Round 15: The Team

Round 15 COLLINGWOOD v CARLTON Time, Place, TV: Saturday July 2, 7:25pm MCG 7mate / Fox Footy 7:20pm Weather: Min 10 Max 15 Chance of rain 30%: <1mm Wind: WNW 18kph Betting: Collingwood $1.77 Carlton $2.05

IN: Tyson Goldsack, Darcy Moore

OUT: Jesse White (omit.), Jonathon Marsh (calf)

B: Tyson Goldsack, Nathan Brown, Jeremy Howe

HB: Marley Williams, Ben Reid, Ben Sinclair

C: Steele Sidebottom, Adam Treloar, James Aish

HF: Jordan De Goey, Travis Cloke, Travis Varcoe

F: Darcy Moore, Mason Cox, Jarryd Blair

Foll: Brodie Grundy, Scott Pendlebury, Jack Crisp

Int: Levi Greenwood, Tom Phillips, Brayden Maynard, Josh Smith

Emg: Brent Macaffer, Jesse White, Jarrod Witts

Collingwood News Darcy Moore and Tyson Goldsack will replace Jesse White and Jonathon Marsh in Collingwood's round 15 team. Darcy Moore will take on Carlton on Saturday night after successfully overcoming a broken collarbone. Nathan Buckley and the selection committee on Thursday deemed that a week of full training was enough for Moore to resume his place in the senior side. The 20-year-old forward replaces the omitted Jesse White, while Tyson Goldsack takes the spot of the injured Jonathon Marsh. Marsh has been listed with a calf injury, just days after playing what was arguably the best of his seven games for Collingwood. On the other hand of the change is the good news story of Goldsack returning. The 2010 premiership player has played just one senior game in 2016, collecting nine disposals in a round three loss to St Kilda. He returns as a defender who has found impressive form at VFL level. Coach Nathan Buckley on Thursday told the media "he's training well" and added "we've had good performances from our listed players (in the VFL)". While the VFL Magpies strive to win their sixth consecutive game, Goldsack will be focussed on a different game against the Blues. He'll start in a back pocket alongside the familiar names of Nathan Brown, Ben Reid and Marley Williams.

Preview Round 15: Collingwood v Carlton

Collingwood News - David Natoli

Round 15 COLLINGWOOD v CARLTON Time, Place, TV: Saturday July 2, 7:25pm MCG 7mate / Fox Footy 7:20pm Weather: Min 10 Max 15 Chance of rain 30%: <1mm Wind: WNW 18kph Betting: Collingwood $1.77 Carlton $2.05

Collingwood faces its arch rival Carlton for the second time this year on Saturday night at the MCG.
Although Collingwood and Carlton currently sit in 14th and 13th respectively on the ladder, the year has been vastly different for both these sides. Most pundits would agree that Carlton has exceeded expectations in the first half of the year, while Collingwood has significantly underachieved.
Nonetheless, Collingwood returned from its bye round last week and played really well, beating Fremantle by 48 points. The bye came at a perfect time for Collingwood, and fans will be hoping for better results in the second half of the season.
Carlton, on the other hand, was soundly beaten by Greater Western Sydney. Although the margin was ugly, the truth is that Carlton played decent football right up until the last quarter, before the Giants took full control of the match. I think it was more a reflection on how good the Giants are, as opposed to a reflection on Carlton's form.
Ladder position is rarely relevant when these two sides meet, and there is no greater rivalry in AFL football than when Collingwood plays Carlton. Even though finals are probably out of the question for either team, both clubs will be keen to notch up as many wins as possible in the second half of the year. Collingwood, in particular, won't want to lose to Carlton twice in the one season, while the Blues will be keen to inflict another nail in Collingwood's 2016 campaign.

Recent History
These sides last met in round seven this season, and it was Carlton who took the chocolates, winning by 15 points. It was the first victory for Carlton against Collingwood since round 15, 2012.
Bryce Gibbs was the standout performer for Carlton with 30 disposals and three goals and was deemed best on ground. Levi Casboult and Andrejs Everitt also booted three goals, while Kade Simpson did as he pleased off half back with 31 disposals.
For Collingwood, Scott Pendlebury led the charge with 34 disposals, while Alex Fasolo was Collingwood's best player with four goals. Darcy Moore also hit the scoreboard with three majors of his own.

At the Selection Table

Brodie Grundy and Matthew Kreuzer's ruck battle will be a key to deciding the result of Saturday's match.

It will be an interesting week at selection for Collingwood, with a number of key players on the cusp of recall following injury layoffs. The biggest talking point will surround Darcy Moore. To fit Moore into the side means questions will be asked of the forward set up. Would Travis Cloke, Jesse White or Mason Cox hold their spots. It is unlikely Cox will be dropped as he plays the valuable back-up ruck role. Cloke also contributed well last week and would be terribly unlucky to be dropped again, which could put pressure on White to retain his spot. It may be that Moore needs to regain touch at VFL level, but if he does come in for Cloke then it would be the third time this season the power forward has been dropped.
In other news, Alex Fasolo will receive a fitness test, but is likely to miss at least another game, while Taylor Adams is also edging closer to his return but is also likely to miss another week or two. Tim Broomhead should return to VFL level after recovering from his ankle injury. There is also plenty of depth to select if required after Collingwood's VFL team enjoyed its fifth straight victory, with Rupert Wills, Tyson Goldsack, Jack Frost, Jarrod Witts and Brent Macaffer all contributing heavily to the win. But regardless, I feel it's unlikely that Collingwood will make too many changes to the side that won against Fremantle last week.
Carlton's injury list is relatively minor, but it is still missing skipper Marc Murphy for at least another three weeks, and Dennis Armfield for another two. Plenty of hype continues to build over Jack Silvagni, who again impressed at VFL level booting two goals. Matthew Dick was one of Carlton's best performers at VFL level last week with 33 possessions, as was Dylan Buckley. Silvagni is the most likely of those players to be selected, as his much-anticipated debut is surely drawing closer.

Focus on Collingwood
Collingwood was really good last week in miserable conditions. If anything, the conditions played into Collingwood's hands as it forced the Magpies to go back to the basics. Although it was at times a sloppy game, Collingwood's disposal efficiency of 75 per cent was pleasing. The Magpies also had 28 more inside 50s, 16 more contested possessions, 40 more marks, seven more marks inside 50, 13 more tackles inside 50 and were dominant around stoppages. These are all areas that Collingwood has struggled in this year, so the bye round obviously worked wonders
Importantly, Collingwood's defence looked really good. Ben Reid has been in blistering form, and is now well complimented by Jonathon Marsh and Jeremy Howe who are both good intercept marks. The additions of Nathan Brown and Marley Williams have also stabilised the defence, and it is all of a sudden looking like a solid unit for the first time this season. It's essential for the Magpies that these players stay fit so a consistent backline can be selected each week.

Player Focus – Collingwood
Jonathon Marsh – After a difficult game against Melbourne, Marsh responded well with a terrific game against Fremantle last week. At 193cm, he is a perfect height for a modern day defender and has the ability to play on a variety of opponents. We all know he has amazing pace and can break a game open, but his kicking skills have often let him down. Last week however, he had 17 disposals at 100 per cent efficiency, which is a really good sign that this area of his game is improving. He's still only 20 years old and has played only seven games in his career, so the future looks really bright. Hopefully he can cement his spot in the side in the remainder of this year, and become a fixture of the Collingwood backline.
Brodie Grundy – There was a bit of pressure on Grundy last week, given the fact that Collingwood's ruck division was well beaten by Max Gawn the week prior, and Jarrod Witts has been in stellar VFL form. Grundy responded brilliantly against Fremantle, and it was arguably his best game for the season. He dominated hitouts in the first half and set up the victory with his aggressive tap work. Although Fremantle's ruck division was weakened, the important thing is that Grundy took control and the Magpies were able to capitalise on his good work. It is a bigger challenge this week though against Matthew Kreuzer.
Tom Phillips – In his first season at Collingwood, Tom Phillips has made quite a mark. It all started in his very first training session where he beat Steele Sidebottom in the 2km time trial. From that point, I knew Phillips was a player to keep an eye on. His form steadily improved at VFL level and he has deservedly earned his spot in the senior team. It was a breakout game for Phillips last week, with 19 disposals and a goal. He is a beautiful size for a midfielder, is very clean with his ball use and obviously has great endurance. He is definitely one to watch.

