After tonight's horror loss to Fremantle, 4-1-4 and, quite simply, our season is at a cross-roads. We need to win the next three games as a minimum, and it starts right here. No excuses.
This is our first game of many in Queensland this year, and it feels like we're showing up late to the party. Hopefully the earlier start of 5:40pm prevents it from reaching dew point early in the game, which I believe is something other teams would have a head-start in their preparations for.
Sydney outside of Sydney? Don't fall off your chair! In our last 12 encounters against Sydney, we've played in the Harbour City every time bar one game at the MCG in 2013 (in what became the Adam Goodes game). The time before that was way back in 2009. This recent history includes five in a row at the SCG, from which we have produced just two close, hard-fought wins.
We should take confidence from the fact that we've won our last 5 in a row at the Gabba, the most recent two of which were impressive over a strong Brisbane Lion side.
As of Tuesday 28/07/2020, Sydney have a few injuries to contend with, in particular; Lance Franklin (3-4 weeks), Heeney (Season), Kennedy (4-5 weeks), Naismith (Season). Rampe had surgery on his broken right hand on Monday last week, but will likely play.
It's no secret that Sydney are struggling this year. They started with a narrow win over a winless Adelaide Crows, could've nearly pinched a win against the inconsistent Bombers, before beating a now-struggling North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium. A four-game losing streak succeeded a Round 8 win against the Hawks, a team which is now under immense pressure with regards to where their list is at.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Collingwood and Sydney's last three games have been quite close despite Sydney's slow but sure slide down the ladder and Collingwood being firmly in premiership contention. It could be said without hesitation that the shift from ANZ stadium to SCG has hampered our ability in Sydney.
In Round 10, 2019, Sydney got off to a hot start and went into quarter time with a lead of 3.1.19 to 1.4.10. A two to four goal second term saw us take a nine point lead into half time, before Sydney kicked five goals to two in the third quarter to lead 10.6.66 to 7.12.54 at three quarter time. Collingwood went on to win 11.14.80 to 11.7.73.
For top performers in this game, many would remember Sam Reid's performance where he kicked an equal career-high 6.0 and simply could not miss in a hot run of form. Sam Reid was awarded BOG and not only was his individual performance and unbelievable accuracy keeping them in the game, it had the Swans threatening to beat us all night.
Jake Lloyd had it 35 times from the backline and Luke Parker 28.
Brodie Grundy had 64 hitouts to go with his 18 disposals, a dominance over Callum Sinclair, a match up which could again happen. Adam Treloar had 38 disposals, Scott Pendlebury 29 and a goal, and Jack Crisp helped himself to the ball 27 times.
Daniel Wells played his first and only game of 2019, the last of his career. Wells finished with 3 goals from his 11 disposals, before going down with a knee injury. Dayne Beams had the ball 22 times in performance which had some questioning his output, which ended up being his second last game in black and white (he only played Fremantle the week after).
Buddy Franklin - with thanks to Jordan Roughead - was kept to just 6 disposals after a four week lay-off. But a return from injury against Collingwood, no less.
Sidebottom was tagged by Ryan Clarke and was kept to 13 touches, including donuts in the opening quarter.
Dane Rampe eventually gave away a 50-metre penalty to Chris Mayne which sealed the deal for the Magpies.
Josh Kennedy missed the game with a knee injury. Collingwood on the other hand were without Adams, DeGoey, Moore, Cox and Elliott.
MATCH UPS
Moore vs. Blakey
Roughead/Keane vs. S. Reid
Maynard vs. Papley
Scharenberg vs. McCartin
Crisp vs. Clarke/Gray
Noble vs. Taylor
CHANGES
Assuming Pendlebury still isn't ready, this feels like the first time in a while where we haven't had a best-22 player returning from injury and ready to slot straight back in. Sydney are slightly stronger and more unpredictable than Adelaide (our Round 11 opponent), so I suspect the team for this game will be on the stronger side.
Sinclair is the weakest ruckman we'll come up against in the next three games, with Riley O'Brien and Max Gawn to follow. If Grundy is to rest, this is probably it, although without his dominance over Sinclair last year, we probably would've lost.
IN: T Brown, Rantall
OUT: Mayne (sorry Chris, break time), Thomas
Maybe Roughead in also.
