Preview Round 4: Collingwood v Melbourne

AFL

SUMMARY

Round 4 COLLINGWOOD v MELBOURNE Sunday April 17, 3:20pm MCG 7mate 4:00pm (delay) Fox Sports 3:00pm Weather: Min 12 Max 17 Chance of rain 20%: < 1mm Wind: SSW 25kph Betting: Collingwood $1.55 Melbourne $2.45

For the first time in perhaps a decade, Melbourne will enter a clash with Collingwood as, at worst, an even-money bet – and at best, outright favourite. This says as much about the Demons' development as it does about the Magpies' unexpectedly poor output. A concern for the tipsters though is Melbourne's wildly fluctuating form – a round-one win over Greater Western Sydney was followed by an embarrassing loss to Essendon, before coming within a whisker of upsetting North Melbourne. Will this rollercoaster pattern continue with another Demon downer? Both teams have leaked goals, but the Demons appear to have better system and more potency in attack. However, it's difficult to see the Pies dropping another game that was regarded as a gimme before the season started.

LAST FIVE TIMES

1. R18, 2015, Melbourne 13.13 (91) d Collingwood 7.12 (54) at the MCG
2. R10, 2015, Collingwood 17.8 (110) d Melbourne 13.7 (85) at the MCG
3. R12, 2014, Collingwood 8.13 (61) d Melbourne 3.10 (28) at the MCG
4. R11, 2013, Collingwood 17.20 (122) d Melbourne 5.9 (39) at the MCG
5. R11, 2012, Collingwood 19.15 (129) d Melbourne 13.9 (87) at the MCG

THE SIX POINTS

1. Melbourne will be aiming to win consecutive games against Collingwood for the first time since they won successive Queen's Birthday clashes in 2006 and 2007.
   
2. The Pies are struggling in a number of important areas – they are ranked 16th in disposals, 15th in inside 50s, 16th in clearances, last in inside 50s and 15th in points scored.
   
3. Last week against North Melbourne the Demons kicked their highest score under Paul Roos, 20.11 (131), which was also their highest total since round four, 2013.
   
4. When these teams last met, Demon midfielder Bernie Vince was best-afield with 30 disposals and three goals, and teammate Jesse Hogan kicked three goals, while the now-sidelined Dane Swan was the Pies' best with 36 touches.
   
5. Despite the most recent result, Collingwood has dominated Melbourne over a long period of time, with their past 11 clashes resulting in nine Pies wins, one loss and a draw.
   
6. Since the end of last season, Demon ruckman Max Gawn has risen in the Schick AFL Player Ratings from No. 319 to No. 244, rocketing 36 places after last week's effort against North Melbourne alone.
   

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR…

Jeremy Howe faces his former club for the first time, and it doesn't seem it will be the gentle stroll in the park it promised to be just a few weeks ago. Howe will cop some backlash from Dees fans and will be keen to improve upon his inconspicuous debut for the Pies in the loss to St Kilda.

PREDICTION:Collingwood by 11 points

Injury List

Injury Update Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Player	Injury	Status	Round 4 COLLINGWOOD v MELBOURNE Sunday April 17, 3:20pm  MCG 7mate 4:00pm (delay) Fox Sports 3:00pm Weather: Min 12 Max 17 Chance of rain 20%: < 1mm Wind: SSW 25kph Betting: Collingwood $1.55 Melbourne $2.45
Jamie Elliott	Back	4-12 weeks
Jonathon Marsh	Hamstring	Test
Jackson Ramsay	Knee	Season
Matt Scharenberg*	Knee	Season
Steele Sidebottom	Suspended	Available
Josh Smith	Corked thigh	Test
Dane Swan	Broken leg/foot	Season
Travis Varcoe	Hamstring	Test
Marley Williams	Mid-foot strain	4 weeks
Jarrod Witts	Split webbing	1 week
* Placed on the club's long-term injury list

Collingwood News Travis Varcoe appears set to re-join his Collingwood teammates, however it may be at the expense of injured defender Marley Williams. Just as Varcoe recovers from a hamstring complaint, Williams will be restricted to the sidelines after injuring his foot in the Magpies' round three loss to St Kilda. Marley Williams will spend time on the sidelines after injuring his foot against St Kilda. "Unfortunately Marley Williams hurt his foot in the game on the weekend," Collingwood director of football Neil Balme told Collingwood Media's Blackmores Injury Update. "He has a mid-foot strain which will be medium term unfortunately." Williams failed to return to the game against St Kilda after clashing with Sam Gilbert in the second term. On Monday night coach Nathan Buckley added to the summary provided by Balme, saying the defender will be sidelined for up to a month. "He's had a sprain in his foot, so he's injured a ligament there that'll be in a boot for two weeks," Buckley told Fox Footy's 'AFL360'. The 22-year-old defender was not the only Magpie to be hampered by injury over the weekend. Jonathon Marsh sat out the second quarter of Collingwood's VFL clash with Port Melbourne with what appeared to be a hamstring injury. No doubt bringing back memories of a serious hamstring injury at the same ground in the VFL finals last year, Marsh watched from the sidelines as the Magpies overcame the Borough by 24 points. However Balme today provided good news for the young West Australian. "It's a minor hamstring problem which we did treat conservatively," he said. "He's a reasonable chance to play this week. He'll be tested, let's hope he gets through." It appears as though Brodie Grundy will tackle in-form Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn as Collingwood's sole ruckman on Sunday, after Balme all but ruled out Jarrod Witts for the upcoming MCG clash. "He was coming good when he split the webbing in his hand, but he had an infection in it and it needed to be fixed," he explained. "He'll probably miss this week as well, but he should be right the week after." Dane Swan, Jamie Elliott and Matt Scharenberg all remain long term injuries, while Balme provided an update on a player set to join them in rehab. "Jackson Ramsay as we know did an ACL at training last week. He'll have surgery tomorrow to repair that," Balme said. "It's very, very sad for him… He's made of pretty stern stuff so he'll get back in the longer term."

2016: LADDER ROUND 3

Round 3: Saint Kilda 119 Collingwood 90

THE FACTS

SAINT KILDA       6.3.39   9.6.60   15.7.97   18.11.119
COLLINGWOOD   4.3.27   9.4.58   10.6.66       14.6.90

GOALS - Collingwood: Fasolo 2, Cloke 2, de Goey 2, Pendlebury 2, Howe, Aish, Crisp, Oxley, Langdon, Adams

BEST  - Collingwood: Adams, Langdon, Oxley, Pendlebury

INJURIES - Collingwood: Williams (toe)

REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil

Official crowd: 50,903 at the MCG

TALKING POINTS

1. Courage under fire  St Kilda's 22 was under the watchful eye of the club's last premiership team on Saturday, and 'Cowboy' Neale and Co. surely could not have been prouder in one of coach Alan Richardson's best wins in charge. The injury-hit Saints played much of the second half with one man on the bench, and the midfielders particularly struggled without rotations (they used 72 of their 90). To honour that 1966 team, which defeated Collingwood 50 years ago in the club's only Grand Final victory, the Saints' premiership heroes were met with a guard of honour from Richardson's men. Barry Breen and Neale carried the premiership cup onto the MCG before Nick Riewoldt gathered his troops and ran through the banner, which simply read: 'Honour the 1966 premiership team'. They were simple directions that the players followed to a tee. 2. "A mark like that could be the making of this kid"  It was unfortunate that a mark that earned such high praise from a champion forward eventually ended Paddy McCartin's day. The young Saint ran back with the flight of the ball in the second quarter and took the sort of breathtaking grab St Kilda fans have been waiting to see from their No.1 draft pick. "That's as strong as you get; that's Nick Riewoldt-like," AFL legend Wayne Carey said on Triple M radio. "A mark like that could be the making of this kid." McCartin was forced to leave the ground and failed a subsequent concussion test, but his coach cut a proud figure describing what was the best half he has played for the Saints in seven games. 3. Riewoldt cut down in his prime  Nick Riewoldt was running like a 25-year-old in the first half on Saturday, lining up on the wing and winning the ball at both ends of the grounds. By quarter-time he had nine disposals and six marks, taking four of those in space after extended gut running. It was an incredible half for a 33-year-old who played his 300th game one week ago. He kicked on to slot his second goal half way through the second quarter after being collected by Levi Greenwood, but that was his last involvement. The veteran came to the bench for a concussion test, which he passed, but the Saints doctors were not prepared to let him play on.

