Head to head: Geelong 92 wins, Collingwood 124 wins, one draw
Last time: Geelong 12.14 (84) d Collingwood 6.14 (50), round nine, 2010 at the MCG
MISSING IN ACTION
Geelong
Mitch Brown (shoulder) - season
Max Rooke (knee) - indefinite
Jesse Stringer (hip) - season
Adam Varcoe (knee) - season
Collingwood
Jarrad Blight (groin) - test
Anthony Corrie (knee) - 1-2 weeks
Brad Dick (shoulder) - season
Simon Prestigiacomo (groin) - test
Heath Shaw (back) - test
Sharrod Wellingham (leg) - test
FORM
Geelong: WWLWW
Collingwood: WWWWW
SUMMARY
The two premiership favourites meet for the second time this season and both teams will be at virtually full strength.
Geelong’s list is probably in better shape at this stage of the year than any of its previous campaigns. The Cats are playing some great footy, although one suspects there’s still another gear for them to reach. Motivation for a team that has played in three straight grand finals mustn’t come easy each week, although a full house at the home of football will get the blood flowing. Keeping a psychological edge over the challenger - and claiming top spot - looms as the biggest gain from a win this week.
Collingwood seems to have everything going its way at the moment. The Pies are playing exciting footy, have tremendous belief and are riding a wave of momentum towards September. Mick Malthouse’s team conquered bogey team St Kilda a few weeks back, and have belted Richmond and Carlton since.Geelong’s list is probably in better shape at this stage of the year than any of its previous campaigns. The Cats are playing some great footy, although one suspects there’s still another gear for them to reach. Motivation for a team that has played in three straight grand finals mustn’t come easy each week, although a full house at the home of football will get the blood flowing. Keeping a psychological edge over the challenger - and claiming top spot - looms as the biggest gain from a win this week.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
After a typically-effective first half of the season, opposition teams are narrowing their focus on Geelong rebounding maestro Corey Enright. The star Cat hasn’t registered 20 disposals in any of his last four matches, with rivals determined to stifle Geelong’s run from the back half.
Collingwood’s Travis Cloke was terrific last week. He had 17 touches and finished with 2.5. Against Geelong earlier this year he had 14 possessions but none of them were inside his own forward 50. Can he or teammate Chris Dawes, who were both goalless against the Cats in round nine, inflict some damage?
QUESTION MARKS
Dane Swan has been held to fewer than 30 possessions just five times this year, and Collingwood's only three losses have coincided with this. Can the Cats restrict him to under 30 touches again?
Geelong is known for its burst football. It was a 10-minute flurry that did the damage last time. Can the Pies withhold the barrage when the Cats do kick a couple of quick ones?
In fine conditions last time out, the AFL’s two highest-scoring teams produced 18 goals. Will Saturday night see a similarly-dour struggle?
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
Collingwood was okay against Geelong in round nine, but one felt the Cats always had them covered. Thompson’s men had more scoring shots, the Pies’ key targets couldn’t get into it and if it wasn’t for Dayne Beams it might have got ugly. While a lot has happened since then and the result of this match probably means more to the Pies, one feels the Cats still possess more cream. If Collingwood wins, a dangerous opponent might just become unstoppable. And the Cats won’t want that happening.
PREDICTION
Geelong by 25 points
Chat with host Murray Belkin and other fans in the AFL Match Centre on afl.com.au from 6.40pm Saturday or join the conversation on Twitter: #aflcatspies
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
