott Pendlebury – The captain has received a fair share of criticism this week for comments made in his post-match interview. In my opinion, his works regarding the meaning of Saturday’s game against Richmond were clearly taken out of context and a lot of the criticism has been unwarranted. In any event, expect the Magpies skipper to really lift this week and lead from the front. He is one of the proudest footballers going around, and knows that he needs to step up. He was tagged out of the game by Blicavs when these sides last met, so is likely to get this match-up again. It is important Pendlebury also tries to limit the influence of Blicavs as well as impact the contest himself.

Focus on Geelong
The Cats were disappointing last week and now face an uphill battle just to make finals. In many regards, Geelong has had a good year, developing a lot of new players whilst remaining very competitive. The future in undoubtedly bright for this Geelong side, but finishing outside the top eight would be a huge disappointment. There are also a number of senior players in the Geelong side whose futures remain unclear given the preference to develop for the future. Therefore, expect proud players such as Steven Johnson and Jimmy Bartel to step up.
There were question marks over Geelong’s midfield entering this season, but players like Blicavs, Duncan and Caddy have really improved. However, for Geelong to return to one of the power houses of the competition, it still needs to improve its clearance work (ranked last in the competition) and contested football (ranked 15th in the competition).
Player Focus
Steven Motlop – There is speculation over Motlop’s playing future, especially with Geelong tipped to be very active over the trade period. The 24-year-old is in career best form and has arguably been Geelong’s best player in the last month. He was again electric last week with 33 disposals and a goal, to go with eight tackles. It was nearly enough to single-handedly get his team across the line. He is a huge threat for the Magpies this weekend.
Mark Blicavs – Blicavs really announced himself to the competition when these sides last met in round six. His tagging job on Pendlebury was enormous, whilst also picking up 27 disposals along the way. At 200cm tall, and from an athletics background, Blicavs is almost unstoppable. His form has tapered slightly as the season has worn on, but he still remains one of Geelong’s biggest weapons given his ability to play just about any position on the ground.

The Wrap Up
Geelong should rightfully go in as favourites this week considering they have everything to play for, and could set up a do-or-die battle with Adelaide next week if results go its way. However, Collingwood is a dangerous opponent, particularly coming off such an embarrassing loss last week.
These two sides have had some epic encounters in recent years, and I’m expecting a cracking contest on Friday night. When these sides last played, Geelong blew Collingwood away early, but the Magpies were able to peg the game back and outscored the Cats in the second half.
Collingwood needs to start better, as it has let its opponents get off to good starts in recent weeks. It also cannot allow Geelong a head start like it did in round six. This is a young Magpies outfit, which has clearly had its confidence pricked. However, Collingwood cannot afford to just meekly scrape to the finish line this year. It needs to finish promisingly.

Preview Round 22: Collingwood v Geelong

SportsMatt

Round 22 Collingwood v Geelong Friday, Aug 28 7:50pm MCG 7mate / Fox Footy 7:30pm Weather: Min 10 Max 13 Chance of rain 60%: < 1mm Wind: SSW 24kph Betting: Collingwood $2.90 Geelong $1.42

It’s been a horror second half of the season for the Collingwood football club. The Magpies have lost 8 of their last 9 games and all mathematical chances of making the top 8 are gone. That means that for the second season in a row Collingwood will not play finals. That’s a let down for sure but the performance last week against Richmond was the icing on a bad tasting cake. The Pies were insipid in the final quarter versus the rampaging Tigers and eventually went down by 91 points. It was an effort that brought comments born out of frustration from Scott Pendlebury. The Magpies skipper said in a post game interview; “It’s my first time ever playing in a game that didn’t mean anything”. While that may be a slap in the face to the die hard fans who attended or watched on TV, it wasn’t far from the truth and shows where the Magpies are at after 20 games this season.
There are still two games to be played for Collingwood though to finish of the season and the first of them is on Friday night at the M.C.G against Geelong. The Cats sit in 9th spot and while they are still a chance of playing finals although it’s out of their hands now. They need to beat Collingwood, hope West Coast beats Adelaide, then it would come down to the round 23 matchup between the Crows and Cats to decide the last finals position. So while the Magpies are just playing out their final few games the Cats know they have to win this game and that they should do, win.
 
PREVIOUS FORM
What can you say about Collingwood’s form other then it’s woeful. In 9 games since the mid season bye the Pies have won one game, and that was against one of the worst sides in the AFL, Carlton. Yes they’ve had some close losses but the manner in which they disintegrated against Richmond last Saturday ended any form of credence that was coming from outside the club. It was one of the worst finishes to a game the club has had under Nathan Buckleys’ tenure as coach and it ended any small hope the Magpies had of playing finals. Now they sit in 12th on the ladder, a position they will probably finish in which is actually one spot worse then last year. Their form is woeful, there’s nothing more to say.
Geelong were going along okay before the ran into Hawthorn two weeks back. The Cats had won four games in a row and looked as if they were headed towards their 9th straight AFL finals series. The effort against the Hawks wasn’t too bad, as although they lost by 36 points it could have been a lot closer if Geelong had kicked straight for goal at crucial times. Last week though is the game that may just have ended that finals streak. The Cats came up against the lowly Saints, a side that had troubled some good teams but hadn’t beaten anyone of note. It was just one of those games for Geelong, they just couldn’t break away from the pesky Saints and when the siren went the scores were level, a result that was as good as a loss for the Cats. It leaves them 6 premiership points behind the 8th placed Crows with 2 games left.
 