4. Pendlebury sore and sorry For the second week running, Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury was played off half-back for the majority of the match, but it was early in the third quarter when his absence from the centre square was most puzzling. The star onballer, who took a rib injury into last week's win over Richmond, had just four possessions for the third term as the Saints dominated out of the middle and kicked six goals to one. St Kilda won four centre clearances to two in the quarter to get momentum going their way in what proved to be the match-winning term. Pendlebury was eventually thrown into the middle in the third term and finished among his team's better players, winning 12 of his 27 possessions in the last quarter. 5. Jeremy Howe quiet on debut  It is inevitable that Collingwood recruit Jeremy Howe will be compared to the two players the Magpies gave up to land him, and so far the deal is not looking good. Ben Kennedy and Paul Seedsman have made bright starts at Melbourne and Adelaide, and Howe was unsighted for much of Saturday's debut. The high-flying former Demon had an interrupted pre-season with foot and hand injuries, and he returned through the VFL before Saturday's debut. It was underwhelming first showing, with Howe winning his first touch nine minutes into the second quarter and finishing with eight possessions and one goal. He got a tick from Nathan Buckley for laying three tackles and providing the pressure his teammates lacked in the forward half. It is inevitable that Collingwood recruit Jeremy Howe will be compared to the two players the Magpies gave up to land him, and so far the deal is not looking good. Ben Kennedy and Paul Seedsman have made bright starts at Melbourne and Adelaide, and Howe was unsighted for much of Saturday's debut.

THE MEDIA

COLLINGWOOD NEWS Injury-ravaged St Kilda has dug deep to score a famous 29-point victory over Collingwood at the MCG. The Saints finished Saturday's game with one fit player on the bench after Nick Riewoldt and Paddy McCartin were concussed in the second quarter and Dylan Roberton suffered a knee injury in the third term. But despite that numerical disadvantage, they somehow found a way to break through for their first win of the season, 18.11 (119) to 14.6 (90), in front of 50,903 fans. On the day St Kilda celebrated the 50th anniversary of the club's sole premiership in 1966, the Saints showed enormous courage to set up the win with a six-goals-to-one third quarter after leading by just two points at half-time. Alan Richardson's side managed only one goal in the last quarter of each of their first two games of the season but they finished strongly to hold off a belated challenge from the Pies. Riewoldt was among his side's best players in an entertaining first half before he was felled by a high Levi Greenwood tackle, while fellow veteran Leigh Montagna was outstanding all day. He gathered 40 possessions in an influential display, with Jack Newnes, Seb Ross and Jack Steven also important. The disappointing Magpies had few winners, but Taylor Adams and Adam Treloar worked hard through the middle in an onball brigade that was well beaten. Collingwood didn't escape unscathed either with Marley Williams unable to finish the game with a foot injury.                                  REAL FOOTY On a day the Saints celebrated the 50th anniversary of their lone premiership in front of those famous names, the scoreboard result could not have been better. While, sentimentally, Saints supporters would have hoped for a one-point win, the 29-point victory against Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday was one for the ages. It more than buoyed spirits before the official club function, and ended a fortnight of disappointing efforts. However, the win was tempered by another concussion to Nick Riewoldt, who was hurt midway through the second term and did not return to the field. Riewoldt, chasing a loose ball, had been hit accidentally by Levi Greenwood's forearm but still managed to goal from the resulting free kick. His afternoon, though, finished at that point.Adding to the pain, fellow forward Paddy McCartin was hit in the head in the second term in a courageous marking contest when he ran with the flight of the ball and took a grab in the manner Wayne Carey once did. He, too, went to the bench and did not return. And when Dylan Roberton was forced to the sidelines with a knee problem, the Saints had only one fit man on the bench. All eyes, though, were on Riewoldt, who has a history of head knocks, including spending a night in an Adelaide hospital last season after he was hurt against the Crows. That latest knock prompted AFL greats Jonathon Brown and Leigh Matthews to urge him to consider retiring. Brown was forced into retirement after a series of head knocks. While Riewoldt and McCartin sat, the Saints produced one of the best quarters since the heady days under Ross Lyon. They booted six straight goals, while the Magpies' only major for the quarter came late, when recruit Jeremy Howe had a rare touch. Maverick Weller and Josh Bruce continued to find space inside attacking 50, while Leigh Montagna, who would finish with 40 disposals, Jack Steven, Jack Newnes and Seb Ross found plenty of the ball. Curiously, the Magpies continued to persist with Scott Pendlebury playing across half-back, rather than engineering drive through the middle. The Pies needed his drive at a time when the Saints' pressure was at its fiercest. Leading by five goals at three quarter-time, the question was whether the Saints, not known for finishing matches strongly, could hold on. Poor misses at goal by Jack Lonie and Bruce highlighted their nerves, and this was exacerbated for supporters when Alex Fasolo, the hero of the Pies' win last week, snapped successfully. But the steady foot of emerging star Jack Billings proved telling minutes later when he steadied from about 45 metres out and all but iced the win. "We needed to step it up from last week … and show we are heading in the right direction," Montagna said. While the Saints celebrated, for the Magpies there are now major concerns about their development, having been mauled in the season opener against the Swans and pinching victory against the Tigers with four seconds left. They were too easily exposed in defence, Travis Cloke and Darcy Moore are not kicking goals and the use of Pendlebury will be scrutinised publicly. Cloke was even used in the ruck, prompting Carey to suggest his worrying form meant "the next step would be he is left right out". A foot injury to Marley Williams compounded a miserable afternoon. The contest had opened at a frantic end-to-end pace, with the Magpies booting the opening two goals, and the Saints responding with the next four. A week after their poor disposal had been a major issue in the loss to the Western Bulldogs, the Saints barely missed a target. This efficiency helped St Kilda claim a stunning 10 marks inside 50 - the league average per game is 13. The Saints ran in waves and their forwards too easily found room - whether that be by leading up, or losing their opponent behind the Magpies' defence, as Paddy McCartin twice did, leading to goals. It was an entertaining term, but there were calls for the AFL to act on players who drop their knees when tackled, thus earning a free kick for a high tackle, after Pendlebury did just that and converted from about 50 metres out. The term, though, belonged to the Saints. They dominated the marks 42-22 and had six goals by quarter-time, having managed five for the entire match against the Bulldogs. The Magpies tightened defensively after the break, shown with the Saints managing a modest 17 marks for the term. Adam Treloar and Adam Oxley, after a quiet first term, found plenty of the ball, and the contest was an even one. The Magpies benefited from another questionable free kick, this time to Fasolo, and his conversion helped to ensure there would be only two points between the sides at the main break. There were two worries for the Saints, though, when Riewoldt, so impressive on the wing and drifting forward, and McCartin received head knocks and were tested for concussion. Their days would be done - but the Saints were still able to thrive. "Our high forwards were ineffective."                        Nathan Buckley

