Pre-Match: PIES vs Wet Toast - All comments here

[Brown26]

I reckon Lonie might get Matera, He's a bit quicker then Clement and has really improved his defensive work this year. If they want a bit more spark of half back Clement might get him though, he'll probably be quick enough and is definitly our "shu-out" man.

If Presti is fit (he played 3 1/2 quarters according to AFL.com) then he should come back in - Jason Cloke could be dropped if you want to keep the talls / short balance the same, and I reckon Jason might get a bit more confidence with a run in the two's.

Wakes on McDougall should be a good match up assuming Wakes is quick enough, which he should be I think McDougall isn't a world beater for pace, although he is fairly mobile which is why Wakes gets the gurnsey and not Presti. If Wakes can't handle it, Clement could be moved onto him and hope they don't drag the taller player back into the goal square.

As others have said, this game will be decided in the midfields and half back flanks - but I just don't see WC on current form being able to beat Licca and Lokan AND contain Woey, Burns and O'Bree. Richards and Fraser should win the rucks - with no Gardiner it's just another ruck combo really - and up forward I think they'll struggle most containg Rocca and Tarrant and C. Cloke / Fraser combo, not to mentio Didak in great form.

Our HBF will be tested this week and I think it's bad luck for WC that Johno is in such great form and Lonie is starting to find a bit more touch. If Clement gets Matera and Lonie Embly, Lonie will try to push hard up the ground, could be a great game to see the "Lonie of old" and a couple of dashes. We might find out if Sampi has what it takes to be a "great" player this game - Johhno is firing!

I think we'll have this game well and truly undercontrol at half time, If Tarrant a Didak keep it up - Rocca really has no suitable opponent but is in such bad tough it mightn't matter - and Fraser and Burns make a bit more of a comeback, I think it'll be Pies but a lot (60+ - this is it!)

- Ben

[Nath]

Cannibal, I read the same thing, was just unfortunate or fortunate, whichever way you look at it, but the Williamstown Report wasn't posted on the CFC website before I posted mine. Elsewise, I too probably would have taken the 'don't play Presti line'

[Johnson#26]

My Suggested team (if Bucks is playing)

B: Clement, Presti, Wakelin.
HB: Johnson, J.Cloke, Lonie.
C: Woewodin, Buckley, Licuria.
HF: Didak, Rocca, Fraser.
F: C.Cloke, Tarrant, Lockyer.
R: Richards, Burns, McGough.
INTER: O'Bree, Cole, Swan, Lokan.
EMERG: Maxwell, Mullins, Davis.

IN:O'Bree, Buckley, Presti.
OUT: Maxwell, Davis, Shaw.

2 players I have forgotton are Quenton Lynch and Darren Glass. Both will have to be watched - especially Lynch who has been good this season.

[Nath]

Don't underate Cox guys. He doesn't have the profile of Gardiner, but has got forward and kicked goals all year, and despite not being overly athletic does get his hands on the ball around the ground

[Johnson#26]

I don't think Walker should come back just yet - particuarly with the season on the line. McDougal should also be watched. Very dangerous player who was one of the reasons for the poor start to Wizard Cup. He blitzed in the 1st qtr. Clokey should get the job.

[Cannibal]

Nath: no criticism intended. I try to wait until I see the Willi report to get a feel for what has happened but it doesn't seem to get posted until Wednesday. I saw a little bit of the game on ABC last Saturday before motoring down for the North game but not enough to get a true feel for how our guys were playing.

I suspected Presti would not have a good matchup but was interested to see the comments about him carrying injuries and, on reflection, think it would be good for him to have a few weeks at Willi to gain full fitness.

As the injured senior guys come back, and simultaneously the young kids in the seniors gain more confidence (eg Cam Cloke), plus others play strong footy in the Twos (eg Tex), pretty much all of a sudden there's serious competition for a place in the seniors. Which can only be a good thing.

[Joel]

J26, Cloke would probably be too slow for him.

[maggies2003]

johnno 26.. i agree with your team..i think leon davis should stay and j.cloke should be omitted.. he has been hopeless lately...give him a go in the 2nds..

[favourites 2008]

J26, Cloke would probably be too slow for him.

Maybe he should speed up like his bro

[Joel]

maggies2003, I think it was against Adelaide, or it was a recent game, J. Cloke was very good. He hasn't had much game time in recent weeks. Having said that, if someone is performing better, then they may need to come into the team.

[freddie foxx]

Bucks shouldn't and wont play this week.

[Johnson#26]

Collingwood vs West Coast: Match Preview

My Team vs West Coast:
B: Clement, Prestigiacomo, Wakelin.
HB: Johnson, J.Cloke, Lonie.
C: Woewodin, Buckley, Licuria.
HF: Didak, Rocca, Fraser.
F: C.Cloke, Tarrant, O’Bree.
R: Richards, Burns, McGough.
INTER: Lockyer, Swan, Cole, Lokan.
EMERG: Maxwell, Davis, Walker.

