Match Preview: Pies v Dockers

[DaVe86]

My weekly match preview is now up on the official club website. Link below

http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/newsfeatures/news/newsarticle/tabid/5586/newsid/139794/default.aspx


Mods, please paste in full or merge to pre-game thread if you wish.

 

[Swooop]

My weekly match preview is now up on the official club website. Link below

http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/newsfeatures/news/newsarticle/tabid/5586/newsid/139794/default.aspx


Mods, please paste in full or merge to pre-game thread if you wish.

As per DaVe's request, here's the article in full - awesome read Dave ...

The Magpies have regained their spot at the top of the ladder following a heart-stopping three-point victory over West Coast in round 13. The challenge now for Collingwood is to maintain this position considering many experts are claiming that the Magpies face the toughest draw on the run home to the finals.

Collingwood faces a tricky round 14 match this Saturday against an unpredictable Fremantle side at the MCG. Both sides are coming off very physical games in round 13, with the Dockers fading against Essendon whilst the Magpies held off a fast-finishing West Coast. It will be interesting to see how each side reacts to their respective slow finishes last round.

Under Ross Lyon, the Dockers have shown some positive signs, but are struggling to find consistency. It was a similar story when Lyon first took over St Kilda before the players were able to completely adapt to the new game-style. Fremantle have been accused at times this year of playing overly defensive football. Fremantle has only conceded over 100 points on four occasions so far this year (all four of these were against current top eight sides). Alternatively, they have only scored more than 100 points in one game this year, which was against Geelong in round one.

Nonetheless, Fremantle sits on six wins and six losses and is right on the cusp of the top eight. A big scalp is just what Ross Lyon and his team needs to develop some momentum and regain the faith of the fans. It is a big ask considering it will face a red hot Collingwood side at a ground it has only visited once this year. That said, the previous visit to the MCG was round eleven against Richmond where the Dockers caused a stirring upset.

Turning attention back onto Collingwood, and the win against West Coast has firmly entrenched it as the premiership favourite once again.

It was uncharacteristic of Collingwood to have only four goal-kickers. Travis Cloke, Dayne Beams, Alex Fasolo and Jarryd Blair all kicked multiple goals, but there was not the typical input from the likes of Steele Sidebottom, Tyson Goldsack, Darren Jolly and Dane Swan. A five-goal haul from Cloke saved the day, but when he was held in the last quarter the Magpies could only manage one more goal from a free kick. The potential returns of Ben Sinclair and Alan Didak may address this issue.

Recent History
Collingwood has won the previous three encounters against Fremantle, the previous two coming at Patersons Stadium. The destroyer for the Magpies has been Travis Cloke who has kicked 12 goals across these games.

When these two sides last met in round 23 last year, it was Scott Pendlebury who polled three votes with 36 disposals and two goals, Swan who polled two votes with 35 disposals and two goals, and Andrew Krakouer who polled the one vote with four goals. Nick Lower had 37 disposals for Fremantle.

At the Selection Table
Ben Sinclair and Chris Tarrant head the list of potential inclusions into the side this week after they both missed last week. Alan Didak is another who could potentially push to return this week. He may be a potential candidate for the substitute position. Irish recruit Caolan Mooney is another who could be looked at for selection following a five-goal haul in the VFL last week but still needs to be promoted off the rookie list before he is eligible to play. The news isn’t as good for Pendlebury who Nathan Buckley has said will spend another week on the sideline.

Fremantle will welcome back Hayden Ballantyne from suspension who will add some goal-kicking power to the forward line. However, Stephen Hill and Zac Dawson could be called up to play as they recover from ankle and knee injuries respectively. Paul Duffield may also be in line for recall after he was dropped. Anthony Morabito continues to close in on selection following a knee reconstruction in 2011.

Focus on Collingwood
The midfield depth of the Magpies continues to impress each and every week. With no Aaron Sandilands in the Fremantle side, Collingwood will consider itself a real chance to take complete control through the middle and run Fremantle off its feet. Importantly, Collingwood’s defence is finally looking settled. The return of Reid last week was vital and his strength one on one saved the day on countless occasions. In combination with Nathan Brown, and with Chris Tarrant still to return, the Pies are very strong again in the key position department. Heath Shaw and Alan Toovey will be better for the run last week as well.