SUPERFOOTY ON a day in which St Kilda celebrated the 50th anniversary of its most memorable win, the modern-day Saints produced one of the club’s bravest victories that would have done the men of 1966 proud. Against all the odds, with three players off due to concussion or injury, including skipper Nick Riewoldt for either all of the last half or for most of it, and with its midfields running almost to the point of exhaustion, the Saints somehow evoked the spirit of ‘66 to embarrass a listless Collingwood by 29 points at the MCG. As illuminating as the game was for St Kilda, it was dark and bleak for Collingwood, who could be 0-3 but for that little chip kick for goal by Brodie Grundy that produced an act of larceny against Richmond last week. It was one of the greatest wins of Alan Richardson’s tenure as coach, and on the flip side, one of the most frustrating for his counterpart in Nathan Buckley, who watched on miserably from the coaches’ box. The Saints had worked exceptionally hard in the first half to lead by two points at the halftime break — including kicking six opening quarter goals that was one more than they kicked for the whole game last week. But when the teams came out for the second half a collective groan went around the MCG when St Kilda fans realised Riewoldt and fellow big forward Paddy McCartin were missing. Both took no further part in the game, and things appeared to get even more desperate when Dylan Roberton suffered an injury in the third term and had to sit out the entire last quarter. Down to one player left to rotate from the bench, the Saints could well have keep fighting bravely only to run out of steam. The fact that never happened is a massive plus for the club, and a massive negative for Collingwood who meekly allowed their opponents to close out the game with consummate ease. Leigh Montanga barely had an opponent all day and helped himself to 40 disposals, including 21 handball receives. He was outstanding, and managed to transition the ball from the back half to attack for the entire day. At no stage did the Magpies put enough effort into shutting him down, and they paid a big price. Jack Newnes had a career-best 34 touches, Seb Ross was solid from the outset and Jack Billings turned in a sublime performance, going at more than 80 per cent efficiency while Collingwood butchered the ball. Jack Steven finished with three goals, as did Mav Weller, while Sam Fisher did a superb job in defence, beating Travis Cloke and providing plenty of link work. It was the Saints’ first win since Round 17 last year, and their first success over Collingwood since Round 3, 2010. Collingwood persisted with Scott Pendlebury at half-back, which hurt them in the middle, and he only went into the centre when the game was all but over. The Magpies lacked so much in terms of their use of the ball, and were swamped in defence and attack. Taylor Adams tried hard, as did Tom Langdon, but too much was left to too few. Summing up Collingwood’s day, and their season to date, a kick from Travis Cloke at goal in the last minute of play sailed out of bounds on the full. The Saints were ripe for the picking with the lack of rotations, but they are made of stern stuff. And the Magpies have some serious work to do to stop their season spiralling out of control.                               AFL COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley has put his forwards in the gun for setting the tone in the worst pressure performance his team has produced against St Kilda on Saturday. The Magpies were out-tackled 53-62 at the MCG, with forwards Jarryd Blair and Alex Fasolo among six players who didn't lay a tackle in the 29-point loss. Buckley, who forecast repercussions at the selection table ahead of next Sunday's clash against Melbourne, said his forwards' inability to keep the ball in the front half had put the rest of the team under pressure. "Our high forwards were ineffective, they were unable to put any pressure on the St Kilda defenders and our mids and defenders were scrambling to be able to defend from that," Buckley said. "We had five tackles from seven players who started in the forward rotations. "You're asking a fair bit of your mids and your backs, but clearly our defensive structures have collapsed. "That's as poor as we've pressured the opposition and we were pressured into errant disposal the other way." Buckley said the Magpies only had two players who had played with the necessary energy and effort against the Saints and lamented that his players "weren't prepared to roll our sleeves up and do the work". As well as Fasolo and Blair, tall forwards Travis Cloke (one tackle) and Darcy Moore (one) didn't produce defensively. Despite a quiet debut that saw him finish with one goal and eight disposals, Jeremy Howe earned praise for his efforts to pressure the St Kilda defenders. "The first thing he does in a Collingwood guernsey is sticks a tackle 15 seconds into the game and we get a goal from it," Buckley said of Howe. "That's a relatively positive start, and of those five (tackles from Collingwood forwards) he had three, even though we think he'll grow into the role and we'll see more from him." The Magpies now sit 1-2 and have won just three of 12 quarters this season, escaping with a win against Richmond last week "off the back of 40 minutes of footy". "There's still enough evidence to suggest we can play the way we want to play, but we haven't got our heads in the sand," Buckley said. "If there's evidence there to the contrary then we need to make shifts and we'll have a look at that over the next 24 to 36 hours. "We're really disappointed with our early season form … we need to do better if we want to be competitive against anyone." Captain Scott Pendlebury was used across half-aback for the second straight week, finishing with 27 possessions and two goals, but only two clearances after a short foray into the middle. Buckley said the Magpies were "using him where we can best use him". "We didn't win the game today so you could go to [strategy] in isolation and say it's not effective," the coach said. "'Pendles' played his role OK from the back. Last week he played it pretty well, especially early. "We discussed the leadership and organisation around stoppage and whether that was something that we were missing in that first couple of weeks with 'Pendles' not in there. "But we put the heat on Taylor Adams and Adam Treloar to organise that and stoppage was OK for us."

Round 3: The Team

Round 3 COLLINGWOOD v ST KILDA Saturday April 9, 1:45pm MCG Fox Footy 1:30pm Weather: Min 11 Max 21 Chance of rain 20%: < 1mm Wind: W 17kph Betting: Collingwood $1.43 St Kilda $2.85

B: Ben Sinclair, Nathan Brown, Tom Langdon
HB: Brayden Maynard, Ben Reid, Marley Williams
C: James Aish, Adam Treloar, Levi Greenwood
HF: Jarryd Blair, Darcy Moore, Jordan De Goey
F: Alex Fasolo, Travis Cloke, Jeremy Howe
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Scott Pendlebury, Taylor Adams
Int: Tyson Goldsack, Jack Crisp, Matthew Goodyear, Adam Oxley
Emg: Brent Macaffer, Jesse White, Alan Toovey

IN: Tyson Goldsack, Matthew Goodyear, Jeremy Howe, Brayden Maynard
OUT: Jackson Ramsay (knee), Jack Frost, Corey Gault, Brent Macaffer (omitted)
NEW: Matthew Goodyear (19, Calder U18), Jeremy Howe (25, Melbourne)

Collingwood News Four changes, two new faces. That’s the tale of Collingwood’s night at the selection table ahead of its clash with St Kilda at the MCG this Saturday. Just one of the four changes was forced, given the tear in Jackson Ramsay’s left anterior cruciate ligament during training on Thursday morning. Three players, Jack Frost, Corey Gault and Brent Macaffer, have been omitted. Together, the four make way for Magpie debutants Jeremy Howe and Matthew Goodyear and backmen Tyson Goldsack and Brayden Maynard. Howe’s first senior outing at his new club has been a long time coming. Foot and hand injuries meant he did not feature in any of Collingwood’s three NAB Challenge matches, and instead returned to football via the VFL against Coburg a fortnight ago. He crossed from Melbourne amid a complex four-club trade last October. A 100-game career at Demonland was highlighted by a series of Mark of the Year contenders at both ends of the ground. The boy from Tasmanian town Dodges Ferry grew up a Collingwood supporter and said the opportunity to play for the club he had grown up supporting played a key role in his decision to shift westbound on Olympic Boulevard. Goodyear’s selection is a fine reward for patience and dedication. The wingman was the Magpies’ fourth and final selection in the 2014 National Draft, and the 48th overall. The former Calder Cannon played 16 VFL games last year and impressed during his only NAB Challenge outing against North Melbourne in Wagga Wagga. In making his debut, Goodyear will join Jordan De Goey, Darcy Moore and Brayden Maynard in the senior team, uniting all four members of the draft class of 2014 for the first time. Of the established players, Goldsack’s return gives coach Nathan Buckley options at either end of the ground, while Maynard will slot back onto a back flank after his omission last week. The match marks Goldsack’s first since July 2015, when a knee injury left him sidelined for the remainder of the year.