Focus on Carlton
There is no doubt that Brendon Bolton has brought a lot of the trademarks of the Hawthorn style of play to Carlton. In general, the Blues have been really impressive this year and are quite an exciting team to watch. Carlton has been competitive in most games this year, and has surprised many to have won six games in the first half of the season. If the Blues win this week, they even the ledger at seven wins and seven losses, which would be a great achievement considering they were wooden spooners last season.
Having said that, Carlton has lost its previous two games convincingly, so will want to turn this form around quickly. The Blues have also struggled in centre clearances, ranking last in the competition, as well as ranking last in the competition for contested possession. These are surprising statistics given the midfield has talent, including contested possession machine Patrick Cripps. The Blues still also have their woes up forward, only kicking more than 100 points on two occasions this season. They have only averaged 70 points in the previous two rounds and are ranked 17th for points scored this season.
Carlton's biggest improvement this year however has been defensively. Its backline on paper is really strong and has a lot of potential. The additions of Lachie Plowman and Jacob Weitering have given fans plenty to get excited about for the future. Sam Docherty, Kade Simpson and Zac Tuohy have also been really good as attacking defenders. Carlton will also celebrate Andrew Walker's 200th game this week.

Player Focus – Carlton
Sam Docherty – Docherty made his mark last season, but has continued his stellar form in 2016. At this rate, he should make the All-Australian team, such has been his consistency this season. He was Carlton's best player last week with 30 disposals, and has averaged over 25 disposals a game this season. Docherty has a rare ability to read the game and take intercept marks, and is also a very attacking player off half-back. He has quickly become one of Carlton's best players.
Bryce Gibbs – After a difficult 2015 season, Gibbs is now in career best form and is another that is surely in All-Australian contention. With Murphy out of the side, Gibbs is now attracting the number one tag. As a result, his output had dropped off prior to the bye, but he was able to shake off the Coniglio tag last week to pick up 29 disposals and take 9 tackles. Gibbs is such a damaging player as he rarely misses a target, and at his best also pushes forward to kick goals, having kicked 12 so far this season.
Kade Simpson – At 32 years old, Simpson is enjoying one of his best seasons to date. The ever reliable back flanker is averaging 26 disposals and is pushing higher up the ground to get involved. He is a consistent user of the ball, and his experience is so valuable for the young defence. When these sides last met, Simpson ran amok, amassing 31 disposals.

The Wrap Up
If Collingwood wins this game, it has the opportunity to leapfrog Carlton on the ladder and regain bragging rights. Carlton has been a difficult team to play against this year, and is moving the ball really well. It means the Magpies will need to defend like they did last week, as the Blues can be a really damaging team if allowed to play on their terms.
It will be an intriguing midfield battle to see the likes of Gibbs and Cripps go head to head against Pendlebury, Sidebottom and Treloar, and the battle of the midfield is going to be as important as ever. If Grundy can get on top of Kreuzer in the ruck, then it is going to be difficult for Carlton to kick a winning score considering it relies so heavily on its midfield to generate its goals.
Collingwood will believe its talls can get on top up forward, however Carlton's backline is very underrated. The Magpies need to prevent the Blues taking too many intercept marks, and also need to be mindful of the likes of Simpson, Docherty and Tuohy. Collingwood's forward pressure has been inconsistent all season, but was really good last week.
Collingwood will have received a confidence boost from the win last week, and I think it will carry this momentum into Saturday's game. If the Magpies bring their A-game this week, it should be enough to get them over the line.

Preview Round 15: Collingwood v Carlton

SportsMatt

Round 15 COLLINGWOOD v CARLTON Time, Place, TV: Saturday July 2, 7:25pm MCG 7mate / Fox Footy 7:20pm Weather: Min 9 Max 15 Chance of rain 70%: <1mm Wind: WNW 18kph Betting: Collingwood $1.83 Carlton $1.95

On Saturday night at the M.C.G. the 13^th and 14^th placed sides on the AFL ladder will face off and yet it's genuinely a big game. It's Collingwood versus Carlton, and the long and aggressive history of this rivalry means whenever they meet, regardless of ladder position, there's something on the line. The reasons behind the intensity of this rivalry go right back to the 1910 VFL Grand Final and the aftermath of that Magpies premiership win. Disputes on and off the field around that season decider launched one of the most famous and intense rivalries in world sport, let alone Australian sport. In recent years the rivalry has been seen to decline a little, but within the coaches, players, fans and staff at the clubs it's still one of the fixtures you circle when the draw comes out each year.
Recent history between the two favours the Magpies, as they've closed the gap in the overall standings to just 3 games before Carlton sprung a surprise and defeated Collingwood in round seven by 15 points. As it stands now, with only spot and one win separating them on the AFL ladder, this is a game that either side would expect to win. The form of the Pies and Blues in season 2016 is pretty similar, with respective wins over Geelong, surrounded by losses to teams like St Kilda, Richmond and Melbourne. It's hard to say who has the better form going into this game though although Collingwood is at least coming off a last start win.

COLLINGWOOD PREVIEW

It's been yet another disappointing season for Collingwood yet it could still get worse. A few weeks back the Pies lost to Melbourne for the second time in the one season, something that hadn't been seen since 1988. If Carlton then inflict another defeat on Saturday night the record might not be as historic as the double loss to the Demons, but it will probably hurt more. The Pies have dominated Carlton in recent years and to lose to them twice this year would be seen as a disaster. There is hope though, because when the Magpies have turned up, for lack of a better phrase, they have still been a hard team to beat of late. That showed last week when after 2 bad losses and a bye to refresh minds and bodies, the Pies destroyed a fellow struggling team in Fremantle at the MCG. The Dockers were never really in the game as Collingwood recorded it's 5^th win of the season with a 48 point win. If you combine that with the 2 wins against Geelong and Brisbane this Magpies outfit can still cause trouble for the opposition on it's day.
In that big win over Fremantle the most promising signs came from the Magpies youth as several youngsters really impressed. Jonathan Marsh, Josh Smith and Brayden Maynard stood strong down back, while Tom Phillips, in only his second senior game, showed enormous potential especially with that effective left boot of his. The senior players also lifted too though, with Treloar, Sidebottom, Pendlebury, Reid, Howe and Williams all helping the Pies to one of their most impressive wins this season. Travis Cloke and Nathan Brown also returned to the team after spending time in the VFL and both were serviceable on the day. The thing that was most noticeable though was the effort and intensity of the Pies players from the first minute through to the last. That hasn't been seen too often this year and that has brought about questions from fans about why there's such an inconsistency when it comes to overall effort.
No matter how Collingwood are traveling a win over the old enemy always boosts the club up so this game still has plenty of importance. At selection there doesn't seem to be the need to make a lot of changes. The VFL side had yet another strong win on the weekend (fifth win in a row) but it's hard to see anyone from there being promoted this week. Darcy Moore is the talking point this week though with the star young forward likely to be fit to return from a collarbone injury. If Moore does come up, and is deemed fit enough to play seniors, Travis Cloke or Jesse White are the two most likely to be considered for omission. There's not a lot of future in either of those players, as harsh as that is, but neither will want to miss such a big game as this.

