Preview Round 2: Collingwood v Adelaide

Collingwood News

At selection

Collingwood v Adelaide Saturday April 11, 4.35pm Etihad Fox Footy 4.30pm Weather: Min 10 Max 19 Chance of rain 30%: < 1mm Wind: S 22kph Betting: Collingwood $2.60 Adelaide $1.50

Attention at the selection table this week will largely focus on the replacement for Steele Sidebottom.
Sidebottom’s outstanding game against the Lions ended on a sour note when he broke his thumb in the final quarter.
The injury is a blow for the Magpies, for Sidebottom played 19 games and ran second in the Copeland Trophy last season.
Despite the setback, the replacements are queuing up to take Sidebottom’s spot in the midfield.
Sam Dwyer, Paul Seedsman and Tim Broomhead were all amongst the best players list in the VFL practice match against Casey on Saturday, while Nathan Freeman and AFL emergency Ben Kennedy were also impressive.
“We believe in our midfield depth, and the players that we can run through there are actually a strong point, and that will be tested,” Nathan Buckley told the media on Tuesday.
“We'll be looking to introduce fresh legs through there, whether that be forwards who play more midfield time or whether we bring some young players into the mix that have been thereabouts in the VFL.”
Across the border, it will be tough for the Adelaide coaching panel to find negatives from the team’s 77-point win over North Melbourne.
Even away from the Adelaide Oval, the Crows were firing.
Midfielder Scott Thompson had 23 possessions in three quarters against West Adelaide while Matt Crouch dominated 34 disposals and a goal.
Both will be hoping to replace Luke Brown if the defender fails to overcome the corked thigh he sustained against North Melbourne.

Breaking out
A new season gives opportunities for players desperate to prove themselves after a long, gruelling pre-season.
Twenty-one-year-old Taylor Adams is in his fourth year of football and second at Collingwood.
Against Brisbane, Adams showed signs that suggested this could be his best season yet. He collected a career-high 31 disposals, including 13 kicks, 18 handballs and eight clearances.
Many have raised Adams’ name as a replacement for the retired Luke Ball in 2015, and he more than proved his worth in the NAB Challenge, averaging 27.5 disposals in two outings.
With this form and Sidebottom on the sidelines, Adams’ numbers could remain in the 30s for some time to come.

Who takes Tex?
The public image of Adelaide spearhead Taylor Walker is improving in leaps and bounds this year. He’s leading the team, has kicked a bag of goals and is also finding time to comfort nervous children before the game.
The Collingwood defence will be under the pump on Saturday afternoon and will need to band together to keep Walker quiet.
The fitness of Nathan Brown is a great place to start. Brown and Jack Frost have only played alongside each other in the Black and White on six occasions.
Both have played on Walker in the past and have done an impressive job. The 24-year-old has only kicked six goals in his five games against Collingwood.

We meet again, Phil
In round one, 1983, a flashy wingman from Hamilton in rural Victoria debuted for the Collingwood Football Club.
Fast-forward 32 years and this man is the coach of the Adelaide Crows.
Phillip Walsh started his VFL career at Victoria Park and enjoyed an exceptional debut season in 1983, when he played all 22 games and was awarded the Harry Collier Trophy as the club’s Best First Year Player.
The 1983 season was Walsh’s first and only season in the Black and White. He has since worn a number of other colours – first as a player for Richmond and the Brisbane Bears, and then as an assistant coach at Geelong, Port Adelaide and West Coast.
Whether there will be time for Walsh to feel sentiment for his old side on Saturday remains unsure, but keen observers will cast their mind back fondly to the Walsh that ran out for the Pies 32 years ago.

Home away from home
It may not be the fortress that is the MCG, but Collingwood is more than capable of making itself at home at Etihad Stadium.
The Magpies have won 12 of their last 15 games at the venue, with an eight-point loss to the Western Bulldogs last year a rare blemish.
The last time Collingwood met Adelaide at Etihad Stadium was a success for the Magpies who ran out 43-point victors.
Andrew Krakouer and Sharrod Wellingham kicked three goals each in the 2011 clash, while Dale Thomas collected three votes for a 24-disposal game.

Overall record (since 1991)
Collingwood v Adelaide       
Played: 38
Won: 25
Lost: 13
Drawn: 0

Highest score
Collingwood 23.22 (160) def. Adelaide 5.7 (37) in round 15, 1991.

Lowest score
Collingwood 5.9 (39) def. by Adelaide 6.12 (48) in round 21, 1997.

Largest crowd
88,960 in the 2002 Preliminary Final at the MCG.

Smallest crowd
24,663 in round 6, 1997, at Victoria Park.

Did you know?
Adelaide supporters won’t remember Tony Francis fondly.
The South Australian won a career-high 40 disposals in Collingwood’s first meeting with Adelaide in round 15, 1991. The Magpies left Victoria Park 123 points to the good.
This winning margin has never been surpassed by either of the two teams, with the next closest a 110-point Adelaide victory in round 21, 2005.

Preview Round 2: Collingwood v Adelaide

SportMatt

Collingwood v Adelaide Saturday April 11, 4.35pm Etihad Fox Footy 4.30pm Weather: Min 10 Max 19 Chance of rain 30%: < 1mm Wind: S 22kph Betting: Collingwood $2.60 Adelaide $1.50

After such a long wait, round 1 of the 2015 AFL premiership season has been completed. After the nine games had been played it became apparent that once again Hawthorn stood out from the pack, with several other teams clambering to be in a group behind them. After just one round of games the most impressive performance was from the Adelaide Crows, who on Sunday absolutely destroyed North Melbourne in the statement performance of the opening weekend. The Crows, a side that missed the finals the past two seasons, jumped out of the blocks with a 12 goal to 3 first half to all but secure the win by the long break. Under new coach Phillip Walsh it was an impressive performance that really put the Crows name up there as a finals contender.
This Saturday, the Crows travel to Melbourne to play another round one winner, Collingwood, at Etihad Stadium in the twilight time slot. The Magpies win may not have been as impressive as the Crows opener, but an interstate win against the Brisbane Lions, by 12 points, gave the biggest club in the land a nice start to the season also. Like the Crows the Pies led by a large margin just after half time, until the home team came roaring home in one of the games of the round. With both clubs having a win under their belts already, a win here is more of an opportunity then a necessity, with the winner certain to find themselves in the upper echelon of the ladder.
Adelaide and Collingwood clashed twice last season with the Crows coming away victors in both games. The first was a 21 point win at the fortress that is Adelaide Oval early in the season, a game that had some controversy regarding the volume of the siren. The second clash, later in the season, resulted in a 16 point win for the Crows at the M.C.G. when superstar Patrick Dangerfield took over late and ensured an away win. This weekend’s game is a real opportunity for two sides who weren’t rated that highly to start the season on a perfect note with a 2-0 record.

