2018 Round 1: The Team & Preview

AFL 2018 Round One Collingwood v Hawthorn Time & Place: Saturday, March 24, 7:25pm EDT MCG TV: 7mate / Fox Footy 7:00pm EDT Weather: Min 19 Max 24 Chance of rain 80% 10-20mm Wind: N 14kph Betting: Collingwood $1.98 Hawthorn $1.83

B: Sam Murray, Lynden Dunn, Brayden Maynard

HB: Tom Langdon, Darcy Moore, Jeremy Howe

C: Steele Sidebottom, Scott Pendlebury, Josh Smith

HF: Josh Thomas, Ben Reid, Will Hoskin-Elliott

F: Jaidyn Stephenson, Mason Cox, Ben Crocker

Foll: Brodie Grundy, Adam Treloar, Taylor Adams

Int: Jack Crisp, Travis Varcoe, Tom Phillips, James Aish

Emg: Chris Mayne, Tim Broomhead, Callum Brown, Brody Mihocek

NEW: Sam Murray (20, Sydney), Jaidyn Stephenson (19, Eastern U18)

Collingwood News A nice mix of youth and experience. That sums up the Collingwood team named to tackle Hawthorn in Saturday night’s huge round one clash at the MCG. Defender Sam Murray and forward Jaidyn Stephenson will debut for the Magpies, with Murray in a back pocket and Stephenson in a forward pocket. Josh Smith and Ben Crocker earn themselves another chance at the highest level after playing only a handful of games between them in the second half of last season. It’s a similar situation for James Aish, who has been named on the interchange bench after recovering from the calf problem that impacted the latter part of his pre-season. Aish managed only eight appearances in the AFL in 2017, although he did feature in the Pies’ last three matches. The four emergencies (clubs can now name one more than last year) are Chris Mayne, Tim Broomhead, Callum Brown and Brody Mihocek. The notable absentees are Jamie Elliott (ankle), Jordan De Goey (hamstring), Daniel Wells (Achilles) and Levi Greenwood (knee), who will return in the coming weeks, and Tyson Goldsack (knee), who has been ruled out for the season. Rookies right to go On top of increasing the number of emergencies clubs can name from three to four, the AFL is now allowing clubs name Category A rookies in their team without promoting them to their senior list. Josh Thomas has benefitted from the change. He remains a rookie but has been selected on the wing. Another rookie, Brody Mihocek, is among the Pies’ emergencies. Smith set to fly Josh Smith played in 11 of Collingwood’s opening 12 games in 2017, racking up some big disposals tallies, including 32 against Fremantle, in the process. But he played only two AFL games after round 12. Now the 24-year-old gets another chance after being named on a wing after enjoying a strong summer on the track. Smith played in both of the Magpies’ JLT Community Series matches, tallying 11 disposals against the Giants and 17 against the Dogs. Crocker rockin’ Ben Crocker will be desperate to cement his place in the team after an ankle injury ruined the last part of his 2017 campaign. The 21-year-old missed the Pies’ pre-season loss to the Giants, then showed glimpses of his best in the win over the Bulldogs in Moe. The coaches are hoping Crocker can bring some his trademark physicality to the forward line on Saturday night. Happy days There was a genuinely upbeat feeling when the team hit the track for its final training run on Thursday morning. “It’s always exciting,” assistant coach Brenton Sanderson told Collingwood Media. “Everyone looks forward to round one at the end of a pretty long pre-season. “Most clubs would be in the same boat. They’re itching to test themselves against another team after doing a lot of match simulation over the hot summer months. “It’s obviously time see where we stack up against the rest of the competition.”

AFL Preview Round 1 Collingwood v Hawthorn SUMMARY Both the Hawks and Pies are coming off disappointing 2017 campaigns and shape as the two of the more difficult clubs to handicap heading into the new season. What is clear about the Pies is that they’ll need close to their best 22 available most weeks if they’re to snap their four-year finals drought and, sadly, they’ll again be missing some key players this week. Not so the Hawks, who will be close to full strength and given the difficult few weeks to follow, the same nightmare 0-4 start from last year looms large again if they don't win this. The Pies bat deeper through the midfield and are the better clearance team, but the Hawks have more talent inside both 50-metre arcs and the return of Ben Stratton, James Frawley and more than likely, Cyril Rioli, helps considerably. LAST FIVE MEETINGS R15, 2017, Hawthorn 18.10 (118) d Collingwood 14.10 (94) at the MCG R9, 2017, Collingwood 13.12 (90) d Hawthorn 11.6 (72) at the MCG R23, 2016, Hawthorn 17.10 (112) d Collingwood 17.9 (111) at the MCG R14, 2015, Hawthorn 15.11 (101) d Collingwood 12.19 (91) at the MCG R23, 2014, Hawthorn 18.13 (121) d Collingwood 8.8 (56) at the MCG THE SIX POINTS It was one win each between the sides in 2017, Collingwood won by 18 points in round nine at the MCG after trailing by 34 points at half-time. The return clash was in round 15 with the Hawks winning by 24 points thanks to 35 disposals and two goals from Tom Mitchell. Hawthorn was the No.1 ranked team in 2017 for disposal efficiency operating at 76.4 per cent while Collingwood was mid-table at 73.4 per cent. Hawthorn has dominated Collingwood over a long time winning 10 of the last 11 clashes including two wins by more than 50 points. Collingwood struggled to score in 2017 ranked 11th for totals goals, kicking 278; only three players finished with more than 20 goals. Hawthorn’s record in 2017 at the MCG was poor, losing seven of 11 matches, their first negative win/loss season at the MCG since 2006. The Magpies won eight of 13 games at the venue. Hawthorn’s Shaun Burgoyne, is the 19th-ranked player in the competition according the Official AFL Player Rankings. Now aged 35, he hasn't missed a game since 2013. IT’S A BIG WEEK FOR … Hopefully Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy bought himself a lottery ticket because he was awfully lucky not to be rubbed out for a bump on Tory Dickson in the JLT Community Series match against the Western Bulldogs. An important match-up looms against Ben McEvoy, who is coming off his best season yet. PREDICTION: Hawthorn by 10 points.