Head to head: Hawthorn 55 wins, Collingwood 94 wins
Last time: Collingwood 17.21 (123) d Hawthorn 8.11 (59), round four, 2010 at the MCG
MISSING IN ACTION
Collingwood
Jarrad Blight (illness) - test
Leigh Brown (suspended) - 1 week
Brad Dick (shoulder) - season
Alan Didak (bruised shoulder) - test
Tom Hunter (neck) - 4-6 weeks?
Simon Prestigiacomo (corked thigh) - test
Ben Reid (quad) - test
Sean Rusling (thigh) - 1 week
Hawthorn
Max Bailey (knee) - indefinite
Grant Birchall (hamstring strain) - TBC
Luke Hodge (knee) - test
Rhan Hooper (general soreness) - test
Clinton Young (knee) - test
FORM
Hawthorn: DLLWW
Collingwood: WWWWW
SUMMARY
A game with significant final eight ramifications. While Collingwood can't be knocked off top spot, the Hawks can finish anywhere from fifth to eighth, depending on other results. Fifth or six would mean no travelling, seventh or eighth could mean a trip to Perth or Sydney. The Hawks had a virtual bye last week, travelling to their second home of Launceston to take on a Fremantle reserves side, and at the final change the Hawks had only allowed one major.
The Pies got a fright against Adelaide, but good teams win, and the Pies did that, despite atrocious kicking for goal. Leigh Brown's suspension means it's likely that Josh Fraser will finally get to play his 200th match in black and white. The Hawks will be sweating on the availability of Luke Hodge, their most important player.PLAYER TO WATCH
Ben Stratton has had a terrific year, and now faces a stern test in an important game. Assuming Stephen Gilham goes to Travis Cloke, Stratton would be expected to go to Chris Dawes, a big test for a 21-year-old with just 19 games under his belt.
Travis Cloke has been in terrific form, but has kicked 10.14 in the past four weeks. Third in contested marks, he just needs to kick more goals.
QUESTION MARKS
Can the Magpies bounce back to form after the narrow escape over Adelaide?
Can Hawthorn win and give themselves a shot at a home final?
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
The Magpies will want to tune up for the finals and show that last week's somewhat limp effort against Adelaide was not an indicator that they're running out of legs.
PREDICTION
Collingwood by 26 points
Chat with host Mark Conway and other fans in the AFL Match Centre on afl.com.au from 1.40pm Saturday or join the conversation on Twitter: #aflhawkspies
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
