2018 Round 12: The Team, Preview, Injury List

2018 AFL Round 12 COLLINGWOOD v MELBOURNE Time & Place: Monday June 11, 3:20pm EST MCG  7mate / Fox Sports 3:00pm EST Weather: Min 6 Max 16 Chance of rain 70%: 1-5mm Wind: NNE 18kph Betting: Collingwood $2.40 Melbourne $1.58

B: Brayden Maynard, Lynden Dunn, Jack Crisp

HB: Levi Greenwood, Matthew Scharenberg, Tom Langdon

C: Steele Sidebottom, Scott Pendlebury, Tom Phillips

HF: Jordan De Goey, Brody Mihocek, Will Hoskin-Elliott

F: Josh Thomas, Mason Cox, Jaidyn Stephenson

Foll: Brodie Grundy, Daniel Wells, Adam Treloar

Int: Taylor Adams, Flynn Appleby, Ben Crocker, Josh Daicos, Jeremy Howe, Chris Mayne, Sam Murray, Rupert Wills

IN: Ben Crocker, Jeremy Howe, Sam Murray, Rupert Wills

COLLINGWOOD NEWS Jeremy Howe looks set to return to Collingwood’s line-up for Monday’s huge Big Freeze game against Melbourne at the MCG. Howe has been named on the Pies’ extended bench for the clash with his former club but will need to prove his fitness when the team trains at the Holden Centre on Saturday. He missed last weekend’s win over Fremantle due to bone bruising in his knee. Ben Crocker, Sam Murray and Rupert Wills have also been included in Collingwood’s 26-man squad. All three have been named on the extended bench. There are no omissions from last weekend's side at this stage. The final team for Monday’s game will be named at 5pm on Saturday. WINNING STREAKS Melbourne will be aiming for seven consecutive wins for the first time since the end of 2000 when it won seven in a row, including a preliminary final. Collingwood will be looking for four straight wins for the first time since midway through 2015. Melbourne has won four of the past five clashes between the sides ending Collingwood’s run of five consecutive wins in 2011-15. MEMORIES OF 2017 Who could forget the Pies' dramatic upset win over the Demons in the final round of last season, which ended up costing Melbourne a place in the finals. Nathan Buckley's men set up that victory by kicking six goals to one in the first quarter. Will Hoskin-Elliott led the way, finishing the game with 12 marks and kicking two goals. Will that result give Collingwood the belief to do it again?

AFL PREVIEW ROUND 12 COLLINGWOOD V MELBOURNE AFL LAST FIVE TIMES R23, 2017, Collingwood 14.15 (99) d Melbourne 12.11 (83) at the MCG R12, 2017, Melbourne 15.14 (104) d Collingwood 15.10 (100) at the MCG R12, 2016, Melbourne 16.8 (104) d Collingwood 8.10 (58) at the MCG R4, 2016, Melbourne 16.6 (102) d Collingwood 9.13 (67) at the MCG R18, 2015, Melbourne 13.13 (91) d Collingwood 7.12 (54) at the MCG LADDER POSITIONS Collingwood: 7 Melbourne: 3 INJURY LIST Sam McLarty (toe) – test Brayden Sier (adductor) – test Ben Reid (leg) – 1-2 weeks Alex Fasolo (ankle) – 5-6 weeks James Aish (knee) – 7-8 weeks Jack Madgen (broken jaw) – 4 weeks Jamie Elliott (hamstring) – TBC post-bye Darcy Moore (hamstring) – TBC post-bye Josh Smith (hamstring) – TBC post-bye Travis Varcoe (hamstring) – TBC post-bye Jeremy Howe (bone bruising) – testKayle Kirby (medical condition) – indefinite Tim Broomhead (knee) – season Tyson Goldsack (knee) – season SUMMARY Coming off three straight victories, the Magpies face a significant test against a red-hot Melbourne on Queen's Birthday. A crowd of up to 80,000 is expected to turn out to watch the Demons attempt to make it seven wins in a row, a feat they have not achieved since 2000. Melbourne's midfield is humming along nicely with Max Gawn's ruck dominance allowing Clayton Oliver and Angus Brayshaw to find the footy at will over the last month. Melbourne's dangerous and versatile forward line has also been pivotal in its powerful form, with coach Simon Goodwin's team ranked No.1 in the AFL for scoring. The Magpies are getting a good spread across the board, although midfielder Tom Phillips, who has averaged 27.9 disposals per game this season, is one of the most improved players in the competition. Scott Pendlebury, Adam Treloar and Steele Sidebottom will need to have big afternoons if Collingwood is going to match it with the form side of the competition. AFL THE SIX POINTS Collingwood’s win in round 23 last season ultimately cost Melbourne a place in the finals. The Magpies kicked six goals to one in the first quarter. Will Hoskin-Elliott finished best on ground taking 12 marks and kicking two goals. Melbourne is the highest-scoring team in 2018 kicking 107 points per game. Since round six the Demons have kicked 116 goals to their opposition's 52 and are averaging 127 points per game over that stretch. The Demons are the No.1 centre clearance team this season, averaging 14.6 per game and are ranked second in general clearances. Collingwood is 10th in the competition for centre clearances. Melbourne will be aiming for seven consecutive wins for the first time since the end of 2000 when it won seven in a row, including a preliminary final. Collingwood will be looking for four straight wins for the first time since midway through 2015. Melbourne has won four of the past five clashes between the sides ending Collingwood’s run of five consecutive wins in 2011-15. Melbourne has had three players inside the League's top 10 for average Schick AFL Player Ratings points between rounds eight and 11, with Max Gawn (No.1), Clayton Oliver (No.6) and Tom McDonald (No.8) all influential in the club's six-game winning streak. IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Brodie Grundy The Collingwood ruckman faces a significant challenge up against fellow All Australian contender Max Gawn. Gawn has been central to Melbourne's centre-square dominance this season, so the star Magpie must do his best to curtail his rival's influence. PREDICTION: Melbourne by 22 points