CARLTON PREVIEW

It's not too often that a side sitting in 13^th position after 13 games is happy with their season but for Carlton that is the case. Many tipped them to be a wooden spoon contender again, and while they aren't exactly pushing to play finals sitting with 6 wins and 5 losses at the half way mark was impressive indeed. The last two weeks have brought them back to reality a little bit but Brendan Bolton's team has already surpassed expectations. The Blues have done this in a number of ways. Their game plan is visibly more solid and being followed well by the players. They've added both young talent but also some much needed experienced talent and it's made them competitive straight away. Of course they already have one win over the Magpies this season so to do the double would be the icing on top of the seasons' cake.
Carlton aren't your atypical AFL team, they rank down the bottom for clearances and contested possessions yet because their efficiency in regards to ball use is high, they are quite effective going forward. Their midfield though does struggle winning the contested ball, with the absence of Murphy, Armfield and Boekhurst obviously effecting that. Patrick Cripps has been remarkable in just his second season though, and is leading the way (by a fair margin) in those 2 main midfield categories. He's been getting some help in the middle from the likes of Gibbs, Curnow, Kerridge and Wright but the Blues midfield isn't as deep as most. The good news for them is they run into a Pies midfield that isn't any deeper. Yes it's got the top end talent in Pendlebury, Sidebottom and Treloar but like the Blues the Pies rank only fairly for contested possessions and dead last for clearances. Carlton should have the edge in the rucks though with Kreuzer being much more experienced that Grundy.
The Blues backline is still a work in progress, but already in 2016 under a new senior coach it has improved dramatically. The Carlton defense is currently the 8^th best for average points conceded, and considering that a first year player (Weitering) has played a lot of games in a key position role, that's quite impressive. Of course there's some experience down back too with Simpson, Rowe, Plowman and Tuohy all helping the youngsters out as they transition into this new look Carlton defense. The Blues do rank just above Collingwood for rebounds from defensive 50 and that's no surprise given the good ball users they have. Carlton get lucky once again here, as they face off against a Pies forward line missing Fasolo, Elliott and Swan. That should allow their defense to take control of the game at times.
If the Blues have a real weakness, it's their forward line. Carlton only has 3 players who average over a goal a game and Liam Jones, who most likely won't play this week, is one of those. Although Carlton sit 13^th on the AFL ladder they have only scored the 17^th most points, leaving them only ahead of Essendon at the moment. That's not really a shock considering the amount of attacking talent that has left the Blues in recent years, but it has to be a concern for the future. Levi Casboult will be looking to repeat his effort from the first meeting between these two, when he managed to take 11 marks and kick 3 goals. The Pies backline has been better in recent times with Reid, Howe, Williams and Brown forming a strong partnership down back, and they do face off against one of the weakest forward lines in the AFL.
The Blues will obviously see this as a big game on so many levels. First it's their biggest rival, the team they've hated for over 100 years now. Second they are coming off back to back losses and are in danger of losing all that positivity that was around the club after the 6-5 start. On paper they should be winning this game too. They have the shorter injury list when compared to the Pies and their best football this season has been better than Collingwood's. To win though they will have to play better then they have in the past 2 games but it's almost a given that they will. At selection there may be a famous name debuting with Jack Silvagni tipped to play his first senior game on Saturday night. It would add another layer on top of an already enticing game.

TIP
This is a damn hard game to tip really. Carlton should go into the game as favourites based off what happened in the first meeting and the relative injury lists. In that first game it was only a burst in the third term from the Blues that decided the game, and with the Magpies having a more stable team now, it should make for a cracking match. It really will be about as close to a final as these two get in season 2016.
You can almost throw recent form out the window here because the two clubs have been so inconsistent this season that it's hard to judge which version of each will turn up. I'm going to tip the Pies (as usual of course) and I'm basing it on their ability to score. If Darcy Moore returns I can see Collingwood converting their chances better and winning a really close, hard fought game.

MAGPIES BY 7 POINTS

Injury List

Injury Update Monday, June 27, 2016
Player	Injury	Status	Round 15 COLLINGWOOD v CARLTON Time, Place, TV: Saturday July 2, 7:25pm MCG 7mate / Fox Footy 7:20pm Weather: Min 9 Max 15 Chance of rain 70%: <1mm Wind: WNW 18kph Betting: Collingwood $1.83 Carlton $1.95
Taylor Adams	Hamstring	1-2 weeks
Tim Broomhead	Ankle	Test
Ben Crocker	Knee tendinitis	Test
Jamie Elliott	Back	Season
Alex Fasolo	Fractured scapula	Test
Tom Langdon	Knee	6-8 weeks
Darcy Moore	Fractured collarbone	Test
Jackson Ramsay	Knee	Season
Matt Scharenberg*	Knee	Season
Brayden Sier	Wrist	1-2 weeks
Dane Swan*	Broken leg/foot	Season
* Placed on the club's long-term injury list

Herald Sun ON THE BLOCK: The Magpies had plenty of good contributors in last Friday's win over Fremantle, including big forwards Jesse White, Mason Cox and Travis Cloke, who kicked two goals each. Cloke had 13 disposals plus four inside-50s after regaining his spot in the team. However, the possible return of Darcy Moore after recovering from a fractured collarbone could put pressure back on former All-Australian. ON THE CUSP: Moore's bid to return to the senior side for Saturday night's clash against Carlton is a positive sign for the Magpies, although small forward Alex Fasolo and onballer Taylor Adams are expected to take another week or two to recover from scapula and hamstring injuries. GREG BUCKLE'S FORECAST: With only five wins to show from their 13 games, the Magpies are being hurt by a lack of depth after a run of injuries. The possible return of Moore could add life to their forward line, and hopefully for the Magpies their skipper Scott Pendlebury will be back to his best after feeling "under the weather" against Fremantle last weekend.

Preview Round 15: Collingwood v Carlton

AFL

SUMMARY

Round 15 COLLINGWOOD v CARLTON Time, Place, TV: Saturday July 2, 7:25pm MCG 7mate / Fox Footy 7:20pm Weather: Min 9 Max 15 Chance of rain 70%: <1mm Wind: WNW 18kph Betting: Collingwood $1.83 Carlton $1.95

While this is a contest between 13th and 14th on the ladder, the battle between these fierce rivals is always keenly anticipated and Saturday night's game should be no exception. After losing its past two matches Carlton will be determined to regain the momentum established earlier in the season during a four-game winning streak. That run included a 15-point victory over the Magpies, with Marc Murphy, Patrick Cripps and Bryce Gibbs reigning supreme. While Murphy remains on the sidelines, the midfield battle will be crucial, with Adam Treloar maintaining his superb form against the Dockers last round. The Blues need to have the same aggressive mindset that served them so well in round seven or the Magpies could turn the tables this time.

LAST FIVE TIMES

1. R7, 2016, Carlton 15.9 (99) d Collingwood 12.12 (84) at the MCG
2. R19, 2015, Collingwood 16.9 (105) d Carlton 13.9 (87) at the MCG
3. R5, 2015, Collingwood 18.12 (120) d Carlton 6.9 (45) at the MCG
4. R15, 2014, Collingwood 13.13 (91) d Carlton 11.10 (76) at the MCG
5. R7, 2014, Collingwood 14.20 (104) d Carlton 10.10 (70) at the MCG

THE SIX POINTS

1. Bryce Gibbs starred when these clubs met in round seven, finishing with 30 disposals and three goals. The Blues had 36 more disposals and won the inside 50s 57-46. Magpies skipper Scott Pendlebury had 34 touches and Alex Fasolo kicked four goals.
2. Carlton is the worst centre clearance team this season, averaging only 10.5 a game. But Collingwood is only marginally better, ranked 14th with 12 a match.
3. Carlton's win in round seven was its first over Collingwood since round 15, 2012. The Magpies had won the previous six matches and have not lost successive clashes against the Blues since 2012.
4. The teams have played 67 times at the MCG, with the Blues winning 36 to the Magpies' 31. Carlton is two wins from three games at the MCG this season.
5. The Blues are the worst contested possession team this season, averaging 130.7 a game. The Magpies have averaged 144 a match.
6. In his first season as a Magpie Adam Treloar has risen to No. 20 overall in the Schick AFL Player Ratings after starting the season at No. 27. He is the second-ranked Collingwood midfielder behind his skipper Scott Pendlebury.

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …Andrew Walker.
After making his debut in round five, 2004, the versatile Walker finally makes it to the 200-game milestone. There would be no better way to celebrate the veteran's achievement than to notch a victory over the arch enemy on Saturday night.

