Injury List

Injury Update Monday, May 30, 2016
Player	Injury	Status	Round 11 COLLINGWOOD v PORT ADELAIDE Time, Place, TV: Sunday June 5, 1:10pm MCG Fox Footy 1:00pm Weather: Min 11 Max 16 Chance of rain 80%: 1-5mm Wind: SE 22kph Betting: Collingwood $1.75 Port Adelaide $2.08
Taylor Adams	Hamstring	4-6 weeks
Tim Broomhead	Ankle	2-3 weeks
Ben Crocker	Ankle	Test
Jamie Elliott	Back	Season
Alex Fasolo	Fractured scapula	4-5 weeks
Tom Langdon	Ankle	2-3 weeks
Darcy Moore	Fractured collarbone	4-5 weeks
Jackson Ramsay	Knee	Season
Matt Scharenberg*	Knee	Season
Ben Sinclair	Concussion	Test
Dane Swan*	Broken leg/foot	Season
Alan Toovey	Concussion	Test
* Placed on the club's long-term injury list

Collingwood News A broken scapula, a serious hamstring injury and a fractured collarbone. That's the verdict on three major injuries stemming from Collingwood's 21-point loss to the Western Bulldogs on Sunday. Alex Fasolo will join Taylor Adams and Darcy Moore on the sidelines after the trio all sustaining injuries in Sunday's loss to the Western Bulldogs. Neil Balme on Monday provided an update on the health of the Magpies list, stating that Alex Fasolo, Taylor Adams and Darcy Moore would all be out "medium term" after suffering respective injuries. Adams was the first to fall in the Indigenous Round clash against the Bulldogs. The midfielder appeared on crutches after half time after suffering what appeared to be a serious hamstring injury. "Fortunately he doesn't need any surgery… but it's still a fairly serious one," Balme told Collingwood Media's Blackmores Injury Update. "It'll be genuinely medium term. Hopefully not long term, but it'll take a little while for Taylor to get back into action." With the midfield one rotation down, the forward-line was the next to be hit as Fasolo left the ground clutching his shoulder. Collingwood's leading goalkicker in 2016 attempted to complete a fitness test at three quarter-time, but failed and disappeared down the MCG race. "It's a fractured scapula," Balme said. "Obviously it's pretty sore. I'm hoping he recovers quicker rather than later but it's certainly at least medium term at this stage." The Magpies had just one player remaining on the interchange bench when Darcy Moore ran to the sidelines in the final term. The second-year forward had his arm in a sling as he joined Fasolo and Adams watching helplessly as the Bulldogs overran Nathan Buckley's side. Balme said Moore required surgery on Monday to repair a fractured collarbone. "He'll have surgery today and that'll have a plate put in to put all that back together. "Once that's done, hopefully his recovery will be quite quick. But he's at least medium term with that." In less severe injury news, scans have provided clarity that Alan Toovey won't have any lingering issues after a concussion in the second quarter. Toovey was taken to hospital during the game on Sunday as a precaution to the innocuous head knock. "We were really worrying about it during the game and he actually had scans last night in hospital," Balme said. "But they've shown to be clear and we're quite happy with him. We're hoping it becomes just a one-event of concussion for him and he's very much short term." The Collingwood selection committee is now faced with the prospect of making as many as four forced changes in the side which will take on Port Adelaide next Sunday. A VFL bye means the Magpies have fresh reserves available, with Nathan Brown (hamstring), Rupert Wills (calf), Ben Sinclair and Corey Gault (both concussion) all clear to return at either level. Tom Langdon and Tim Broomhead continue to overcome syndesmosis ankle injuries and remain medium term concerns, while Dane Swan, Jackson Ramsay, Matt Scharenberg and Jamie Elliott have long term injuries. Balme reported news on the latter, giving an update on Elliott's recovery from a back injury. "Jamie Elliott had surgery today on his back. "It all seems to be as expected. We didn't expect any complications with it. "He's likely to be off his feet for five or six weeks until he recovers from that surgery." Herald Sun ON THE BLOCK: Nathan Buckley's hands were tied at three quarter-time and now they will be forced at the selection table. Taylor Adams' hammy looked a bad one, Darcy Moore's collarbone injury doesn't sound good while Alan Toovey will undergo concussion testing this week and Alex Fasolo will need to have his shoulder fixed. Ben Crocker also injured his ankle/leg and required treatment and played out the game but will be sore. Yikes. That's three luckless years of injuries for the Pies. Deserve a swing in fortunes. ON THE CUSP: T. Cloke. Is this the week? The VFL had a bye but the big fella kicked four last start and is the obvious replacement for Moore. Five-time club goalkicking champion Brian Taylor believes he should be in ahead of Mason Cox, too. Ben Sinclair is also in the wings while kid Jon Marsh also deserves a go. There's also a fancied youngster called James Aish out of favour and after working hard on his defensive acts hoping to be called upon. SAM LANDSBERGER'S FORECAST: Three weeks of enormous effort should have delivered three wins but the Pies faded as they ran out of puff and men against the Bulldogs. Next they will battle a lengthy injury list and a hot and cold Port Adelaide, but at least they get a seven and then an eight-day break given the extra miles players had to run in the final quarter. A loss to the Power would be a brutal blow to the Pies' fading finals hopes in what shapes as an eight-point game

2016: LADDER ROUND 10

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 10: Footscray 74 Collingwood 53

THE FACTS

COLLINGWOOD     3.1.19    4.7.31   6.8.44   7.11.53
FOOTSCRAY          3.0.18   4.2.26    6.5.41   11.8.74

GOALS - Collingwood: Moore 2, Fasolo, Pendlebury, Crocker, Blair, Treloar

BEST - Collingwood: Sidebottom, Reid, Howe, Pendlebury, Greenwood, Treloar

INJURIES - Collingwood: Toovey (concussion), Adams (hamstring, knee), Fasolo (shoulder), Moore (shoulder)

REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil

OFFICIAL CROWD - 45,078 at the MCG

TALKING POINTS

1. Bulldogs dodge a bullet The Bulldogs kicked the opening goal of the game through Tory Dickson, but surrendered the lead three minutes later and trailed the Magpies for the next three quarters until Josh Dunkley goaled at the six-minute mark of the final term. Collingwood looked to have all the momentum when a Ben Crocker goal put them 15 points up midway through the third term, but the Dogs – with the help of a string of Magpie injuries – overran the Pies, kicking seven of the last eight goals of the game to win by 21 points. On a day when fellow top-four contender Geelong suffered a shock loss to Carlton, it was a valuable 'ugly' win that could prove vital at the end of the season. 2. Magpies mauled by injury The Magpies were brave in defeat, having to cope with a raft of injuries that drastically reduced their interchange options from early in the second term when Alan Toovey went off the ground with concussion. The Magpies defender did not return to the game and worse was to come when Taylor Adams (hamstring), Alex Fasolo (shoulder) and Ben Crocker (ankle) went down in the third quarter, and Darcy Moore (shoulder) followed them off the ground in the final term. Only Crocker was able to return to the ground, with the Pies' rotations of 57 to the Dogs' 86 reflecting the huge workload that Collingwood's fit players had to take on. Not surprisingly, the Bulldogs' fresher legs proved vital in the end. 3. Suckling makes a handy return The Bulldogs have suffered their fair share of injuries in recent rounds, so they would have been buoyed to welcome defender Matt Suckling back after a month on the sidelines with injury. The former Hawk made a solid return against the Magpies and underlined on several occasions just how much the Bulldogs have missed his incisive foot skills across half-back. Suckling set up a Jack Redpath goal in the first term with a quick low pass down the wing, then hit Mitch Wallis lace-out on the lead early in the second quarter. And he put the icing on his comeback cake with a goal at the 20-minute mark of the final term that helped to seal the Dogs' win.

4. Levi on Bontempelli A week after holding Geelong skipper Joel Selwood to 18 possessions, Levi Greenwood was handed the big assignment of curtailing emerging Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli. In the first half, the Magpies tagger again underlined his status of one of the stingiest run-with players in the game, holding Bontempelli to just one possession in the first term and six by half-time. Remarkably, for a player renowned for his work at stoppages, none of those touches were clearances. Bontempelli worked his way into the game in the second half to finish with 20 possessions and a goal, but Greenwood, who had 14 touches and 11 tackles himself, still had a solid day at the office. 5. Fasolo maintains set shot streak Alex Fasolo entered Sunday's game having kicked 11.0 from set shots in 2016. The Pies small forward extended his perfect record when he converted from 45m in the opening minutes of the game. Fasolo's goalkicking has been sharp in general play too. Before Sunday's game he had kicked 10.4 on the run this year, but he missed a golden opportunity in the second quarter when he narrowly missed a checkside snap from 25m. It was a relatively straightforward chance that Fasolo normally would have swallowed, and part of a run of four consecutive Pies' behinds that closed their inaccurate 1.6 term. The Magpies were brave in defeat, having to cope with a raft of injuries that drastically reduced their interchange options from early in the second term...with the Pies' rotations of 57 to the Dogs' 86 reflecting the huge workload that Collingwood's fit players had to take on. Not surprisingly, the Bulldogs' fresher legs proved vital in the end.