Preview Round 3: Collingwood v St Kilda

Collingwood News - David Natoli

Round 3 COLLINGWOOD v ST KILDA Saturday April 9, 1:45pm MCG Fox Footy 1:30pm Weather: Min 11 Max 21 Chance of rain 20%: < 1mm Wind: W 17kph Betting: Collingwood $1.43 St Kilda $2.85

What a difference a week makes in football.
In fact, what a difference four seconds makes!
This was well and truly the case for the Collingwood Football Club last Friday night against Richmond. All looked lost, with the Magpies three goals down with only five minutes remaining. A goal in the final four seconds of the game to Brodie Grundy handed the Magpies a one-point lead. And the rest is history.
That Grundy goal could potentially be one of the most important moments of Collingwood’s young season. If the Magpies had lost the game, it would’ve meant two straight losses to commence the year and huge pressure would have amounted on the coaching staff and players alike. The win has lifted some of that pressure, while no doubt providing a huge boost to the confidence of the side. Collingwood played so well in the final five minutes of that game, and hopefully it’s the kick start the Pies need to get the 2016 season back on track.
St Kilda on the other hand currently sits in last place on the ladder after a winless start to the season. Despite this, I don’t believe the Saints’ current ladder position is an accurate reflection of their form. Alan Richardson’s side was very good against Port Adelaide in round one but just ran out of steam in the last quarter. They also tried hard against the Bulldogs last week but just lacked polish. The Saints again finished the game poorly. These slow finishes to game could potentially be attributed to an interrupted pre-season. One of St Kilda’s NAB Challenge games was cancelled due to inclement weather, meaning they entered the home and away season with one game less experience than other teams.
Whilst St Kilda is a young, developing team, it is definitely not one to be taken lightly. The Saints are a well-coached team and play with a lot of energy. They are a good clearance side and tackle with vigour.

Recent History
Collingwood’s recent history against the Saints is dominant, having not lost a clash between the two sides since the 2010 drawn Grand Final.
These sides last met in round three, 2015. The Saints jumped out of the blocks early in a high scoring first quarter. However, Collingwood kicked 15 goals after quarter time to St Kilda’s four, resulting in a crunching 74 point victory.
Dane Swan polled three Brownlow votes on the back of a 39-disposal performance. Scott Pendlebury polled two with 29 disposals, while Jamie Elliott was electric with four goals. Travis Cloke was also very good, kicking five goals. With both Swan and Elliott out of this week’s clash, it will definitely even up the contest. For the Saints, David Armitage and Jack Steven were typically good with 33 and 32 disposals each.

At the Selection Table
Despite the win last week, Collingwood will likely make a few changes ahead of this week’s match. Unfortunately, Travis Varcoe has been ruled out for one more week as he overcomes his hamstring complaint. However, it appears as though Jeremy Howe is in line for his Collingwood debut after successfully completing two VFL practice matches. His inclusion could help add spark to the forward line.
Whilst it was an improved effort by Collingwood’s forward line last week, the fact remains that the combination of Travis Cloke, Darcy Moore and Corey Gault only provided a combined total of two goals and has failed to fire for the second week running. Nathan Buckley may elect to go shorter up forward. Otherwise, Jarrod Witts may be an option to return from a hand injury he sustained in round one.
Alan Toovey, Tyson Goldsack and Jonathon Marsh are all also available for selection. However, it may be worth keeping an eye on Matthew Goodyear who was an AFL emergency last week, and was best on ground in the VFL practice match. His debut is seemingly inching closer.
Turning attention to the Saints, and Alan Richardson has close to a full squad to choose from. With such a healthy list, it means there will be plenty of players pushing for selection after two straight losses to the senior side.
Leading the charge will be Blake Acres who was omitted last week from the AFL side but responded strongly at VFL level. I was surprised to see him dropped last week because he showed plenty of promise against Port Adelaide in round one.
Paddy McCartin was quiet in his first game of the year, but I expect him to be given another opportunity. Otherwise, Tim Membrey has been impressive at VFL level. If the Saints opt to go smaller, then Darren Minchington and Eli Templeton have also been good and are in line for selection.

Focus on Collingwood
Collingwood’s players should be rightfully proud of their fighting efforts last Friday night. However, as the dust settles on that match, Nathan Buckley will have surely addressed a number of areas which need attention. Buckley will know that his side can’t escape like last week on a weekly basis. For the second week running, the Magpies were beaten in disposals, marks, hitouts and clearances. Contested footy was much better, as was the tackling pressure, however both of these areas still require improvement. The big area of improvement for St Kilda this year has been its clearance work, so Collingwood really needs to tighten up this area in particular.
Having said all that, it was pleasing to see the work ethic improve dramatically, and the fact that Collingwood was able to grind out the win and never give up. It was at times an ugly game to watch, with so many turnovers, fumbles and skill errors. However, if Collingwood applies that sort of effort to every game, then it will win more games than it loses.

Player Focus - Collingwood
Alex Fasolo – It’s hard not to comment on Fasolo’s six goal haul on Friday night. It was as good as I’ve ever seen Fasolo play, and it acts as reward for his strong work ethic over the pre-season. At his best, he is such a difficult match-up because he plays like a lead-up forward and is such a strong mark, but he is also such a good crumber. In addition to six goals, he was attributed with four goal assists on Friday night, meaning he had a direct hand in ten of Collingwood’s thirteen goals. He’ll get close attention this week, likely from Sean Dempster.
Ben Reid – Alex Fasolo may have stolen the limelight on Friday night, but close to the best news to come out of the game was the impressive return of Ben Reid. He settled into his customary half-back role and had 19 disposals and eight marks. He was brilliant in his ability to read the play and take intercept marks, however the real highlight were his deadly foot-skills. Collingwood has missed this lethal left boot from half back and it will be great to have him in action again on Saturday afternoon.
Brodie Grundy – His last minute goal was the stuff of dreams, but Grundy was also quick to point out that his form for large portions of Friday night’s game can be improved. He was arguably beaten by Shaun Hampson in the ruck, although his work around the ground was still quite solid as he finished with 17 disposals and two goals. In the last five minutes of the game, he decided to jump really aggressively in the hitouts, and it was a huge reason why Collingwood was able to turn the game around.

Focus on St Kilda
The Saints have already shown glimpses this year of how good they can be. With such a young side however, it has been hard to sustain these efforts over four quarters. St Kilda typically holds a six man forward line, and has been able to expose its opponents with quick ball movement. Collingwood needs to be mindful of this. If the Magpies opt to press high up the field but fail to defend St Kilda’s quick ball movement, then the Saints can score quite heavily.
The other interesting thing about the Saints is how small their regular line-up is. I have been impressed with players such as Jack Lonie, Jack Billings and Jade Gresham, however it is strange to see such a small line-up in an era where tall midfielders are in vogue. It will be interesting to see how these small bodies stand up against bigger opponents.
In addition to this, St Kilda is a terrific clearance side with players such as David Armitage and Jack Steven quite dominant in the middle of the ground. Collingwood has struggled in this area to date, so the Saints will look to get the edge through the middle of the ground. Expect to see Nick Riewoldt play more through the middle at times as well.
The Saints were convincingly beaten by the Bulldogs last week, which was disappointing considering it was  Riewoldt’s 300^th game. Another milestone occurs this week as the Saints celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the 1966 Premiership.

