SUMMARY
An injury-ravaged Collingwood was desperately unlucky against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday and, although the Pies will be without Taylor Adams and possibly chief goalkickers Alex Fasolo and Darcy Moore, there will be no excuses this week against Port Adelaide. A Pies loss would be a crushing blow to their already slim finals hopes. The Power were impressive in their 45-point win over Melbourne in Alice Springs and appear more than capable of beating the Pies in their second and final home-and-away game at the MCG for the season. Port has won three of its past four clashes with the Woodsmen, including the 2013 elimination final at the 'G, but the Pies have improved dramatically over the past three weeks and deserve favouritism.
American recruit Mason Cox struggled against the Bulldogs last week. Picture: AFL Media
WHERE AND WHEN: MCG, Sunday, June 5, 1.10pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
R15, 2015, Port Adelaide 9.12 (66) d Collingwood 9.9 (63) at Adelaide Oval
R19, 2014, Collingwood 11.10 (76) d Port Adelaide 10.10 (70) at the MCG
2EF, 2013, Port Adelaide 12.15 (87) d Collingwood 9.9 (63) at the MCG
R14, 2013, Port Adelaide 13.8 (86) d Collingwood 7.9 (51) at AAMI Stadium
R4, 2012, Collingwood 14.13 (97) d Port Adelaide 10.13 (73) at Etihad Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. The teams have met eight times at the MCG for four wins apiece. Port Adelaide has struggled at the MCG recently, losing four of its past five games.
2. The Power are the top-ranked tackling side, averaging 78.2 per game, while Collingwood is sixth (73.5).
3. One advantage Port Adelaide might have will be in the clearances, where they are ranked fifth with 38.7 per game while Collingwood has struggled in this area, ranked 16th with 33.4 per game.
4. Port's clearance success has been in spite of it being ranked 17th for hit-outs with a series of ruckmen. Collingwood is 18th in hit-outs.
5. Collingwood and Port Adelaide meet for the 27th time, with the Pies leading on 14 wins to the Power's 12. Since 2011, the Pies lead 4-3.
6. Power forward Charlie Dixon, who leads his club's goalkicking with 26 goals this season, has lifted himself to a career-high ranking of No.130 in the Schick AFL Player Ratings.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Mason Cox. But for a six-game Texan in just his second season with the oval ball, every game is a big one. After tallying six goals in wins over the Brisbane Lions and Geelong, the developing forward/ruckman struggled to get involved against the Dogs. Might be partnered in attack for the first time by veteran Travis Cloke.
PREDICTION: Collingwood by 12 points