THE MEDIA

COLLINGWOOD NEWS Nathan Buckley refused to blame Collingwood's injury toll for the Magpies' loss to the Western Bulldogs on Sunday, but conceded his hands were tied in a disastrous final term for the club. The Pies led by 15 points in the third quarter, but a run of injuries to key players halted their push to a third successive victory and saw them overrun at the MCG, with the Dogs claiming a 21-point win. The Magpies lost Alan Toovey (concussion) in the first half before Taylor Adams (hamstring), Alex Fasolo (shoulder) and Darcy Moore (collarbone) succumbed to injury after the main break. Moore's injury early in the last term left the Pies with no fit players on the interchange bench, but Buckley said there were other factors that cost the Pies from continuing their winning run. "(We had) 44 inside-50s for six goals in the first three quarters and (couldn't) take advantage of our domination of the play for the most part of that. We couldn't put a gap in them and that cost us the game ultimately," he said post-game. Buckley said the club would find out the severity of the quartet's injuries "when the dust settles", with Toovey heading to hospital after the game for concussion tests and Adams on crutches with his hamstring problem. Fasolo attempted to return in the last quarter and tested his shoulder on the boundary line, but didn't pass the requirements to head onto the field and help the stricken Pies. Buckley said the club is not yet sure if the exciting goalkicker has "a crack" in his shoulder. "We needed the legs (to get him back), but we just weren't able to get him up. We want to win a game of footy, but we've got a duty of care at the same time," he said. Before Moore's injury, the Pies were already down to just one fit player on the bench by the three-quarter-time break. Buckley said the focus then was not placed on who was unavailable but how the Pies should continue to take on the Dogs. "We didn't talk about who wasn't there. We weren't sure at the time, we had one rotation left, but in the end that (disappeared too)," he said. "But as I said, there were plenty of areas we were in control of early on where we needed to 'gap' the opposition in shape or form and we weren't able to do it. As much as we lost soldiers, we could've been more effective and efficient in those first three quarters on the scoreboard." The Magpies' coaching group tried different ways to counter their lack of rotations in the final quarter, including rotating players through a deep forward position, pushing forwards to wing roles and trying to possess the ball as much as possible. But he conceded doing that meant the Pies became "too slow" and gave up field position to the Dogs, who kicked five goals to one in the final term. "In the end, the last quarter went the way you'd expect it to. Having said that, we were right in it until we missed a couple of opportunities going inside-50 which had been happening for the most of the game. We just need to take those chances," Buckley said. Buckley praised the work of defenders Jeremy Howe (28 disposals, 11 marks) and Ben Reid (22 disposals, 13 marks) for their solid work in the backline, and said the Pies would need to monitor the workload of their players ahead of next Sunday's clash with Port Adelaide at the MCG. "You always adjust and tailor your training for what the evidence of the game is telling you, whether it's strategic or tactical or management or load," he said. "We'll tailor our training for our next opponent and for our own physical status."                                  AFL THE WESTERN Bulldogs were forced to scrap and scramble but overcame an injury-hit Collingwood to post a 21-point win on Sunday. The Dogs lacked their usual run, dare and potent skill, and looked set for successive defeats before overrunning the Magpies to claim the 11.8 (74) to 7.11 (53) win at the MCG. Collingwood will rightfully rue its bad luck in the defeat, with the Magpies suffering four injuries that left them with no available players for nearly the whole final quarter. And the damage came in all parts of the ground for the Pies. Half-back Alan Toovey (concussion) was out of the game in the second term, a hamstring injury cut short midfielder Taylor Adams' afternoon minutes into the second half, and exciting forward Alex Fasolo didn't return to the field after injuring his shoulder in the third quarter. The Pies had options on the interchange bench 10 minutes into the last term when emerging star Darcy Moore copped a knock to his shoulder that saw him head to the rooms and return with his arm in a sling. The disastrous injury run didn't dispirit the Magpies, who bravely continued to push the Bulldogs and compete well, but Luke Beveridge's men ground their way to their seventh win of the year. Luke Dahlhaus was terrific with 37 disposals, Tom Liberatore had six clearances from 31 touches, and Matt Suckling returned to the side from injury to show his class with 22 disposals at 82 per cent efficiency. Proving the Dogs' ability to grind out a victory, Tory Dickson, Jack Redpath and Josh Dunkley all booted two majors each as star forward Jake Stringer went goalless and Marcus Bontempelli (20) was well held by Levi Greenwood. Beveridge admitted his team had benefited from Collingwood's run of injuries across the day. "There's no doubt we dodged a bullet. To Collingwood's credit I think they ended up with just 18 left and they really ground it out. They showed great courage and we were fortunate enough from there to win," the Dogs coach said after the match. "I'm always grateful to our players for their efforts, but the way we use the ball there's no doubt some of it was due to Collingwood's pressure, but a lot of it wasn't. "To turn the ball over so often – I think we were 30 (turnovers) at half-time, we're normally 34 for the game – it was only our defensive side of it that really kept our head above water and then just allowed us to come over the top in the end. "Part of that was our players' persistence, but a significant part of it was probably because Collingwood only had 18 players left." Recruit Jeremy Howe was among Collingwood's best, with the former Demon registering a career-high 28 disposals across half-back and taking 11 marks. Midfield trio Adam Treloar (31), Scott Pendlebury (32) and Steele Sidebottom (26) were also important before tiring in the final quarter. Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley conceded trying to steer a team to a win without anybody available on the bench "isn't fun", but said the Pies could have wrapped up the game earlier. "There were plenty of areas we were in control of early on where we needed to gap the opposition in shape or form and we weren't able to do it," he said. "As much as we lost soldiers, we could've been more effect and efficient in those first three quarters on the scoreboard." With Collingwood searching for its third straight win and the Dogs keen to bounce back from their loss to GWS last week, the high stakes nature of the game was obvious early. A Pendlebury sidestep and goal from the pocket was the highlight of a tightly fought opening term, which the Pies closed leading by a point. The Dogs had their chances, however, with two costly misses from Redpath and Stringer, but the pair were causing trouble for the Magpies. On several occasions the dangerous Stringer found himself in open space, while Redpath's return from suspension gave the Dogs a reliable marking target near goal. Notwithstanding the close margin, it felt like a game Collingwood had control of in most places except the scoreboard. Sidebottom's relentless running was important in the second term as he racked up 11 disposals, but both sides managed just one major in another tough but inefficient quarter. Collingwood's five-point advantage at the main change, and the evenness in all of the key statistical measures, probably didn't truly reflect its edge in the contest that gave the Dogs a sniff. But the Pies' task to capitilise on their dominance became far harder early in the third term when the injuries started to mount, and although they hung on as best they could, the Bulldogs could smell a chance to break free. It took a little while to come, but without any rotations for the final 20 minutes of the game the Pies grew tired as the Dogs charged home. Six-and-a-half minutes remained in the last term when Bulldogs recruit Suckling kicked truly to extend the lead to 14 points, and while the Pies look set to lose a handful of players for some time, they shouldn't have lost any admirers for their effort. If not for the injuries, the day's story might well have had a much different ending. MEDICAL ROOM Collingwood: The Pies appear likely to feel the effects of Sunday's loss for a little while, with Taylor Adams (hamstring), Alex Fasolo (shoulder) and Darcy Moore (shoulder) all finishing the game on the bench with their injuries. Alan Toovey was also hurt in the second term with a head knock, and played no further part in the game due to concussion. Young Magpie Ben Crocker hurt his ankle in the third term as well, but played out the game after some attention from medical staff.