PREDICTION: Carlton by 10 points

2016: LADDER ROUND 14

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
Note: Sides on 13 games have had byes

Round 14: Collingwood 85 Fremantle 37

THE FACTS

COLLINGWOOD        3.4.22    7.8.50    7.10.52    12.13.85
FREMANTLE              0.1.1    1.4.10      3.5.23        5.7.37

GOALS - Collingwood: Cox 2, White 2, Cloke 2, Greenwood, Phillips, De Goey, Treloar, Smith, Aish

BEST - Collingwood: Treloar, Pendlebury, Crisp, Reid, Smith, Howe

INJURIES - Collingwood: Nil

REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil

OFFICIAL CROWD - 20,320 at the MCG

TALKING POINTS

1. Pies back on the winners list After briefly resurrecting their season, the Magpies' last month has been woeful. But on Friday night, fresh from the bye, they worked their way back into form, snapping a three-game losing streak. The 48-point win was Collingwood's fifth for the season and its first victory over Fremantle since 2012. For the Dockers, there weren't many positives to take from the performance. They were terrible from the first bounce, and were never in the contest. Coach Ross Lyon would be disappointed with the performance given the improvement they had made over the past month. 2. Pav's last hurrah at the MCG? Matthew Pavlich is yet to officially announce that this will be his final year, but it appears the most likely scenario. The home of football hasn't exactly been a happy hunting ground for the Fremantle veteran over his career with a win-loss ratio of 14-19, including a Grand Final defeat to Hawthorn in 2013. His 33rd and most likely final outing at the MCG wasn't a night to remember either. The improvement the Dockers had made over the past month was completely forgotten as they reverted back to the football that had them flailing at 0-10. The former skipper, as always, tried his best. He kicked 2.2 and had a hand in a couple of other goals. 3. Cloke back with a bang It was the best possible start for the out-of-favour key forward with Travis Cloke flying out of the blocks to kick the opening goal of the match in the first 90 seconds. His teammates flocked from all over the ground to celebrate with him, giving him the boost he needed in his return game. Cloke's confidence has taken a battering this season, having being dropped to the VFL twice, but the Magpie forward looked a more positive player on Friday night. Often double and triple-teamed by the Fremantle defenders, Cloke worked hard in attack and was rewarded with two goals, including a terrific set shot conversion in the final term from a tight angle. He also presented well up the ground, giving his teammates a marking option up on the wing and finished the game with 13 disposals, seven marks and four inside 50s. Not a standout performance, but a strong enough showing for Cloke to hold his place in the side next week against Carlton.

4. Dockers struggle to convert Fremantle has had its scoring woes this season, but it's not often a team is held to just one goal in a half of football. The Dockers were goalless in the opening term and it took Michael Walters in the third minute of the second term to slot through their first major of the game. But that was it for the opening half. Just four times under Lyon have Fremantle being restricted to just one goal in a half of football, two of those occasions have come in season 2016. In fairness the Dockers' forwards were starved of opportunity with just 37 inside 50s for the game to Collingwood's 65. Fremantle's night in front of goal was summed up in the third term when Michael Barlow handballed to an open Jack Hannath in the goal square, only for the youngster to fumble the ball. Barlow went in and got the ball again, this time, spotting up the more experienced Hayden Ballantyne who finally converted. 5. Too cold for fans? It was a chilly 6.5 degrees when the players began their warm up before the game, and by the end of the game the mercury had barely moved. The wintery conditions, a closed MCG car park and several Metro train line disruptions all contributed to a poor showing at the home of football on Friday night. The MCC had predicted a crowd of 32,000 for the clash between 14th and 15th on the ladder, but the figure fell way short of expectations. Just 20,320 fans braved the freezing conditions, the smallest crowd to watch Collingwood play at the MCG since round five, 1940. But the majority of the fans went home happy after seeing the improved Pies claim the four points. The MCC had predicted a crowd of 32,000 for the clash between 14th and 15th on the ladder, but the figure fell way short of expectations. Just 20,320 fans braved the freezing conditions, the smallest crowd to watch Collingwood play at the MCG since round five, 1940.

THE MEDIA

COLLINGWOOD NEWS Collingwood forward Travis Cloke has taken a "step in the right direction" in his return to senior football, with an encouraging performance in the Pies' win over Fremantle. The out-of-favour Magpie returned to the senior side on Friday night after spending the round before last weekend's bye in the VFL. It was the second time Cloke had been dropped from the team after struggling to find form, sparking calls from some commentators that his career at Collingwood was nearing an end. But the 29-year-old repaid Nathan Buckley's faith in him, in what the coach described as a promising two-goal performance. "He played his role," Buckley said after the Pies' 48-point win at the MCG on Friday night. "I thought for the large part in the last quarter, Clokey and Jesse [White] were two that found a little bit extra…to stabilise the game. "It was encouraging for [Cloke] and a step in the right direction." Cloke flew out of the blocks, kicking the first goal of the match in the opening 90 seconds, and prompting his teammates to flock from everywhere to celebrate with him. "We didn't want to expose Clokey without that support, or Jesse, for that matter. It was a line-ball call. "Ultimately, when you get the result, it's the right decision, but when you look at it a bit deeper Mason played his role pretty well and set up a lot of ground ball for our small forwards." Young Collingwood forward Darcy Moore is expected to be available for selection for next week's game against Carlton after recovering from a broken collarbone, which could very well create a selection headache for Buckley. The Magpies are also hopeful midfielder Taylor Adams, forward Alex Fasolo and Tim Broomhead will return from injury over the next fortnight. He presented well up the ground and finished the game with seven marks, 13 disposals and four inside 50s. His most encouraging sign came in the final term when he slotted a set-shot goal from hard up against the boundary line. Cloke was well assisted up forward by fellow talls Mason Cox and Jesse White, both who kicked two goals each. Buckley praised the work of his tall forwards, but revealed after the match that the club had been close to making a late change with wet conditions forecast at the MCG. Fortunately, the rain stayed away until the final quarter, justifying Buckley's decision to keep Cox in the selected side. "It went right to the wire," Buckley admitted. "We were really keen to play Mason. We thought that even if it was a little slippery, against a really good defensive side in Fremantle, you were going to have to play down the line a little bit to talls.                                  REAL FOOTY The question was not why only 20,320 people turned up to the MCG on Friday night, but why that many did. This was the first time Collingwood had drawn so few people to a home game at the MCG since World War II when in round 5 of 1940, 20,043 attended. The league's power club could even have lost money at the gate for the first time in decades. Even the rusted-on evidently feel the cold, so with the the temperature dipping to 2.6 degrees no parking at the ground, disruptions on Frankston train line, the fact this was 14th versus 15th, that a hail was forecast, and it was live on TV where red wine and warmth was on offer and, more importantly as it turns out, a remote control, attending was a challenging proposition. Within an hour, the Harry Potter movie probably looked tempting – at least there was some magic in that. Collingwood with most of their first-choice forwards out and their formerly first-choice forward back in the team as a last resort, it appeared unlikely that against a traditionally scungy Ross Lyon defence they would be able to kick a score. Those assumptions were rendered not just wrong but absolutely misplaced for it was Fremantle who could not score. The Dockers kicked 1.4 for the first half - the second lowest half-time score of Lyon's tenure. They were denied the ball in large part after Collingwood broke forward from the first bounce and, kindly for storytellers, Travis Cloke kicked the first goal with a fend-off and a snap. From the next bounce, Collingwood took the ball tumbling into the goal square where Mason Cox somehow stretched a giraffe's hoof at the ball to flick it through for a goal. Collingwood kept the ball forward but splattered it at the goal – two went out on the full, another wide and out of bounds and four more shots were behinds. Both sides used a loose player at times early behind the ball, then as Collingwood harried them through the midfield and pressured the ball to remain in their half of the ground, the Dockers pulled both Hayden Ballantyne and Michael Walters up to the stoppages so they were playing with an empty forward line. That said, Collingwood, with 20 inside-50s to seven in the first quarter, there was not a whole lot of supply. Tom Phillips scrounged a goal in the second term after Mason Cox had shown quick and clever hands to match his clever feet in the first quarter, to handpass the ball inside and open up play up. Cox then marked a dropping ball at his waist as Zac Dawson found him too big to move around. Fremantle were better able to keep the ball forward in the third quarter. The volume of numbers behind the ball had something to do with that but it created an opportunity for Matthew Pavlich - in what will be his last game at the ground - to snap a goal. But the lead had drifted out to 40 points at half-time, so after one goal for a half it was an unlikely comeback. The third quarter did though play out as expected at the start of the game - that the Magpies' forward line would find it difficult to kick a score. After being 40 points up at half-time, they did not kick a goal in the third quarter and the lead was trimmed to 22 points. Jesse White, channelling the look of Swedish soccer striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, followed soon after as Collingwood dumped on five goals in 12 minutes - with Cloke drifting one of those in beautifully from the boundary - to open up a solid 48-point final margin. MEDICAL ROOM Collingwood: The Pies got through the game unscathed, which is a bonus given the rugged conditions. NEXT UP Collingwood will be hoping it can continue its form against archrivals Carlton next Saturday night at the MCG. NEXT FIVE Carlton, GWS Giants, Adelaide Crows, North Melbourne, West Coast Eagles "When we worked harder we were better off. We tackled efficiently, our pressure on the opposition was good. It's our fifth win of the year but we didn't think it was off the back of effort as such, although that was good, it was the attention to detail to play a role."                           Nathan Buckley

