After tonight's 22-point win against Geelong, we're now 4-1-2 and our season is well and truly back on track. We should finish Round 7 within the Top 4, maintaining a healthy percentage of 144.6.
On the other hand, the West Coast Eagles are currently sitting on 3-3 ahead of their Derby against Fremantle. I would expect them to win this game and really look to launch their season, after what really has been a lacklustre start.
It's still unclear whether this game will be restricted to 50% capacity (~30,000) or whether the WA Government will allow full capacity. If full capacity is allowed, I think that's exactly what they will get. Given that no Victrorians will be able to travel, this will by far be the biggest anti-Collingwood crowd we've ever played in front of. A real test.
We're off a 10 day break as opposed to the Eagles' 7 day break. Although this probably won't be significant, we're sure to be fresh and finally out of mandatory hotel quarantine. The descrepency in breaks is slightly surprising however given that we've already taken on both the Saints and Hawthorn with much longer breaks than them.
Of course, our biggest challenge for this game is not the crowd. Our biggest challenge would have to be a toss up between Sidebottom's absence (usually either mops up against the Eagles or gets completely tagged out of it by Hutchings) and WCE's recruitment of Tim Kelly (averages 27 touches against Collingwood, his third favourite opponent).
LAST TIME(S) THEY MET
After the WCE defeated us at the MCG in Round 3, 2019 - despite a very strong win over Richmond the week prior - I think many of us dreaded a modern-day bogey side following the 2018 Grand Final result.
Fast forward to Round 17 at Optus Stadium and we defeated them in front of 56,000 fans in what turned out to be one of the best games of the season, despite our poor run of form at the time.
In this game we were down by 16 points at 3/4 time. In the last quarter, we kept the Eagles to just one point and kicked 2.6 to trickle over the line in a hectic, high-pressure finish, which was ultimately sealed by an instinctive JDG snap.
Brodie Grundy finished with 32 hit outs, 22 touches and 8 tackles going up against both Naitanui and Tom Hickey.
There were some high possession winners in this game. Adam Treloar had it 39 times. Sidebottom, who will obviously still be missing this time, helped himself to 33 touches. Andrew Gaff helped himself on the wing with 32. Pendlebury also had 32. Crisp had 30, Sheed and Redden both had it 27 times and Yeo finished with 26 disposals.
Goal scorers were Mihocek and Jarrod Cameron (whom started very hot) with 4, Darling with 3, Cox with 3, DeGoey, Yeo and Phillips with 2, Oscar Allen, Hickey and Luke Ryan with singles.
Those of us who remember this match up would recall Roughead keeping Kennedy goalless, and Maynard doing a colossal job in his shift to Darling after Moore unfortunately went off injured.
Howe was also missing in this encounter.
MATCH UPS
The WCE forward line is hard to pick match ups for given that they have occasionally named six forwards and another two other players on the bench whose best position are also forward. They may also throw Naitanui forward which could present us issues with the absence of Howe.
If Allen goes into the ruck, I would suspect it's only when Naitanui goes onto the pine for a rest. However, in the event that Naitanui goes forward, I think Moore should shift to him, with Maynard taking Darling.
Maynard is 5cm shorter than Allen and could instead be tried again on Darling. Darling and Maynard are similar height and as mentioned above, it was Maynard whom got moved onto Darling once Moore went off injured.
Roughead I suspect will line up on Kennedy, with Moore to take command if Kennedy gets the upper hand.
Maynard vs. Allen
Moore vs. Darling
Crisp vs. Redden
Roughead vs. Kennedy
Quaynor vs. Ah Chee
Scharenberg vs. Waterman
Varcoe vs. Ryan/Cameron
As for the forward line, our biggest concern is how we limit McGovern's intercept ability. We have seen Mihocek run with him in recent times, as well as Mayne giving him closer attention.
CHANGES
Unfortunately I think Atu played about as well as a lot of us expected him to perform last week against Hawthorn.