SUPERFOOTY COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley refused to use an unprecedented medical crisis for Sunday night's fading loss to the Western Bulldogs. With five injuries and no rotations left in the final quarter the Magpies predictably fell to a 21-point defeat and two wins plus a massive percentage gap outside the top eight. Taylor Adams (hamstring) looks set for a lengthy stint on the sidelines after shredding his hamstring so badly he emerged on crutches after halftime. Alan Toovey suffered a sickening concussion, livewire Alex Fasolo nursed a sore shoulder and young forward Darcy Moore injured a collarbone, while Ben Crocker returned to the field following an ankle scare. Moore's blow left the Magpies with no interchanges early in the final quarter and Buckley said in all his time as a player and a coach he had not seen a team so depleted. The promising goalkicker's setback could open the door for Travis Cloke to return against Port Adelaide at the MCG on Sunday. The Magpies used just 57 of their allotted 90 rotations with the Bulldogs exhausting 86 and slotting seven of the last eight goals of the match. But Buckley said Collingwood's inability to capitalise on its early dominance cost it a third-straight victory. His wasteful forward line converted just six goals from 44 inside 50s in the first three quarters and could only ever push 15 points clear. "It's not fun," Buckley said of the injuries. "We needed the legs but we just weren't able to get (Fasolo) up. We want to win a game of footy (but) we've got a duty of care at the same time. "We couldn't put a gap in them and that cost us the game, ultimately. "As much as we lost soldiers, we could've been more effective and inefficient in the first three quarters on the scoreboard. "The effort was really good, but that's got to be a minimum standard and it's become our minimum standard." Star recruit Adam Treloar briefly restored the lead in the final term with a long goal and said the Magpies were out on their feet and aware of the bench wipeout. "We pretty much knew from the first minute of the last quarter that there was no one on the bench and we just had to tough it out," he said. Buckley rued "guilt-edged opportunities" gone begging in the last term and said he tried to rotate players deep into attack to conserve energy. "You can start trying to possess the ball, but in the end you sort of end up kicking it back," he said. "If you become too slow you just give up field position, so in the end the last quarter went the way you'd expect it to." The Magpies have been dealt a horror hand with injuries for three straight seasons now. They entered Sunday's match with Brownlow medallist Dane Swan, star forward Jamie Elliott and impressive kids Matthew Scharenberg, Jackson Ramsay and Tom Langdon unavailable. Buckley said the extra miles players were forced to run against the Bulldogs would impact training loads this week.                                  REAL FOOTY A brave Collingwood more than matched the Western Bulldogs for long periods of this Round 10 clash before a series of injuries emptied their interchange bench, allowing the Dogs to run home over the top for a 21 point win at the MCG. Nathan Buckley's side suffered in-game injuries to Alan Toovey, Alex Fasolo, Taylor Adams and Darcy Moore, leaving them woefully undermanned in the final quarter as the Bulldogs charged into a lead they had not held since Tory Dickson kicked the opening goal of the game. In the end Collingwood, who had led at every change, simply ran out of gas in the face of the Dogs final assault. They will take plenty of credit from such a plucky performance, but in the end it will count for little as they slip further out of a spot in the top eight, their record now standing at four wins and six defeats while the Dogs climb above the Hawks to maintain their position in the top six. Its one of sport's eternal verities: if you don't take your chances when you are in control of the game, the other team will almost always get an opportunity to make you pay. Nowhere is that truer than in a competition like the AFL, where salary caps, list size restrictions and draft rules are set in place to ensure a close competition and even contests. When sides are as well matched as the in-form Collingwood, victors in their last two games, and the progressive Western Bulldogs, whose frantic run and move the ball at all costs game has won them plenty of neutral fans, then any team's failure to make the most of its period of domination can prove costly. Collingwood supporters would have been happy enough that their side had gone to the long break in front, less so that the margin in their favour was only five points. Contrary to most forecasts, it was a low scoring game, the Pies having kicked 4.7 in the first half to the Dogs 4.2. Nathan Buckley's team were hard at the ball, tough in their tackling and pressure and quick enough in transition when they broke down a Bulldogs attack to have made much more of their second term domination. Too often they failed to take scoring chances, either from set shots or opportunities within sight of the goal: their tally of 1.6 from the second period illustrated their problems after a first quarter in which the Pies went goal for goal with the Dogs, both teams notching three apiece with only one behind between them. That the Dogs were able to stay in touch was a testament to their ability to hang in and scrap in the face of the Collingwood pressure, a quality that should never be underestimated. That they didn't do better themselves could be sheeted back to their own inaccuracy by foot, their errant kicking too often lacking penetration and accuracy. Their uncharacteristic hesitancy and waywardness denied them scoring chances from a realistic range in a first half that was short of the standards they have set in previous matches this season. The third term saw this Collingwood theme continue in what was, nonetheless, an entertaining contest, as tight arm wrestles so often are. They may not please the aficionados, who would prefer a more traditional series of one-on-one contests, but they do ensure that interest levels are maintained and that no side is truly out of contention until late in the game. The Pies, however, still looked the most likely and their hard running physicality seemed to be paying dividends midway through the third term when goals to Ben Crocker and Adam Oxley, without reply, had allowed them to stretch their lead to a game high 15 points. The Bulldogs have enjoyed great success in the first half of the season with their attacking thrusts from half back, but Collingwood were able to smother that threat and prevent Luke Beveridge's side from rebounding as often as they would like. Still, when Luke Dalhaus took a diving mark right on the boundary line with barely 20 seconds remaining in the third quarter and goaled from an acute angle the Dogs had closed to within three points, and the Collingwood army was wondering if its failure to put its opponents away when it had the chance was going to prove costly. As minds and bodies tired after an intense contest, Buckley's interchange options were non-existent, and Collingwood could only look on as Josh Dunkley ran into an unguarded goal to boot the Bulldogs in front for the first time since the opening minutes of the game. But the Pies are nothing if not game and Adam Treloar gave them hope with a slashing long range goal to regain the advantage before Tory Dickson - and then Easton Wood with an inspirational effort from distance - put the Bulldogs in the driving seat. Matthew Suckling's shot from outside 50 in the 19th minute put the Dogs 14 points up, and that broke the game open, with only one winner likely from that point on. NEXT UP Collingwood takes on Port Adelaide at the MCG on Sunday afternoon. NEXT FIVE Port Adelaide, Melbourne, Fremantle, Carlton, GWS Giants "It's not fun. We needed the legs but we just weren't able to get (Fasolo) up. We want to win a game of footy (but) we've got a duty of care at the same time. We couldn't put a gap in them and that cost us the game, ultimately. As much as we lost soldiers, we could've been more effective and inefficient in the first three quarters on the scoreboard. The effort was really good, but that's got to be a minimum standard and it's become our minimum standard."                                      Nathan Buckley

Round 10: The Team

Round 10 COLLINGWOOD v FOOTSCRAY Time, Place, TV: Sunday May 29, 3:20pm MCG 7mate/Fox Footy 3:00pm Weather: Min 8 Max 15 Chance of rain 40%: <1mm Wind: WSW 18kph Betting: Collingwood $2.70 Footscray $1.46

B: Alan Toovey, Jack Frost, Jeremy Howe

HB: Taylor Adams, Ben Reid, Josh Smith

C: Travis Varcoe, Adam Treloar, Steele Sidebottom

HF: Jordan De Goey, Darcy Moore, Jesse White

F: Alex Fasolo, Mason Cox, Jarryd Blair

Foll: Brodie Grundy, Scott Pendlebury, Jack Crisp

Int (from): Jarrod Witts, Jonathon Marsh, Levi Greenwood, Ben Sinclair, Brayden Maynard, Ben Crocker, Adam Oxley

IN: Jarrod Witts, Jonathon Marsh, Ben Sinclair

Collingwood News Jack Crisp will play his 50th AFL game on Sunday when Collingwood meet the Western Bulldogs at the MCG. The current formula is a winning formula, according to Collingwood's match committee. Nathan Buckley is likely to take the same line-up into Sunday's clash with the Western Bulldogs as last week's 24-point victory over Geelong. Three players have been added to the Magpies squad to allow for a Sunday game, yet no one who played last weekend has been left out. It's mean that after two consecutive wins, round 10 may be the first time this season Collingwood will play with an unchanged line-up. "For the first time in a fair while there's no change," director of football Neil Balme told Collingwood Media's 'Team Sheet'. "We're getting into a better position. We've got a much healthier list. We've got a lot more blokes available." Football's service to the greater community will be on display on Sunday as the clash against the Bulldogs recognises not only Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round, but also the 17th annual Robert Rose Cup. The Dogs are in current possession of the cup supporting those with spinal cord trauma after beating the Magpies by 18 points in round 17 last year. The Pies will have a chance to reverse fortunes on Sunday in a game which will also celebrate the 50th games of Brodie Grundy and Jack Crisp. Both men enter the game in strong form. Grundy had 20 disposals, 13 hit-outs and two goals against the powerful Geelong ruck combination of Zac Smith, Rhys Stanley and Mark Blicavs, while Crisp finished with 24 possessions after 13 in the first term alone. Despite impressive performances in the VFL last Saturday, a number of Magpies pushing selection will this weekend remain on the sidelines. A VFL bye means the likes of Travis Cloke, Marley Willams and Tyson Goldsack will not see any game time.