COLLINGWOOD PREVIEW
With their finals hopes now officially over what more is the for the Magpies to play for in these final 2 games of 2015? Of course there’s pride but judging by the finish to the game last week that may have left the building already. The one thing the club can do is continue to get senior games into youngsters who they are hoping will be the building blocks to future success. Some of those young players are holding their own with Darcy Moore and Jonathan Marsh holding down key position posts last week and being amongst the Pies better players. Marsh is a remarkable story, recruited as a forward, the Western Australian didn’t debut until the Carlton game but looks as though he will play out the year as a key part of the Pies defense. He kept Jack Riewoldt to one goal until late in the game last week, a fine achievement given the dominance the Tigers had over the Pies. Then there’s Darcy Moore, the son of a champion who already has shown glimpses of becoming a very similar player to his father. His 5 goals versus the Bulldogs a few weeks back really got the place buzzing. There’s others too, with Maynard, De Goey, Langdon, Scharenberg, Grundy, Broomhead, Ramsay and Kennedy all showing glimpses of their talents at times this year.
But the Pies have two games left to play, starting with this one versus the Cats and selection will say a lot about how disgusted Nathan Buckley and the coaching staff were with the effort last week. The VFL side had a strong win over Richmond’s VFL team and out of that game came some top class performances. The likes of Seedsman, Scharenberg, Cox, Witts, Young, Kennedy, Oxley, Macaffer and White all played well and will push for selection. Of those Mason Cox is the real interesting one, with the 211cm American rookie listed player kicking 5 goals in the last 35 minutes of play. It’s not out of the question that he makes a remarkable debut this week only one week after the first ever born and raised American played in the AFL. Who makes way may be an ever greater question here. Alex Fasolo was subbed out of the game at half time and looks like a certain out. The back line really struggled and with Nathan Brown available for selection after missing last week through suspension at least one defender will go out of the side. Whatever the final selection is though Collingwood fans will want to see a four quarter effort.
 
OPPOSITION ANALYSIS
There was always going to come a time when the recent Geelong dynasty came to an end but while the Cats years of competing for premierships has ended they are still challenging for a finals spot. This season they’ve managed to introduce plenty of youngsters to the senior team and some of those seem to have the making of very good players, with 3 rising star nominations for the Cats (Gregson, Thurlow and Lang). What Geelong are trying to do is to maintain being competitive while rebuilding on the run. Whether or not they do play finals this season the Cats will see season 2015 as one that will set them up for the future.
The Geelong forward line is an area in transition as the Cats look to build a strong attack around Tom Hawkins. Having a key forward who can kick over 50 goals a year helps but having one like Hawkins who creates contests that lead to goals is even more important. The problem for the Cats is finding those who can help. Steve Johnson looks like finishing the season second on the clubs’ goal kicking with Steven Motlop a few behind him. After that it drops away a bit though with Josh Walker the next best option. Of course Geelong went out and got Mitch Clark in the off season but it hasn’t really worked out that well with off field issues and injury restricting the ex Demon to just 8 matches and 14 goals this season. Nathan Vardy returned last week and kicked 2 goals and if he can stay injury free he may make up for the lack of output from Clark. It’s no shock then that the Cats only rank 11th for total points scored this year (even given that they’ve played one less game then 16 other sides).
If Geelong have an area of strength it’s their back line. With names like Harry Taylor, Tom Lonergan, Corey Enright, Andrew Mackie and the very impressive young Jake Kolodjashnij it’s easy to see why too. While the Cats statistically only rank as the 8th best defense they will match up against a Magpies attack that is really struggling to figure out how to put the score on the board. Lonergan is likely to take Cloke while Kolodjashnij or Mackie are likely to get the job on Jamie Elliott. If the Cats can restrict those two players from having an impact on the game it will go a long way to winning. What sides have been doing against the Pies is running it out of defense and taking it the length of the ground for scores. There’s no reason why this Geelong side can’t do that too.
The Geelong midfield relies far too heavily on one player, even if that one player is Joel Selwood. Josh Caddy and Cameron Guthrie give decent assistance in their also but after that the ability to win the hard ball really does drop off. Selwood of course is as good as anyone in the competition at winning clearances and contested possessions but if this Geelong team is to rise back up the ladder he will need help. There’s a few grand old players who still add a little with Bartel leading the way but the likes of Bews and Horlin-Smith really need to start making an impact. The ruck isn’t that strong for the Cats either as they rank 17th out of the 18 teams for average hitouts per game. If there’s one area of real concern for Geelong it’s the midfield with the likes of Pendlebury, Swan, Adams, Sidebottom and Greenwood all able to win their own ball for the Pies.
Of course this is an absolute must win game for the Cats but it doesn’t mean there might not be a surprise inclusion or two. Daniel Menzel is a real chance to play his first game of the season after over coming a terrible run with injuries to return to the Geelong VFL side. It does seem that Josh Caddy and Mitch Duncan won’t come up with both unable to train fully so far this week. No matter what their final selection is though this Geelong outfit has to get back to the form that saw them defeat sides like Sydney and the Western Bulldogs, because only that form will be good enough to defeat a Magpies side with it’s back up against the wall.
 
TIP
This game represents different things to each side, the Cats will still believe that 2 wins will get them in the finals, while Collingwood will attempt to restore some pride after that fade out against the Tigers. The remarkable thing is that the Magpies had more inside 50’s then the Tigers last week yet lost by 91 points. That shows that the Pies midfield is still performing at a decent level while that’s an area Geelong can be exploited in.
A lot will come down to final selection for the Cats with Duncan and Caddy both under an injury cloud. Both clubs come into the game off 6 day breaks so that should have no influence on the result. The Magpies best would win them this match, and while last week was a performance they simply can not afford to repeat if they produce their best they can end the Cats finals hopes on Friday night.
 