PREVIOUS FORM
With only one proper round completed there’s not much form to go on but what there is seems impressive from both teams. The Crows big win at home against North Melbourne was the perfect way to start the season under their new senior coach. After an initial period of jousting the Crows took the game over half way through the first quarter and never looked back. The speed and accuracy of the ball movement from the home team was as proficient as any teams’ throughout round 1. The most promising sign for Adelaide though was how the forward line functioned, with Taylor Walker booting 6 goals, Eddie Betts getting 4 goals and Josh Jenkins putting 3v majors on the board. Of course the poor effort from the Kangaroos made it a little easier for the Crows but the domination could not be ignored by any future opponents.
Collingwood ventured up to Brisbane as under dogs last Saturday night and started the season on fire, at one point holding a 53 point lead. The Lions charged late as the Pies tired in the humidity but they couldn’t get within single figures as Collingwood notched a 12 point win. The loss of Steele Sidebottom (broken thumb) in game was the only negative for the Magpies on the night as they showed quicker ball movement and better accuracy, something which was similar to the Crows. Pendlebury, Swan and Sidebottom lead from the front although the 31 possession game from Taylor Adams showed he is ready to take that next step and dominate at this level. It wasn’t a perfect night for tall forwards yet Travis Cloke and Jesse White had 10 shots at goal between them, something that shows this Pies forward line will be dangerous in 2015. It was a great start to the season for a club under a lot of media pressure.

COLLINGWOOD PREVIEW
The Magpies came into 2015 with a lot of external pressure on them. The media had already placed senior coach Nathan Buckley high on the ladder of coaches in danger of getting the sack, yet half way through the third quarter last week all was going rosy for the Pies. The loss of Steele Sidebottom with a broken thumb put a dampener on the win, as did the 30 minute period where the Lions kicked 7 goals in a row. The final 8-10 minutes would have pleased Buckley as the Pies repelled attack after attack from the home team and held on for the two goal win. Young ruckman Brodie Grundy was one of the Pies best in those first 3 quarters, but with little support he tired late and he may need more support this week against the Crows. The midfield won the battle in those first 2 and ½ quarters with the usual suspects leading the way. The increase in output from Adams and Blair also added to that early midfield dominance with Blair named by the club as their best contributor on the night. It was a performance that most media judges didn’t expect and one that raised the hopes of the Magpies returning to the finals in 2015.
The loss of Sidebottom and the unavailability of Greenwood and Reid means that Collingwood go into this game nowhere near full strength. Their is capable back up though with Sam Dwyer, Tim Broomhead, Ben Kennedy, Paul Seedsman, Nathan Freeman and Jonathon Marsh all impressing in the VFL on Saturday. The coaching staff will look at the midfield as the area that needs assistance against the Crows so Dwyer, Broomhead, Kennedy and Freeman will come into contention. Watching the VFL is an experience itself these days at Collingwood with so many future stars running around, with Darcy Moore obviously the biggest interest for most. This weekend should see the experienced duo of Ben Reid and Jarrod Witts return with Matt Scharenberg and Clinton Young close to returning too. It shows the young talent the Magpies have on their list and the improvement that lays within. Against the Crows though the Pies will have to make do, and although they will go in under full strength if they apply that intense pressure that is their trademark they can push the Crows and even pull of an upset.

OPPOSITION ANALYSIS
The Crows entered season 2015 with a new found sense of hope after switching senior coaches in the off season. Out went Brenton Sanderson, who only 2 seasons back had got them within a kick of a grand final, and in came Phillip Walsh, who had worked with the juggernaut that is Port Adelaide for the past few seasons. Adelaide started last season with a 4-7 win loss record, and despite flying home to only miss the finals by one game a coaching change came. Straight away it’s given the playing group a boost with Walsh wanting the group to play a fast flowing, aggressive form of football. The size of the Adelaide Oval playing field was used to full effect versus the Kangaroos as the Crows ran wild for the best part of four quarters. The Crows really do look like a team that will return to the finals after 2 seasons out.
The Crows midfield is stacked with talent and is an obvious area of strength. Contract disputes with stars Dangerfield and Sloane may be some distraction later in the year but early on those two were as good as anyone against North. Their midfield really is deep with Dangerfield, Sloane, Douglas (a game high 31 possessions last week), McKay, Henderson and Eliis-Yeoman making it a really strong group. Add the returning Nathan Van Berlo and the small forwards who play as mids when the ball comes forward and this is a formidable central core. They are well serviced in the ruck too by Sam Jacobs with Josh Jenkins helping the man they call “Sauce” out. The Pies midfield will be weakened this week due to injury so this is the area the Crows will look to dominate in.
The Adelaide forward line is starting to come together nicely, as show by the fact that James Podsiadly can’t get a game. Taylor Walker started the season on fire last week, and with the likes of Betts, Jenkins, Lynch and Cameron helping him out scoring once they get the ball forward won’t be a problem for the Crows. They meet a Collingwood backline this week that is also weakened by injury with Ben Reid the real missing piece for the Magpies The Crows will look to stretch the Pies relatively young defense and with Walker fit and firing it’s going to be a real test for the Magpies for sure.
The Crows backline on paper may appear to be a weakness as shown by being the 11th ranked defense in 2014. They do possess one of the best young defenders in the AFL though in Daniel Talia who is likely to face off with Travis Cloke on Saturday. Other youngsters Luke Brown and Kyle Hartigan make up the key defenders for Adelaide and will have to be on their game against a dangerous Magpies forward line. Where the Crows will try and exploit Collingwood is with their ball movement and run out of the defensive zone, and teams in the past have dominated the Magpies in that area. This may well be the one part of the ground though that the Pies will look to get on top and pressure the Crows into mistakes.
The Adelaide Crows are still a work in process but if round 1 was anything to go by that work is coming along quite well. Of course they have to travel this week but surely they would see it as a real opportunity to test their new found confidence. The Crows won’t make many changes to the 22 that played against the Kangaroos because as they say “it it ain’t broke don’t fix it”. Adelaide will start this game as favourite but know that beating Collingwood in Melbourne won’t be easy, and they will have to play near their best to start the season with a 2-0 record.

TIP
Adelaide will enter this game as clear favourites and most so called experts will tip them to get over the line on Saturday. Collingwood though seem to have developed a game plan that relies more on attack and pressure of the ball carrier then the personnel named on the field. The Crows ability to win the midfield battle will decide this game, if they can get on top for longer periods then the Lions were able to, they will win.
However if Collingwood is able to break even, or even dominate as they did against the Lions for almost 3 quarters, their forward line is good enough to put a score on the board. Being under the roof at Etihad conditions don’t suit or hinder either team but being at home for the first time should be a distinct advantage for the Pies. Ultimately it comes down to who will play at a higher intensity for longer and with a confidence boosting win under their belts, I believe Collingwood can get the win here.
MAGPIES BY 5 POINTS.