Preview Round 10: Collingwood v Footscray

Collingwood News - David Natoli

Round 10 COLLINGWOOD v FOOTSCRAY Time, Place, TV: Sunday May 29, 3:20pm MCG 7mate/Fox Footy 3:00pm Weather: Min 8 Max 15 Chance of rain 50%: <1mm Wind: WSW 18kph Betting: Collingwood $2.70 Footscray $1.46

Collingwood hosts the Western Bulldogs at the MCG this Sunday afternoon. Collingwood has won back-to-back games and has moved up to eleventh spot on the ladder. On the other hand, the Bulldogs lost last week to Greater Western Sydney, but remain in fifth spot.
It is a crucial match for both teams as there is a logjam in the middle of the ladder, with only eight points separating fifth from twelfth. If the Bulldogs lose, they will fall back into the middle group of the ladder with teams all vying for a top eight position. But if the Bulldogs win, they secure their position on the ladder and remain within top four contention.
Collingwood is still attempting to claw its way back into the season. Currently sitting on four wins and five losses, the Magpies have an opportunity to even the ledger. Despite the poor start to the season, Collingwood is only one win (and percentage) outside the top eight, so a win this week will seriously keep the Magpies in finals contention. It would be a fair result given the extensive injury list and form issues which the side has faced so far.
Collingwood was absolutely brilliant last week, keeping premiership favourites Geelong goalless in the first quarter while booting seven majors of their own. It was definitely the best the Magpies have played all year, and the speed of ball movement was top shelf. You could feel the confidence grow with each goal, and it could be a real turning point in the year.
The Bulldogs, on the other hand, were far from humiliated against the in form GWS, but they were never really in the game. The Giants were too strong across the board, and the Bulldogs had no answers. But the Dogs have been impressive all season, especially considering the large injury list that it has gradually accrued. They will undoubtedly go into this game as favourites, and should be bolstered by a number of big name inclusions this week.

Recent History
The Bulldogs have really troubled the Magpies in recent history, winning their previous two encounters. Although Collingwood was able to win the most recent NAB Challenge encounter, the quick ball movement of the Bulldogs, coupled with their speed off half back, have really exposed the Magpies.
The last home and away battle between these two sides was in round 17 last season where the Bulldogs proved far too strong, ultimately winning by 18 points. Matthew Boyd was deemed best afield, polling three Brownlow votes with his 38 disposals and 12 marks. Steele Sidebottom flew the flag for the Magpies, polling two votes with 33 disposals and a goal, while Marcus Bontempelli polled one vote with 28 disposals.
Tory Dickson was particularly damaging with four goals, but it was Darcy Moore who announced himself to the competition, booting five goals and taking some terrific marks.

At the Selection Table

It's tackling like this that will go a long way to securing a win over the Western Bulldogs on Sunday.

Both sides have experienced significant injury issues so far this season, but they are beginning to get on top of their issues.
For the first time this season, the Magpies don't have any injury concerns arising out of last week's match and will likely select a similar line-up this week. Travis Cloke returned to form in the VFL last week, booting four goals, while James Aish and Matthew Goodyear continued to impress through the midfield. Marley Williams also returned from injury, but will likely require more match practice before he returns to the senior side.
Nathan Brown is also in line for selection as he recovers from his hamstring complaint, but it's not known whether he will return via the VFL or AFL. The nimble forward line of the Western Bulldogs may mean that he returns via the VFL. Jonathon Marsh, Tyson Goldsack and Jarrod Witts have also been really good in the state league.
The Bulldogs on the other hand could welcome back four important players this round. Matthew Boyd and Jack Redpath will definitely return from suspension, while Matt Suckling and Marcus Adams are also pushing for selection. The Bulldogs backline has been extremely weakened in the last month, but the return of Boyd, Suckling and Adams will really bolster the side. Jason Johannisen is edging closer to a return as well. Apart from Robert Murphy, who will miss the remainder of the season, the Bulldogs backline should return to full strength sooner rather than later. Lin Jong will be the only forced omission for the Bulldogs after he accepted a two-week suspension.

Focus on Collingwood
It's hard to pinpoint exactly what has changed at Collingwood over the past fortnight, but all of a sudden the team is playing some great football. From a coaching perspective, the moves of Jeremy Howe and Taylor Adams to defence have been extremely successful, while it also seems that Levi Greenwood is playing a tighter tagging role.  The forward line is also looking far more cohesive, with Mason Cox providing a real target and Jesse White able to play a variety of roles.
Much of the focus throughout the week has been on Collingwood's incredible first quarter against Geelong. Despite this, I was more pleased with the way Collingwood continued to answer Geelong's challenges, particular in the last quarter when the Cats reduced the margin to eight points. Whenever the Cats threatened, the Magpies were able to resist and then answer with important goals. Considering how young the team is, it was a real credit to the side that it was able to stand up when it counted and secure an important win.
Buckley has really had to be inventive with the make-up of his defence given how many injuries the Magpies have sustained in this area. Collingwood has been able to hold its opposition goalless in the opening quarter for two weeks running. The midfield has also clearly listened to the calls to 'harden up', as it has won contested possessions comfortably for the last two weeks as well.

Player Focus – Collingwood
Levi Greenwood – Greenwood has had a difficult start to the year, and his form has been questionable at times. But in recent weeks, he has been asked to play key tagging roles on Daniel Rich and Joel Selwood. He has claimed the points comfortably in both these games, while still winning a lot of the ball himself. His disposal efficiency is still an issue (he went at 57 per cent last week with six clangers), but this can be excused considering the contested nature in which he wins the majority of his disposals and the fact he is shutting down important players for the opposition. This week, I expect Greenwood to get the big job on Bontempelli who has been in terrific form.
Jack Crisp – Crisp is another who has slowly worked his way into the season after a sluggish start. His first quarter last week was arguably the difference between the two sides. Along with Steele Sidebottom, Crisp was absolutely dominant, picking up 12 disposals and booting a trademark running goal. He finished the game with 24 disposals, eight tackles and five clearances. He also stepped up late in the game, breaking the lines through the centre square late in the game and booting it long to Brodie Grundy who kicked the sealing goal.
Alan Toovey – It was a challenging start to the year for Toovey, who found himself out of the side and playing in the VFL. Solid form and an influx of injuries in the senior squad meant that he was again called upon to steady the ship. I felt Toovey was crucial in defence last week. With such youth around him, Toovey's experience is so vital. For mine, his spot in the short term is very secure and he looks like he is slowly returning to his best. He will be important this week, and could rotate through a number of dangerous forwards such as Jake Stringer, Luke Dalhaus, Toby McLean and Dickson.

Focus on Western Bulldogs
One of the greatest misconceptions about the Bulldogs is that they are a super offensive, high scoring side. The stats actually tell a much different story. The fact is that the Bulldogs are the best defensive side in the competition, averaging the least points against than any side in the competition. They are also the best contested possession side in the competition. In terms of points scored, they actually sit in the middle rung of the ladder, which indicates that the Bulldogs are a defence oriented side, rather than an offensive juggernaut.
The Bulldogs are terrific to watch when on song. They absorb pressure well, and generate a lot of scores out of the defensive half. This area has been affected over the previous few weeks due to the number of injuries and suspensions in this area of the field, but the return of key players this week should resolve this issue. In general, the Bulldogs have a relatively undersized backline, but are able to get numbers back quickly and then use speed and quick ball movement to launch attacks.
There have been question marks over the Bulldogs ability to play away from Etihad Stadium. This question was answered two weeks ago with an impressive victory over Melbourne. The Demons threw everything at the Bulldogs, but the Bulldogs really stood up to the pressure. The Demons are such a tough contested ball side, but the Bulldogs were even tougher. The midfield of the Bulldogs doesn't get the credit it deserves.