MAGPIES BY 3 POINTS.

Preview Round 22: Collingwood v Geelong

AFL

Round 22 Collingwood v Geelong Friday, Aug 28 7:50pm MCG 7mate / Fox Footy 7:30pm Weather: Min 10 Max 13 Chance of rain 60%: < 1mm Wind: SSW 24kph Betting: Collingwood $2.90 Geelong $1.42

SUMMARY
The equation is simple – ninth-placed Geelong must win to keep its finals aspirations alive. The Cats are six points adrift of eighth-placed Adelaide, so they'll also need the Crows to lose to West Coast this Sunday. The Cats couldn't be separated with St Kilda at the final siren last week, while Collingwood seemingly packed up its bags against Richmond. The Magpies have now lost eight of their past 10 games and need to show some fight in the last two matches. The Cats have all to play for and a win – and an Adelaide loss – will set up a winner-takes-all encounter with the Crows in round 23.
LAST FIVE TIMES

1. R6, 2015, Geelong 15.10 (100) d Collingwood 8.11 (59) at the MCG
2. R3, 2014, Geelong 12.15 (87) d Collingwood 11.10 (76) at the MCG
3. R8, 2013, Collingwood 15.12 (102) d Geelong 14.12 (96) at the MCG
4. R16, 2012, Collingwood 17.8 (110) d Geelong 10.19 (79) at the MCG
5. R8, 2012, Collingwood 14.12 (96) d Geelong 11.18 (84) at the MCG 

THE SIX POINTS

1. Geelong blew Collingwood away in the first half in round six this year, kicking seven goals to one in the first term and four to one in the second.
2. The Cats are ranked last in clearances with an average of 35 per game, while the Magpies are equal ninth with 39.1. 
3. Geelong has won the past two clashes between the sides, ending Collingwood's run of three consecutive wins. The Cats have won five games to three since 2011.
4. 4. The Magpies are the No.1 contested possession team in 2015, averaging 144.8. The Cats are ranked 15th with 131.1 per game.
5. The teams have played at the MCG on 43 occasions, with Geelong winning 24 games to 19. The Cats are two wins from four games at the MCG in 2015.
6. Jimmy Bartel dropped 18 places, from No.66 to No.84 overall, in the Official AFL Player Ratings last round. He's now the fifth-highest Cat.

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … the Collingwood playing group.
Coach Nathan Buckley said his players "turned into 22 individuals" in last Saturday's humiliating 91-point loss as Richmond piled on nine goals to one in the final quarter. Although the 12th-placed Magpies are out of the finals race, the team must respond with a strong performance against the Cats.
PREDICTION: Geelong by 30 points

Injury List

Injury Update Tuesday, August 25			Round 22 Collingwood v Geelong Friday, Aug 28 7:50pm MCG 7mate / Fox Footy 7:30pm Weather: Min 10 Max 13 Chance of rain 70%: < 1mm Wind: SSW 22kph Betting: Collingwood $2.90 Geelong $1.40
Player	Injury	Status
Brenden Abbott	Shoulder	Season
Tim Broomhead	Fractured shoulder	Season
Nathan Freeman	Hamstring	Season
Corey Gault	Groin/hip	Test
Tyson Goldsack	Knee	Season
Jackson Ramsay	Shin	Season

Collingwood News Five Magpies have had lines drawn through their seasons as the home and away campaign nears an end. Vice-captain Tyson Goldsack (knee) will not feature again in season 2015. Nor will developing quartet Nathan Freeman (hamstring), Tim Broomhead (shoulder), Jackson Ramsay (shin) and Brenden Abbott (shoulder). Goldsack, who has played just twice since round 13, joined the club’s coaching staff for Saturday’s 72-point win over Richmond in the VFL. “Tyson has been struggling with that knee tendonitis for some weeks,” Director of Football Neil Balme told Collingwood Media’s Blackmores Injury Update. “We have finally decided to help him – he will have some surgery this week. “Obviously he will take a while to get over that but he should be fine to jump into the pre-season for next year. It’s disappointing for Goldy.” The 28-year-old returned to the VFL against North Ballarat a fortnight ago, having played just one of the past eight senior games. The one player on the injury list who may yet return this year is Corey Gault. A groin/ hip problem has kept Gault sidelined for the past fortnight, but Balme expects him to be available for selection this weekend.

2015 LADDER: ROUND 21

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 21: Richmond 147 Collingwood 56

THE FACTS

COLLINGWOOD   3.3.21   3.10.28   6.13.49     7.14.56
RICHMOND           7.3.45   10.6.66   14.9.93   23.9.147

SCORERS - Collingwood: Swan (2.0), Blair (1.2), Elliott (1.2), Cloke (1.1), Greenwood (1.0), Pendlebury (1.0), Crisp (0.2), Adams (0.1), Williams (0.1)

BEST - Collingwood: Pendlebury, Swan, Sidebottom, Greenwood

INJURIES - Collingwood: Nil

SUBSTITUTES - Collingwood: Alex Fasolo replaced by Jordan De Goey at half-time

REPORTS: Jarryd Blair (Collingwood) reported in the first quarter for rough conduct against Anthony Miles (Richmond)