Keeffe and Thomas to face ASADA

SUPERFOOTY

Collingwood v Adelaide Saturday April 11, 4.35pm Etihad Fox Footy 4.30pm Weather: Min 10 Max 19 Chance of rain 30%: < 1mm Wind: S 22kph Betting: Collingwood $2.60 Adelaide $1.50

COLLINGWOOD players Lachie Keeffe and Josh Thomas will plead their case with ASADA on Monday ahead of the testing of their B samples the following day.
The provisionally banned pair continue to undertake some fitness training as they confront the reality of two-year bans.
They have been summoned by ASADA to discuss their positions and could know the result of the B sample by the following week.
But sports drug experts say the banned drug Clenbuterol rarely deteriorates in a sample — meaning the A and B samples are likely to be identical.
Even if they were able to convince the anti-doping body they took an illicit drug laced with a banned substance, they would receive little or no discount.
If ASADA was to heavily discount bans based on that defence it would become the default position for every athlete who took a banned substance.
If a player was to suggest they took an illicit substance laced with a banned drug they would need proof, possibly including testing of the illicit substance.
An admission of illegal drug use would open up other legal avenues against the players, which is why some players simply argue “no defence” and accept bans.
If the B sample proves positive the players will plan strategies for an anti-doping tribunal in May or June at the earliest.
It is likely the players would have limited options to argue for a reduced ban.
A “no fault or negligence” defence provides for a discounted penalty, but a player would need to prove he had no role in the drugs entering his body.
Collingwood says it has audited its supplements and dietary program and players do not take any other supplements independently.
The sole positive is that they tested positive for the banned drug before the AFL Commission rubber-stamped the 2015 WADA code.
It means they would have strong grounds to argue the league could not retrospectively apply the code, which features four-year maximum bans instead of two years.
The pair are said to be in good spirits despite the circumstances and have been offered counselling from the AFL Players Association.
The absence of the midfielder Thomas will begin to bite hard at Collingwood this week given the club’s injured midfield.
Steele Sidebottom will miss 6-8 weeks with a thumb injury and will be missed against a dominant Adelaide midfield.

Injury List

AFL

Collingwood v Adelaide Saturday April 11, 4.35pm Etihad Fox Footy 4.30pm Weather: Min 10 Max 21 Chance of rain 30%: < 1mm Wind: S 17kph Betting: Collingwood $2.40 Adelaide $1.55

THE LONG-TERM injuries to Steele Sidebottom and Levi Greenwood will test Collingwood's midfield depth like never before, coach Nathan Buckley concedes.
Sidebottom is due to have an operation on his broken thumb later on Tuesday, sidelining him for up to two months, while Greenwood is looking at the same time out with a hairline fracture of his ankle, suffered in the final NAB Challenge game on March 21.
The Magpies will confront Adelaide at Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon, the Crows fresh off a 77-point annihilation of North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval.
"We've got two of our first-choice midfielders who won't play for a period of time so it's a challenge for us," Buckley said on Tuesday.
"We believe in our midfield depth, and the players that we can run through there are actually a strong point, and that will be tested.
"We'll be looking to introduce fresh legs through there, whether that be forwards who play more midfield time or whether we bring some young players into the mix that have been thereabouts in the VFL."
Buckley named Sam Dwyer, Tim Broomhead and Paul Seedsman as those in the running to replace Sidebottom, while he also singled out Darcy Moore and Jonathon Marsh for their efforts in defence for the Magpies' VFL team in a practice match against Casey Scorpions on Saturday afternoon.

Injuries Player Injury Estimated Return Levi Greenwood Fractured ankle 10-12 weeks Brent Macaffer Knee 6-8 weeks Ben Reid Soft-tissue issues Test Matt Scharenberg Knee 4-6 weeks Steele Sidebottom Broken thumb 6-8 weeks Jarrod Witts General soreness Test Clinton Young Hamstring 3-5 weeks

Buckley will have noted that the Crows' dominance against North was borne out of their midfielders' ability to win the ball in tight, smashing the Kangaroos in contested possessions (142-115), and allowing star forward Taylor Walker to take full toll with six goals.
"He moves really well. He just looks like a big midfielder," Buckley said of Walker.
"He's got great agility. He's got an understanding of the game and where to put himself and he can impact aerially.
"Their forwards are all dangerous – (Eddie) Betts, (Taylor) Walker, (Tom) Lynch, (Josh) Jenkins, (Charlie) Cameron.
"They've got quite a few scoring avenues."
In positive news for the Magpies, Ben Reid will play in the VFL this weekend as he builds his way back up from a series of soft-tissue injuries which limited his pre-season.
"Ben will play this week and continue to increase his game load," Buckley said.
"We think we're managing him really well. Externally, there's an impatience to see him up and about.
"But we've said all along that ‘Reidy’ will play when he's ready, and he's still got some more game load to get in.
Buckley wouldn’t be drawn on the situations of Lachlan Keeffe and Josh Thomas after the pair returned a positive A-sample test to the performance-enhancing drug clenbuterol.
"There won't be any change in their status until the 'B' sample gets tested (on April 14)," Buckley said.

2015 LADDER: ROUND 1

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

Nathan Buckley

The Australian

Collingwood v Adelaide Saturday April 11, 4.35pm Etihad Fox Footy 4.30pm Weather: Min 10 Max 21 Chance of rain 30%: < 1mm Wind: S 17kph Betting: Collingwood $2.40 Adelaide $1.55

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley’s reputation for being too intense – and then by extension too stubborn or inflexible – vanished for a moment at the Gabba on Saturday night.
The Brownlow Medallist smiled. He laughed.
The man who has regretted smashing telephones in the coach’s box took pleasure in seeing Magpies playmaker Steele Sidebottom snap a goal along the boundary line next to a behind post in the third term. Buckley can enjoy football as a coach.
How comfortable Buckley felt after this rare moment – as Brisbane hacked away at Collingwood’s 53-point lead with seven unanswered goals – was not a laughing matter.
He did not look overly stressed after dodging a bullet (by 12 points) on a rainy, humid night in Brisbane when many expected either Collingwood or the recharged Essendon to be the headline of the opening round.
Buckley is a storyline in the making this season.
It is his fourth year as Collingwood coach, a job he gained with the Magpies ranked second in 2011 after Michael Malthouse was ushered away as a losing grand final coach.
Since then Collingwood has ranked fourth, sixth and 11th – a trend that has to change if Buckley is to avoid becoming the story of the year.
How convincing Collingwood’s claim to rebounding in 2015 stands is for more than one game.