Player Focus - St Kilda
Tom Hickey – Hickey was the toast of the town in round one with a career best game against Pot Adelaide. He was brought back to earth quickly last week though, mainly by the Bulldogs’ Jordan Roughead. St.Kilda doesn’t really have a recognised second ruckman in the side right now, so Hickey has a huge role for his team in filling the void. It should be a great battle against Brodie Grundy who is equally searching for his best form this season.
Jack Steven – I think Steven is one of the most underrated and consistent midfielders in the game. He is lightning quick and has a huge engine. He simply never stops trying, which makes him almost impossible to tag. Steven has been St Kilda’s best player over the past two weeks, and Collingwood’s midfield needs to be mindful of him. His ball use can at times be a bit sloppy, but he breaks lines and also wins his own ball which makes him a really solid all-round player.
Jack Billings – Billings has struggled in his first two seasons with injury, but seems to have had a great pre-season and has looked really sharp in the beginning of the year. He is the type of player that will trouble Collingwood’s defence due to his speed and clever ball use. St Kilda has invested a lot in Billings, and I get the impression that he is really about to break out as a player. Keep an eye on him this week.

The Wrap Up
This is a tricky game for Collingwood. While the Magpies will go in favourite, the Saints play in a manner which will trouble the Magpies. They like moving the ball quickly, and are also a good clearance side, which are two areas which can expose the Magpies.
Collingwood needs to improve around stoppages, and have its tackling pressure at its absolute highest level. This is an opportunity for the Magpies to win two games in a row and really set up the season. It will be difficult to back up from such an emotional win last week, but any lapse in concentration this round could give the Saints a sniff.

Preview Round 3: Collingwood v St Kilda

SportsMatt

Round 3 COLLINGWOOD v ST KILDA Saturday April 9, 1:45pm MCG Fox Footy 1:30pm Weather: Min 11 Max 21 Chance of rain 40%: < 1mm Wind: WSW 16kph Betting: Collingwood $1.40 St Kilda $2.80

Four seconds, that's all that separated Collingwood from a disappointing start to the 2016 AFL premiership season. Last Friday night at the M.C.G. Brodie Grundy snapped the winning goal to put the Magpies in front with only four seconds left on the clock. If he had missed, dropped the ball or any other eventuality had ensued Collingwood would be near the bottom of the AFL ladder with an 0-2 win/loss record. As it is, the goal went through, the Magpie army went off it's collective nut (that may be an understatement) and Collingwood have a 1-1 record after playing two of the top five placed teams from last season.
That goal, and that win, places the Magpies in a decent position moving forward. This Saturday, the Pies will return to the M.C.G. for a rare Saturday afternoon game against St Kilda. The Saints have started the season on a poor note, losing two games to Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs by considerable margins. They sit on the bottom of the AFL ladder and need a win to give their fans some hope for the rest of the year. St Kilda is using this home game at the M.C.G, another rarity, to celebrate their one and only AFL/VFL premiership, the 1966 triumph by one point, over Collingwood of course. They are well within their rights to do that but it really shouldn't have a bearing on the final result.

COLLINGWOOD PREVIEW
The stunning come from behind win over Richmond really has made a huge difference to this Collingwood outfit going forward. What was really impressive though was the performance of four players in particular. Ben Reid returned for only his 10^th game in the last 3 seasons and he was immense across half back. The all Australian defender looked back to his best, taking intercept marks and delivering the ball with amazing accuracy over long distances. Helping him out down back was Jackson Ramsay, a player who most outside of Collingwood probably see as a surprise. But early last year, before Ramsay went down with injury, he was one of the reasons why the Pies had started the 2015 season so well. His courage, ability to defend well against his opponent and accurate ball use is something this Magpies team desperately needs.
Further up the ground and Adam Treloar performed remarkably well considering the pressure that was on him pre game. He chose Collingwood over Richmond during the trade period and he backed it up, with a 32 possession game that included a game high 8 inside 50 deliveries. Treloar was vital in the last few minutes delivering the final inside 50 that eventually led to the Grundy match winning goal. But of course the man that stood out was Alex Fasolo, in a career best performance where the live wire forward booted 6 goals straight, including 2 of the final 3 goals, and 3 goal assists. For Fasolo it was vindication of his request to stay forward more rather than being used as part of the midfield rotation.
The Magpies have endured through a tough opening two games of the season and now the draw opens up for them. Over the next 6 weeks the Magpies play what will probably turn out to be the bottom five sides in the competition (with a trip to Perth to play the Eagles also). It starts on Saturday against the bottom placed side. The Magpies came out of that win over the Tigers in a relatively healthy state, there were no new injuries in either the seniors or the VFL on the weekend. Talking of the VFL there are numerous players pushing their case for selection in the seniors with strong recent performances in what have been practice matches for the Magpies reserves team. Matthew Goodyear, Jesse White, Jeremy Howe, Alan Toovey, Tyson Goldsack, Jonathan Marsh and Rupert Wills will all consider themselves a chance of playing on Saturday in the seniors. Also in contention to return is ruckman Jarrod Witts who missed the game last week due to split webbing in his hand. That depth allows coach Nathan Buckley to select a 22 that matches up well based on the opposition. This is a game Collingwood will expect to win but they will have to perform better than they have over the first two rounds to be assured of a victory here.

ST KILDA PREVIEW
St Kilda are a team in transition, trying to climb their way back up the ladder after four seasons of failing to make the finals. Before that recent period the Saints had enjoyed their best finals appearance run in the club's history, as they made it to September 7 out of 8 years leading up to 2011. Two years ago they bottomed out (literally) and last season they finished 14^th which may be a sign that the only way is up from here. Their first two games of this new season have been hard to judge. They started the season with what seemed like a decent effort against the highly touted Port Adelaide, and were able to score 100 points in that game despite losing by 33 points. The Saints would have been less enthusiastic about their most recent game though, the 57 point loss on Saturday night to the Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium. It was a disappointing night for the Saints despite Nick Riewoldt celebrating his 300^th game milestone. The Saints were never in the game as the rampaging Dogs dominated in all areas. They will have to improve upon that performance or face a third loss in a row to start the season.
If there's one area of the ground that this St Kilda team can match it with most it has to be their midfield. In 2015 the statistical output of the Saints midfield wasn't that impressive with a ranking of 14^th for clearances. Straight away though, in only two games, there's been a remarkable difference in this area. The Saints after two rounds have won more clearances than any other team, and while the sample size is small it's a great sign. This central core should be a good clearance team too with the likes of Montagna, Newnes, Savage, Armitage, Steven and Weller all able to win the hard ball. One area that has also improved so far this year is the ruck. Last season the Saints were down in the bottom few for average hitouts (along with the Pies). Tom Hickey has had an impressive start to 2016 though and with 56 hitouts in round 1 versus Port Adelaide he showed he can dominate the less than elite ruckman of the AFL.
It's hard to distinguish which area of the ground is worse for the Saints, their defense or their forward line. Both has a massive reliance on one experienced key position player, with the indomitable Nick Riewoldt in the forward line and the ever reliable Sam Fisher down back. To be fair the backline probably has more experience and talent than the forward line does at the moment, with Dempster, Gilbert, Geary and Roberton at least having plenty of games under their belt. They do struggle to stop the opposition from scoring though with St Kilda rated the worst one on one defensive side in 2015 and allowing scores of 133 and 93 in the first two rounds of 2016. Of course being able to score 100 points in round one was a very positive sign with Lonie, Bruce and Weller joining Riewoldt as those who managed to kick multiple goals. That didn't eventuate in the second game though so it will be interesting to see how both defense and attack works for St Kilda on Saturday.
Pressure is what the Saints do well though, and senior coach Alan Richardson has made no secret of that since he arrived at the club. Last season St Kilda were in the top four in the league for pressure deferential and it's fair to say it had a hand in each of their 6 (and a half) wins in season 2015. That pressure probably hasn't been as good in the first two games although it did show signs at times versus both the Dogs and Port of returning to the levels of last season. To improve though, this St Kilda team needs it's youngsters to start having an impact on games, something that hasn't happened too often recently. But if they can pressure the Collingwood players they may be able to force enough turnovers to be in with a chance late in the game.

