After tonight's win over Adelaide, we go to 6-1-4 and it's season back on track for now.
To safely qualify for finals in 2020 - with a draw in hand - we probably need to win a minimum of nine games. That's at least three of our next six, which come against Melbourne, North Melbourne, Gold Coast, Carlton, Brisbane and Port Adelaide.
Considering the upcoming opponents, we cannot afford to lose over the next two weeks against Melbourne or North Melbourne.
This game is our third 4 day break in a row. The biggest problem with that is that Melbourne are coming off a 6 day break.
Melbourne's greatest strength is their midfield, which is aided when Gawn is playing and unhampered. Clayton Oliver and Angus Brayshaw are trending towards 2018 form and Petracca is having a career-best season, putting together a bag of eye-catching performances thus far.
Melbourne's greatest weakness, however, is their entries from these midfielders going inside 50, which is made to look even worse given their forward personnel. If we are to beat Melbourne this Saturday, we desperately need to get first use at stoppages or at the very least put immense pressure on the ball carrier and have them continue the trend of poor forward-50 entries.
LAST TIME(S) THEY MET
Collingwood defeated Melbourne 15.8.98 to 7.15.57 in Round 12 and 10.10.70 to 7.11.53 in Round 21, 2019.
In the Round 21 encounter, Melbourne took a quarter time lead of 1.4.10 to a goal-less 0.5.5 quarter by the Pies. An early second quarter goal by Angus Brayshaw put the Demons 11 points up, which ended up being their biggest lead of the day. The Pies took control of the game with five straight unanswered goals to go into half time with a 5.6.36 to 2.6.18 lead. The Pies kicked four goals to Melbourne's one goal in the third quarter before the foot went off the pedal and Melbourne kicked the last four goals of the game.
For the Demons, Clayton Oliver had 29 touches and 11 tackles and Angus Brayshaw had 26 touches and a goal. James Harmes had one of his better career games with 26 touches and Salem likewise had 25.
For the Pies, Adam Treloar had it 31 times, Steele Sidebottom 28 times and Mihocek kicked 4 goals. Varcoe and Pendlebury kicked 2, whilst Jack Crisp and Josh Thomas both kicked singles.
With regards to clearances, Oliver had 7, Harmes and Viney had 5 each, Gawn had 4, Brayshaw had 3. Grundy had 7, Treloar 6, Pendlebury 4, Phillips 3, Sidebottom 3. Various others had 2 or less. Looking at these numbers, it's obvious Treloar will miss, so hopefully Pendlebury is passed fit to play.
Grundy had 16 disposals and 44 hitouts to go with the aforementioned clearances. Gawn had 13 disposals and 29 hitouts to go with his goal.
CHANGES
Will Pendlebury make a return?
Will Dunn get another crack at it if Roughead doesn't get up with concussion symptoms on the short turnaround? Risky for Dunn with the short turn around. Keane and Murphy a chance for aerial presence.
I almost had Cameron going out for Cox, whom I'd have coming in instead of Reid so that Gawn can't expose Reid when he's pinch-hitting. But I'd give Cameron another chance.
Forgive me as I've probably forgotten all about someone...
Wouldn't mind a debut by Rantall over Josh Thomas but he may have just done enough tonight.
IN: Pendlebury, Moore, Elliott, (Keane/Murphy)
OUT: Wills, Dunn, Broomhead, (Roughead)
Rantall debut if Pendles doesn't get up? Please!
TIP
Collingwood by 12.
To safely qualify for finals in 2020 - with a draw in hand - we probably need to win a minimum of nine games. That's at least three of our next six, which come against Melbourne, North Melbourne, Gold Coast, Carlton, Brisbane and Port Adelaide.
Considering the upcoming opponents, we cannot afford to lose over the next two weeks against Melbourne or North Melbourne.
This game is our third 4 day break in a row. The biggest problem with that is that Melbourne are coming off a 6 day break.
Melbourne's greatest strength is their midfield, which is aided when Gawn is playing and unhampered. Clayton Oliver and Angus Brayshaw are trending towards 2018 form and Petracca is having a career-best season, putting together a bag of eye-catching performances thus far.
Melbourne's greatest weakness, however, is their entries from these midfielders going inside 50, which is made to look even worse given their forward personnel. If we are to beat Melbourne this Saturday, we desperately need to get first use at stoppages or at the very least put immense pressure on the ball carrier and have them continue the trend of poor forward-50 entries.
LAST TIME(S) THEY MET
Collingwood defeated Melbourne 15.8.98 to 7.15.57 in Round 12 and 10.10.70 to 7.11.53 in Round 21, 2019.
In the Round 21 encounter, Melbourne took a quarter time lead of 1.4.10 to a goal-less 0.5.5 quarter by the Pies. An early second quarter goal by Angus Brayshaw put the Demons 11 points up, which ended up being their biggest lead of the day. The Pies took control of the game with five straight unanswered goals to go into half time with a 5.6.36 to 2.6.18 lead. The Pies kicked four goals to Melbourne's one goal in the third quarter before the foot went off the pedal and Melbourne kicked the last four goals of the game.
For the Demons, Clayton Oliver had 29 touches and 11 tackles and Angus Brayshaw had 26 touches and a goal. James Harmes had one of his better career games with 26 touches and Salem likewise had 25.
For the Pies, Adam Treloar had it 31 times, Steele Sidebottom 28 times and Mihocek kicked 4 goals. Varcoe and Pendlebury kicked 2, whilst Jack Crisp and Josh Thomas both kicked singles.
With regards to clearances, Oliver had 7, Harmes and Viney had 5 each, Gawn had 4, Brayshaw had 3. Grundy had 7, Treloar 6, Pendlebury 4, Phillips 3, Sidebottom 3. Various others had 2 or less. Looking at these numbers, it's obvious Treloar will miss, so hopefully Pendlebury is passed fit to play.
Grundy had 16 disposals and 44 hitouts to go with the aforementioned clearances. Gawn had 13 disposals and 29 hitouts to go with his goal.
CHANGES
Will Pendlebury make a return?
Will Dunn get another crack at it if Roughead doesn't get up with concussion symptoms on the short turnaround? Risky for Dunn with the short turn around. Keane and Murphy a chance for aerial presence.
I almost had Cameron going out for Cox, whom I'd have coming in instead of Reid so that Gawn can't expose Reid when he's pinch-hitting. But I'd give Cameron another chance.
Forgive me as I've probably forgotten all about someone...
Wouldn't mind a debut by Rantall over Josh Thomas but he may have just done enough tonight.
IN: Pendlebury, Moore, Elliott, (Keane/Murphy)
OUT: Wills, Dunn, Broomhead, (Roughead)
Rantall debut if Pendles doesn't get up? Please!
TIP
Collingwood by 12.