Round 1: Collingwood 86 Brisbane 74

THE FACTS

COLLINGWOOD   3.3.21    7.6.48    12.11.83    12.14.86
BRISBANE            2.3.15    3.5.23        7.6.48      11.8.74

SCORERS - Collingwood: White (2.3), Cloke (2.2), Blair (2.0), Sidebottom (2.0), Crisp (1.1), Elliott (1.1), Fasolo (1.1), Varcoe (1.1), Langdon (0.1), Swan (0.1)

BEST - Collingwood: Sidebottom, Pendlebury, Cloke, Swan, Adams, White, Grundy

INJURIES - Collingwood: Steele Sidebottom (broken thumb)

SUBSTITUTES - Collingwood: Jordan De Goey replaced Adam Oxley in the third quarter

REPORTS: Nil

OFFICIAL CROWD: 31,240 at the Gabba

TALKING POINTS

1. Pies' pressure puts nightmare week behind them If there was a question on how the Magpies would react after their tumultuous week, they answered it in emphatic fashion. Sure, they ran out of legs as the Lions stormed home in the final 40 minutes, but the Pies' intensity was relentless for most of the night. The provisional suspensions for Lachlan Keeffe and Josh Thomas early in the week might have sent a shock through the club, but you would never have known it from the on-field performance. They smashed the Lions in contested possessions (164-152) and gave their opponents no room to move. The attitude was spot on and it was a suffocating defensive effort that Collingwood fans should get excited over. 2. Rocky's broken ribs rub it in As if the loss wasn't bad enough for the Lions, inspirational skipper Tom Rockliff has suspected broken ribs. Early in the third quarter new Magpie Travis Varcoe flew for a mark at half-forward and collected Rockliff in the ribs with his right knee. The 2014 All Australian and best and fairest winner was in agony and assisted from the field by Lions' medical staff before being subbed. His team rallied in his absence, but losing the skipper was a cruel blow. 3. Adams ambushes Beams' big match He was the centre of attention all week, and Dayne Beams busted his backside in his first game since leaving Collingwood for the Lions - but Taylor Adams might have just got the points. Beams got plenty of the ball, racking up a game-high 32 disposals, but 25 of them were handballs, and many of them backwards. With regular tagger Brent Macaffer sidelined with an ACL injury, Adams (who had 29 touches of his own) might have put his hand up for a regular run-with role. On the flipside, ex-Lion Jack Crisp was more than serviceable in his first game for the Magpies, finishing with 13 disposals and a classy right-footed snapped goal in the third quarter.

4. Man of Steele steps up The Magpies lost Beams in the off-season, Thomas during the week and are still without Clinton Young (hamstring), but Steele Sidebottom picked up any midfield slack in spades before breaking his thumb early in the final term. The classy on-baller had just 19 disposals, but it's the quality that counts and he laid two goals on a platter in the dominant first half and added two of his own to set-up the match-winning lead. Dane Swan (31) and skipper Scott Pendlebury (25) were their usual prolific selves, and showed they're also in top touch to start the season. 5. What's the weird hand contraption on Collingwood's bench? Just when you think you've seen everything possible to do with recovery and rehabilitation, AFL clubs continue to surprise. When sitting on the bench during the first half, ruckman Brodie Grundy and defender Nathan Brown were seen sporting a strange 'claw' like contraption over their hand. Whether it was a mini ice glove or not, it certainly worked, because Grundy was superb against the Lions' tandem of Matthew Leuenberger and Stefan Martin, while Brown was also solid at the back.                                  "If there was a question on how the Magpies would react after their tumultuous week, they answered it in emphatic fashion. Sure, they ran out of legs as the Lions stormed home in the final 40 minutes, but the Pies' intensity was relentless for most of the night. The provisional suspensions for Lachlan Keeffe and Josh Thomas early in the week might have sent a shock through the club, but you would never have known it from the on-field performance. "