TIP
This matchup seems like an easy one to decipher, with Collingwood the likely winners. However, St Kilda have more quarters than the Pies in the first two games (3 against 1) so the Saints aren't without a hope. The other thing in St Kilda's favour is the health of their list, they aren't missing 4-5 of their best 22 like the Magpies are, which evens it out once again. The location though is to Collingwood's advantage, with the Saints losing 4 of their last 5 games at the M.C.G.
Coincidentally the two teams met in round 3 last season, also at the M.C.G. and it was Collingwood who ran away with a commanding 74 point win. I expect this game to be a lot closer than that, especially with the Pies not hitting top form yet and with the players they are missing. Ultimately though the Magpies should be too good for the Saints on Saturday and extend their unbeaten streak over St Kilda to 10 games.

MAGPIES BY 16 POINTS

Preview Round 3: Collingwood v St Kilda

AFL

SUMMARY

Round 3 COLLINGWOOD v ST KILDA Saturday April 9, 1:45pm MCG Fox Footy 1:30pm Weather: Min 11 Max 20 Chance of rain 20%: < 1mm Wind: SSW 20kph Betting: Collingwood $1.42 St Kilda $2.80

It's been an unusual start for Collingwood – a surprise 80-point loss to the Sydney Swans in round one was followed by a last-gasp win against Richmond. The Magpies go in as favourites and will be hoping they can win a little more comfortably against St Kilda. The Saints will present a challenge though, after being disappointed with their performance against the Western Bulldogs last Saturday in Nick Riewoldt's 300th game. Coach Alan Richardson will seek a much better effort at winning the contested ball and pressuring the opposition. Important Collingwood midfielder Steele Sidebottom serves the last game of his suspension, so the Saints will have confidence they can win the midfield battle. Magpie Travis Cloke looms as a danger man up forward – he kicked 1.3 against the Tigers in a much-improved performance after his round one debacle.

LAST FIVE TIMES

1. R3, 2015, Collingwood 21.14 (140) d St Kilda 10.6 (66) at the MCG
2. R11, 2014, Collingwood 21.14 (140) d St Kilda 8.6 (54) at Etihad Stadium
3. R6, 2013, Collingwood 15.13 (103) d St Kilda 11.11 (77) at Etihad Stadium
4. R19, 2012, Collingwood 12.19 (91) d St Kilda 13.7 (85) at the MCG
5. R21, 2011, Collingwood 14.5 (89) d St Kilda 10.10 (70) at Etihad Stadium

THE SIX POINTS

1. Last time these teams met, Collingwood kicked 15 goals to four after quarter-time to cruise to a big win. Travis Cloke booted five goals and Jamie Elliott four, while Dane Swan was best on ground with 39 disposals. Elliott and Swan won't be there this time, though.
2. The Magpies beat Richmond in the final seconds last week but lost most statistical categories: disposals (346-394), marks (84-104), hit-outs (23-45), scoring shots (22-26) and clearances (24-37).
3. St Kilda and Collingwood clash for the 217th time. The Magpies hold a big advantage, winning 157 games to 57, with two draws.
4. The Saints struggled in round two against the Western Bulldogs, losing: disposals (356-482), scoring shots (11-28), inside 50s (42-58) and contested possessions (102-137).
5. The two teams have played 26 times at the MCG, with Collingwood winning 16 games to nine and one famous draw: the 2010 Grand Final.
6. Collingwood forward Alex Fasolo was the No.1 ranked player in the Schick AFL Player Ratings last week after his six-goal haul earned him 30.0 points.

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR…

Tom Hickey. The ruckman has shown signs throughout his career that he can be a very good big man but after an excellent performance first up against Port Adelaide, he wasn't as influential against the Western Bulldogs in round two. He will need to play well if the Saints are to win.

PREDICTION: Collingwood by 10 points

Injury List

Injury Update Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Player	Injury	Status	Round 3 COLLINGWOOD v ST KILDA Saturday April 9, 1:45pm  MCG Fox Footy 1:30pm Weather: Min 11 Max 20 Chance of rain 20%: < 1mm Wind: SSW 20kph Betting: Collingwood $1.42 St Kilda $2.80
Tim Broomhead	Shoulder	Test
Jamie Elliott	Back	Indefinite
Matt Scharenberg*	Knee	Season
Steele Sidebottom	Suspended	Available round 4
Dane Swan	Broken leg/foot	Season
Travis Varcoe	Hamstring	Test
Jarrod Witts	Split webbing	Test
Darrean Wyatt	Concussion	Test
* Placed on the club's long-term injury list

Dane Swan Dane Swan will have surgery on Wednesday to repair the breaks in his foot and leg suffered in Collingwood's round one clash with Sydney. Director of Football Neil Balme confirmed on Monday that the midfielder is ready to go under the knife. "He'll have his surgery on Wednesday," Balme told Collingwood Media's 'Blackmores Injury Update'. "He's been couch-bound, so he'll be very keen to get an answer on that. Let's hope it goes very well." Conjecture remains on whether Swan will return to the field in 2016, with Wednesday's surgery expected to lead to months of recovery. "We'll let you know what happens with that," Balme said. While the 2011 Brownlow Medallist will be out of action long term, Balme offered better news for recovering due Jarrod Wittsand Tim Broomhead. Both are on-track to return this weekend and will undergo fitness tests later in the week. "Jarrod Witts has recovered pretty well from that split webbing in his hand. We expect him to play this weekend," Balme said. "Tim Broomhead has similar good news. He's feeling much stronger in the shoulder and we expect him to get up and play this weekend as well." Travis Varcoe however will enter a race against time to prove his fitness ahead of round three. "I think he's just going to come a day or two short," explained Balme. "He's pretty good and there's a chance that he might play. "But I think it's more likely that we'll wait until the weekend after to make sure that hamstring is fully repaired." After a nightmare round one, Collingwood escaped round two with not only a victory, but a clean bill of health on the injury front. Only recruit Darrean Wyatt has been added to the injury list, with the ruckman sustaining concussion in the VFL at Simonds Stadium on Saturday afternoon. "He'll need a test this week to get through," Balme said. "Concussion is obviously taken very seriously and I hope he gets up, but there's no certainly." Conjecture remains on whether Swan will return to the field in 2016, with Wednesday's surgery expected to lead to months of recovery.

Jamie Elliott  Collingwood will continue to take a patient approach with small Jamie Elliott as the small forward continues his recovery from a back injury. Elliott was back out on the track and running repeat sprints on Tuesday, but the Magpies are still being extremely cautious with his return to the field. Magpies coach Nathan Buckley said it was still difficult to pinpoint a definitive return date for the small forward. Elliott has been battling an ongoing back condition, known as pars defect, and the club chose to take him out of training in late February to allow it time to heal. "We still think he's going to need another week or two of running and probably another two or three weeks of conditioning on top of that," Buckley said on Tuesday. "We think the long-term (prognosis) would have him [out for] 6-8 weeks but it could be 4-12. We won't see him in the next month, he's still got a lot of work to do to get back up to speed. "He would need to jump every hurdle between now and then without a hiccup and we can't guarantee that, given the nature of his injury." However, Buckley said there had been improvements in Elliott's recovery from the injury. "He had a good session today and his progress over the last two weeks has been good," Buckley said. "It's really hard to put a number on it. If Jamie has a bad day or a bad session, it might set him back a week or two. "If he has a couple of good ones in a row it might pull it forward a week or two." Meanwhile, hard-running defender Travis Varcoe will not be considered for selection for Saturday's game against St Kilda as he works his way back from a hamstring injury suffered on the eve of the season. Varcoe is still another week away from playing and did plenty of conditioning work outside the main training group on Tuesday. High-flying forward Jeremy Howe will be in the mix to make his debut for his new club after making the move from Melbourne in the off-season. The Magpies are 14th on the ladder after two rounds of the season, and Buckley did not hold back when asked about the level his side had been operating at. "We've probably been a 5 or 6 out of 10 over the first two weeks and we want to see our minimums at a seven and our best performances at 9s and 10s," Buckley said.