OFFICIAL CROWD: 63,178 at the MCG

TALKING POINTS

1. Top four Tigers? Hawthorn's surprise loss to Port Adelaide on Friday night has opened up the top four, and means the Tigers are just one game behind the premiers with two rounds to play. Losses to Fremantle and Adelaide in the last four weeks had made it tough for the Tigers to contend for the double chance, but now with consecutive wins over Gold Coast and Collingwood, they're right back in the mix. With a winnable clash against Essendon and a final round encounter with North Melbourne – who are in a similar place to the Tigers - to come, there's plenty to play for in the run to September. 2. Tyrone time Jack Riewoldt leads Richmond's goal-kicking but it was another enigmatic Tiger that took control of Saturday's game and made life hell for the Collingwood backmen. The often-maligned Tyrone Vickery excelled where the Pies struggled and was cool, calm and collected in front of goal to boot a personal best bag of six majors. He marked strongly, kicked truly and played with the confidence of a player who is determined to appear in this year's finals campaign after he was left out 12 months ago. 3. Forward follies The Magpies' forward line woes continued with a variety of mistakes thwarting their ability to put on any form of scoreboard pressure. They took the ball inside 50 enough – the final tally was 58 to 48 their way - but time and time again they bombed it in without any real intent to isolate a target with Travis Cloke taking his first mark inside 50 in the fourth term, Darcy Moore trying hard but going goalless and Ben Reid having two touches in the first half before moving to defence. When they applied pressure, they got shots on goal but their accuracy was awful, particularly in close. It's definitely an area that needs attention over summer as they work through just where their season fell apart.

4. Crouching Tigers ready to pounce In comparison, the Tigers set their sights on improving some key areas they were deficient in last week against Gold Coast and would have pleased their coach with their application. Last week, they registered just 30 tackles – this week, they'd surpassed that by half time and ended with 56. They were also better defensively and narrowly won the contested possession count, which was where they fell down two weeks ago against Adelaide. One element at a time, it's starting to come together for the Tigers after an up and down five weeks. 5. Newman's swansong Hearts were in mouths late in the third quarter when Chris Newman hobbled off clutching his right hamstring. The former Richmond captain announced his retirement at the end of the season this week, which has given the Tigers an additional reason to finish the year on a high. The initial look on Newman's face when he limped off indicated a known injury, but a few rub downs and a jog along the boundary was enough to get him back up and out there, where he joined in the final-quarter party and kicked one of the Tigers' nine goals. The Magpies' forward line woes continued with a variety of mistakes thwarting their ability to put on any form of scoreboard pressure. They took the ball inside 50 enough – the final tally was 58 to 48 their way - but time and time again they bombed it in without any real intent to isolate a target with Travis Cloke taking his first mark inside 50 in the fourth term.

