2018 Round 22: The Team, Preview, Injury List

2018 AFL Round 22 COLLINGWOOD v PORT ADELAIDE Time & Place: Saturday August 18, 1:45pm EST MCG Fox Footy 1:30pm EST Weather: Min 8 Max 14 Chance of rain 80%: 1-5mm Wind: W 25kph Betting: Collingwood $1.42 Port Adelaide $2.90

B: Brayden Maynard, Tom Langdon, Jack Crisp

HB: Sam Murray, Jack Madgen, Levi Greenwood

C: Travis Varcoe, Scott Pendlebury, Tom Phillips

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

F: Josh Thomas, Mason Cox, Jaidyn Stephenson

Foll: Brodie Grundy, Taylor Adams, Steele Sidebottom

Int: Brayden Sier, James Aish, Chris Mayne, Adam Oxley

Emg: Jarryd Blair, Callum Brown, Josh Daicos, Sam McLarty

COLLINGWOOD NEWS COLLINGWOOD V PORT ADELAIDE Collingwood will field an unchanged line-up in Saturday’s huge game against Port Adelaide at the MCG. Jarryd Blair, Callum Brown, Josh Daicos and Sam McLarty were all in contention to come into the team after strong performances in the VFL, but they have been named as emergencies. It is the first time this season that the Pies have fielded the same team in consecutive matches. The game will be a milestone occasion for Travis Varcoe, who's playing his 200th AFL match.

AFL PREVIEW ROUND 22 COLLINGWOOD V PORT ADELAIDE AFL LAST FIVE TIMES R21, 2017, Port Adelaide 14.14 (98) d Collingwood 10.11 (71) Adelaide Oval R14, 2017, Port Adelaide 13.15 (93) d Collingwood 9.8 (62) MCG R11, 2016, Port Adelaide 19.11 (125) d Collingwood 7.16 (58) MCG R15, 2015, Port Adelaide 9.12 (66) d Collingwood 9.9 (63) Adelaide Oval R19, 2014, Collingwood 11.10 (76) d Port Adelaide 10.10 (70) MCG LADDER POSITIONS Collingwood: 5 Port Adelaide: 8 INJURY LIST Ben Reid (calf) – TBC Rupert Wills (hamstring) – test Jeremy Howe (corkie) – 1 week Flynn Appleby (hamstring) – 1-2 weeks Tyson Goldsack (knee / back) – 1-2 weeks Darcy Moore (hamstring) – 3-4 weeks Adam Treloar (hamstrings) – 5-6 weeks Jamie Elliott (knee) – season Kayle Kirby (medical condition) - indefinite Matthew Scharenberg (knee) - season Tim Broomhead (broken leg) – season Lynden Dunn (knee) – season Daniel Wells (foot) – season SUMMARY This critical MCG clash has must-win status for both teams, firstly to make the finals and secondly to push their top-four claims. Port Adelaide, which holds onto eighth spot by just a game, is ruing missed opportunities after losing four of its past five games but will be invigorated by its good recent record both against the Pies and at the MCG. The Power must now combat the loss of key forward Charlie Dixon for the rest of the season, which should provide some relief for the Pies' small defence, while Port ruckman Paddy Ryder is also under an injury cloud, which could give Collingwood's talented midfield brigade an armchair ride through Brodie Grundy's tap work. The injury-hit Pies, who sit fifth, will be tough to toss at the MCG, where they have won five of their past seven games, the only blemishes being against League leaders Richmond and West Coast. AFL THE SIX POINTS Port Adelaide has had the better of Collingwood recently, winning its past four matches and six of seven. The Magpies last defeated the Power in round 19, 2014. The Power's small men did the damage when these teams last met, with Travis Boak, Robbie Gray, Sam Gray, Jake Neade and Jarman Impey combining for eight goals between them. Port has been in good touch at the MCG, where it has won four of its past five games, while Collingwood has won seven and lost six on the hallowed turf this year. Collingwood continues to be the highest-ranked disposal team this season, averaging 404.5 a game, well clear of the Power, who are ranked 10th with 377.1. Another win for the Magpies and it will be the first time they've won 14 games in a home and away season since 2013. The Power have lost four of their past five games by an average margin of just 10 points. In the Schick AFL Player Ratings, Collingwood boasts seven players among the top 55 (Brodie Grundy 6, Scott Pendlebury 10, Adam Treloar 12, Steele Sidebottom 38, Taylor Adams 42, Jack Crisp 51 and Jeremy Howe 55) while Port Adelaide has just three (Robbie Gray 23, Paddy Ryder 29 and Ollie Wines 54). IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Robbie Gray With no Charlie Dixon to crash packs in attack, the Power's small forwards, led by Robbie Gray, will need to hit the scoreboard. The champion forward/midfielder kicked two goals last week but will be smarting after missing a set shot that would have given the Power breathing space in the last quarter of their after-the-siren loss to West Coast at home. In the corresponding game at the MCG last year, he kicked five goals in a best-afield effort. PREDICTION: Collingwood by 15 points