Unfortunately, injuries to key players, namely James Clement, Simon Prestigiacomo, Rhyce Shaw and Harry O'Brien, have punctured holes in our defence. However, Malthouse has never backed down from meeting a challenge head on, and this week threw the gauntlet at his inexperienced players, the likes of Danny Stanley and Tyson Goldsack. With the big names absent, the juniors will be forced to dig deep against a Swans forward line brimming with experience.
With the season passing the halfway mark, every post must be made a winner as the ladder takes shape. With a number of sides jostling for a top eight position, let alone the final four, each win is priceless, and victories over Sydney on home soil are hard earned.
The Match Ups:
With a dearth of experienced key defenders, Collingwood will call upon the reliable Shane Wakelin and the successor to his throne, Nick Maxwell, to act as the glue, holding the backline together.
Expect to see Wakelin stand former St Kilda teammate Barry Hall, with Maxwell to quell the magic of Michael O’Loughlin. Goldsack’s greatest challenge yet will arise should he receive the task of dulling the impact of Ryan O’Keefe, with perhaps Heath Shaw a chance to mind Adam Schneider.
At the attacking end of the ground, Anthony Rocca and Travis Cloke will act as the lynchpins, whilst ruckman Josh Fraser will be relied upon to push forward at every opportunity. To do so, he will require his back up, either Guy Richards or Chris Bryan, to dampen the influence of Peter Everitt and Darren Jolly around the ground.
The form guide:
The Magpies never once clicked against Melbourne on the Queens Birthday, and paid the price for their slow start, going down to the Demons by only 13 points. They did have their opportunities, yet the ability to convert proved too much.
At the same venue two days prior, the Sydney of old reared its head in defeating Hawthorn by nine points; however it took two Leo Barry goals in the space of five minutes to set the ailing ship back on course.
At selection:
Collingwood has named exciting Irishman Martin Clarke for his first game of AFL football, less than 12 months after the 19-year-old picked up a Sherrin for the first time. Clarke will become the seventh player to make his AFL debut with the Magpies in 2007, following Daniel Nicholls, Shannon Cox, Brad Dick, Alan Toovey, Tyson Goldsack and Danny Stanley.
Clarke is one of four changes to the side, with veteran midfielder Paul Licuria, versatile defender Cox and ruckman Guy Richards recalled. Harry O'Brien will miss a month after dislocating his shoulder against Melbourne, while Toovey, Chris Bryan and Paul Medhurst have been omitted.
Head to Head since 2000:
Collingwood: 4
Sydney: 5
Something of a rivalry has been born between the two sides of recent times, with the midseason clash at Telstra Stadium now an annual part of the football fixture. And in the four clashes at the venue since 2003, the prizes have been shared, two apiece, the greatest winning margin yet to break the 20 point barrier, showcasing the fact that the two sides are evenly matched.
Even when in a trough, Collingwood have proven that they can give Sydney some grief, for the 13th and 15th placed sides of 2004 and 2005 pushed the Swans to within four points and one point respectively, and had luck not deserted the Woods, they may well have come home with something to celebrate.
Though it has been five years, Collingwood fans are yet to forget the move of Nick Davis to Sydney during the trade period of 2002. Following a ‘will I, won’t I’ saga which carried on throughout the season, Davis opted to return home to his native NSW, prompting some lipservice from supporters and teammates alike in return bouts.
The X-Factors:
Collingwood: Shane Wakelin – Steady and strong in defence, Wakelin’s every effort will be magnified on Saturday night, for he will be the sole regulation Collingwood defender with over 100 games under his belt.
Sydney: Amon Buchanan – Diminutive but as tough as teak, the Colac raised Buchanan has given the Magpies plenty to think about in recent times, his ability to snap an icebreaking goal or two in a short space of time a challenge to halt.
Broadcast guide:
TV: Channel 10, 7:00pm
Radio: 3AW, 3MMM
CLICK HERE for the full TV and radio broadcast schedule
The tip: It’s a huge ask, Sydney in Sydney, Grand Finalists of the past two seasons, and an injury list choc full of leading lights. However, although logic states that a victory is unlikely, the Magpies have shown this season that nothing can deter them as long as all 22 are pulling in the one direction. With my one-eyed Pie eye patch allowing me to see the glass as half full, Collingwood can (again) prove the experts wrong. Final Tip: Collingwood by 4 points.
Please note: the views expressed in the above article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Collingwood Football Club or employees of the club. The Collingwood Football Club would like to acknowledge the tireless work of its supporters who contribute to collingwoodfc.com.au.