Player Focus – Western Bulldogs
Lachie Hunter – Hunter begun to show positive signs last season, but has really stepped it up this year with extremely consistent football. The 21-year-old is averaging a whopping 31 disposals and takes on average six marks a game. He is simply a ball magnet, and generally uses it effectively as well. He really announced himself as a player last season against the Magpies, where he had 32 disposals. Since this game, his form has been really consistent and he has become a key component of the Bulldogs midfield.
Marcus Bontempelli – Bontempelli had a relatively modest start to the year, but has dominated his previous three matches averaging 32 disposals. He also kicked a match-winning goal against Adelaide. He is the prototype modern day midfielder, standing at 192cm with impressive agility and the ability to win contested footy. At his best, he is nearly unstoppable and can really influence games. Given his impressive recent form, I expect the Magpies to pay him plenty of attention this week.
Tom Campbell – Campbell has perhaps been the quiet achiever for the Bulldogs this season, and has clearly established himself as the number one ruck option at the club, keeping veteran Will Minson out of the side. His best match perhaps came two weeks ago against Melbourne where he out-rucked the in form Max Gawn. He faces a really big challenge this week against Brodie Grundy who did a terrific job against Geelong last week. Campbell was beaten last week by Mumford, so needs to stand up this week against Grundy who has really lifted his rating over the past fortnight.

The Wrap Up
Collingwood will definitely be happier to be playing the Bulldogs at the MCG as opposed to Etihad Stadium. But the Bulldogs showed against Melbourne that they hold no fears of playing at the MCG, and will be just as difficult to beat at this venue.
Both sides possess terrific midfields that have been in good form. I think the ruck will actually be a decisive area of the ground, and the Grundy v Campbell match-up could be telling. Grundy is celebrating his 50th game, and had 20 disposals last week. Campbell has been in good form, but needs to mind Grundy around the ground.
The real area of interest though is the Collingwood forward line. There is no doubt that the tall forwards will trouble the Bulldogs. On the other hand, if the Bulldogs are able to run the ball freely out of defence, then they are going to be very difficult to beat. Collingwood needs to lock the ball inside 50 effectively, or alternatively hit its targets and make the most of the height advantages. It's often a big risk going in too tall against the Bulldogs, as they turn defence into attack very quickly.
Collingwood claimed a big scalp last week, but the mission to resurrect the season has only just begun. The Magpies have a relatively good draw over the next month, but can't afford to drop many more games, so an upset this week is essential.
The Bulldogs simply play a style of game that troubles the Magpies, so it will be interesting to see how Buckley and the coaches tactically prepare the side.

Preview Round 10: Collingwood v Footscray

SportsMatt

Round 10 COLLINGWOOD v FOOTSCRAY Time, Place, TV: Sunday May 29, 3:20pm MCG 7mate/Fox Footy 3:00pm Weather: Min 8 Max 15 Chance of rain 50%: <1mm Wind: SSW 18kph Betting: Collingwood $2.70 Footscray $1.46

Two weeks ago no one gave Collingwood a hope of playing finals this season. Two weeks ago most media pundits thought senior coach Nathan Buckley was close to getting the sack. Two weeks ago the Pies were classified as a "developing team" and were thought of as irrelevant for season 2016. My how things have changed in just two weeks.
The Magpies have found something. They seem to have found a way to self motivate themselves that was missing in the first 7 games which left them with a 2-5 record. After that nasty loss to Carlton hard words were spoken at the club and the trip to Brisbane was a last chance at redemption. Redemption was granted, as the Pies won big in Brisbane then came back home ready to have a crack at the then premiership favourites, Geelong. No one gave the Pies a chance of winning, yet after 30 minutes it was clear they would. The Pies kicked the only 7 goals in the first term which set up an awe inspiring, league shocking 24 point win over the Cats. That upset keeps the Pies finals hopes alive, for now.
This Sunday, the Pies face another premiership contending team when they host the Western Bulldogs at the MCG. The Dogs were thought of as the standout team of the competition a few weeks back but suspensions and injuries have brought them down to earth. But they are still a strong team, sitting with a 6-3 record after 9 games. The Dogs were undermanned on Sunday when they headed north to play the Giants, and it showed in the result as the home team dominated for most of the game and defeated the Bulldogs by 25 points. The Dogs won't be happy with that effort and performance though and will look to bounce back in front of a big crowd at the G on Sunday.

COLLINGWOOD PREVIEW

Collingwood look like a completely different side now to the one that meekly gave up and rolled over against non final contenders like the Blues, Demons and Saints. The last two games have seen them play some brutal, uncompromising, aggressive, fast moving and efficient football which their opponents simply had no answer for. Prior to that it was ugly, the effort seemed below expectation, as did the output in so many areas, yet now these Magpies look like a side you do not want to mess with. Prior to the trip to Brisbane first quarters had been a massive problem for Collingwood yet in the last two they've kicked 11 goals and 14 behinds while keeping both opponents goal less up to the first break. So what's improved? What's happened?
There's no one answer. Yes the intensity has lifted on both the opposition when they get the ball but also when the Pies are going forward. Yes the Pies have got some of their most important players back and they look fit and healthy. Yes some players look to be in career best form, such as Jeremy Howe. The Melbourne recruit was seen, and publicly stated by coach Nathan Buckley, as a forward who might play some game time on the wing. Yet like his coach at the Demons Paul Roos discovered, Howe's best position isn't either of those, it's in the backline. Howe has been, dare I say it, in All Australian form the past two weeks at half back. He's shut down his opponent, won plenty of the ball and yet still finds time to take his trademark high marks. Quite simply he's made Collingwood better since the move down back. There are others too who have improved remarkably since the opening few games. Grundy, Crisp, Reid, Sidebottom, Cox and Greenwood have significantly lifted and it's made a huge difference. The Pies are now rolling, and will look to challenge the Dogs at their own game.
To do that you'd assume there won't be many changes to the Magpies lineup that tore through the Lions and Cats. For once Collingwood will lose no one to injury, so it's hard to see spots in the team for the likes of Cloke, Goldsack, Williams, Witts, Goodyear and Marsh who all performed well in an upset win in the VFL on Saturday night. Cloke started on fire, kicking 3 goals in the first term, while Witts dominated in the ruck and around the ground. Goodyear was the best midfielder out there while Goldsack and Marsh repelled attack after attack late in the game as the VFL Magpies held on for a 5 point win. Goldsack and/or Marsh might be the most likely to get a promotion with the plethora of Dogs small and medium scorers causing problems for the Pies in the past. The Pies will go into this game with more belief than they have for any this season so far, and it would be silly for anyone to not give them a chance of winning their third in a row.

WESTERN BULLDOGS PREVIEW

The Western Bulldogs aren't coming, they're here. For the past few seasons we've been promised that this team would eventually turn into an outfit that plays in finals, but one that wins them and contends for the premiership. While it may be too early to call them genuine premiership contenders this season they have been mighty impressive in most of their outings in season 2016. Recent losses to the current top 2 sides in the league, North Melbourne and GWS, have taken some of that shine off but sitting with a 6-3 record after nine games is a decent start for anyone. They are strong in just about all areas of the ground now and possess the ability to blow teams away in a small period of time. Some may say they only play well at Etihad Stadium but their strong win over the in form Demons a few weeks back shows they have no problem playing at the MCG.
If there's one area of the ground that stands out as a strength for this Bulldogs team it's the midfield. They rank in the top 5 for both clearances and contested possessions after 9 games which shows just how strong their central group is. They have a plethora of players able to win the ball at the contest, with the likes of Wallis, Dahlhaus, Bontempelli, Liberatore, Hunter, Picken, Jong and Stevens all averaging over two clearances a game. The ruck isn't as strong for the Dogs with Will Minson seemingly past his best although Roughead and Campbell have kept the Dogs competitive so far in 2016. This game will almost certainly be won in the middle and when you look at the talent on both sides it really is hard to split the midfield groupings.
The Dogs forward line gets the job done in a unique manner. With Tom Boyd still struggling to hold down a senior spot as the key forward, coach Luke Beveridge has had to rely on multiple goal scorers in games. The positive is that makes it harder for the opposition to lock down one or two potential top scorers. The problem is only Jake Stringer is averaging more than 2 goals a game (of those who have played 5 or more). Jack Redpath will return this week and has shown some promise, and there's others who are capable on their day, but this Bulldogs forward line is an area of concern. They only rank 8^th for total scores and in the two recent losses to the Giants and Kangaroos the opposition were able to stop them scoring once they went forward. The good news for the Dogs is they run into an in injury hit Pies backline, which may give them some hope of turning their forward woes around this week.
Many will be surprised to find out that the Western Bulldogs have conceded the least amount of total points through the first 9 rounds. That's impressive for a side that many thought would struggled defensively and simply have to outscore teams to win games. It's a remarkable achievement when Dale Morris is the only recognisable key position defender down back. How the Dogs defend so well is a team defense mentality. When the opposition has the ball they defend as a team, dropping back into the set positions of their game plan and making it very difficult for the other team to get inside forward 50 cleanly. The loss of Bob Murphy and Jason Johannisen has hurt the Dogs ability to rebound off half back but Matthew Boyd, the ever reliable hard ball winner, has moved down back and is ably covering for the injured players. They face a difficult task stopping a peculiar talent in Mason Cox this week though, with the huge American improving every week.
The Bulldogs will see this game as an opportunity to get back on track after what they would consider a poor performance last week. Realistically though they are starting to show some weaknesses in certain areas although the probable return of four players from injury and/or suspension should fill some of those holes. If Boyd, Redpath, Adams and Suckling return it makes this Dogs outfit all that more experienced and able to give a consistent effort and output. Returning to the MCG won't hold any fears for them either after a big win over Melbourne two weeks ago so this Western Bulldogs team will head to the G on Sunday expecting to end this mini Magpies resurgence.