THE MEDIA

COLLINGWOOD NEWS COLLINGWOOD withstood a dramatic fightback from Brisbane to register a hard-earned, but richly deserved 12-point win at the Gabba on Saturday night. The Magpies led by as many as 53 points during the third term but were given an almighty scare when the Lions booted the last seven goals of the match to almost pinch an unlikely victory. However, a visibly tired Collingwood outfit dug deep and found a way to hold on for the 12.14 (86) to 11.8 (74) result. The win was soured by the injury to Steele Sidebottom with the midfielder to miss a few weeks after breaking his right thumb. Compounding Brisbane's hurt, skipper Tom Rockliff suffered suspected broken ribs after copping a knee to his side midway through the third quarter. The collision occurred in a marking contest with Collingwood's Travis Varcoe, with Rockliff in clear agony as he was substituted out of the match and later taken to hospital. Rockliff was Brisbane's best at that stage with 18 possessions and four clearances. Star Lions recruit Dayne Beams also saw plenty of the football, amassing a game-high 32 disposals in his first match since his move from Collingwood - but he only kicked the ball seven times, and was minded closely by Taylor Adams for most of the night. After missing almost all of the 2014 season following a knee reconstruction, Daniel Rich made a sensational return to football with 29 possessions and two goals. Quelling fears their midfield would struggle without the former All Australian and 2010 premiership star, the Magpies easily outpaced, outmuscled and outmanoeuvred the disappointing hosts for most of the night in front of 31,240 fans - Brisbane's best crowd in five years. The humid conditions didn't help but the Lions were too clumsy with the ball and often timid going forward when the game was up for grabs - in stark contrast to Collingwood's rapid play. All the pre-match focus was on Brisbane's improved midfield and their hopes of a top-eight breakthrough following the key additions of Beams and Allen Christensen. But it was Collingwood's usual suspects Dane Swan (31 possessions) and Sidebottom (19) who ran riot, while Taylor Adams (29) and Scott Pendlebury (25) were equally impressive. Travis Cloke was the game's dominant forward with two goals, manhandling defenders at will and providing his side with exactly the kind of focal point the Lions lacked. Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said his side's control of stoppages slipped in the second half, allowing the Lions back into the contest. "We basically dominated the game for the best part of three quarters and gave the opposition a sniff because we didn't finish a couple of chances," he said. "We gave ourselves a bit of a scare but the leadership and the pluck in that last eight minutes to hold the game and do what we needed to do was pretty good. Brisbane coach Justin Leppitsch was struggling to wrap his head around why his side were so poor early and so good late. "It's extremely frustrating to start like that," he said. "Three quarters of watching us get completely obliterated in contested possession and effort and tackling and all those key indicators, to somehow turn it around ... I'd love to know (what it was). "I'd love to get to the bottom of it because we've been pretty competitive in the pre-season and that's probably as poor as we've gone."                             REAL FOOTY It began tightly, two middling teams finding their way tentatively into the season. After the early struggle, the ascendancy was taken, and for a significant portion of the match, a walkover loomed. And then it was a thriller. Played in slippery, humid conditions in Brisbane, this game had more faces than Melbourne's weather. In the end it finished with a Collingwood victory in heavy rain, rain that might have taken some momentum away from the charging Brisbane Lions. It was probably a fair result – the Pies held a 53-point lead late in the third term – but they had to dig deep to secure the win, their players visibly flagging as the game wore on. The Lions had looked shot. They'd lost their captain Tom Rockliff in a disastrous beginning to the third term, packed off to hospital after getting a knee in the ribs from a new Magpie, former Cat Travis Varcoe. Only three goals in red time in the third quarter had given them a ghost of a chance. But Daniel Rich's scrambled goal from the first clearance of the last change forced flagging Collingwood into lock-down mode. They were able to hold the Lions out for 10 minutes, but Josh Green's second – and the sight of Steele Sidebottom on the bench with ice on his thumb – sent a shiver through the Pies' camp. Then Allen Christensen found another from a free kick, reducing the margin to 16 points with ample time left for a team on the charge. Dayne Beams, who'd found plenty of the ball but barely got his foot to it, picked out Green for his third. That could have been a cue for panic, but older, wiser heads prevailed. It was a good game, played in front of the biggest crowd at the Gabba in years, but one that answered few longer-term questions hanging over both clubs. The Lions looked most vulnerable, with the promising but raw Daniel McStay the only genuine key forward in their set-up, with ruckman Matthew Leuenberger in support. Collingwood have their own problems up forward, but they do boast size and experience in Travis Cloke and Jesse White. They've been overly reliant on Cloke and his often malfunctioning radar, but from the start the big man was leading up the ground, leaving White and smaller players Jamie Elliott and Alex Fasolo at his feet. It was a canny move, because it left Justin Clarke – the only player who could run with Cloke – to be rag-dolled by the big man, while Daniel Merrett (the only player capable of matching Cloke's brute strength) stayed deep in defence on White, who played one of his best games for his club. Cloke, too, looked free – mentally and physically – and was among the most influential early, seizing on a woeful error by Claye Beams to toe-poke a ball through in the goal square, then ripping Clarke off the footy to set up Varcoe for his first goal as a Magpie. A second goal to Cloke, Varcoe this time returning the favour, saw the Pies to half-time with a handy 25-point break. The Lions were winning enough possessions, but couldn't convert. That, you suspect, will be a recurring problem. Collingwood's other trump was Sidebottom, who looks ready to move into the league's top bracket. He kicked Collingwood's first goal, had a devilishly clever hand in two others in the first half, then kicked the Magpies' first of the second to instantly make the Lions' job far more difficult. A goal to an ex-Lion in Jack Crisp swiftly followed and quietened a sizeable home crowd, and while Jed Adcock mustered a badly needed reply, Elliott and White came close to finishing the match. When Rockliff left the field in agony, that really should have been it. But Collingwood sprayed some opportunities to let the Lions back in with a flurry of majors.

SUPERFOOTY SUSPECTED broken ribs to Brisbane captain Tom Rockliff was the injury. The agonising 12-point loss at the hands of Collingwood was the insult for the fast-finishing Lions who left their charge at the Magpies too late at the Gabba. Brisbane kicked the last seven goals of the game to give Collingwood a mighty fright after the Magpies held a commanding 53-point buffer at the 25-minute mark of the third term. They closed to within just 10 points but Collingwood held firm in the dying minutes. The expected fireworks between the sides over ex-Magpie and new Lions recruit Dayne Beams never really eventuated and neither did a genuine contest until Brisbane’s stunning surge at the back-end of the match. The victory was all the more remarkable given the Magpies were engulfed in a drugs drama at the start of the week after Lachlan Keeffe and Josh Thomas tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. But if any club is used to absorbing drama, it’s Collingwood. And that is the way it played out as the Magpies were sure by foot and hand and Brisbane struggled to hang on to the Sherrin that was made all the more slippery due to the humidity until their last quarter heroics. The tacking pressure and ferocity of Collingwood also played a big part in Brisbane’s early error-prone effort in front of 31,240 spectators. The rib injury to Rockliff was the salt in the wound for the home side who carried great expectations into the clash after a highly successful summer. Rockliff copped a knee in his rib cage from Magpies forward Travis Varcoe in a marking contest midway through the third term and slumped to the turf. He was in considerable pain as he was assisted from the field as he struggled to stay on his feet. He was taken to hospital for tests before the match concluded. Beams was at the centre of two minor scuffles — one at half-time and another after he missed a target in the second quarter and his former teammates swooped to let him know about it. He was booed the first time he touched the ball with the Gabba full of Collingwood supporters but still finished with a game-high 32 touches and nine clearances. Dane Swan (31 possessions), Brodie Grundy (31 hit-outs and 13 touches) and Taylor Adams (29 possessions) were the best for the Pies while Daniel Rich was the central figure in the comeback and was Brisbane’s best with 30 touches. Collingwood held a 25-point lead at half-time but could have been further in front given the dominance of the visitors in super slippery conditions. Apart from the opening five minutes when it was all Brisbane, the Pies controlled proceedings. At the main break, Collingwood had nine less disposals than Brisbane but six more tackles, three more clearances, 11 more contested possessions and five more marks inside 50 and 10 more inside 50 entries. Even in the humid conditions that made the Sherrin like a cake of soap, the Lions were guilty of some terrible skill errors that gifted possession to the Pies. Brisbane jumped out of the gates through a strong mark and goal to Daniel McStay but the Magpies responded with goals to Steele Sidebottom, Jarryd Blair and Jesse White to seize the momentum. Lions ruckman stopped the rot with a goal late in the first term but the Magpies still held a one-goal buffer at the first change. Collingwood came out with all guns blazing to start the second quarter with Travis Cloke, Alex Fasolo and Travis Varcoe piling on the pain with goals as the Lions continued to miss targets and turnover the ball. Dayne Zorko offered some hope for the home side with a clever snap but Cloke’s second major for the term allowed Collingwood to stamp their authority on the contest just before the main break. Magpies defender Alan Toovey hit Lions livewire Lewis Taylor with a heavy bump late in the second quarter. Toovey appeared to be bracing for contact and hit Taylor in the chest and shoulder but the incident is still likely to be looked at by the Match Review Panel. Lions players wore black armbands last night following the passing of Ray Black — the father of club legend and Brisbane assistant coach Simon Black.                                 COLLINGWOOD NEWS COLLINGWOOD midfielder Steele Sidebottom will miss "a few weeks" after breaking his thumb in Saturday night's gutsy victory over the Brisbane Lions. Sidebottom was one of the Magpies' best in the 12-point win before suffering the injury early in the final quarter. The 24-year-old had 19 disposals, kicked two goals and set up two others before his injury allowed the Lions roar back into the contest. Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said Sidebottom copped a kick to the thumb. "The early diagnosis is a break," Buckley said. "We'll need to know whether that's going to need a pin, but he'll miss a few weeks with that." Sidebottom's injury took the gloss off a superb performance from Collingwood, just four days after Lachlan Keeffe and Josh Thomas were provisionally suspended for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug. Collingwood destroyed the Lions in the first three quarters to lead by as many as 53 points, and despite the Lions' late surge, Buckley was full of praise for his men. "We basically dominated the game for the best part of three quarters," he said. "We gave the opposition a sniff because we didn't finish a couple of chances at the end of the third quarter and gave ourselves a bit of a scare. "But I thought the leadership and pluck in that last eight minutes to hold the game and do what we needed to do was pretty good." Buckley said skipper Scott Pendlebury, defender Alan Toovey and ex-Cat Travis Varcoe were among the experienced heads that kept composed under pressure. He said despite the players overcoming a tumultuous week off the field to get the four premiership points, the impact of the drugs situation was far from over. "It takes some time for that shock to settle in," Buckley said. "I wouldn't think it would be truly absorbed yet by the players. "Their immediate reaction is to feel for their teammates, to support them. The club's immediate reaction is to provide support for those two players and the players and staff of the footy club and we'll continue to do that. "It's not going to be done in a week, it's not going to be done in two weeks. It will transpire as the season progresses. "I've spoken to the players but I have deliberately not asked about specific events because I'm not sure where that takes the investigation." "We gave the opposition a sniff because we didn't finish a couple of chances at the end of the third quarter and gave ourselves a bit of a scare. But I thought the leadership and pluck in that last eight minutes to hold the game and do what we needed to do was pretty good."  Nathan Buckley