AFL AT THE start of this season, Friday night's fixture between Collingwood and Fremantle – on paper at least – would have read as an important clash. The Magpies, armed with new recruits, entered the year as one of the teams tipped to be on the rise and the Dockers, last year's minor premiers, were primed for another premiership tilt. Or so we thought. But for the 20,320 fans who braved the chill at the MCG to watch the game, there would have been no expectations of September success upon leaving the venue. The Magpies won comfortably by 48 points but the only thing colder than Melbourne's weather was Fremantle's performance. The 12.13 (85) to 5.7 (37) score line represented the flat nature of the contest, which was all but over at quarter-time after Collingwood's early dominance, and very nearly sealed by the half-time break when the Pies led by 40 points with Fremantle stuck on just one goal. The Dockers were more competitive in the third term, but fell into their first-half habits in the last quarter to be blown away as Collingwood secured its fifth win of the season. Fremantle recorded its lowest score of the season, the fifth-lowest score in its history, and narrowly avoided the lowest total in nearly five seasons under coach Ross Lyon (a disappointing Derby result of 5.6.36 against West Coast in 2012). Star Magpie Adam Treloar was Collingwood's best and most consistent player across the contest, gathering 33 disposals, seven tackles and a goal, while Jack Crisp collected 24 touches in a typically hard-at-it effort. In a further positive for the Pies, first-year pair Josh Smith (25 disposals and a goal) and Tom Phillips (19, one goal) impressed, while American convert Mason Cox (two goals) continues to show exciting signs despite the inclement weather not helping taller types. Conditions were also not ideal for returning premiership forward Travis Cloke, but the full-forward worked hard across the night and finished with 13 disposals and 2.2. Coach Nathan Buckley said the win was "mostly positive" apart from a 15-minute block in the third term when Fremantle took control. "It's a simple game. When we worked harder we were better off. We tackled efficiently, our pressure on the opposition was good," he said post-game. "It's our fifth win of the year but we didn't think it was off the back of effort as such, although that was good, it was the attention to detail to play a role. "We had some really simple focuses going in, and in the very quick review straight after the game we thought that we did most of those. They'll be the same focuses we'll take through the rest of the season." Michael Barlow's form resurgence continued with 31 disposals, Hayden Crozier was active with 23, and Connor Blakely continued his emergence as a long-term midfielder for the club with 24. Lyon said he was "flabbergasted" at Freo's poor start to the game and admitted it was disappointing after a string of recent victories. "It's obviously a step back. We're really disappointed. It's a Friday night [game at] the MCG and we'd spoken about that," Lyon said. "We've got plenty of members and fans and you're on the national stage, we'd like our young players and our leaders to really stand up but that didn't occur." The damp conditions (it was just six degrees in Melbourne at the opening bounce) didn't stop Collingwood's big forwards from having an early impact, with the recalled Cloke and then Cox booting the first two goals of the game. It set the tone for a first-quarter domination for the Pies, who recorded 20 inside-50 entries to seven, and restricted the Dockers from entering their forward-50 at any stage from the third minute of the game until the 19-minute mark. Collingwood kept Fremantle goalless for the first term, but also rendered Lyon's team impotent. After three straight wins, the Dockers started the contest looking like the side that limped to round 11 before securing a victory. Michael Walters' goal in the opening minutes of the second term provided only a short-term relief for Fremantle, as Collingwood powered to a 40-point advantage at the main break after a four-goal quarter. The Dockers' worst first half of the year again exposed their shortcomings as they embark on a serious rebuild: their forward line lacked bite, the midfield is stagnant without Nat Fyfe, and the absence of Aaron Sandilands in the ruck is as large as the man himself. Collingwood also hasn't had a good season – its run of form will see it miss the eight for the third straight year unless it can produce a miracle run of wins in the second half of the season – but it was made to look like top-four contenders against the Dockers, such was the lack of pressure forced upon the Pies. The Dockers lifted in their intensity in the third term, and had 13 inside 50s to 14 to cut the deficit to 29 points at three-quarter time. The Pies didn't kick a goal for the term, but Fremantle's struggling forward line meant Collingwood's lead appeared safe heading into the last term. And so it proved. Fremantle champion Matthew Pavlich, in what will likely be his final game at the MCG, snapped a goal early in the last quarter to edge the Dockers to within 22 points. But back-to-back goals to Treloar and then Jesse White ended any chance of a Dockers revival, and they conceded another three goals to be on the end of a margin that befitted their lack of contest across the night.                                  SUPERFOOTY CONTROVERSIAL key forward Travis Cloke has taken a step in the right direction in a bid to return to his best form, Collingwood's coach Nathan Buckley said. Former All-Australian Cloke was recalled for just his sixth game of the year and had 13 possessions, kicking two goals in a 48-point win over Fremantle at the MCG in wet conditions. Buckley said Cloke had "played his role". "In the last part, Clokey and Jesse White in particular were two (forwards) who found a little bit extra for that first 15 minutes of the last (quarter) to stabilise the game," Buckley said. "It was encouraging for him. It was a step in the right direction." Cloke's last-quarter goal from a boundary set shot was one of five in the final term for the Magpies, who led by 29 points at the final change after failing to kick a goal in the third quarter. Buckley said he was pleased with his side's effort and praised key defender Ben Reid's performance. However while the Magpies won the contested ball 154-137, a third-quarter lapse could have been costly. Leading 7.8 (50) to 1.4 (10) at half time, the Magpies let the Dockers back into the game as the visitors outscored Collingwood two goals to none in the third term. "It's obviously one of those nights when getting your body in line with the ball and doing it again and again and again was going to be important," Buckley said. "I thought we brought the right intent and for the most part got the game on our terms. "It was probably just that 15 minutes in the third quarter there where we didn't work as hard as we were for the rest of the game. "But it was largely positive."

Round 14: The Team

Round 14 COLLINGWOOD v FREMANTLE Time, Place, TV: Friday June 24, 7:50pm MCG 7mate / Fox Footy 7:30pm Weather: Min 6 Max 11 Chance of rain 90%: 1-5mm Wind: WSW 33kph Betting: Collingwood $1.80 Fremantle $2.05

IN: James Aish, Nathan Brown, Travis Cloke

OUT: Jarrod Witts (omit.), Ben Crocker (knee), Jack Frost (omit.)