TIP
Collingwood are a real chance of winning this game, and that in itself is massive change in such a short time. A few weeks back no one would have given the Pies even a shot at beating the Dogs, yet now after the win over the Cats they have to be considered a chance. To win a lot has to go right for the Pies though. Just like their win over Geelong they have to start well, as coming from behind against a strong defensive side like the Bulldogs can be near impossible. The Collingwood midfield is the key here though. It dominated Geelong early and if it can get on top of the Dogs equally strong midfield it can help the Pies win this game.
I think that will happen, the Pies have extreme confidence in their ability to beat just about anyone at the moment. Yes the 2-5 start to the season was ugly and there's still remnants of that sticking around. But this young Collingwood team has found it's mojo, it's not going to lie down and let anyone walk all over them again this season and it's that confidence that will see the Pies cause yet another upset.

MAGPIES BY 7 POINTS.

Preview Round 10: Collingwood v Footscray

AFL

SUMMARY

Round 10 COLLINGWOOD v FOOTSCRAY Time, Place, TV: Sunday May 29, 3:20pm MCG 7mate/Fox Footy 3:00pm Weather: Min 8 Max 15 Chance of rain 40%: 1-5mm Wind: NW 22kph Betting: Collingwood $2.70 Footscray $1.46

It wasn't long ago that this clash loomed as a percentage-boosting opportunity for the Bulldogs, and that might still eventuate given Collingwood's inconsistency this season. However, the Pies appear to have regained their mojo over the past fortnight in posting impressive victories over the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba and Geelong. A clash with the fifth-placed Dogs will provide perhaps the truest indication of Collingwood's standing. The Dogs will be hell-bent on ensuring they don't suffer successive losses for the first time this season, after going down to the ultra-impressive Greater Western Sydney at Spotless Stadium. The Pies will need to maintain their inside hardness, manic defensive pressure and attacking flair if they are to notch a third win on the trot and a second successive upset.

LAST FIVE TIMES

1. R17, 2015, Western Bulldogs 15.14 (104) d Collingwood 13.8 (86) at Etihad Stadium
2. R13, 2014, Western Bulldogs 16.10 (106) d Collingwood 15.8 (98) at Etihad Stadium
3. R12, 2013, Collingwood 15.9 (99) d Western Bulldogs 9.11 (65) at Etihad Stadium
4. R6, 2012, Collingwood 15.8 (98) d Western Bulldogs 11.11 (77) at Etihad Stadium
5. R6, 2011, Collingwood 15.15 (105) d Western Bulldogs 8.9 (57) at the MCG

THE SIX POINTS

1. The Western Bulldogs have the No.1 defence in the AFL this season, conceding only 70 points a game, while Collingwood is 12th (97).
2. In their past two outings the Pies have started brilliantly, kicking a combined 11.14 to 0.3 in first quarters. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs kicked their second-lowest score of the season last week against the Giants.
3. The Dogs are the best uncontested possession team this year, averaging 282.4 a game, while Collingwood is ranked ninth (230.1).
4. The Bulldogs have won the past two clashes between the clubs, ending Collingwood's sequence of six consecutive wins. They haven't won three in a row over the Magpies since 2006-08.
5. Matthew Boyd was the star for the Bulldogs in their win over Collingwood last year with 38 disposals and 12 marks, earning three Brownlow votes. Tory Dickson kicked four goals, while for the Magpies Darcy Moore booted a career-high five goals.
6. A year ago, Pies forward Alex Fasolo had plummeted to No.469 in the Schick AFL Player Ratings, but has since discovered some consistency and risen to No.157, and No.9 at Collingwood

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …Jack Redpath.
The big key forward will be determined to make amends after being suspended for the clash with the Giants, when his absence in attack left the Dogs sorely lacking a marking target. The 25-year-old will feel he owes his teammates, and he is in a good position to repay them given that in his previous two outings he'd tallied six goals and 17 marks (including seven contested).

PREDICTION: Western Bulldogs by 29 points

Injury List

Injury Update Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Player	Injury	Status	Round 10 COLLINGWOOD v FOOTSCRAY Time, Place, TV: Sunday May 29, 3:20pm MCG 7mate/Fox Footy 3:00pm Weather: Min 8 Max 15 Chance of rain 40%: 1-5mm Wind: NW 22kph Betting: Collingwood $2.75 Footscray $1.45
Tim Broomhead	Ankle	2-3 weeks
Nathan Brown	Hamstring	Test
Jamie Elliott	Back	Indefinite
Corey Gault	Concussion	Test
Tom Langdon	Ankle	2-3 weeks
Jackson Ramsay	Knee	Season
Matt Scharenberg*	Knee	Season
Ben Sinclair	Concussion	Test
Dane Swan*	Broken leg/foot	Season
Rupert Wills	Calf	Test
* Placed on the club's long-term injury list

Collingwood News Jamie Elliott is expected to be set back six weeks by having surgery on his back. Jamie Elliott will have surgery on his back in an attempt to resolve the pars defect injury affecting the forward in 2016. Collingwood Media reported last week that Elliott was due to consult with a new specialist to determine a course of action on the frustrating injury. On Monday, director of football Neil Balme said in the 'Blackmores Injury Update' the decision has been made to operate on the 23-year-old. "We do have some unfortunate news to report today in that Jamie Elliott will probably require some surgery on his injured back," Balme said. "If there's any surgery, it'll be more anatomical in nature and not particularly evasive. "When you're talking about back surgery, that is good news." Elliott has not seen any playing time in 2016 after originally being overcome by the injury in the pre-season. He was excused from full training and placed on a "de-loaded" program in February before slowly progressing throughout the early months of the year. Balme last week described the improvement of Elliott's back as "spasmodic", however on Monday admitted it will be unlikely for the forward to return to senior action this season. "It'll probably just keep him out for about six weeks and then he should be fine to move on," Balme said. "We'll see what happens from there. Obviously that makes it a bit tough for him to have an impact this year, but it's certainly not out of the question as yet." Elliott's setback overshadowed an injury update relatively clean after victories in both the AFL and VFL on the weekend. Neither team suffered any new concerns, while Ben Reid, Tyson Goldsack and Marley Williams all made successful returns from respective injuries. According to Balme, Collingwood's medical staff are still keeping a watchful eye over two players who were absent on the weekend. "Ben Sinclair's concussion is something we're closely watching," he said. "He's not feeling all that great yet so let's hope he comes through this week feeling a lot better. If he does, he'll be able to play. "Corey Gault is in the same position, he's had some genuine issues with his concussion. "He's feeling quite well, but we'll have to see how well he goes." Balme also stated that defender Nathan Brown and rookie Rupert Wills should be declared fit as the week progresses, however a VFL bye may keep them on the sidelines. Jackson Ramsay, Matthew Scharenberg and Dane Swan all remain long term injuries, although Swan on Friday offered his own progress report, posting on Instagram "It's been a long 9 weeks but it feels good and [sic] to be able to stand up on my own without the use of crutches… Still a long way to go though." Herald Sun ON THE BLOCK: Hard to see too many changes to the Collingwood side that dismantled premiership favourites Geelong on Saturday. It was a first-class performance. Particularly pleasing for Nathan Buckley was the form of Jeremy Howe in defence, Jesse White in attack, the ruck grunt of Brodie Grundy and the continued development of Mason Cox. ON THE CUSP: More good news on this front. Out of favour forward Travis Cloke had his best performance in the VFL yet he will still miss out next week. But at least he is building back to some form. The Pies' VFL side had a solid win and at last it appears as if the injury crisis has dissipated. A host of VFL players will be looked at over the next month or so. GLENN McFARLANE'S FORECAST: Blue skies make a big difference to the tempest that has preceded it. As the coach said, it all comes back to work ethic and attitude, and that will be tested again this week against the Western Bulldogs. If the Magpies can bring that blue-collar attitude, they are a chance of causing another upset. It won't be easy, but nothing of value ever is.