IN: Buckley, Prestigiacomo, O’Bree.
Out: Shaw, Maxwell, Davis.

Past 5:
Collingwood: 2
West Coast: 3

Last time: West Coast scored the 1st six goals for the match before Collingwood got their 1st major. The Pies slowly pegged them back in the 2nd and 3rd quarters until taking the lead early in the last. The Eagles came back through Embley to win by 16 points. Embley and Gardiner were best for the Eagles while Rocca was best for the Pies in his 150th match.

It was only two weeks ago that the football world was writing off Collingwood’s season, saying they were too far behind to catch up in the race to the final eight. But in the past two matches, Collingwood have proved to everyone that they still have what it takes to play in finals football. In a grinding win over Adelaide and a policed victory over North Melbourne, Collingwood have moved up to 14th position and only two games out of the eight. With a favourable draw, the Pies are a real chance to advance a long way up the ladder. Now they play a struggling West Coast, finding it difficult to regain the form that saw them a force in previous seasons. Collingwood’s big guns are beginning to fire; West Coast’s guns are shooting blanks. Collingwood will win easily. Here’s how:

In defence, Simon Prestigiacomo is a welcome return to the Collingwood defence. He’s first job will be to cover Brent Staker. Staker has been in good form this season, and Presti will have to be on his game. Jason Cloke has looked good in recent weeks and will be the man assigned to big man Adam McDougall. McDougall was the man that towelled us up in the Wizard Cup earlier on this year and Cloke is the man to stop him. If Travis Gasper plays up forward, he will be followed by Shane Wakelin. Gasper hasn’t cemented his position at West Coast so far in his short career and will be on the look out for a strong showing. At ground level, Phil Matera booted six goals in a match winning performance against the Tigers. James Clement has done well on him in the past and will be the player who will be assigned to the pocket dynamo. Also Ashley Sampi will have to be kept an eye on. Matthew Lokan was excellent on Brent Harvey last week, and has excellent tagging credentials. He is the man to stop the dangerous Sampi.


In the midfield, the possible return of captain Nathan Buckley will inspire the Magpies midfield to bigger and better things. Buckley will be tagged by the out of form Daniel Chick. Chick has proved in the past that he is a disciplined tagger and Worsfold may look to run him into form by making him run with the 2003 Brownlow Medallist. In the other midfield match ups, Scott Burns, Paul Licuria, Shane Woewodin, Shane O’Bree and Mark McGough will run head to head with the powerful Eagles midfield including Chris Judd, Ben Cousins, Chad Flecher, Daniel Kerr, Michael Braun and Andrew Embley. Both midfields will run head to head in a battle which will ultimately decide the game. The only tag Collingwood my run with is Ben Johnson running with gun Eagle Chris Judd. Judd can turn a game in a matter of minutes, and Johnson is just the man for the job. If it fails, Matthew Lokan can also be called up to lend a hand. In the ruck, Guy Richards has been a stand out all season in the ruck and will be facing Dean Cox. Without Michael Gardiner, the Eagles have struggled and Richards may have the upper hand on the Eagles ruckman.

Up forward, superstars Chris Tarrant, Anthony Rocca and Josh Fraser could be the key factors in victory. Mark Nicoski has looked good in his debut season and could be assigned to Tarrant while Mark Seaby could be the man to drop back and fill the hole in front of Rocca and Fraser, who can also take a turn in the ruck. Trent Carroll will take on Fraser while Anthony Rocca will face off with the ever improving Quentin Lynch. At ground level, David Wirrapunda will be the man assigned to the dangerous Alan Didak. Dids was excellent last week against the Roos and Wirrapunda is just the man for the job.

In the wash up, Collingwood’s big guns up forward will be too strong for the Eagles defence, suffering from the retirements of Ashley McIntosh and Glen Jacovich. They also will have a struggle trying score goals if Matera is quiet. Final prediction: Collingwood by 38 points.

[Johnson#26]

J26, Cloke would probably be too slow for him.

Maybe. In that case, Wakes or Maxwell if he plays, should go on the big Eagle. I wouldn't drop Cloke as he is a perminant member of the team and has turned the corner in recent weeks.

As for Buckley, I heard on sports today that he is a big chance for a return this week.

[Magpie_Dan]

W.Coast is a side that has a really good record against us. 18 wins 9 losses and 1 draw. Why are they able to beat us so often? I believe it's leg speed, they are far quicker side than us and have proven that over the last couple of years. What do other people think? How are we going to beat them Friday night?

Edited title, and stickied...might aswell make this the pre-match topic - bbmods

Play like a team. Like the team of 2002!

[droche 2004]

O'Bree wont play, on CFC Guy said that he has some sort of hammy?????

Its all a bit sus.

They still dont know and its been over a week now, he hasnt seen the scans???

Unless i read it all wrong he is a no show.

If Bucks does play he will play of the bench for about half the game, couldnt play the whole game, similar to Frasier/Burns last week