Preview Round 1: Collingwood v Brisbane

SportMatt

Collingwood v Brisbane Saturday April 4, 7.20pm Gabba 7mate / Fox Footy 7.15pm Weather: Min 21 Max 27 Chance of rain 90%: 5-10mm Wind: E 14kph Betting: Collingwood $2.55 Brisbane $1.52

Footy’s back, and not a moment too soon as the AFL deals with the fallout from yet another drug controversy. It’s round one finally and this Saturday night Collingwood and Brisbane will open their home and away campaigns at the Gabba. Collingwood, the club caught up in the latest performance enhancing drug investigation, travels north with hopes of a better season then they had in 2014. Injuries, form and off field problems meant that the biggest club in the land missed the finals for the first time in 8 seasons. The Lions, still rebuilding after some recruiting mistakes made under previous coach Michael Voss, had a tumultuous season which was basically over before it began as they won only one of their first nine games. The Lions did finish the season better then the Magpies though, with 3 wins in their final 6 games, including a thumping 67 point over Collingwood in round 21. That was the only clash of the season between the two in 2014, and it was a night from hell for the Pies with further injuries and the heavy loss all but ending their finals hopes.
The obvious point of promotion for this game will be Dayne Beams. The star midfielder decided to leave Collingwood during the trade period and the club obliged, trading him to Brisbane. While there will be some ill feeling from Magpie fans towards Beams, it probably won’t spill over onto the field. Beams though is a very handy addition to an already strong Lions midfield.

PREVIOUS FORM
Pre season form can be misleading, but it’s the only form we have to go on leading into this round 1 clash. Collingwood began the NAB challenge in style, disposing of an under manned Hawthorn outfit by 44 points in Launceston. They followed that up with a close loss to Carlton at Bendigo, a result that no one really criticised or applauded. The final matchup of the pre season competition though would be of concern for the coaching staff at Collingwood. They went into the game against the Bulldogs in Melbourne as favourites, yet from very early in the contest it was clear the Magpies were never going to be in the game. The Pies only won one quarter and eventually went down by 61 points in a rather embarrassing performance. The loss wasn’t the worst thing to happen on the night, with tough midfielder Levi Greenwood, joining the Pies as part of the Beams deal, going down with an ankle injury that would rule him out for the first 2 months of the season. It was a poor end to the pre season and really leaves us with no real indication as to just how good (or bad) this Collingwood outfit will be.
Brisbane on the other hand had an impressive pre season campaign. They started off with a close win over St Kilda in Brisbane where Dayne Beams starred with a best on ground performance. Next up was their most impressive performance, a 36 point win over last years’ grand finalists Sydney in Coffs Harbour, where Josh Green showed why he is becoming one of the most dangerous small forwards in the AFL. The Lions finished their pre season fixtures with a game against local rivals the Gold Coast Suns. The game never reached any great heights until the final few moments when instinct took over as both teams fought for a win. When the siren sounded the scores were level and the Lions would have been happy with their pre season endeavours. Based just on NAB Challenge form they definitely look to be ahead of Collingwood at this stage.

COLLINGWOOD PREVIEW
Collingwood enter season 2015 as an under estimated side. There’s yet to be anyone in the media that considers them a chance of playing finals, yet there is intense pressure from the same group on coach Nathan Buckley. That is kind of an oxymoron but internally that won’t have any bearing on what happens this season. What will determine how the Pies go this season is the improvement from within the group. The additions of experienced players Travis Varcoe, Levi Greenwood and Jack Crisp may well help in the short term but it’s the youngsters at Collingwood who will ultimately decide if this club moves forward on field or not. The Magpies have through trading, acquired 7 first round draft picks over the last 3 seasons, and it’s those highly rated youngsters that hold the key to the improvement of the list. The problem with this is that most of those players aren’t ready to be consistent AFL performers yet so it’s most likely the Magpies will have yet another inconsistent season.
Heading into this game the Magpies are relatively healthy with only a handful of first choice players unavailable for the trip to Brisbane. The loss of Greenwood and the unavailability of Reid, Freeman and Seedsman is a concern but there are still a fair group contesting to be selected for this game. Jarrod Witts and Tim Broomhead impressed in a VFL hitout last Thursday and both surely will be close to selection for this game. Whether the Pies choose to go with two permanent ruckman in Witts and Brodie Grundy is one question up for debate, with Brisbane having two very capable rucks of their own (Leuenberger and Martin). The major concern for the Magpies in this game may well be their ability to score, with both delivery inside the forward zone and accuracy when shooting at goal a major problem last season. The reliance on Travis Cloke is still there and the Pies need to find someone to assist him, with White, Grundy, Witts and Gault among those in contention to do so. Collingwood can win this game, it doesn’t mean they will, but by no means are they out of this and if they perform to their best, they will win.

