Should be a beauty as Pies try to arrest slide and Crows desperate to climb
COLLINGWOOD has dropped four of its past five games and head into Sunday's clash with Adelaide seeking to get its season back on track. The clash has significant finals implications for both sides, as a Crows win would see them leapfrog the Magpies into the top eight. Adelaide pushed Hawthorn to within two goals last round, so come into the meeting with good form on its side. The Crows need to win this game to legitimise their finals hopes, while the loss of Dane Swan to a foot injury may be too much for the Magpies to overcome.
LAST FIVE TIMES R9, 2014, Adelaide 10.16 (76) d Collingwood 7.13 (55) at Adelaide Oval R16, 2013, Collingwood 17.9 (111) d Adelaide 12.12 (84) at MCG R9, 2012, Collingwood 10.15 (75) d Adelaide 6.13 (49) at AAMI Stadium R9, 2011, Collingwood 20.15 (135) d Adelaide 14.8 (92) at Etihad Stadium R21, 2010, Collingwood 6.18 (54) d Adelaide 7.9 (51) at MCG
1. Josh Jenkins starred with four goals in Adelaide's round nine win over Collingwood, while the Magpies kicked just one goal after half-time.
2. Collingwood has lost four of its past five games and struggled to score, with an average of just 77.8 points in the five games while conceding an average of 96 points.
3. The Magpies are 16th of the 18 AFL teams for clearances this season, averaging just 34.1 a game. Adelaide is 10th for clearances, averaging 38.3.
4. Collingwood key forward Travis Cloke was held goalless for the fifth time this season against Essendon last round. He went goalless six times in the 2012-2013 seasons combined.
5. Collingwood has won seven of its previous nine contests against Adelaide at the MCG. The Crows last beat the Magpies here in round one, 2009 - by four points.
6. Dane Swan, out with injury now, has been Collingwood's third top performer in the Official AFL Player Ratings, brought to you by Gatorade, at No. 28, behind Scott Pendlebury (2) and Steele Sidebottom (18). Patrick Dangerfield (4) is Adelaide's highest-ranked player, with Rory Sloane next best (12).