B: Jonathon Marsh, Nathan Brown, Jeremy Howe

HB: Marley Williams, Ben Reid, Ben Sinclair

C: Steele Sidebottom, Adam Treloar, James Aish

HF: Jordan De Goey, Travis Cloke, Travis Varcoe

F: Jesse White, Mason Cox, Jarryd Blair

Foll: Brodie Grundy, Scott Pendlebury, Jack Crisp

Int: Levi Greenwood, Tom Phillips, Brayden Maynard, Josh Smith

Emg: Brent Macaffer, Jarrod Witts, Alan Toovey

Collingwood News Travis Cloke will be joined by Nathan Brown and James Aish in Collingwood's round 14 team. A set of bookends with a combined games total of 358 join the Collingwood team this week as 2010 Premiership players Nathan Brown and Travis Cloke return to the AFL side. The duo are two of three inclusions to a Collingwood team which will take on Fremantle on Friday night at the MCG. The third fresh face will be James Aish, an ex-Brisbane Lion who has been starring at VFL level in recent weeks. While Aish has provided class and poise on a wing for the VFL Magpies, Cloke showed incredible intensity in his last hit-out at Casey Fields. The two-goal, 10 tackle game has led to a recall, and another chance to prove his worth at AFL level. "His performance at Casey a couple of weeks ago was an absolute standout in regards to attitude and effort in regards to attitude and effort and contest," coach Nathan Buckley told the media on Thursday. Buckley also commented on Brown, noting that the 27-year-old had made adjustments to his game to meet the changing requirements of playing at AFL level. "He's worked really hard and been really diligent around what the game is asking from him in his role," Buckley said. "He'll play key back." Three inclusions means three unlucky Magpies this week won't experience Friday night football at the MCG. Young forward Ben Crocker will miss with a knee injury, while ruckman Jarrod Witts and key defender Jack Frost have been omitted. Witts and Frost will join a number of teammates in playing for the VFL Magpies against Richmond on Sunday afternoon at Victoria Park.

Preview Round 14: Collingwood v Fremantle

Collingwood News - David Natoli

Round 14 COLLINGWOOD v FREMANTLE Time, Place, TV: Friday June 24, 7:50pm MCG 7mate / Fox Footy 7:30pm Weather: Min 6 Max 11 Chance of rain 90%: 1-5mm Wind: WSW 33kph Betting: Collingwood $1.80 Fremantle $2.05

The bye round could not have come at a better time for the Magpies after a really poor fortnight of footy in the rounds prior. We are now past the midway point of the season, and Collingwood sits on four wins and eight losses. Any finals hopes have all but faded now, but there is still plenty to play for this season. The bye will have provided Buckley and his men an opportunity to take stock and reset ahead of the second half of the year.
Fremantle, on the other hand, is yet to have its bye, but goes into this game with a lot of momentum after three straight wins. After losing the opening ten games of the year, the turnaround has been somewhat unexpected and the Dockers are looking more and more like the side that claimed the minor premiership last season. Many experts expected big things from Fremantle this year, so the first half of the year has been extremely disappointing. That being the case, the Dockers have unearthed a lot of young players and now look well placed going into the rest of this year and beyond.
It will be interesting to see how Collingwood's bye impacts on this game. On the one hand, the Magpies should be fresh and should also have addressed a number of structural issues. On the other hand, Fremantle has confidence going into this game and will be a difficult opponent. Last season, the majority of sides lost the week after their bye. Unfortunately for Collingwood, this is not the same Fremantle side that lost its opening 10 games and the Magpies will need to be at their best to win this game.
The weather will be the other factor as the forecast for Friday is cold and wet. It will make contested footy important, as well as playing the percentages and not trying to overuse the football.

Recent History
These sides last met in round 13 last season. It was very different circumstances as both sides were in the top four and in red hot form, unlike this season where both sides are battling to stay out of the bottom four. The game was a classic as well, with the Magpies taking it right up to Fremantle at Domain Stadium. Collingwood was on top for large periods of the match, but the Dockers rallied in the last quarter to win by seven points. Nat Fyfe polled three votes with 32 disposals and two goals, while Aaron Sandilands was arguable the difference with 50 hitouts, polling him the two votes. Scott Pendlebury polled one vote for the Magpies with 25 disposals, and Taylor Adams was also good with 29 disposals.

At the Selection Table
Both sides have suffered numerous injuries this season which is a large reason why they have both dropped off so dramatically.
Collingwood had the bye last round in both the VFL and AFL, so predicting selection this round will be difficult. Despite the heavy injury list, the Magpies also have a number of fit and experienced players available for selection. Topping that list is Travis Cloke who was absolutely brilliant in his last VFL appearance. Notably, this performance was in wet and cold conditions, which will not be too dissimilar to what the Magpies will face on Friday night. Given Collingwood's recent forward line woes, Cloke must be on the cusp of selection this week.
Nathan Brown and Tyson Goldsack have both been very good at VFL level and must also be in line for selection, as will Brent Macaffer and Alan Toovey. It will be interesting to see whether Buckley calls upon his experienced players, or whether he persists with youth like Ben Crocker, Tom Phillips, Jonathon Marsh, Josh Smith and Mason Cox. The Magpies went in very tall last week, so in wet conditions I would expect a much shorter line-up. James Aish and Rupert Wills have also impressed at VFL level.
Turning the focus onto Fremantle, and its injury list remains extensive. Nat Fyfe and Aaron Sandilands polled the three and two votes respectively when these sides last met, but remain sidelined, as do key players such as Michael Johnson, Harley Bennell, Jonathan Griffin, Alex Silvagni and Alex Pearce.
Fremantle only has 28 fit men to choose from this week. There will only be one forced omission from the senior side with Tanner Smith ruled out of the clash, which opens the door for Jack Hannath. As Fremantle has won its previous three games, it will select a fairly settled line-up this week despite the injury crisis. There is some doubt over whether Matthew Pavlich will play as he has been rested from numerous interstate trips this season, but Ross Lyon has already indicated he will be named to play.

Focus on Collingwood

Scott Pendlebury won 25 disposals and laid six tackles in Collingwood's last meeting with Fremantle in round 13, 2015.

There's no doubt that Collingwood went into the bye round with a number of deficiencies to address. Realistically though, the Magpies need to put the first half of the year behind them and restart. Even if finals are no longer a realistic goal, wins are very important as it is essential to finish the season strongly and hit the pre-season with confidence. Collingwood has no first round draft pick this season, so there is no incentive to finish low on the ladder.
When the year started, many would have considered Collingwood's forward line to consist of the likes of Travis Cloke, Darcy Moore, Jeremy Howe, Alex Fasolo, Jamie Elliott and Dane Swan. Howe is the only one currently in the side, but he is playing defence. It may be time for Buckley to try Howe up forward again to provide a target, and recall Travis Cloke to the senior squad. Either way, Buckley needs to address his forward line because it looked dysfunctional in Collingwood's last two games.
Buckley conceded last round that the Magpies may have gone in too tall against Melbourne with Jarrod Witts, Brodie Grundy and Cox all in the side. I imagine one of those players will make way this round, but I wouldn't be surprised if Buckley went for a much smaller side altogether and two of these big men make way. Whatever the coaches try this week, I think it is important that the Magpies start getting some consistency with their structure and stability in the line-up.

Player Focus - Collingwood
Brayden Maynard – With so many injuries in defence this year, Maynard has been able to solidify his spot in the side and is gaining valuable experience. His decision making can let him down at times, but he is a tough nut and he does have a beautiful left boot on him. It's easy to forget he is still 19, so he has a bright future ahead of him. He just needs to play the percentages a bit more and make better decisions when he has the ball deep in defence. In general though, his kicking is a weapon.
Marley Williams – Marley was a welcome return to the Collingwood side on Queen's Birthday and settled back into the side quickly with 19 disposals. Williams is an underrated component on the Collingwood side because he plays on dangerous small forwards and also is Collingwood's best rebounding defender. He is so aggressive at the football as well. Marley has had an injury riddled first half of the year, so will be hoping to regain his consistency in the second part of this season.
Steele Sidebottom – Sidebottom started the Queen's Birthday match like a house on fire, but was completely tagged out of the game in the second half by Tomas Bugg. He finished with 17 disposals which is well down on his usual output. He was also tagged out of the game against Port Adelaide as well the week prior. It is a big compliment that opponents are now decided to tag him over the likes of Pendlebury and Treloar, but Sidebottom needs to learn to work through the tag better and keep influencing games.