OPPOSITION ANALYSIS
Brisbane go into season 2015 with the hope of improving on a 15th placed finish. There weren’t too many positives for the Lions in 2014 with only one loss under 10 points and plenty of big margins, but the way they finished the season was better then their start. Coming into this season though they have undoubtedly strengthened their list. The addition of Beams, Christensen and Robinson adds much needed experience to one of the youngest lists in the AFL and makes their midfield one of the more formidable in the league. The loss of Joel Patfull to GWS and the retirement of club legends Jonathon Brown and Ashley McGrath will hurt although the latter two didn’t have much of an impact last season anyway. The Lions self titled “mosquito fleet” is their strength, and while there are questions regarding their key position stocks the Lions will be an exciting team to watch this year.
The area of most concern for the Lions is their defense. Daniel Merrett spent a lot of time up forward last season and it hurt the Lions backline, with Brisbane conceding the third most points of the 18 AFL clubs. The good news is Merrett will return to the backline this season which will help a struggling young defense. Apart from Merrett there is improvement in this area though with high hopes for young key position players Darcy Gardiner and Justin Clarke. The loss of Pearce Hanley with a hip injury will hurt the Lions run off half back but with Adcock, Beams (of the Claye variety) and Daniel Rich slated to play off half back, there should still be sufficient drive out of defense. The Collingwood forward line has it’s own problems with a heavy reliance on Cloke and Elliott so the Lions defense should be able to be effective this weekend.
Without doubt the section of the ground where Brisbane will look to dominate Collingwood, and other teams, is the midfield. Led by two class ruckman in Matthew Leuenberger and Stefan Martin. New captain Tom Rockliff and boom recruit Dayne Beams will lead the mosquito squad with names like Zorko, Taylor, Aish, Christensen, Mayes and Redden making up a very impressive midfield grouping. The Lions midfield possesses the kryptonite of Collingwood if you will, pace. The Pies don’t possess a lot of pacy small mids with their youngsters the quickest of the probable group. The Lions ran the Pies off their feet at the MCG last season and while the predicted wet weather may slow the game down a bit, it’s the one out right area that the Lions have an advantage in. Collingwood though has it’s stars to feed of, with Swan, Sidebottom and the amazing Scott Pendlebury leading the way. Most say a game is won or lost in the midfield and this clash may be no different.
The Lions forward line is a work in progress with the loss of the immortal Jonathon Brown requiring a restructure of their attacking set up. Youngster like McStay and Close will be called upon to fill the void early on in the season but you feel the majority of the Lions scoring will come from their small forwards and midfielders. They do have one of the best small forwards in the league with Josh Green kicking 33 goals last season to lead the club in scoring. The loss of Brown will hurt but his loss was going to come at some point so it’s time to move on for the Lions. The Collingwood backline they will come up against has also lost some experience with Maxwell and Lumumba moving on. That may even the ledger a bit and once again pace will be the weapon the Lions will look to use to exploit the Pies.
Brisbane should be an improved team in 2015 with the classy additions and the natural improvement of their youngsters. Whether that translates to a dramatic move up the ladder or not is yet to be seen but a round 1 win at home would boost their chances. The Lions will start favourites, and rightfully so, but there isn’t any real exposed form so anything can happen on the night.

TIP
The early rounds of an AFL season are always the hardest to tip especially when you have two teams who struggled the season before. The home ground advantage obviously favours the Lions although they only won 3 of 11 games at the Gabba last season. The Pies generally travel well interstate and the forecast wet weather would favour the visitors more then the locals.
I see the midfield’s as fairly even with both forward lines being flawed in many ways, which leaves the defense as the area where one team might be dominant. It’s in that area, in the ability to restrict a sides score that I favour the Magpies and therefore I believe they will start their season off with a win.
MAGPIES BY 11 POINTS.

Round 1: The Team

Collingwood v Brisbane Saturday April 4, 7.20pm Gabba 7mate / Fox Footy 7.15pm Weather: Min 21 Max 26 Chance of rain 90%: 10-20mm Wind: E 13kph Betting: Collingwood $2.40 Brisbane $1.58

B: Alan Toovey, Nathan Brown, Ben Sinclair
HB: Marley Williams, Jack Frost, Adam Oxley
C: Travis Varcoe, Jack Crisp, Steele Sidebottom
HF: Dane Swan, Jesse White, Tyson Goldsack
F: Jamie Elliott, Travis Cloke, Alex Fasolo
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Taylor Adams, Scott Pendlebury
Int: Jackson Ramsay, Jarryd Blair, Tom Langdon, Jordan De Goey
Emg: Ben Kennedy, Patrick Karnezis, Corey Gault
New: Jack Crisp (21, Brisbane), Jordan De Goey (19, Oakleigh U18), Travis Varcoe (26, Geelong)

Fast Fact: Jordan De Goey will become the 20th Magpie to make his AFL debut since Nathan Buckley took the reigns in the opening round of the 2012 season. In the three years since, a total of 26 players have represented the club for the first time. With the advent of Crisp, De Goey and Varcoe, that number will swell to 29 on Saturday night.

Collingwood News Record Since 1997 Collingwood v Brisbane Played: 26 Won: 9 Lost: 17 Drawn: 0 Highest score Collingwood 18.12 (120) def. Brisbane 13.9 (87) in round nine, 2007. Lowest score Collingwood 8.4 (52) def. by Brisbane 13.16 (94) in round 22, 1999. The changing face of the Collingwood Football Club will be on show when the club unveils three new recruits in its season opener against Brisbane on Saturday night. Teenager Jordan De Goey, the fifth overall selection in last November’s National Draft, will join ex-Lion Jack Crisp and dual Geelong premiership forward Travis Varcoe as the three men to pull on the Black and White jumper for the first time. De Goey, who showed glimpses of his undoubted potential in the Magpies’ first two NAB Challenge matches, made the most of his final audition for round one in the VFL last Thursday, kicking two goals and displaying his appetite for the contested ball. “Obviously it’s a massive rush for me and a lot of excitement,” De Goey told CollingwoodTV. “I got told by Bucks not too long ago. It did seem like ages, though, but I’m just grateful to get the opportunity and I’m looking forward to representing the Collingwood Football Club.” Saturday’s match looms as particularly noteworthy for Crisp, who played 18 games in three seasons for the Lions before being traded to Collingwood in the deal that saw Dayne Beams return to Queensland last October. Crisp, a long-striding defender, showcased his thumping left foot kick during the NAB Challenge, where he averaged 12.0 disposals and 3.7 tackles across his three games. “I’m feeling very excited, especially being back up at the Gabba,” he smiled. “It feels like I’ve been away for a while but it’s only been six months. I’m looking forward to going back up there and running on familiar territory.” For Varcoe, it marks an opportunity to kick-start the next phase of his career. “I think I'm right to take the next step and hopefully Collingwood gets the best of it," he told CollingwoodTV during his first day at the Westpac Centre last October. During his time at the Cattery, Varcoe kicked 130 goals in 138 games and represented the hoops in three Grand Finals. Only eleven of Nathan Buckley’s 22-man team were a part of the side that was walloped by Brisbane at the MCG in round 21 last season. Retirement, list changes and injuries have each played a role, but it serves to underscore the fresh look the men in Black and White will take with them onto the Gabba on Easter Saturday. New recruits aside, Collingwood’s line up contains several players who are still relatively unknown to the Magpie Army. Adam Oxley is set to play his first senior match since June 2013 and only the third of his career. Ditto Jackson Ramsay, who only debuted in the penultimate round last season. Oxley’s selection marks the end of an arduous journey that started when he broke his ankle during an intra-club match 425 days ago. He could manage just a further three games before succumbing to mid-season surgery. A point of intrigue will be the way the Magpies handle the ruck duals. In the absence of Jarrod Witts, the stage is all Brodie Grundy’s as he takes on Brisbane’s Matthew Leuenberger and Stefan Martin, who have a combined total of 168 AFL games experience between them. Grundy is likely to receive support from Jesse White, who lent assistance to both Grundy and Witts at various stages last season. The three emergencies are Corey Gault, Ben Kennedy and former Lion Patrick Karnezis, who is yet to debut for his new club.