TIP
Collingwood by 14.
This is our first game of many in Queensland this year, and it feels like we're showing up late to the party. Hopefully the earlier start of 5:40pm prevents it from reaching dew point early in the game, which I believe is something other teams would have a head-start in their preparations for.
Sydney outside of Sydney? Don't fall off your chair! In our last 12 encounters against Sydney, we've played in the Harbour City every time bar one game at the MCG in 2013 (in what became the Adam Goodes game). The time before that was way back in 2009. This recent history includes five in a row at the SCG, from which we have produced just two close, hard-fought wins.
We should take confidence from the fact that we've won our last 5 in a row at the Gabba, the most recent two of which were impressive over a strong Brisbane Lion side.
As of Tuesday 28/07/2020, Sydney have a few injuries to contend with, in particular; Lance Franklin (3-4 weeks), Heeney (Season), Kennedy (4-5 weeks), Naismith (Season). Rampe had surgery on his broken right hand on Monday last week, but will likely play.
It's no secret that Sydney are struggling this year. They started with a narrow win over a winless Adelaide Crows, could've nearly pinched a win against the inconsistent Bombers, before beating a now-struggling North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium. A four-game losing streak succeeded a Round 8 win against the Hawks, a team which is now under immense pressure with regards to where their list is at.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Collingwood and Sydney's last three games have been quite close despite Sydney's slow but sure slide down the ladder and Collingwood being firmly in premiership contention. It could be said without hesitation that the shift from ANZ stadium to SCG has hampered our ability in Sydney.
In Round 10, 2019, Sydney got off to a hot start and went into quarter time with a lead of 3.1.19 to 1.4.10. A two to four goal second term saw us take a nine point lead into half time, before Sydney kicked five goals to two in the third quarter to lead 10.6.66 to 7.12.54 at three quarter time. Collingwood went on to win 11.14.80 to 11.7.73.
For top performers in this game, many would remember Sam Reid's performance where he kicked an equal career-high 6.0 and simply could not miss in a hot run of form. Sam Reid was awarded BOG and not only was his individual performance and unbelievable accuracy keeping them in the game, it had the Swans threatening to beat us all night.
Jake Lloyd had it 35 times from the backline and Luke Parker 28.
Brodie Grundy had 64 hitouts to go with his 18 disposals, a dominance over Callum Sinclair, a match up which could again happen. Adam Treloar had 38 disposals, Scott Pendlebury 29 and a goal, and Jack Crisp helped himself to the ball 27 times.
Daniel Wells played his first and only game of 2019, the last of his career. Wells finished with 3 goals from his 11 disposals, before going down with a knee injury. Dayne Beams had the ball 22 times in performance which had some questioning his output, which ended up being his second last game in black and white (he only played Fremantle the week after).
Buddy Franklin - with thanks to Jordan Roughead - was kept to just 6 disposals after a four week lay-off. But a return from injury against Collingwood, no less.
Sidebottom was tagged by Ryan Clarke and was kept to 13 touches, including donuts in the opening quarter.
Dane Rampe eventually gave away a 50-metre penalty to Chris Mayne which sealed the deal for the Magpies.
Josh Kennedy missed the game with a knee injury. Collingwood on the other hand were without Adams, DeGoey, Moore, Cox and Elliott.
MATCH UPS
Moore vs. Blakey
Roughead/Keane vs. S. Reid
Maynard vs. Papley
Scharenberg vs. McCartin
Crisp vs. Clarke/Gray
Noble vs. Taylor
CHANGES
Assuming Pendlebury still isn't ready, this feels like the first time in a while where we haven't had a best-22 player returning from injury and ready to slot straight back in. Sydney are slightly stronger and more unpredictable than Adelaide (our Round 11 opponent), so I suspect the team for this game will be on the stronger side.
Sinclair is the weakest ruckman we'll come up against in the next three games, with Riley O'Brien and Max Gawn to follow. If Grundy is to rest, this is probably it, although without his dominance over Sinclair last year, we probably would've lost.
IN: T Brown, Rantall
OUT: Mayne (sorry Chris, break time), Thomas
Maybe Roughead in also.
TIP
Collingwood by 14.