THE MEDIA

AFL Nathan Buckley has challenged Collingwood to play "unconditional" football in its final two games of the season, saying his team simply stopped working in the last 20 minutes of its 91-point loss to Richmond on Saturday. Despite the lopsided final margin at the MCG, the Pies fared well in many of the statistical counts, winning the inside 50s 58-49 and tackles 63-56, and narrowly losing contested possessions 130-133 and clearances 31-36. But after going into three-quarter time 44 points down, the Magpies conceded nine of the last 10 goals. Buckley said after the game that the Pies seemed to hit "a breaking point" in the final term where they stopped trusting their team plan and each other. "We went away from the way we wanted to play and then we turned into 22 individuals and not a team," Buckley said. "It's just the players trying to make something happen because they don't trust what we've gone in with, and I think that's where the effort drops off. "What we saw in that last 20 minutes was a culmination of the day where we weren't rewarded for what we were doing. "But the other thing is it's a culmination of a season of effort unrewarded and there was a breaking point and to me that's what that last 20 minutes was. "It's not us, it's not acceptable. We need to be better and cleaner to take advantage of the opportunities that we create." Collingwood entered Saturday's game with a mathematical chance of making the top eight, but the Tigers officially snuffed out that faint hope, pushing the Pies down to 12th on the ladder. Although understanding his players no longer had the "carrot" of finals to motivate them, Buckley said they had to "stay the course" in their remaining clashes against Geelong and Essendon. "We've got eight quarters of football left in our season and we'll use it to try and improve, to play closer to our best footy and to maintain a really consistent effort around that," Buckley said. "We were disappointed not to see that at the end of the game today. We lowered our colours today against our own standards, not necessarily against the opposition or against the competition. "We want to be an unconditional footy team that plays its best football regardless of what's (riding) on it or what's not (riding) on it, whether it's a NAB Cup (Challenge) game, an early home and away game, a late home and away game, a final. "We've got to be an unconditional side and we're still learning to do that." Levi Greenwood's tagging job on Tigers skipper Trent Cotchin was one of the few positives to come out of the loss for Collingwood. The former Kangaroo has had a tough first season with the Magpies after suffering a serious ankle injury in the pre-season, but his ability to keep Cotchin to just 13 possessions in his sixth game for his new club was encouraging. "Levi was one of the few boys who put his hand up at the end of the game and said that he put up a four-quarter effort," Buckley said. "It's been a frustrating year for him, missing the first half through injury and an up-and-down return through the second half. "But we set him for these three weeks to really finish off the season strongly and give himself the best chance of taking something out of the year."                             Collingwood News Richmond has kept its top-four hopes alive with a 91-point thrashing of Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday that was highlighted by a six-goal haul from spearhead Tyrone Vickery. The Tigers flew out of the gates, kicking the game's opening four goals in a sign they were switched-on for the must-win clash. The Magpies hit back with the next three goals, but Richmond then broke their will with seven straight goals from the 26-minute mark of the first term to the opening minute of the third quarter to set up a 23.9 (147) to 7.14 (56) win. The Tigers led by 44 points at that stage, a margin they maintained to three-quarter time, but they turned a comfortable win into a rout with a nine-goal-to-one final term. The win was the Tigers' 13th for 2015 and, more importantly, keeps them within striking distance of their chief challengers for the finals double chance, the Western Bulldogs and Sydney Swans. The Swans held a comfortable lead over Greater Western Sydney late in their clash on Saturday, so look set to maintain a one-game break on Richmond with two rounds to go, but the Bulldogs must beat second-placed West Coast at Domain Stadium on Sunday to maintain the same buffer. Vickery took 10 marks (three contested) in an imposing performance and finished with a precision in front of goal that the misfiring Pies could only dream of. With captain Trent Cotchin well held by Levi Greenwood, Brandon Ellis (31 possessions and one goal), Dustin Martin (32 and one) and Bachar Houli (29 and two) gave the Tigers much of their drive around the ground. Alex Rance was outstanding on Travis Cloke, keeping the Magpie spearhead to one goal, while fellow Tiger defenders Jake Batchelor, Steven Morris and Nick Vlastuin combined well to keep dangerous Pies smalls Jamie Elliott, Alex Fasolo and Jarryd Blair quiet. Ruckman Ivan Maric spent some time off the ground in the first quarter after copping an accidental boot to the nose when he tried to smother young Magpie Darcy Moore, but he returned to play out the game strongly. Despite the magnitude of the win, Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said the Tigers still needed to improve elements of their game after an up-and-down past five weeks. "We're starting to get some consistency in our performance,” Hardwick said. "We still feel we've got some areas we'd like to get better in, so we've got some work to do still. "We got penned in a little bit in defensive 50 today, which we were probably a little bit disappointed in, so we'll just have to look at that and work through it. "There are some areas of our game we're not quite doing at the level we'd like, which is a little bit frustrating." Although Collingwood won the inside 50 count 58-48, Richmond controlled the game with its speedy and precise ball movement, and was regularly able to hit unattended forward 50 targets with long kicks over the back of the Pies' zones. Collingwood's loss was its eighth from its past 10 games and put a full stop on its finals hopes, sending it plummeting to 12th on the ladder. For the second successive year, the Magpies have missed the top eight after winning eight of their first 11 games, and for their latest defeat they could partially blame their inaccuracy in front of goal that, at its worst, saw them kick 0.7 in the second quarter. Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said his players had stopped working in the final quarter after not getting reward for their efforts in the first three terms. "We were clearly not happy with the last 20 minutes and I think that was a culmination of solid effort without results," Buckley said. "We went inside 50 quite a bit in that first half but just didn't score and then couldn't stop it coming back the other way. "We were disappointed with that last 20, we loosened the grip, we let go. "We stopped working, we didn't trust, and that was a really poor aspect of the game." Captain Scott Pendlebury (a game-high 33 possessions and one goal) led the way for Collingwood, with Dane Swan (28 and two) and Steele Sidebottom (32) his best support acts. Greenwood could also hold his head high after holding Cotchin to 13 possessions. The Pies' day could yet be soured further with Blair reported late in the first quarter after appearing to catch Anthony Miles high with his hip as he charged in off the square to contest a loose ball. The Richmond midfielder had his head over the ball at the time of impact, but Blair also appeared to be making a genuine attempt to win the ball.

