Preview 1 Round 3: Collingwood v Sydney

AFL

SUMMARY

2017 AFL Round 3 COLLINGWOOD v SYDNEY Time & Place: Friday April 7, 7:50pm EST SCG TV: 7mate / Fox Footy 7:30pm EST Weather: Min 15 Max 24 Chance of rain 60%: <1mm Wind: E 24kph Betting: Collingwood $3.55 Sydney $1.30

With both sides chasing their first win of the year, this massive Friday night encounter at the SCG takes on even more significance. If Sydney loses it will be the first time since 1999 that they have started a season 0-3, while Collingwood is in the same boat – and they went on to win the wooden spoon that same year. The Pies came to Sydney last year and got smashed by 80 points, and if they can't clean up their goalkicking act, it could be another tough night. Gun forwards Lance Franklin (eight goals) and Sam Reid (nine) have been in brilliant touch to start the season, but they're the only ones with multiple goals after two rounds, and that needs to change if John Longmire's men are to turn the year around.

LAST FIVE MEETINGS

1. R1, 2016, Sydney 18.25 (133) d Collingwood 7.11 (53) at the SCG
2. R20, 2015, Sydney 13.9 (87) d Collingwood 10.16 (76) at the SCG
3. R2, 2014, Collingwood 12.17 (89) d Sydney 10.9 (69) at ANZ Stadium
4. R20, 2013, Collingwood 14.16 (100) d Sydney 10.11 (71) at ANZ Stadium
5. R9, 2013, Sydney 15.12 (102) d Collingwood 8.7 (55) at the MCG

THE SIX POINTS

1. The contest was over at the main break the last time the sides met, with Sydney kicking 10 goals to one in the first half. Luke Parker collected the three Brownlow votes with 40 disposals and one goal.
2. Collingwood has been the most inaccurate team in front of goal so far in 2017, kicking 23.28 at 41 per cent efficiency. Sydney has kicked 25.19 at 52.1 per cent.
3. The Swans and Magpies meet for the 225th time this week, with the Magpies holding a big advantage in victories, 140 to 83. Sydney has narrowly been the better side recently, winning four games to three since 2012.
4. Collingwood has struggled in the first two games with disposal efficiency, ranked 15th at 72.3 per cent, but surprisingly the Swans have been worse, ranked 16th at 70.6 per cent.
5. The Swans have dominated the Magpies at the SCG, winning 13 of the 19 matches, including seven of the last eight. Collingwood hasn't won at the SCG since round four, 2000.
6. Opposing captains Josh Kennedy and Scott Pendlebury are ranked second and third in the Schick Official Player Ratings behind Brownlow medallist Patrick Dangerfield, and could match up when the ball is bounced Friday night.

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Ben Reid.
The Magpie will have a huge job against the Swans, with the key defender likely to stand superstar Swan Lance Franklin, or his younger brother Sam. Both men have started the season in brilliant form, so Reid is certain to be an important player for Nathan Buckley's side.

PREDICTION: Sydney Swans by 17 points.