Dayne Beams - Beams is the new ‘it’ player in the competition right now. His statistics alone over the last two months justify the hype as he has had more than 30 disposals in all but one of the last eight games. He is fresh from a 34 disposal, three-goal game against the Eagles which should see him receive best on ground honours. Opposition coaches will start planning for him now, so his challenge is to maintain his form with extra attention. Nonetheless, with Pendlebury, Swan and Dale Thomas in the side, Beams has the support around him to continue his form. He is a clearance and tackling machine and importantly can go forward and kick a goal. It makes him as dangerous as any player in the elite Collingwood midfield.

Travis Cloke - Cloke’s form has arguably been below his lofty expectations this year, but he hit back last week with five crucial goals. He is still the leading ranked contested marking player in the competition. Although his return on the stats sheet is not as prolific as it was last year, Cloke has still provided a fantastic target all year. So much of his work goes unnoticed. He creates contests and often brings the ball to ground to the advantage of the small forwards. He also continues to work high up the ground and his defensive efforts are always good. Here’s hoping his return of five goals last week sees him return to his top form in the run home to finals.

Jamie Elliott - The feisty little forward had a breakout quarter against West Coast last week with seven disposals in the last quarter and some really solid marking. He came to the club with a reputation for strong tackling and neat skills. This was all on display last round. On the flipside, as a small forward, Elliott needs to be a goal-scoring option and needs to create opportunities for himself to hit the scoreboard. With the likes of Sinclair and Didak pushing for selection, it is going to be a huge challenge for Elliott to cement his spot in the side. Either way, there is a bright future ahead for Elliott.

Focus on FremantleFremantle has talent all over the field. However, there are also some holes throughout the side which may hold the Dockers back. The forward line needs another tall target to support Pavlich and Mayne. The midfield lacks genuine in and under players and still needs a bit of A-grade quality. Despite this, when you look through the list, it is quite talented and on its day can trouble most sides. The backline is quite solid, and Ross Lyon has the side playing a stricter team defence.

Zac Clarke - With Aaron Sandilands out, Clarke gets his opportunity to really step up and make a name for himself. He has so much talent as he is agile, skilful and quick for a ruckman. He is a difficult match-up for any opponent as he has x-factor and can do what others can’t. He kicked two goals last week against the Bombers. However, he needs to become more consistent throughout games and put in four-quarter efforts. He will have Jonathon Griffen for support. Darren Jolly is slowly working back into form, so Clarke and Jolly need to run him off his feet and take ascendency in the ruck if the Dockers plan on containing the elite Magpie midfield.

Michael Barlow - A positive out of the loss to Essendon last week was the form of Barlow. He had 28 disposals and kicked a goal. He is starting to regain some of the touch that saw him develop into one of the premier midfielders in the competition in his debut season before his terrible leg break. The Dockers need star quality through the middle, and at his best Barlow can provide this as he can play inside and outside. Nick Lower returned to the side for his first game of the year last week and picked up 30 disposals as well. The duo could provide the much needed midfield depth the Dockers require to make a charge for the finals.

Ryan Crowley - Crowley is one of the tightest checking taggers in the game. His tactics can often get under the skin of his opponents as he pushes them to their limits. The question this week is which Collingwood midfielder will get the Crowley tag. I have a feeling he will go to Dayne Beams since he has been the most damaging Collingwood midfielder. This will probably leave Tendai Mzungu to go to Swan. Shutting down these two players will give the Dockers a chance to match the Magpies on the weekend.

The Wrap Up
I don’t think Fremantle will make for easy pickings on Saturday afternoon. However, the Dockers have struggled against the best sides in the competition so far this year, and could be exposed by Collingwood’s depth on the weekend.

Fremantle is a confidence team, and if it can gain the momentum, can be a very difficult team to shut down. The Dockers won’t mind playing on the open spaces of the MCG, as they proved against Richmond two weeks ago.

Given Collingwood’s difficult month ahead, this is an opportunity to catch the Magpies off-guard. However Buckley will be emphasising the need to put the wins on the board now as a top two finish will be essential with three interstate clubs battling for the final positions in the top four.

Pies by 31 points

By David Natoli
Aka DaVe86
collingwoodfc.com.au