SUPERFOOTY NATHAN Buckley says Collingwood must learn to be an “unconditional football side” after skipper Scott Pendlebury described yesterday’s big loss as his “first game that didn’t sort of mean anything.” Speaking after his side’s horrid 91-point loss to Richmond, Pendlebury — who was Collingwood’s best with 33 disposals — said it was strange knowing his side could not make the finals. “It’s a disappointing day and I’ve sort of never played in a game like that where it is my first time ever that didn’t sort of mean anything,” Pendlebury told 3AW radio. “As a football club we can’t get to finals. “We just can’t defend at the moment. “I know we’re not playing for much in the last two weeks, but the boys want to turn up next Friday night and restore some pride.” The Magpies coach said it was crucial his battered side “stays the course” with two matches still to come. “We’re in for the journey, but we’re competitors and want reward for our effort to have a carrot on the end that we’re aspiring to,” Buckley said. “So what Pendles would be talking about there is the short-term carrot of playing finals wasn’t there for him. “I can understand that perspective, but you’ve got to fight against that because as a competitor there’s certain circumstances you’re going to be in control of and there are others you’re not. “We lowered our colours today against our own standards and we want to be an unconditional footy team that plays its best football, whether it is a NAB Cup game or whatever it is, and we’re still learning to do that.” It has been a season of frustration for Collingwood, with a string of near-misses against the top sides proving costly. Buckley said he believed that frustration contributed to yesterday’s capitulation, which was the club’s heaviest defeat to Richmond since 1976. “It is a culmination of a season of effort unrewarded,” Buckley said. “There is a breaking point and, to me, that is what that last 20 minutes was (when Richmond kicked nine goals for the term). “It’s not us and it is not acceptable. “We need to be better and cleaner to take advantage of our opportunities that we create.” The Magpies next face Geelong at the MCG and Buckley said his side will need to regather quickly to avoid a repeat of yesterday’s display. “They another team pushing for finals so they will have an intent and a want,” Buckley said. “We’ve got eight quarters of football left in our season and we’ll use it to try and improve and play closer to our best footy.”                             REAL FOOTY The last time Richmond beat Collingwood by a bigger margin was July 3, 1976, when 36,470 fans watched the Pies crumble at the MCG. Nearly four decades later at the same ground the scoreline was remarkably similar - on both occasions the Magpies finished with seven goals and 14 behinds. And while the Tigers would have needed three more behinds to smash that old record, they had much to celebrate with their 91-point win on Saturday. Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury said it was the first AFL match he had played in that "didn't mean anything," but coach Nathan Buckley said he wanted to become a football team that played its best no matter the circumstances. Rarely have Richmond fans sounded more rapturous than when belting out the theme song post-match, as top goal-scorer Ty Vickery ran around the boundary offering high-fives. They were a team roaring towards the finals – skilful and organised - and they kept Collingwood goalless until 15-minutes into the first term, then piled on nine in the last. In a remarkably even season, their dominant display was a reminder they would be real contenders come finals time, even though they were positioned outside the top-four. Despite the emphatic win, Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said there were some aspects of their game he would like to see the Tigers improve on - they were getting a bit stuck at times in their defensive 50. But he said the players were now able to adapt their playing style to beat different opponents, a sign of growing maturity. "It's not something we've just brought into our game over night, we've been training it for two to three years," he said. "One thing the playing group has gotten a lot better at now is understanding the timing, the speed of movement, how to shut a game down, how to score when you get the opportunity." Hardwick said it was good to see some of his less high-profile players perform well, including mature-age rookie Kane Lambert who put his head over the ball a number of times in the last quarter. "We're pleased with that developing core coming through that stood up, which was great," he said. It was the biggest loss Collingwood have suffered since Buckley took over as senior coach in 2012, perhaps made worse by the fact that the players really seemed to be trying, before giving up in the dying minutes. They got the ball inside 50 twice as many times as the Pies in the second quarter, but managed just seven behinds to Richmond's 3.3. The final term was a yellow and black party, as the Tigers kicked goal after goal, sharing the love around. Twelve Richmond players kicked at least one goal in the win, Bachar Houli and Jack Riewoldt scored two apiece, Sam Lloyd and Brett Deledio both got three, Ivan Maric four and Vickery starred with six. Collingwood players appeared to stop running hard in the final 20 minutes of the game and Buckley said that was what disappointed him most. "We loosened the grip, we let go, we stopped working, we didn't trust and that was a really poor aspect of the game," he said. In a post-match interview on 3AW, Pendlebury gave some insight into how he felt about the match. "I've never played in game like that, it's my first time ever playing in a game didn't mean anything," he said. "As a football cub we can't get to finals, and I thought early we didn't start too well but the effort was there... we just can't defend at the moment." Buckley said he understood his skipper's point of view, because the game lacked the short-term "carrot" of a finals berth. But he said Collingwood should be a team that tried its best each time they played. "We lowered our colours today against our own standards and we want to be an unconditional footy team that plays its best football, whether it is a NAB Cup game or whatever it is, and we're still learning to do that."  Buckley said the team went into the game with two major focuses, the first to prevent Richmond from getting too many contested marks and controlling the football. The second was to was to be more measured with their inside 50s – neither of which they succeeded with. Buckley said the players then deviated from the game plan, which quickened the slide. "We turned into 22 individuals and not a team." His players were tired of working hard for little reward. "There's a season of effort unrewarded, and there's a breaking point, and to me that's what that last 20 minutes is." "It’s a disappointing day and I’ve sort of never played in a game like that where it is my first time ever that didn’t sort of mean anything. As a football club we can’t get to finals. We just can’t defend at the moment. I know we’re not playing for much in the last two weeks, but the boys want to turn up next Friday night and restore some pride."  Scott Pendlebury

Round 21: The Team

Round 21 Collingwood v Richmond Saturday, Aug 22 1:45pm MCG Fox Footy 1:30pm Weather: Min 12 Max 18 Chance of rain 40%: < 1mm Wind: WNW 21kph Betting: Collingwood $2.80 Richmond $1.43

B: Tom Langdon, Jack Frost, Marley Williams
HB: Alan Toovey, Jonathon Marsh, Ben Sinclair
C: Jack Crisp, Dane Swan, Steele Sidebottom
HF: Travis Varcoe, Ben Reid, Jamie Elliott
F: Alex Fasolo, Travis Cloke, Darcy Moore
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Taylor Adams, Scott Pendlebury
Int: Jarryd Blair, Jordan De Goey, Levi Greenwood, Brayden Maynard
Emg: Jesse White, Matthew Scharenberg, Patrick Karnezis

IN: Brayden Maynard
OUT: Nathan Brown (suspended)

Milestone: Alan Toovey (150 games)

Fast Fact
Milestone man Alan Toovey made his league debut against Richmond in round three, 2007. He was one of three young Magpies blooded by coach Mick Malthouse, entering alongside Brad Dick and Shannon Cox. Toovey kicked three goals on debut but has kicked just six in the his 148 games since.

Collingwood News Collingwood has taken its squad mentality into Saturday’s clash with Richmond. The Magpies have made just one change, replacing a defender with a defender, with Brayden Maynard slotting in for the suspended Nathan Brown. Saturday’s match will be the first Brown has missed all year, a fine achievement after he managed just three outings in 2014 due to shoulder problems. Brown’s suspension means there are now six Collingwood players to have played every game in season 2015: Dane Swan, Scott Pendlebury, Jack Crisp, Travis Varcoe and Tom Langdon. Maynard’s return marks the seventh senior game of his debut season. The defender averaged 12.0 disposals and 3.0 rebounds during his first stint in the senior side. He was rested for last week’s clash with Sydney but makes an immediate return, emphasising the regard in which he is held by the match committee. In Jesse White and Patrick Karnezis, Collingwood has named two forwards among its emergencies, while defender Matthew Scharenberg rounds out the trio. All three featured prominently in last week’s VFL loss to North Ballarat.

