Collingwood vs Melbourne: Match Preview

[Johnson#26]

Collingwood vs Melbourne: Match Preview
B: Holland, Wakelin, J.Cloke.
HB: Shaw, Clement, Cole.
C: Woewodin, Buckley, Lockyer.
HF: Didak, Rocca, Lonie.
F: Johnson, C.Cloke, Fraser.
R: Richards, Burns, Licuria.
INTER: McGough, Prestigiacomo, Swan, Lokan.
EMERG: Maxwell, Davis, Walker.
IN: Buckley, Prestigiacomo, Holland.
OUT: Maxwell, Tarrant, Davis.

Since 2000:
Collingwood: 3
Melbourne: 1

Last Time:
Collingwood: 20.13.133
Melbourne: 10.17.77
After a bright start, Collingwood were never really challenged by the Demons and ended up winning by 56 points. Burns was best with 4 goals while Rhyce Shaw played his best ever match for the Magpies.

In the past three weeks, the Collingwood machine has begun to warm up. After a slow start to the season, the Pies are now in form and have a forth straight victory in their sights. But it all seemed to be derailed when spearhead Chris Tarrant was controversially rubbed out by the AFL tribunal. Many people now share the view that the Pies, without Tarrant will meekly succumb to a fit and firing Melbourne team. In my opinion, that is not the case.

In defence, big David Neitz is always a key to a Demon victory. The general rule is: Stop Neitz – Stop Melbourne. But this season that has not been the case. Neitz has played well, but not had a large influence on proceedings. Players such as Peter Vardy, Brad Miller, Aaron Davey and Russell Robertson have all come to the fore and played a large role in the Demons surge up the ladder. Shane Wakelin is the man most likely to get the role on Neitz. Strong and reliable, Wakelin is the best option to counter the Melbourne skipper. Brad Miller demands attention after a strong first half of the season. With strong hands, the former Queenslander is hard to stop. Simon Prestigiacomo, returning from a four week lay off from senior football will be the main assigned to Miller. Another man to be watched is former Tiger Ben Holland. After a spell in the VFL, Holland will be eager to please coach Neal Danaher. Jason Cloke has the body to go with Holland and will be given the job on the dangerous Demon. At ground level, Davey has been an excitement machine all season with his ability to sneak under the oppositions guard. He now commands respect and no doubt Mick Malthouse will keep a very close watch on him. Ben Johnson has been in All Australian form all season for the Pies and will relish the challenge of playing on Davey. Peter Vardy plays a similar role to that of Davey. The former Crow is fast, elusive and knows where the goals are. After a four goal effort in the wet against Fremantle, the ever improving Richard Cole will get the first crack at the injury prone Demon. The last forward to be watched closely is Russell Roberson, quick, smart and blessed with a terrific leap; he is a real danger man. The ever reliable James Clement is just the man for the job. Clement had the pace to go with Robertson and also the football brains to run off him when required.

The midfield will be where the battle is won and lost. Names such as Buckley and Yze, Woewodin and Bruce, Green and Burns, Licuria and Thompson, Lockyer and Brown, McGough and McDonald, Holland and Heffernan are all very important to both sides’ structures. The best performed midfield will lead their side to victory. The return of Magpie skipper Nathan Buckley will surely boost the side, giving Licuria, Burns and Woewodin much needed support. Buckley will be tagged by Heffernan, while Holland will go to Bruce. Both match ups will be absolutely pivotal to both teams’ chances. In the ruck, All Australian hopeful Jeff White comes up against the ever improving Guy Richards. Both have been in outstanding form in recent weeks, with the match up being one of the highlights of the contest.

Up forward, in the absence of Chris Tarrant and the injury cloud hanging over Anthony Rocca, Josh Fraser and Cameron Cloke have big roles to play in the Magpies chances. If Rocca is fit to play, he will only be operating at 75%, which means Fraser and Cloke will have to turn in one of their best performances. Alistair Nicholson will take Anthony Rocca while Jarrod Rivers will man up on Fraser. Chris Lamb needs to prove himself for the Dees and will find himself playing on big Cloke. Alan Didak has hit a rich vein of form in recent weeks and no doubt Danaher will have his work cut out. Matthew Whelan will be the man to tag the enigmatic Magpie.

In a final prediction, I am tipping the Pies in an upset. With the return of Buckley, the Pies will look to derail the Demons but be sure to take heart tablets along with you as this should be a beauty. Pies by 7 points.