2016: LADDER ROUND 9

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 9: Collingwood 104 Geelong 80

THE FACTS

COLLINGWOOD     7.5.47   9.5.59   11.7.73   16.8.104
GEELONG               0.3.3   3.7.25   6.10.46   11.14.80

GOALS - Collingwood: Pendlebury 3, Fasolo 2, White 2, Cox 2, Grundy 2, Treloar, Crisp, Crocker, Moore, De Goey

BEST - Collingwood: Sidebottom, Pendlebury, Howe, Treloar, Adams, Grundy, Greenwood

INJURIES - Collingwood: Nil

REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil

OFFICIAL CROWD - 59,864 at the MCG

TALKING POINTS

1. Magpies' first-quarter massacre Geelong had won six games in a row and was sitting comfortably in the top two. The Magpies were struggling at 3-5 and with coach Nathan Buckley seemingly under the pump. But that detail didn't seem to matter as Collingwood came roaring out of the blocks to kick seven goals to nil in the opening term. The Cats were shell-shocked as Jack Crisp (13 disposals), Steele Sidebottom (12) and Scott Pendlebury (10) ran riot in midfield in the opening term. With Jeremy Howe and Ben Reid controlling proceedings down back, this was a very different Collingwood to the one that was on its knees just a fortnight ago. They then showed enough resilience to hold off Geelong's powerful second-half charge. 2. Howe down back pays dividends One of the reasons why Jeremy Howe left Melbourne was that Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley had the plan to play him primarily forward of centre. But after an injury-interrupted start to the season and a quiet few weeks up forward, the Magpies resorted to the old Paul Roos tactic of stationing the high-flyer down back. The move worked wonders for the Magpies. Howe was one of the club's best players against the Cats, with his intercept marking a feature. His precise ball use out of defence also provided an advantage as the Magpies continually spread Geelong's zone and forced it to defend. His last-quarter kick-in, up the guts, which led to Brodie Grundy's running goal, emphasised Collingwood's mindset of taking the game on.

3. Inaccurate Cats Geelong almost cost itself the game with atrocious kicking against Adelaide last week and its inaccuracy came back to bite them against Collingwood. There is no doubt goal kicking is a problem at the Cattery. The Cats kicked a wayward 13.20 against the Crows and followed that up with 3.7 in the first half against the Magpies. The misses, as they often do, came at inopportune times as Patrick Dangerfield, Jimmy Bartel and Daniel Menzel all wasted crucial shots late in the second term as the Cats were trying to get back into the contest. In the end, those missed chances cost the Cats the game. 4. Man of Steele's milestone match Steele Sidebottom has always been a big game player. So there was little surprise the midfielder rose to the occasion in his own 150-game milestone. In a game riddled with mistakes, Sidebottom's sharp decision-making and cleanness with ball in hand stood out. The smooth-moving Magpie had a game-high 31 disposals to go with nine marks. Sidebottom hit targets in pressure situations and he assisted a number of his teammates by putting them in high-percentage scoring positions. 5. Greenwood has the wood on Selwood There was constant bickering and fighting and Levi Greenwood did not yield to Geelong skipper Joel Selwood all day. Greenwood has relished his defensive shutdown jobs this season and his contested brand of footy suits the role. Greenwood kept the Cats' skipper to 18 disposals and limited his ability to break clear from stoppages. As always, Selwood did not give in, but the Greenwood run-with role was vital in Collingwood's 24-point victory.

THE MEDIA

COLLINGWOOD NEWS THERE is a "stark difference" in the way Collingwood is playing from the start of the season to now, according to coach Nathan Buckley. The Pies' boss also says his team will fancy their chances against any team they encounter from here. Buckley's ominous statement came after Collingwood took down the form side of the competition in Geelong by 24 points at the MCG on Saturday afternoon. Back in business with a win-loss record of 4-5, the Magpies face the Western Bulldogs at the MCG next Sunday in what shapes as a fascinating duel. "We're back in the season now off the last couple of weeks, and we come up against the Bulldogs next week," Buckley said in his post-game press conference. "We'll welcome any tests if we're prepared to bring that work rate and that effort." Wins over the Brisbane Lions and now the Cats in the past fortnight have demonstrated to Buckley that his side's best is good enough to test the AFL's top teams. "On occasions, earlier this year, we just didn't bring our best to the table," Buckley said. "We clearly didn't do that often enough early in the season. It's pretty stark, the difference in what we're seeing." Collingwood made a shell-shocked Geelong look second-rate as it booted seven goals to nil in the opening quarter to charge out to a 44-point lead. But after quarter-time the momentum shifted and the Cats began to win the territory battle. Chipping away at the deficit, Geelong closed the margin to eight points with 14 minutes left in the game. But the Magpies steadied and by staying "aggressive" they were able to close out the match. Jeremy Howe's confidence to back himself and drill a kick-in directly up the middle led to a final-quarter coast-to-coast goal to ruckman Brodie Grundy that gave the Magpies enough of a buffer. "One of our boys said (at three-quarter time), 'This is our game to lose' but we came out of that and we said, 'We understand that sentiment but let's keep going on to win it,'" Buckley said. "It's an important mentality to have because they're both right. We were able to keep our heads under real pressure." Buckley praised Levi Greenwood for the defensive run-with role he performed on Geelong skipper Joel Selwood. Selwood had just 18 disposals, his lowest tally since round 12 last season. "Selwood probably circles that one and knows exactly who he's going to get and Levi circles it and knows what his challenge is," Buckley said. "Levi's been up and down like we have in the early part of the year but when he brings it he makes us a better team and he makes his teammates walk taller around him." Further adding to Buckley's buoyant mood is the fact the Magpies are due to regain a number of important players from injury over the next couple of weeks. Key defender Nathan Brown (hamstring) is a week away from a return, while Tyson Goldsack (fractured thumb) and Marley Williams (foot) were due to play their first games in the VFL on Saturday. Travis Cloke is available if needed and the performances of Jarrod Witts, Jonathon Marsh and Matt Goodyear have been been encouraging. "We've got some guys starting to put some form together down there (in the VFL) so that helps build our momentum … when you know that there's boys that are pushing up from underneath," Buckley said. "We haven't had that for the early part of the year."                                  AFL A SEVEN-goal opening quarter blitz enabled Collingwood to upset Geelong at the MCG and keep its slim finals hopes alive. Although the disappointing Cats responded, the 44-point quarter-time margin accurately reflected the Magpies early domination. For the second week in succession, the Magpies kept the opposition goalless in an opening term (the first time they have done that since rounds 17 and 18 in 1960), beating the Cats with their speed and outside run. Jesse White was a major factor in the early burst, kicking two goals for the quarter and establishing a presence in the Collingwood forward line The Cats rallied to draw within eight points with 14 minutes remaining in the game, but their hopes of a miraculous victory were snuffed out when the Magpies went coast-to-coast from a Jeremy Howe kick-in to a Brodie Grundy goal. It was the Magpies third kick-in goal for the match. Collingwood eventually ran out winners 16.8 (104) to 10.14 (74). Collingwood put fierce pressure on in the opening quarter with 11 more tackles and 26 more disposals than Geelong. It won the battle outside the contest with 23 more uncontested possessions and 12 extra handballs received. The Cats regrouped after quarter-time but when they missed three consecutive set shots just before half-time – with Jimmy Bartel, Patrick Dangerfield and Daniel Menzel the culprits – it seemed as though it was going to be Collingwood's day. Geelong kept coming, lifting its intensity inside the contest, but it could not convert its chances, making many errors inside 50 and seeming to blow gilt edged chances to kick goals. When it did look threatening and capable of creating some momentum, the Magpies were able to find an answer, with Scott Pendlebury, who kicked three goals, important as a steadying influence particularly in the third quarter. Magpies recruit Jeremy Howe was excellent in defence in his best game since joining the club from Melbourne, and Steele Sidebottom controlled the outside of the contest in his 150th. Young Magpies ruckman Brodie Grundy was instrumental in helping Collingwood in the centre clearances and had a big influence on the match, with the Cats' much-vaunted ruck duo of Rhys Stanley and Zac Smith having a down day. Jimmy Bartel was Geelong's best player, intercepting many Magpie attacks, but too little was left to too few and, with Collingwood's Levi Greenwood quelling Joel Selwood's influence, a spark was missing. It was a strong response from Collingwood, which has now won five of its past seven games against Geelong, while the Cats looked flat after two big wins against Adelaide and West Coast. MEDICAL ROOM Collingwood: Ben Sinclair was ruled out with concussion after receiving a slight knock at training on Thursday and the Magpies decided not to risk him, but he may be available against the Western Bulldogs. NEXT UP Collingwood will see if they can keep the momentum going against a dangerous opponent in the Western Bulldogs. It lost both games to the Bulldogs last season but had a good record against them before that. NEXT FIVE Footscray, Port Adelaide, Melbourne, Fremantle, Carlton "Clearly, when you (almost) get back to evening up the ledger with your wins and losses, and you perform against one of the sides that is performing as well as any in the first two months, it tells the story that your best is capable. It is not confidence — it is work rate; preparedness to work; trust in the plan; trust in yourself; and trust in your teammates. We are back in the season now ... we come up against the Bulldogs next week and we welcome any test, if we are prepared to bring that effort and work rate. We just had a quality win against a quality opposition."                       Nathan Buckley