Preview Round 21: Collingwood v Richmond

Collingwood News - David Natoli 

Round 21 Collingwood v Richmond Saturday, Aug 22 1:45pm MCG Fox Footy 1:30pm Weather: Min 12 Max 18 Chance of rain 40%: < 1mm Wind: WNW 21kph Betting: Collingwood $2.80 Richmond $1.43

There are only three weeks left in the AFL Home and Away season and the top eight is finally beginning to look a bit more settled. Unfortunately for the Magpies, a narrow loss last week to Sydney has all but ruled out a spot in the finals this season.
Collingwood is still mathematically a chance if it wins its next three games, and the first of these three assignments is against Richmond this Saturday afternoon at the MCG.
Richmond currently sits in sixth spot and is aiming for a top four finish. This is a crucial game for the Tigers given they are playing a lower ranked opponent and their form has tapered a bit over the last month. Based on past form, it is the sort of game the Tigers struggle in, where they are expected to win and there is a lot riding on the result. If Richmond is a genuine contender this year, then it is a game it simply should tick off.
This being said, Collingwood is a very dangerous opponent and in some regards has nothing to lose from this point on. The Magpies have not been blown away in any games this year, and has shown good form against the best sides. Nathan Buckley's was right on top of Sydney last week but just couldn’t capitalise on a number of opportunities. It has been a familiar tale throughout the second half of the season, but it does illustrate that perhaps Collingwood is not as far behind as many consider. I am slightly wary of the fact that Collingwood openly admitted that it treated last week’s match against Sydney as a final. It is often the case that a team can have a significant drop-off following such a heart-breaking result. However, I think Collingwood will keep fighting to the end, as the effort has been pretty consistent all year.
In some regards, I think Collingwood is in a similar position to Richmond last season, or North Melbourne the year before. Both these sides were close, but just couldn’t get across the line in narrow games. It only took a few small break throughs, and once momentum shifted there was no looking back.
Richmond had a comfortable win against the undermanned Gold Coast last week, but played far from inspiring football (especially in the first half). It laid only one tackle in the first quarter, and looked to be lacking a hard edge. The Tigers haven’t won back-to-back games since rounds fifteen and sixteen, so form hasn’t been perfect. This is an opportunity to regain momentum ahead of finals against a challenging opponent.

Recent History
Collingwood had been Richmond’s bogey team under Damien Hardwick until round seven this year where the Tigers broke a seven game losing streak against the Magpies. It was a huge victory for Richmond, and probably the real turning point in their season. Prior to this match, Richmond was really struggling to hit form, but has never looked back since this victory. The Tigers started slow, but an eight goal to three second quarter turned the match on its head, with Richmond eventually winning a thriller by five points.
Trent Cotchin was the chief destroyer with 32 disposals and two goals, whilst Brett Deledio had 30 disposals, 13 marks and kicked two crucial last quarter goals. Jack Riewoldt was dominant, booting four goals, whilst he also had good support from Tyrone Vickery who booted three. For Collingwood, Dane Swan picked up his typical 32 disposals and also kicked two majors. Travis Cloke was dangerous with three goals and Jack Crisp announced himself as a Magpie with 20 disposals and two goals.

At the Selection Table
Despite Collingwood’s poor form of late, the injury list is finally looking really healthy, and Buckley has a host of fit players to choose from.
There will be one forced change with Nathan Brown suspended for a week. In his place, Tyson Goldsack could slot straight back in, although he is still battling knee tendonitis issues and in all likelihood will not play at either level this week. Given the very slim chance of making finals, expect Buckley to continue blooding the youth, and it is an opportunity for Jonathon Marsh to take a big assignment. Otherwise, Darcy Moore could play defence and open up a spot for Jesse White who had his second good match at VFL level.
Others pressing for selection are Jarrod Witts who has been dominant at VFL level since he was omitted, while Patrick Karnezis, Sam Dwyer, Clinton Young and Ben Kennedy also continue to rack up huge numbers. Brayden Maynard and Adam Oxley were both rested last week and look set to return to either AFL or VFL level, whilst Matthew Scharenbergresponded really well to his omission with 23 disposals and 9 marks across half back.
Turning focus onto Richmond, the Tigers could welcome back the exciting Shane Edwards who has recovered from the fractured leg that has kept him on the sidelines for five weeks. He could slot straight back into the senior side. Matthew Dea, Jason Castagna and Chris Knights are others who could push for selection. Otherwise, the Tigers now have a very stable line-up, and I am not expecting mass changes.