2016: LADDER ROUND 2

Round 2: Collingwood 87 Richmond 86

THE FACTS

COLLINGWOOD     2.1.13   3.3.21   7.7.49   13.9.87
RICHMOND           2.2.14   3.8.26   7.12.54  12.14.86

GOALS - Collingwood: Fasolo 6, Grundy 2, Moore, De Goey, Langdon, Cloke, Aish

BEST  - Collingwood: Fasolo, Pendlebury, Adams, Treloar, Greenwood,  Reid

INJURIES - Collingwood: Nil

REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil

Official crowd: 72,761 at the MCG

TALKING POINTS

1. Small forwards reign, but a ruckman steals the show Until the dying seconds of the game, it was the small forwards who lit up the MCG on Friday night. Collingwood goal sneak Alex Fasolo was brilliant in attack, providing the Pies with a much-needed focal point, with spearhead Travis Cloke struggling to find form. Fasolo booted six goals from 14 disposals and six marks. At the opposite end, it was a dream debut for 20-year-old Richmond rookie Jayden Short. He booted a goal with his first kick in AFL football, and was lively up forward all night, finishing the game with three majors. But it was Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy who stole the show. With 20 seconds left on the clock, Darcy Moore took a free kick from a tight angle on the boundary line after the Tigers were pinged for deliberate out-of-bounds. He kicked to the goal square, Grundy plucking the ball out uncontested and snapping truly, with four seconds remaining, to snatch victory from the Tigers' hands. 2. The jury's still out In November last year, Magpies recruit Adam Treloar said he chose to be traded to Collingwood over Richmond, because he thought the Pies had a "better list" capable of winning a premiership in the coming years. His comments added extra spice to Friday night's clash at the MCG with Tigers fans booing him in the opening term. As to the question of who has the "better list"? Well, neither side made a statement on that front. A scrappy first half, littered with turnovers, had many questioning whether either side was close to a premiership. But the Pies found their way, stealing the win and giving Treloar peace of mind, for now, that he made the right decision. 3. Injury carnage With the likes of star midfielder Brett Deledio, recruit Chris Yarran and ruckman Ivan Maric already on the sidelines, the last thing Richmond needed was more injuries. It started at the end of the first quarter with defender Dylan Grimes heading down to the rooms at the break with a hamstring complaint. He re-joined the huddle just before the second term but took no further part in the game. Debutant Short came off mid-way through the second quarter with a shoulder injury but managed to play out the match. Shaun Grigg (ankle) and David Astbury (hand) also received treatment throughout the game.

4. Rough Tigers As if the night couldn't get worse for Richmond, two Tigers face a nervous wait ahead of Monday's Match Review Panel findings. Jacob Townsend was the first to be reported, for rough conduct against Jackson Ramsay in the opening term. Both players went to ground for the ball with Townsend's shoulder making contact with Ramsay's head. Six minutes later Nick Vlastuin was booked for contacting Taylor Adams high with his elbow. Of the two incidents, Vlastuin's looked worse with the 21-year-old likely to have a case to answer, while Townsend should be in the clear. 5. Ugly banner mars win Outraged footy fans took to social media on Friday night when an offensive banner was erected beneath an MCG scoreboard during the match. Emblazoned on the three-meter sign was, "Go Pies! Stop the Mosques". Security was eventually notified and the responsible patrons evicted but it left a sour taste for many footy fans. Pies president Eddie McGuire said after the game the fans responsible should be banned, while the AFL released a statement condemning the actions. The League said it will continue to work with police and security to discuss the matter further. Collingwood goal sneak Alex Fasolo was brilliant in attack, providing the Pies with a much-needed focal point, with spearhead Travis Cloke struggling to find form. Fasolo booted six goals from 14 disposals and six marks.

THE MEDIA

COLLINGWOOD NEWS Collingwood has snatched a thrilling one-point victory from Richmond at the MCG on Friday night, with ruckman Brodie Grundy snapping the winning goal with just four seconds remaining. The Magpies had looked dead and buried with 15 minutes to play, but came to life to kick four of the last five goals of the game to notch a memorable 13.9 (87) to 12.14 (86) win. Small forward Alex Fasolo was the star for the Magpies, kicking three of his six goals in the fourth quarter, while recruit Adam Treloar played a heroic role in the match-winning play. Treloar, who was booed all night by the Tigers supporters, burst from the centre with seconds remaining to pump the ball inside 50, setting up the final play after Nick Vlastuin was penalised for a deliberate out of bounds. Darcy Moore took the resulting free and put the ball to the top of the square, with Grundy crumbing and snapping the goal, which saw the MCG crowd erupt. The final term was the only quarter Nathan Buckley's team has won out of eight this season, but it was enough to provide a much-needed victory after a tumultuous start to the year. After a first half that will take some beating this season for sheer ugliness and inefficiency, both teams got down to business and delivered a classic ending. Star Tiger Jack Riewoldt stood up for his team and looked to have played a match-winning hand with three fourth-quarter goals. But as had been the story all night, skill errors and poor decisions left the door slightly ajar for the Magpies to pounce. To rub salt into the wound, the Tigers will also have to deal with fresh injuries to Dylan Grimes (hamstring) and Shaun Grigg (rolled ankle), and a possible stint on the sidelines for Nick Vlastuin, who was reported for a high hit on Taylor Adams. The first half of Friday's primetime clash saw both team's at their worst – butchering the ball in general play, missing opportunities in front of goal and making bizarre decisions under pressure. Their combined disposal efficiency of 74 per cent didn't do justice to the poor skills on display, with errors at critical times preventing the contest from having any flow. With the team's combining for just six goals across the first two quarters, the bumper crowd of 72,761 had to look elsewhere for highlights. There was debutant Jayden Short, who stood under the ball courageously to mark and kick his first goal with his first kick in the AFL. Collingwood skipper Scott Pendlebury was also a class above at times, not wasting a single one of his 16 first half possessions working across half-back (he finished with 26). Bachar Houli was doing the same at the other end and entered half-time with 20 possessions. But for all their control in the second quarter – they had 108 possessions to 71 – the Tigers didn't take their chances, kicking 1.6 and taking a five-point lead into the main break. Hardwick will no doubt rue that his team couldn't put the Magpies away when they had their chance, leaving Richmond with a 1-1 record and yet to produce a creditable performance.                                  REAL FOOTY First it was the game neither side dared to lose after underwhelming performances in round one, and it showed; the jitters were killing. Then it was the game neither side could win. It was the match Richmond frittered away, then won anyway, and then lost. It was the match Collingwood lost and then stole, and there was unbridled rejoicing in Magpie heaven, as ever for repentant sinners. In the cold light of Saturday, both sides will still wonder at what happened. Winning needs no explanation, which was as well, because there really wasn't one. Losing has no alibi, and don't the Tigers know it. "Admirable," said Nathan Buckley, trying to balance euphoria with relief. Somehow, the Magpies had ground out victory, he said, but he was not in the business of celebrating grinding wins. "We're so far from where we want to be." But at least they are less distant than they were with five minutes to play in this match, and a whole lot closer than where they were in Sydney last week. In truth, this whole night was an accident waiting to happen, or more correctly two of them, one happy, one not. In round one, Richmond had been unconvincing and Collingwood unseen. The Tigers needed a big win, and all but got one, and the Magpies any sort of win, which, at length, was what they got. Happiness is as happiness does. The first half of this game was littered with intercepts, fumbles and misses as both teams tried too hard. "I don't think either side played particularly well," said Buckley later. "We gave them a chance, they gave us a chance." When at last they settled, Richmond dominated the clearances and had the preponderance of possession and shots at goal, which should have told and did tell and then suddenly didn't. Collingwood shaded the Tigers for inside 50s, but in the final tally, only the last mattered. But how! It was a chaotic game, full of oddities, so the improbable finish should not have surprised really. Scott Pendlebury played much of the second half in the backline, perhaps to nurse a knock, perhaps to try to bring a bit of precision to that area of the ground for the Mapgies; coach Buckley was cagey. Once, he also overran the ball, as commonly seen as Halley's comet, yielding a goal. A first-gamer, Jayden Short, kicked three goals for the Tigers. Jack Riewoldt kicked three, but all in the last quarter, and they looked to be decisive. Travis Cloke played better, but kicked only one, on his right foot, if you don't mind. Alex Fasolo kicked three, which suddenly became five. And all night long, Adam Treloar was booed because he wasn't playing for a club he had never played for. With 32 touches, that added up to a lot of booing. The finish, like the match, was all crossed wires and happenstance. Nick Vlastuin was penalised for handballing out of bounds deliberately; it woudn't have been a free kick last year. Nineteen seconds remained. In the box, Buckley thought to himself that if Darcy Moore kicked to the top of the goal square, where Richmond waited in numbers, the Magpies would not score. Moore kicked to the top of the square. The Tigers were on the lookout for a high-flying Collingwood six-footer. They mislaid a 203-centimetre ruckman, and so it was that Brodie Grundy gathered the crumbs and kicked the winning goal. Coaches try to shape patterns out of chaos, but sometimes can only watch as patterns dissolve into chaos. For all the untidiness of this game in parts, Buckley was delighted with the Magpies' cool in the dying seconds, which, as it turned, out were the reborn seconds. "To be honest, the way we moved the ball in the last five minutes was the way we wanted to move it in the first five minutes," he said. For Damien Hardwick, the opposite held. He could only wring his hands as drills sharpened in many close games these last two or three seasons suddenly fell apart, perhaps because this wasn't really a close game until suddenly it was. "We played unintelligent footy towards the end," he said. Nonetheless, for the Tigers, this must have felt like the last practical joke of Aprils Fool's Day, and that the Magpies were the Joker. "The growth in 'Fas' (Alex Fasolo) personally, has seen the growth in his footy."                                                     Nathan Buckley

