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