Pies in an Upset: Match Preview

[Johnson#26]

Pies in an Upset
Team for Sunday:
B: Swan, Wakelin, Clement.
HB: Nixon, J.Cloke, Lonie.
C: Williams, Licuria, Mullins.
HF: Johnson, Rocca, Kinnear.
F: O’Bree, Tarrant, Davis.
R: Richards, McGough, Woewodin.
INTER: Cole, Didak, Lokan, Walker.
EMERG: C.Cloke, King, Maxwell.

IN: Mullins, Nixon, Williams.
OUT: Buckley (hamstring), Holland (suspension), King.

Past 5:
Collingwood: 5
St.Kilda: 0

Overall:
Collingwood: 146
St.Kilda: 49

Last Time:
Collingwood: 22.17 (149)
St.Kilda: 12.12 (84)

Blockbuster. What does it mean? To us Collingwood supporters it means a contest up against bitter, longstanding rivals such as Essendon or Carlton or our newer rivals Port Adelaide or Brisbane. But St.Kilda? A few years ago you would have laughed at me if I told you that we would be in a stand off against the Saints in a sell out. But now we are in trouble and the Saints are flying. People are talking about 10 plus losses. But I’m not. I’m quietly confident. Here’s why:

Without Simon Prestigiacomo, the Pies defence is undermanned against names such as Gherig, Hamill, Riewoldt, Koschitzkie, Guerra and Milne. But the Magpies match up well on the ladder leaders. Gherig will obviously be the greatest challenge. Shane Wakelin will get 1st crack at the goal square goliath. In last year’s grand final, Wakelin was at 1 stage picked up and thrown by Alistair Lynch, who is of similar build to Gherig. The trick to playing Gherig is to not get caught up in body-on-body contests. Run off him and make him earn each stat. Play a few metres in front and force him to the pocket. As for Hamill, Jason Cloke should get the gig on the Saint powerhouse. Both are of similar build and styles of play. This match up will be interesting to watch, as Cloke often leaves his man to be the third man up in a contest. This time he will be forced to stick tight to Hamill, who is often the barometer of the Saints team. Now to Riewoldt. Not too many Magpies man up well on the young superstar but one player who does is the ever reliable James Clement. Clement is athletic, experienced and smart. He has the talent and nous to out play Riewoldt and will look to use his considerable talent to knock him off his perch. Koschitzkie will be a difficult assignment. I have a suspicion that young Nick Maxwell will be given a baptism of fire on the star Saint. If he doesn’t come in, Guy Richards will look to push back to fill the hole and keep ‘Kozi’ out of business. As for the small forwards, Ben Johnson will take Milne while Dane Swan will get first crack at the dangerous Guerra. Swan may be planing to get into the firry Guerra’s head and put his mind on other things. In the midfield, both teams are undermanned. With Hayes and Black missing from the Saints and Buckley, Fraser, Burns and Holland missing for the Pies, the second tier players will have to stand up and be counted. Shane Woewodin and Paul Licuria will have to stand up and be counted on Saturday night. Both have had ordinary starts to the season and although Woewodin picked up last week against Carlton, both need a big match. Ditto Mark McGough. ‘Goughy’ has been great in his 3 outings so far and should again come off with a bag of touches. These 3 will match up on Harvey, Ball and Dal Santo. Both midfields have plenty of credentials and will look to get the upper hand early. Guy Richards will be up against Koschitzkie and Blake in the ruck. All 3 are inexperienced and will be battling it out for the early ascendancy. Up forward, this is where Collingwood can win. Chris Tarrant and Anthony Rocca hold the key to a Magpie victory. Tarrant kick 5 goals last time both teams met and the Saints will be worried. Luke Penny will get the job on Anthony Rocca, who needs to lift if we are to get our season back on track, and Max Hudgton will take Tarrant, as his experience will hold him in good stead. Leon Davis and Alan Didak will be aiming for 6 goals in a combined performance, so they will need to be watched. Aussie Jones will be the man assigned to Didak and when ‘Dids’ is resting, Leon Davis.

In a final prediction, I think Collingwood will take the 4 points. A huge upset – yes, but we can pull it off. Mick Malthouse will have given the whole team the rocket during the week and they will come out breathing fire. Collingwood by 10 points.