SUPERFOOTY THE date line seemed strangely appropriate, but at least Collingwood could see the funny side to last night's remarkable come-from-behind one-point win over Richmond. For three quarters, this match was not much better than a poorly delivered April Fool's Day joke, littered with errors and errant kicking, with each side seemingly trying to outdo the other in terms of mistakes. But in an extraordinary finish to a very ordinary game, Magpies big man Brodie Grundy was able to steal victory from the jaws of defeat, kicking the matchwinning goal of the game with only four seconds left. Collingwood looked beaten when it trailed by 17 points 20 minutes into the final term after Jack Riewoldt kicked his third goal of the term, but somehow Nathan Buckley's men were able to get themselves off the canvas. Alex Fasolo kicked goals at the 23-minute-mark and the 28-minute-mark of the last term, with those two majors taking him to a career-best six for the game. Yet as the Tigers edged the ball out of defence and with time ticking away, it seemed as the Magpies were still destined for a 0-2 start to the season for the first time since 2005. But a deliberate out of bounds decision against the Tigers left the door ajar almost as much as Richmond's woeful inability to close out a game it seemingly had in its grasp. With 19 seconds left, Darcy Moore drove the ball into the goal-square and Grundy flew for the ball, lost it, then gained it back. His snap for goal provided their first win of the season — a lifeline after such a poor performance against Sydney last week. It was hardly a win for the ages, but it might be something that they can build a season on, and the performance of Fasolo, the hardworking efforts of boom recruit Adam Treloar and Scott Pendlebury and a much better showing from the forward line, including a better effort from Travis Cloke, was encouraging. It's far too early to decide whether Treloar made the right call last year when he chose black and white over yellow and black, but he would have been pretty satisfied last night. Never mind the boos, never mind the abuse that the Richmond supporters gave him. He showed last night the sort of grit to close out what president Eddie McGuire labelled a "week from hell" for the club. Fasolo was extraordinary, and five of his six goals came in the second half. He took every opportunity that was presented to him and it was arguably his most important game for the club. Six days ago, he went head first into the SCG turf. Last night he flew without fear and finished with 6.0, not leaving out the four scoring assists he provided as well. Importantly, at the other end, Ben Reid showed just how important he is to the structure of the Magpies' team. The celebrations of the Collingwood players contrasted with the body language of the Richmond group who slumped to the ground, realising what a massive opportunity they had given up. Time and again the Tigers looked as if they would had this game in their keepings, but that will mean nothing to Damien Hardwick who deserves to be furious with both the misses early — including 1.6 in the second term — and their lack of poise under pressure. They conceded 70 points from turnovers and led for 71 minutes. Collingwood had the scoreboard lead for 28 minutes but importantly had it at the end. Trent Cotchin tried his hardest with 38 touches, Bachar Houli had 35 and Dustin Martin produced a strong second half, taking his tally to 30. But too much was left to too few. And Collingwood somehow conjured the miracle near the end that it so desperately needed. Now with games against St Kilda, Melbourne and Essendon to come, the Magpies have a chance to launch a season that looked like careering out of control at stages of last night.                               AFL A CHANGE in attitude towards the end of last season has breathed new life into the career of Collingwood goalsneak Alex Fasolo. The 23-year-old stole the show in the Magpies' thrilling one-point win over Richmond on Friday night at the MCG. In a career-best performance, Fasolo wowed the crowd, kicking six goals for the match, including two crucial majors in the dying minutes of the game to give Collingwood a chance to snatch victory. With key forward Travis Cloke desperately trying to find some form, and youngster Darcy Moore well held, Fasolo shouldered the load in attack. From his 14 disposals and six marks, he not only kicked six straight goals but also had four goal assists. After a slow start to last season and some frank conversations with the coach, Fasolo was sent back to the VFL for five weeks to work on not only his game, but his mindset. He regained his place in the senior side in round eight against Gold Coast but it wasn't until the back end of the season that Collingwood started seeing an improvement in the small forward. Coach Nathan Buckley said it took "courage" for Fasolo to change his attitude to football and said he had since become a better teammate. "The growth in 'Fas' personally, has seen the growth in his footy," Buckley said after the win. "He adjusted his attitude a little bit towards footy, and where he fits at the footy club, and it's just brought him to another level. It's good to see him get the rewards tonight. "He's a better teammate than he's been before. He's more invested in what's going on around him than he has before and that's a significant shift. "All credit to him because it takes courage to do that and he's given himself a chance to find out where he can go with his footy career, let alone changing his perspective on the rest of his life." Fasolo was crucial to the Magpies' come-from-behind win over the Tigers. "I really enjoyed the opportunity down there tonight," the small forward told Channel Seven after the game. "I rely on our midfield who did a great job tonight, they move the ball so well and that helped me. "We play for each other and we don't mind who's kicking the big ones. Tonight it was me, and it was good to be a part of." The Pies snatched the four-points in the dying seconds of the match when Moore received a free kick from a deliberate out-of-bounds decision. On a tight angle on the boundary, the young forward kicked to the top of the goalsquare where ruckman Brodie Grundy took possession and snapped truly to take a one-point lead with just four seconds remaining. When asked what was going through his mind in the final 20 seconds, Buckley joked, "that we probably won't score if we kick it to the top of the goal square." The coach refused to concede the Pies stole the win but said there was plenty of improvement for the Magpies ahead of next Saturday's game against St Kilda. "The last five minutes… the leadership, communication and organisation on the field was really strong," Buckley said. "We were able to put bodies in the right places at the right time. We pressed the button on being more aggressive. To be honest, the way we moved the ball in the last five minutes is what we want to see in the first five minutes. There's plenty of learning in that for us."