SUMMARY
Collingwood has stormed into the top four off the back of five straight wins and is strongly favoured to continue its run against the struggling Suns. Despite the loss of ace midfielder Adam Treloar, the Magpies have proven so far in 2018 they have a glut of players that can effectively run through the middle of the ground and provide their speedy, smaller forward line – apart from Mason Cox – plenty of opportunities. Conversely, Gold Coast are in a hole. They've lost eight straight games, and apart from the narrow loss to St Kilda in their last home game, have struggled to compete. The return of Peter Wright last week gave the Suns a nice one-two punch in the forward line alongside Tom Lynch, but the big area of improvement needs to come in the middle of the ground. Can the Suns match the powerful running of Collingwood's midfielders, and can their defenders stop their mobile forwards? On recent evidence, the answer is no on all counts. The Magpies should win this one easily.
WHERE AND WHEN: Metricon Stadium, Saturday, June 30, 7.25pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
R17, 2017, Collingwood 15.13 (103) d Gold Coast 13.10 (88) at Metricon Stadium
R22, 2016, Collingwood 16.22 (118) d Gold Coast 6.11 (47) at Etihad Stadium
R8, 2015, Collingwood 20.12 (132) d Gold Coast 9.9 (63) at Metricon Stadium
R16, 2014, Gold Coast 11.14 (80) d Collingwood 10.15 (75) at Metricon Stadium
R17, 2013, Gold Coast 13.7 (85) d Collingwood 11.12 (78) at Metricon Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. It was tight for three quarters the last time they played with Collingwood leading by one point at the final change. The Magpies kicked five goals to three in the last quarter to win, led by 32 disposals apiece from Steele Sidebottom and Adam Treloar.
2. It will be a contest between the AFL's highest disposal team and the lowest, with Collingwood (413.7 a game) on top, and the Suns (335.7 a game) the bottom.
3. This is the eighth clash between the clubs with Collingwood winning five games to two. Both of the Suns' wins have come at Metricon Stadium (from five matches).
4. The Suns continue to struggle in second halves. They’ve been goalless in at least one quarter in each of their past five second halves and in final quarters they're minus-220 points for the season.
5. Collingwood will be aiming for six consecutive wins for the first time since they won 10 in a row early in 2012. Gold Coast has now lost 18 of their past 21 matches.
6. The Magpies have three players in the top 10 (Scott Pendlebury, Brodie Grundy, Adam Treloar) and six in the top 50 of the AFL's Official Player Ratings, while Jarryd Lyons (35th) is the only Gold Coast player in the same range.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …
Not only is Jarrod Witts playing his old club – and any player wants to do well there – but he is playing one of the form players in the competition in Brodie Grundy. The pair know each other well from their time at the Magpies together, and Witts is going to have to play his best game to provide his midfield with the help it needs to cause an upset.
PREDICTION: Collingwood by 30 points