IN: Cox, Sier, Scharenberg
OUT: Atu, Wills, Noble
TIP
Collingwood by 19.
On the other hand, the West Coast Eagles are currently sitting on 3-3 ahead of their Derby against Fremantle. I would expect them to win this game and really look to launch their season, after what really has been a lacklustre start.
It's still unclear whether this game will be restricted to 50% capacity (~30,000) or whether the WA Government will allow full capacity. If full capacity is allowed, I think that's exactly what they will get. Given that no Victrorians will be able to travel, this will by far be the biggest anti-Collingwood crowd we've ever played in front of. A real test.
We're off a 10 day break as opposed to the Eagles' 7 day break. Although this probably won't be significant, we're sure to be fresh and finally out of mandatory hotel quarantine. The descrepency in breaks is slightly surprising however given that we've already taken on both the Saints and Hawthorn with much longer breaks than them.
Of course, our biggest challenge for this game is not the crowd. Our biggest challenge would have to be a toss up between Sidebottom's absence (usually either mops up against the Eagles or gets completely tagged out of it by Hutchings) and WCE's recruitment of Tim Kelly (averages 27 touches against Collingwood, his third favourite opponent).
LAST TIME(S) THEY MET
After the WCE defeated us at the MCG in Round 3, 2019 - despite a very strong win over Richmond the week prior - I think many of us dreaded a modern-day bogey side following the 2018 Grand Final result.
Fast forward to Round 17 at Optus Stadium and we defeated them in front of 56,000 fans in what turned out to be one of the best games of the season, despite our poor run of form at the time.
In this game we were down by 16 points at 3/4 time. In the last quarter, we kept the Eagles to just one point and kicked 2.6 to trickle over the line in a hectic, high-pressure finish, which was ultimately sealed by an instinctive JDG snap.
Brodie Grundy finished with 32 hit outs, 22 touches and 8 tackles going up against both Naitanui and Tom Hickey.
There were some high possession winners in this game. Adam Treloar had it 39 times. Sidebottom, who will obviously still be missing this time, helped himself to 33 touches. Andrew Gaff helped himself on the wing with 32. Pendlebury also had 32. Crisp had 30, Sheed and Redden both had it 27 times and Yeo finished with 26 disposals.
Goal scorers were Mihocek and Jarrod Cameron (whom started very hot) with 4, Darling with 3, Cox with 3, DeGoey, Yeo and Phillips with 2, Oscar Allen, Hickey and Luke Ryan with singles.
Those of us who remember this match up would recall Roughead keeping Kennedy goalless, and Maynard doing a colossal job in his shift to Darling after Moore unfortunately went off injured.
Howe was also missing in this encounter.
MATCH UPS
The WCE forward line is hard to pick match ups for given that they have occasionally named six forwards and another two other players on the bench whose best position are also forward. They may also throw Naitanui forward which could present us issues with the absence of Howe.
If Allen goes into the ruck, I would suspect it's only when Naitanui goes onto the pine for a rest. However, in the event that Naitanui goes forward, I think Moore should shift to him, with Maynard taking Darling.
Maynard is 5cm shorter than Allen and could instead be tried again on Darling. Darling and Maynard are similar height and as mentioned above, it was Maynard whom got moved onto Darling once Moore went off injured.
Roughead I suspect will line up on Kennedy, with Moore to take command if Kennedy gets the upper hand.
Maynard vs. Allen
Moore vs. Darling
Crisp vs. Redden
Roughead vs. Kennedy
Quaynor vs. Ah Chee
Scharenberg vs. Waterman
Varcoe vs. Ryan/Cameron
As for the forward line, our biggest concern is how we limit McGovern's intercept ability. We have seen Mihocek run with him in recent times, as well as Mayne giving him closer attention.
CHANGES
Unfortunately I think Atu played about as well as a lot of us expected him to perform last week against Hawthorn.
IN: Cox, Sier, Scharenberg
OUT: Atu, Wills, Noble
TIP
Collingwood by 19.