Focus on Fremantle
It has largely been a year to forget for the Dockers and finals are realistically out of the question from here. But regardless, I feel as if Fremantle has taken giant strides in the past three weeks and is now positioning itself nicely for a tilt at the flag in 2017.
For mine, there is no doubt that Ross Lyon made a decision over the off-season to be more offensive, which was highlighted by the addition former Hawthorn players David Hale and Brent Guerra to the coaching panel. The side effect of playing a more attacking brand of footy has been that the defensive side of the game suffered. In the past three rounds, however, the Dockers have rectified this issue, with an average score of 120 points, while only conceding an average of 60 points. It seems as if Fremantle is finally adapting to this new game plan.
The other pleasing thing for Fremantle over the past three weeks has been the rapid development of a number of younger players. With so many injuries, Lyon has been forced to blood his rookies. They haven't let him down either, with the likes of Blakely, Weller, Taberner, Collins and Tucker all contributing well. When star players such as Fyfe, Bennell and Sandilands return to the side, the Dockers will have developed impressive depth, and they may look back at 2016 as the year they simply had to have.

Player Focus - Fremantle
Michael Barlow – At the mid-way point of the season, it seemed as if Barlow had fallen well out of favour with his coach, and was destined for the scrapheap. But Barlow's response to his omission has been amazingly impressive. He has been re-invented as a run-with player and has taken big scalps in recent weeks while still winning a lot of the football. His game against Port Adelaide last week was one of his best games in his career. Barlow not only held Robbie Gray to 18 disposals, but had 43 of his own and kicked two goals. He may be given the job this week on Sidebottom, which would be an enthralling battle.
Matt Taberner – The Dockers have been very patient with Taberner, and it has taken him a while to really establish himself in the side. At 198cm tall, he is terrific size, but he just hasn't been able to impose himself in games in his career to date. That has changed in the previous few games, and he is clunking some beautiful marks. His five goal game against Brisbane a fortnight ago was a break-out for him. He has performed well with or without Pavlich in the side as well.
Lachie Weller and Connor Blakely – Along with Lachie Neale, the Dockers have been crying out for some young talent to break through in the midfield and add an extra dimension to the side. Weller and Blakely have been standouts for Fremantle and have now cemented their positions. Weller is all class and is a beautiful finisher around goals, while Blakely is a big bodied midfielder and fits in well with the other tall midfielders in the side.

The Wrap Up
Although this is a battle between 14th and 15th on the ladder, there is plenty to play for as both these clubs are too proud to just fall away meekly this year. The Magpies need to regain some confidence after their bye and need a few wins to release some of the pressure which has built in recent weeks. Fremantle, on the other hand, has its bye next week and would love to go into the break on the back of four straight wins.
Weather will have an impact on this match, but ultimately it's just going to be a battle of which midfield wants it more. Collingwood will need to be switched on to will need to play four solid quarters against this dangerous opponent.
Selection will also be essential for Collingwood this week. The coaching staff needs to nail selection this week. Finding the best structure is the challenge.
At the MCG though, I think the Pies should get up.

Preview Round 14: Collingwood v Fremantle

SportsMatt

Round 14 COLLINGWOOD v FREMANTLE Time, Place, TV: Friday June 24, 7:50pm MCG 7mate / Fox Footy 7:30pm Weather: Min 6 Max 11 Chance of rain 90%: 1-5mm Wind: WSW 33kph Betting: Collingwood $1.80 Fremantle $2.05

Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, it did. Collingwood went into it’s annual Queen’s birthday clash with Melbourne knowing that anything less than a win would effectively end their finals chances. By half time it was clear those hopes were dashed as Melbourne led by over 4 goals before running away with a 46 point victory. It was the first time that Collingwood had lost to Melbourne twice in one season in 28 years and leaves the Magpies in 14^th spot with a 4-8 win/loss record. The most shocking part so far though has been the way the Pies have lost their games, losing by an average of 44.4 points. Injuries are being used as the main excuse at the moment but when you’re losing that big, there’s more problems than just injuries.
There are still 10 matches left in the 2016 season for Collingwood though, and somehow they have to salvage something out of their third disappointing season in a row. It starts on Friday night, as the Magpies coming off a bye play host to Fremantle. The Dockers started the season in terrible fashion, losing their first 10 games. Since then though they’ve come back to form with 3 wins in row leaving them just one win, and one spot behind Collingwood on the ladder. In fact if Fremantle win this game they will go ahead of Collingwood for the first time this season, despite that disastrous start.
These two sides rarely clash twice in one season so previous form between them isn’t clear, but the Dockers have won the last three games over the Pies, including a 7 point win at home last year.

COLLINGWOOD PREVIEW

Anyone could write several articles about what’s gone wrong with Collingwood this season and still you may not be able explain the full extent of the problems, so instead let’s look at some of the positives so far. Adam Treloar and Scott Pendlebury are a good place to start, with the star midfield duo ranking 4^th and 9^th respectively for average possessions this season (league wide). Pendlebury had to fight through injury early in the season so his numbers are even more impressive. Mason Cox, wow, what a story he has been. The 25 year old American has been a revelation to the point where he is now the main focus of the Pies forward line. Yes that’s mainly due to others missing through injury, but with 13 goals in 8 games while also providing valuable ruck support, Cox has been one of the very few successes this season for Collingwood. There are some other good signs, with Ben Reid and Jeremy Howe forming a strong partnership across half back being one of them. There really aren’t many more though, as with the Pies using 38 players this year so far, there hasn’t been a consistency of games for most of the playing list.
So we come to round 14, with Collingwood sitting in 14^th and facing a tough run home with only 2 sides sitting behind them still to come. The game against Fremantle is crucial though, it can form a springboard into a positive second half of the season and as always, selection will be important. The club got selection wrong versus Melbourne, that’s pretty clear now, with the three genuine ruckman selected yet Max Gawn still had a field day. At least one of the trio of Grundy, Cox and Witts will be omitted this week especially with Fremantle missing their own behemoth in Aaron Sandilands. In regards to who comes in there’s some experience and youth that is pushing for selection this week. The VFL side is on fire, having won it’s past 4 games, with the likes of Cloke, Brown, Goldsack, Macaffer, Wills, Aish and Oxley all playing well at that level. Surely there comes a time when you have to bring back some of those experienced players to provide leadership and support to a young senior side. That time might be this week.
The Magpies may just be playing out the season now, but with an army of fans, sponsors, partners and the pressure from the media, this Collingwood side can’t just fade slowly into the dark. It’s likely to be a wet, cold and windy Friday night at the MCG which means effort may decide this game, something has been missing in every one of the Collingwod losses in season 2016. If they bring a strong, desired effort though they can win this game and get some respect back.

