collingwood v geelong

Preview: Collingwood v Geelong

VENUE & TIME: MCG, Friday 17 September, 7.45pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 218, Geelong 92, Collingwood 125, Draws 1
LAST TIME: Collingwood 14.23 (107) def Geelong 12.13 (85), Round 19, 2010 at the MCG

WALKING WOUNDED: The Magpies' main injury concerns are veteran defender Simon Prestigiacomo and midfielder Sharrod Wellingham, both of whom will need to pass fitness tests. Presti has been sidelined since Round 20 with internal bleeding to a quadriceps while Wellingham turned an ankle in the club's qualifying final win over the Bulldogs. The only others on the club's injury list are Tom Hunter (neck) and Brad Dick (shoulder). Let's hope nothing happens to Harry O'Brien. Only fringe players Mitch Brown (shoulder), Jesse Stringer (hip) and Adam Varcoe (knee) feature on Geelong's official injury list. None of the three will play again this season.

FORM:
Collingwood's past five:
Qualifying Final: Win, 17.22 (124) - 8.14 (62) v Western Bulldogs, MCG
Round 22: Loss, 13.17 (95) - 15.8 (98) v Hawthorn, MCG
Round 21: Win, 6.18 (54) - 7.9 (51) v Adelaide, MCG
Round 20: Win, 24.18 (162) - 10.4 (64) v Essendon, MCG
Round 19: Win, 14.23 (107) - 12.13 (85) v Geelong, MCG

Geelong's past five:
Semi Final: Win, 20.15 (135) - 10.6 (66) v Fremantle, MCG
Qualifying Final: Loss, 11.13 (79) - 12.11 (83) v St Kilda, MCG
Round 22: Win, 16.16 (112) - 10.8 (68) v West Coast, Skilled Stadium
Round 21: Win, 18.13 (121) - 12.7 (79) v Carlton, Etihad Stadium
Round 20: Win, 25.11 (161) - 9.6 (60) v Western Bulldogs, Etihad Stadium

WHO'S HOT: The Bulldogs were powerless to stop Dane Swan in the Magpies' big qualifying final win a fortnight ago. The Brownlow favourite amassed 39 disposals, hauled in seven marks and kicked three goals in one of the best performances of a standout season. Five Cats - Gary Ablett, Joel Selwood, Jimmy Bartel, James Kelly and Paul Chapman - racked up 30 possessions or more in last Friday night's easy win over the Dockers. Just as effective was skipper Cameron Ling who gathered 27 touches, a season-high 10 marks and laid five tackles.

WE THINK: The Cats have won five of seven matches against Collingwood since 2007, but the Pies' two wins were significant. The first, by 86 points in Round 9, 2008, was Geelong's heaviest defeat by any opponent in that period while the lessons of the second, by 22 points six weeks ago, remain fresh in the minds of all involved. The market favours the Pies at $1.85 to the Cats $2.00. With one defeat from their past 13 outings, Collingwood have form and confidence to sustain them. They've been thereabouts for the past three years and feel ready to take the next step. The titleholders, however, represent a significant hurdle. They're gunning for their third flag in four seasons and a stake in immortality. They know what's required and have the means to achieve it. The Pies' inaccuracy has been a big talking point. They're one of only two teams (Adelaide is the other) to have scored more behinds than goals this season. If they kick straight, they win. They're the team on the up. It's Collingwood by 7 points.