Focus on Collingwood
The loss to Sydney last week was a real nail in the coffin, considering it is yet another match that Collingwood had opportunities to win but just couldn’t get across the line. It was the fifth loss this year by less than two goals, but more importantly really slammed the door shut on finals aspirations. Nevertheless, there is plenty to like from what I saw last week, and in general this year. Collingwood is still ranked number one in the competition for contested possession. It is also the number one ranked tackling team in the competition.
Buckley knows Richmond can be a very damaging team, however will have noted that Richmond ranks seventeenth in the competition for tackling and eleventh for contested possession. If Collingwood can turn this game into a scrap, then it has an opportunity to exploit some weaknesses in these areas. If Richmond is allowed easy ball movement, then it could get ugly. With the likes of Levi Greenwood, Taylor Adams, Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan, Jack Crisp, Jordan De Goey, Jarryd Blair and Steele Sidebottom all rotating through the middle, there is enough strength to match the highly talented Richmond midfield. Collingwood’s best hope is to lock the game up, and win the contested footy.
It was also good to see De Goey, Darcy Moore and Jonathon Marsh play so strongly against quality opposition last week. All three of these guys are in their first year at AFL level, and are already establishing themselves as core players in the side. It is a glimpse of Collingwood’s future spine, which is very exciting.
Player Focus
Jordan De Goey – Last year’s pick five has already made a huge impression at Collingwood, which was capped off with the NAB Rising Star Nomination this week. It came off the back of his best game to date with 18 disposals, 12 tackles and a goal. He was almost apologetic when he received his nomination, highlighting that he also feels that his good friend Darcy Moore probably deserves one as well. However, it is just reward for a fine debut season. De Goey was very important against Sydney, at times squaring off against Josh Kennedy and more than matching him. He is a fine clearance player, and is so good at reading the ball off hands. As he improves his fitness, De Goey has the potential to be something quite special.
Alex Fasolo – Fasolo will be disappointed with his game last week following two dominant games the weeks prior. He had a number of opportunities to hit the scoreboard, but was uncharacteristically inaccurate in front of goal. In many ways, Fasolo has really improved this year and has become a vital part of the forward line. However, he still needs to work on his consistency, particularly against the better sides. He will be looking to bounce back this week.
Taylor Adams – Adams continued his good form last week with 31 disposals and eight tackles, however I felt his influence on the game was slightly down on recent weeks. Nonetheless, he continues to develop as Collingwood’s prime in-and-under player, and will have a huge battle this week against the likes of Trent Cotchin and Anthony Miles. Miles in particular has become a really important player for Richmond, and I think Buckley will throw the task to Adams to go head-to-head and beat him around the stoppages.

Focus on Richmond
As discussed above, the Tigers are very well placed but haven’t been firing on all cylinders recently. I mentioned the issues with tackling and contested football, which are really big areas Richmond needs to clean up ahead of finals if it is able to match up with the best sides.
Collingwood is ranked number one in these areas, so it is an opportunity to Richmond to really step up and get on top of these issues. Only recording one tackle in a quarter of football is unacceptable, and I expect coach Damien Hardwick to put a huge emphasis on tackling this week. Richmond has been good in these areas when it has mattered this year, so I don’t think there will be any panic. With finals approaching, it is important the Tigers improve their tackling quickly.
In other areas, the Richmond midfield has really stepped up all year, with plenty of star power and inside grunt. The improvement from players such as Anthony Miles and Brandon Ellis has meant that the likes of Cotchin and Dustin Martin have been able to really take their games to new levels. When these two are firing, Richmond is very hard to stop.
Player focus
Brett Deledio – Despite the focus on Martin and Cotchin, I consider Deledio to be the most important player at Richmond. Simply put, the Tigers struggle to win without him. This was exemplified against Adelaide in round 19 when he missed with illness, and also in the opening month of the 2015 season when Deledio was recovering from off-season Achilles problems. His importance was really telling when the Tigers last met Collingwood, proving the match-winner with two last quarter goals despite not being 100% match-fit.
Ivan Maric – Another reason for Richmond’s turn-around this season has been the form of ruckman Ivan Maric. He is a real barometer for this side, and when he is dominating the ruck his team seems to lift beside him. With the likes of Cotchin at his feet, Maric’s influence cannot be underestimated. He is also the main big man at the moment with Ben Griffiths and Shaun Hampson out of the side.
Bachar Houli – Houli has become a really important player for Richmond, offering so much rebound off half-back. He was one of Richmond’s best last week against Gold Coast with 29 disposals, 22 of which were kicks. His precise kicking is his strength, and when he is allowed freedom across half back he can cause a lot of damage. He is not afraid to take the game on through the corridor, which was displayed against Fremantle earlier in the year when he elected to kick through the centre in the dying seconds of the game. The ball was turned over and Richmond lost narrowly, largely as a result of this decision. Whilst he was criticised heavily for this decision, Houli is encouraged to take the game on and it is a big reason why the Tigers are able to move the ball so freely at times. Collingwood needs to put pressure on Houli and prevent him from collecting disposals at will.

The Final Word
Richmond has every right to go in favourites this week, and realistically should win this game. While Collingwood will likely name a young team, it should still be quite a strong team and cannot be underestimated. The backline will be inexperienced without Nathan Brown, so the midfield is going to have to match Richmond’s powerful onballers to protect the young defenders.
The conditions at this stage look beautiful, which should suit the Tigers. Nonetheless, Collingwood needs to lock this game up, and maximise its strengths which are tackling and contested footy. If the game becomes a scrap, then Collingwood is a huge chance. The Magpies will have looked at how Adelaide played the Tigers a fortnight ago, and taken a lot out of this game.
It’s hard to predict how Collingwood will play this week. In some regards, the let-down of the Sydney lossmay be too great a hurdle to leap, whilst on the other hand there is nothing to lose and we could see the Magpies really take the game on. Although finals are unlikely, there is still a mathematical chance, so I am expecting quite a fierce battle, and definitely not a walk in the park for Richmond. It’s the time of the year where upsets can happen. It all really depends on what attitude the Pies come with on Saturday. If the players have given up hope and are just looking for the end of the season, then Richmond should win comfortably. I just think this Collingwood side has more pride than that, and therefore I wouldn’t be writing it off.