Crunchbone
Debutant
Can anyone confirm my suspicions that Jon Pierik is a one-eyed Collingwood fan? Not the most even handed review of a game I've read this year...
Preview: Western Bulldogs v Collingwood
09/07/2009 2:52 AM
Jon Pierik
Sportal
VENUE & TIME: MCG, Friday July 10, 7.40pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 141, Collingwood 99, Western Bulldogs 41, Drawn 1
LAST TIME: Collingwood 15.9 (99) def Western Bulldogs 13.11 (89), Round 13, 2008 at the MCG
WALKING WOUNDED: Classy forward Daniel Giansiracusa (knee) is still at least another month from resuming but Tom Williams (foot) could return. Anthony Rocca (achilles) is being nursed with the Magpies hopeful he will be fit for September.
FORM: This pits third (the Bulldogs) against fourth (the Magpies) and both teams enter this clash in excellent touch. The Magpies have peeled off six straight wins, including a comprehensive demolition of the Bombers in Round 14. The Bulldogs have won seven of the past eight, including a stunning 88-point mauling of Hawthorn in Round 14. The Dogs have clearly had the edge of the Magpies in recent times, winning five of their past six games - with their last loss coming in Round 9, 2006.
WHO'S HOT: Josh Fraser won redemption for his Anzac Day meltdown by delivering one of his finest performances in the win over the Bombers. He had 23 touches and 35 hit-outs in demolishing Paddy Ryder. Alan Didak has been on a tear in the past month. He had 35 touches, many creative, against the Bombers. Dane Swan has also had a great year, averaging a team-high 32 touches and using his strength around the stoppages. Shane O’Bree doesn’t attract the headlines, but the hard-working midfielder has a team-high 79 tackles. A whopping 80 per cent of Heath Shaw’s possessions are uncontested, so the Dogs will have to halt his run. The Bulldogs’ midfield will also be hard to handle, with the likes of Matthew Boyd (27 possessions per week), Daniel Cross (25), Adam Cooney (25) and Ryan Griffin (21) in good touch. Small forward Shaun Higgins has also been in great touch, while Robert Murphy has done the job since moving to the backline.
WE THINK: A tough one but we think the Pies will have the edge. Travis Cloke’s return to form couldn’t have come at a better time, while the likes of Didak, Dale Thomas, the emerging Dayne Beams, Leon Davis and Swan all contribute on the scoreboard. There’s a lot riding on this. If the Bulldogs prevail, they could move two games clear of the Magpies and Crows but Mick Malthouse will have his men primed to stop that. Collingwood by 12 points.
Preview: Western Bulldogs v Collingwood
09/07/2009 2:52 AM
Jon Pierik
Sportal
VENUE & TIME: MCG, Friday July 10, 7.40pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 141, Collingwood 99, Western Bulldogs 41, Drawn 1
LAST TIME: Collingwood 15.9 (99) def Western Bulldogs 13.11 (89), Round 13, 2008 at the MCG
WALKING WOUNDED: Classy forward Daniel Giansiracusa (knee) is still at least another month from resuming but Tom Williams (foot) could return. Anthony Rocca (achilles) is being nursed with the Magpies hopeful he will be fit for September.
FORM: This pits third (the Bulldogs) against fourth (the Magpies) and both teams enter this clash in excellent touch. The Magpies have peeled off six straight wins, including a comprehensive demolition of the Bombers in Round 14. The Bulldogs have won seven of the past eight, including a stunning 88-point mauling of Hawthorn in Round 14. The Dogs have clearly had the edge of the Magpies in recent times, winning five of their past six games - with their last loss coming in Round 9, 2006.
WHO'S HOT: Josh Fraser won redemption for his Anzac Day meltdown by delivering one of his finest performances in the win over the Bombers. He had 23 touches and 35 hit-outs in demolishing Paddy Ryder. Alan Didak has been on a tear in the past month. He had 35 touches, many creative, against the Bombers. Dane Swan has also had a great year, averaging a team-high 32 touches and using his strength around the stoppages. Shane O’Bree doesn’t attract the headlines, but the hard-working midfielder has a team-high 79 tackles. A whopping 80 per cent of Heath Shaw’s possessions are uncontested, so the Dogs will have to halt his run. The Bulldogs’ midfield will also be hard to handle, with the likes of Matthew Boyd (27 possessions per week), Daniel Cross (25), Adam Cooney (25) and Ryan Griffin (21) in good touch. Small forward Shaun Higgins has also been in great touch, while Robert Murphy has done the job since moving to the backline.
WE THINK: A tough one but we think the Pies will have the edge. Travis Cloke’s return to form couldn’t have come at a better time, while the likes of Didak, Dale Thomas, the emerging Dayne Beams, Leon Davis and Swan all contribute on the scoreboard. There’s a lot riding on this. If the Bulldogs prevail, they could move two games clear of the Magpies and Crows but Mick Malthouse will have his men primed to stop that. Collingwood by 12 points.