SUPERFOOTY COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley is confident if his rejuvenated team can consistently bring the work ethic and endeavour used to down flag favourites Geelong that it can match it with any side in what is an exceptionally even AFL season. While Buckley isn't prepared to say his team is back on track after a painful start to 2016, he is looking forward to seeing if the Magpies can bring the same intensity against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG next Sunday. He said the stark difference between the club's early season form and back-to-back wins in the past fortnight showed their barometer is pure hard work rather than personnel and confidence. "Clearly, when you (almost) get back to evening up the ledger with your wins and losses, and you perform against one of the sides that is performing as well as any in the first two months, it tells the story that your best is capable," Buckley said after Saturday's 24-point upset win. "It is not confidence — it is work rate; preparedness to work; trust in the plan; trust in yourself; and trust in your teammates. "We are back in the season now ... we come up against the Bulldogs next week and we welcome any test, if we are prepared to bring that effort and work rate. "We just had a quality win against a quality opposition." The Magpies won only two of its first seven games, but have now wrested the ledger back to 4-5 ahead of Sunday's clash with Western Bulldogs. Buckley said he was impressed by the seven-goal-to-nil opening term against the highly-rated Cats, but was just as pleased with the way they fought out the challenge that was always going to come. Having been 44 points in front at quarter-time, the lead was whittled back to only eight points at the eight-minute-mark of the last term before the Magpies rallied to stretch the final margin back out to four goals. Part of that was due to Collingwood's preparedness to keep attacking in the last quarter rather than trying to shut the game down, which was a key focus of the three-quarter-time discussions. "We needed to stay aggressive and keep attacking," he said. "We were able to keep our heads under real pressure. We were able to stay in the moment and make the right decisions more often than not." One of those moments came when ever-improving US recruit Mason Cox found himself in space almost 20 minutes into the last term. He took a wonky bounce, but slotted through what turned out to the match-sealing goal. "I said to him, 'you won't know about this, but (this week) you will get a split screen vision of Justin Madden running down the wing and kicking a goal (in 1993)," the coach said. "He should have handballed over the top, but he showed a bit of composure for a bloke who is relatively new to the game. It was just as well he kicked it." Buckley was delighted with Levi Greenwood's role on Joel Selwood, pleased with Brodie Grundy's effort in the ruck, and was relieved to have a more settled back six at the moment, with Ben Reid back in the side and Jeremy Howe playing his best game for the club.                                  REAL FOOTY Any AFL side these days is capable of stunning another more fancied opponent with a quick burst when the favourite is slightly off their game. But it takes a pretty reasonable outfit to do that then subsequently hold off the favourite on three separate occasions when the heavyweight's engine starts to click into gear. That's what Collingwood did to Geelong at the MCG, the Magpies' first quarter blitz certainly a novelty, but the staunch resistance when the Cats did eventually fire up perhaps even more convincing evidence that there's plenty of life left in the Pies' season yet. Particularly at the most critical juncture, when after having led by as much as 44 points early, the Magpies found themselves just eight points to the good in the last term with a good 15 minutes left on the clock. Here, finally, was the sort of resilience Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley had been searching for as a season which began with much hype about the Pies' prospects threatened to spiral completely out of control. Not that the dash and flair which preceded it was any less impressive. Collingwood started like a train. It took them into the eighth minute to post their first goal, but once the ice was broken, the scores came quickly, and consistently. Jesse White, working hard for plenty of reward, had the first, skipper Scott Pendlebury the second after a strong tackle from Jarryd Blair forced the spillage. Two to Alex Fasolo in a 90-second burst underlined that not only were the Cats a little off their game, but that the Pies were red-hot. Collingwood's defensive mindset, a problem all season, was superb early in this game, the Pies having doubled Geelong on the tackle count by the first break despite having the bulk of possession. Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom were finding space everywhere, Jack Crisp a handy midfield ally. Adam Treloar ran ahead to capitalise on their hard work and a goal on the run made it five-goals-plus. The inspiration was coming everywhere, Travis Varcoe burning off Tom Ruggles. In defence, Ben Reid mowed down Rhys Stanley as the mobile Cat was heading goalward, and on the rebound, a clever handball from Pendlebury sent Crisp in for another major. By the time White goalled after the siren, the margin was 44 points, and Geelong looking sick indeed. Still, you thoughts the Cats would come at some stage, and they duly did. Steven Motlop bananed one from the pocket. Daniel Menzel dobbed one from outside 50 and the gap was gettable once more. But Collingwood wasn't about to start playing "my turn, your turn". Pendlebury and youngster Ben Crocker restored the Pies' equilibrium. And the Cats were hardly helping themselves. In three minutes before the half-time siren, Geelong muffed not just one chance to get back on track, but three, and all from unlikely sources. Jimmy Bartel missed the first gettable shot at goal. Patrick Dangerfield, almost incredibly, followed suit after marking just 15 metres out. And Menzel, from further afield, hit the post. Dangerfield, like last week, was picking up sufficient touches without necessarily having a huge influence. Joel Selwood was being held in relative check by Levi Greenwood. And it was hard to see from where else Geelong would find sufficient inspiration. The second quarter plot was more or less repeated in the third term, too, as the Cats clearly upped the ante in the pressure stakes. Jimmy Bartel dominated across half-back. Tom Hawkins, invisible early, took his first mark of the match. A tremendous bit of courage from Shane Kersten, running headlong into a contest, caused spills from which Darcy Lang goalled. A few minutes later, Hawkins had one on the board as well, like Lang, recovering to snap from close range after a fumble, Bartel's subtle tap starting the chain of possession. Suddenly, it was back to 21 points. But still the biggest stars struggled. Dangerfield missed another shot. Selwood, almost into time-on, had been held by Greenwood to just one disposal for the entire term. And after Bews inexplicably attempted to duck out of two tackles within 20 metres of goal, the brilliant Pendlebury casually slotted his third goal of the day, and any Magpie jitters abated once more. The biggest show of defiance, however, came right when it was most required. Hawkins now suddenly presented the huge threat expected. He had the first goal of the last quarter on the board within 40 seconds. A costly slip from Ben Reid allowed Kersten to gift Rhys Stanley another. Hawkins outbodied Jack Frost, and kicked straight again. When Mitch Duncan narrowly missed a chance to make it only three points the difference, surely all the smart money was on the Cats. But one final time, Collingwood kicked. From that very behind, the Pies went coast-to-coast, Brodie Grundy offering some breathing space. Darcy Moore converted a big mark after Travis Varcoe had nailed old teammate Harry Taylor in possession. And the sealer was spectacular, the big American Mason Cox doing his own latter-day version of Ray Gabelich's run in the 1964 grand final, a wobbly bounce at least coming back, his shot on the run nonetheless dead straight. It was no less than he and his teammates deserved. They'd done the hard work against an opponent that on this day at least, wasn't prepared to get its hands as dirty. Given the precarious state of their season, Collingwood had no choice but to do so. And having reaped the rewards, who's to say they're not capable of harvesting plenty more yet.