Injury List

Collingwood News

Collingwood v Brisbane Saturday April 4, 7.20pm Gabba 7mate / Fox Footy 7.15pm Weather: Min 21 Max 27 Chance of rain 90%: 5-10mm Wind: E 15kph Betting: Collingwood $2.35 Brisbane $1.60

Collingwood will tackle its season opener against Brisbane without the help of ruckman Jarrod Witts.
Witts, who underwent shoulder surgery at the conclusion of the 2014 home and away season, has been involved in VFL match practice in each of the past three weeks, but will sit out this weekend’s matches owing to general soreness.“Jarrod has done some very good work coming back from shoulder surgery,” Director of Football Neil Balme told CollingwoodTV’s Blackmores Injury Update.
“He has played the last two or three weeks.
“We will give him a bit of a break this week, he’s a touch sore generally, but he almost certainly will play the week after.”
Witts’ absence opens the door for Brodie Grundy to take charge of the ruck division.
Grundy was one of 13 Magpies to feature in all three NAB Challenge games, averaging 16.3 hitouts and 9.7 disposals (5.0 contested) per game.
Key defender Ben Reid continues to make steady progress as he works towards a return from soft tissue concerns.

Injuries
Player	Injury	Status
Levi Greenwood	Ankle	6 weeks +
Brent Macaffer	Knee	Indefinite
Matt Scharenberg	Knee	2 weeks +
Clinton Young	Hamstring	2 weeks +
Ben Reid	Soft Tissue	1 week
Jarrod Witts	Soreness	1 week

Reid sat out last Thursday’s VFL practice match against Richmond as the club manages his training load to ensure he is “physically robust and ready to go,” as coach Nathan Buckley put it in his press conference on Tuesday.
“Ben is going very well,” Balme continued.
“His training load is being managed pretty well because we are concerned about the unusual nature of his body but he is going really well.
“He probably won’t play this weekend but almost certainly the weekend after.”
Others to sit out this weekend’s round of matches include Levi Greenwood (ankle), Brent Macaffer (knee), Matthew Scharenberg (knee) and Clinton Young (hamstring).
“Generally, the health of the list is quite good,” Balme said.
“You are always going to have some injuries but we are in pretty good shape.”

Preview Round 1: Collingwood v Brisbane

AFL 

SUMMARY

Collingwood v Brisbane Saturday April 4, 7.20pm Gabba 7mate / Fox Footy 7.15pm Weather: Min 21 Max 27 Chance of rain 90%: 5-10mm Wind: E 15kph Betting: Collingwood $2.35 Brisbane $1.60

This season opener has plenty of spice for two teams that missed the finals in 2014. There's Dayne Beams switching from the Magpies to the Lions. There's Lions CEO Greg Swann's former affiliation with the Magpies (he was their CEO for seven years). And there's the Lions' fans hatred of Eddie McGuire for what they perceive as a continual anti-northern states agenda being run by the Collingwood boss. Then there's the tumultuous week the Magpies have endured with Josh Thomas and Lachlan Keeffe being provisionally suspended for failing a drugs test. From a purely footy sense, it's Nathan Buckley's restructured team against Justin Leppitsch's emerging youngsters, and with a near packed Gabba and few pre-season interruptions, the Lions will start this one as slight favourites.

LAST FIVE TIMES
R21, 2014, Brisbane Lions 18.15 (123) d Collingwood 8.8 (56) at the MCG
R10, 2013, Collingwood 14.16 (100) d Brisbane Lions 7.9 (51) at the Gabba
R7, 2012, Collingwood 17.14 (116) d Brisbane Lions 8.10 (58) at the Gabba
R22, 2011, Collingwood 14.18 (102) d Brisbane Lions 13.6 (84) at the MCG
R10, 2010, Brisbane Lions 13.10 (88) d Collingwood 11.14 (80) at the Gabba

THE SIX POINTS

1. The Lions crushed Collingwood when they last met, recording their biggest win over the Magpies since 2007. Tom Rockliff starred with 43 disposals and nine tackles, while Dayne Zorko had 36 touches and two goals.
2. Despite last season’s result, the Magpies have had the wood over their rivals in recent years, winning five of the past seven matches. They have won 22 of 41 matches between the clubs overall.
3. Collingwood was a terrific tackling team in 2014, ranked second with an average of 71 a game, while the Lions were ranked 14th despite Tom Rockliff (163) being ranked second in the league.
4. No team was worse for marking inside 50 in 2014 than the Lions, ranked 18th with only eight a game. Collingwood was ranked sixth, averaging 12 a game.
5. The Lions struggled at the Gabba last season, losing eight of 11 games. Collingwood has traditionally struggled at the venue, losing 11 of 17 games, but winning the past two.
6. It's a real midfield shootout, with these teams having five of the top 40 players in the Official AFL Player Ratings. Scott Pendlebury (two), Steele Sidebottom (17), Tom Rockliff (18), Dayne Zorko (28) and Dane Swan (37) are all among the competition's elite.

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …Dayne Beams – who else? After switching from the Magpies to return to his home state in the off-season, the eyes of the footy world will be on Beams. He's had a great first pre-season at his new club, been exceptional in the NAB Challenge and will want to start off on a good note against the Magpies.

PREDICTION: Brisbane Lions by 18 points