FREMANTLE PREVIEW

What a strange season it’s been for the Fremantle Dockers. After playing finals in 5 of the last 6 seasons, including one minor premiership and a grand final appearance, they started the 2016 season with 10 straight losses. Wow, just wow. Yes there were injuries, and some major ones too with superstars Aaron Sandilands and Nathan Fyfe both going down, but to lose 10 games straight to start a season was just plain weird, and shocking. Something has changed recently though, and with confidence boosting wins over lowly Essendon and Brisbane, the Dockers were back to their old selves again as they hosted Port Adelaide last Saturday. It truly was the Dockers of old as they out pressured and out worked the Power to come away with a 17 point win. Like the Pies, there will be no finals for Fremantle this season, but unlike Collingwood it would seem they are going to finish the season quite strong.
With all the injuries they have, it’s hard to find an area of strength for this current Dockers team, but they midfield did hold it’s own against Port last week, so that’s a starting point. Lachie Neale has been a revelation this year, leading the AFL for average possessions per game. Neale, in the absence of Fyfe, Sandilands and several others has helped the Dockers remain competitive at times, until he got some help. That help has come in the form of a rejuvenated Michael Barlow. Barlow was omitted from the team a few weeks back yet since his return he’s been his old self. Barlow had 43 possessions last week in the win over Port and will thrive in the forecast conditions on Friday. Zac Clarke is doing an adequate job as fill in ruckman while Sandilands recovers, although the Dockers, once a leading team for hitouts, now sit only 8^th on that tally. They face off this Friday against a Collingwood midfield that relies heavily on 2 players, and if you can restrict either of those two, it will go a long way to Fremantle dominating in this area.
The Dockers forward line has always been one of concern for the club, with many blaming it for their inability to win the big games in recent seasons. Matthew Pavlich, in what is probably the final season of a great career, is still the main focus point. Fremantle also have a few dangerous small and medium forwards, with Ballantyne, Walters and Mayne still producing goals. Finding that elusive tall forward has been a struggle though, with Matthew Taberner the most popular choice in that role at the moment. He only averages 1.3 goals a game though so it’s an area that still needs development. The backline they will face off against is one of the worst in the AFL at the moment, which should provide plenty of opportunities for the Dockers forwards to score.
The Fremantle backline has always relied on a team mentality when it comes to defense more than a reliance on individuals. That has continued on in season 2016 and while they were conceding big scores early on over the past 3 weeks the Dockers have returned to their restrictive best, only allowing an average of 8 goals against them during their resurgence. The likes of Dawson, Hill and Mundy are still main stays of this defense but there has been some fresh blood introduced lately. Sam Collins looks to have a very promising future as does Darcy Tucker. But they still rely on the midfield and in some cases the forwards providing a team defense that helps the backline out. Like Collingwood’s backline, their forward line is missing many of it’s best players also, so that makes the task of Fremantle’s team defense being effective for a fourth week in a row a lot easier.
Fremantle go into this game in the best form they’ve been in all season. After three morale boosting wins in a row, they travel to Melbourne for a rare Friday night game at the MCG. The players and coaching staff will see it as a big game indeed. Ross Lyon sprung a surprise on Wednesday by not only confirming that Matthew Pavlich will play but by also naming the final selection for his side. The only change, as some expected, will be Hannath back into the side for the injured Smith. While Freo do have a long and talented injury list at the moment, they run into a side with maybe a longer one, which should see them go in with some confidence.

TIP
It’s round 14, Friday night at the MCG and Collingwood are hosting Fremantle. Pre season most would have thought that this would be a massively important game with finals and maybe even top 4 connotations. But no, it’s 14^th versus 15^th and it’s really a game about getting some pride and respect back. Fremantle go into the game in better form, much better form in fact and therefore deserve to start as favourites.
The relative injury lists almost cancel each other out with a plethora of talented players missing with short and long term injuries. Eventually, this game will come down to who wants it more. It’s likely to be low scoring giving the conditions forecast, and with the way Fremantle defends 10-12 goals may win you this game. I think that favours Collingwood actually, as they have had trouble scoring so a real scrap might see them come away with a victory in a tight game.

MAGPIES BY 5 POINTS.

Preview Round 14: Collingwood v Fremantle

AFL

SUMMARY

Round 14 COLLINGWOOD v FREMANTLE Time, Place, TV: Friday June 24, 7:50pm MCG 7mate / Fox Footy 7:30pm Weather: Min 6 Max 11 Chance of rain 90%: 1-5mm Wind: WSW 33kph Betting: Collingwood $1.80 Fremantle $2.05

Just a few weeks ago a rejuvenated Collingwood was just a game outside the top eight, while reigning minor premier Fremantle had inconceivably slumped to 0-10. Since then, their respective fortunes have reversed, with the injury-plagued Pies losing three in a row and the Dockers winning each of their past three games. A Freo win at the MCG will lift them above the Woods on percentage. The Pies haven't beaten the Dockers since 2012, failing to score more than 73 points in their three subsequent clashes, but haven't lost to Freo at the MCG for 10 years. However, the Dockers have won their past three games on the hallowed turf overall and their hopes of victory in their only game there for the season could hinge on the fitness of veteran Matthew Pavlich.

LAST FIVE TIMES

1. R13, 2015, Fremantle Dockers 12.8 (80) d Collingwood 11.7 (73) at Domain Stadium
2. R1, 2014, Fremantle Dockers 17.14 (116) d Collingwood 5.16 (46) at Etihad Stadium
3. R7, 2013, Fremantle Dockers 15.10 (100) d Collingwood 10.13 (73) at Domain Stadium
4. R14, 2012, Collingwood 15.17 (107) d Fremantle Dockers 12.6 (78) at the MCG
5. R23, 2011, Collingwood 20.12 (132) d Fremantle Dockers 8.4 (52) at Domain Stadium

THE SIX POINTS

1. The Dockers will be searching for four consecutive wins for the first time since rounds 16-19 last season. In the last three weeks they've tallied 55 goals to just 24 from their opponents.
2. Both sides have struggled to take the ball inside 50 this season – Collingwood is 12th, averaging 50.5, and is 15th for marks inside 50, while Freo is 14th for inside 50s and equal-last for marks inside 50.
3. Collingwood has dominated Fremantle at the MCG, winning six of their eight contests. The Pies have won the past four and the Dockers haven't beaten them at the venue since round 15, 2006.
4. Collingwood and Fremantle meet for the 27th time and the Magpies hold a 15-11 advantage. But the Dockers have won the past three – their equal-longest winning sequence against the Pies.
5. Reigning Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe was the difference between the sides the last time they met, with 32 disposals and two goals, while Aaron Sandilands dominated the ruck with 50 hit-outs and 17 disposals – all handballs. However, both are sidelined with injury.
6. By virtue of his career-best 43 possessions (20 contested) in Freo's win over Port Adelaide, midfielder Michael Barlow has leapt from No.157 to No.136 in the Schick AFL Player Ratings. His all-time high ranking was 80th at the end of 2014. 

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …The Pies' selectors.
Coach Nathan Buckley came under heavy fire for picking a top-heavy side including ruckmen Brodie Grundy and Jarrod Witts, along with forward/ruckman Mason Cox – a trio that Melbourne big man Max Gawn disposed of with relative ease and which the Demons defenders ran ragged. At the same time, they again banished out-of-sorts spearhead Travis Cloke to the VFL. The Pies' brainstrust will certainly select a more nimble line-up this week.

PREDICTION: Collingwood by four points

Injury List

Injury Update Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Player	Injury	Status	Round 14 COLLINGWOOD v FREMANTLE Time, Place, TV: Friday June 24, 7:50pm MCG 7mate / Fox Footy 7:30pm Weather: Min 6 Max 11 Chance of rain 90%: 1-5mm Wind: WSW 33kph Betting: Collingwood $1.82 Fremantle $2.00
Taylor Adams	Hamstring	2-3 weeks
Tim Broomhead	Ankle	1-2 weeks
Jamie Elliott	Back	Season
Alex Fasolo	Fractured scapula	3-4 weeks
Tom Langdon	Ankle	1-2 weeks
Darcy Moore	Fractured collarbone	2-3 weeks
Jackson Ramsay	Knee	Season
Matt Scharenberg*	Knee	Season
Brayden Sier	Hand	3-4 weeks
Dane Swan*	Broken leg/foot	Season
* Placed on the club's long-term injury list

Herald Sun ON THE BLOCK: Jarrod Witts was poor, Mason Cox did little and Ben Crocker was quiet. Truth be told the Pies would have been thrilled to have the week off and avoid the blowtorch. ON THE CUSP: Travis Cloke was described as "outstanding" by the Collingwood website in the win over Casey Scorpions, while James Aish was prolific and hungry with 34 possessions. Adam Oxley responded to his omission by laying a team-high 12 tackles and being among his side's better players. GILBERT GARDINER'S FORECAST: Just as Nathan Buckley and Co would have been thinking 'Fremantle at the MCG' you beauty, the Dockers go and win three on-the-trot to make this a genuine 50-50 affair. Scott Pendlebury can't do anymore than what he is already doing to stop the slide, he needs help from his teammates. Travis Cloke must play this week.