Head to head: Collingwood 124 wins, Geelong 91 wins, one draw
Last time: Collingwood 14.23 (107) d Geelong 12.13 (85), round 19, 2010 at MCG
MISSING IN ACTION
Collingwood
Simon Prestigiacomo (corked thigh) - test
Sharrod Wellingham (ankle) - test
Tom Hunter (neck) - season
Brad Dick (shoulder) - season
Geelong
Mitch Brown (shoulder) - season
Max Rooke (knee) - indefinite
Jesse Stringer (hip) - season
Adam Varcoe (knee) - season
FORM
Collingwood: WWWLW
Geelong: WWWLW
SUMMARY
Thousands of footy fans across the nation are quite rightly disappointed that these teams can’t do battle in the grand final. Nevertheless, Friday night’s clash at the ’G shapes as the game of the season. Collingwood will certainly go in as favourite, and the Magpies deserve that tag. They’ve been beaten only once since May and are a much improved combination when compared to the side that was thrashed by Geelong in the equivalent game last year.
The Cats, meanwhile, seem to be enjoying the fact that many footy watchers wrote off their premiership hopes after they were toppled by St Kilda in week one of the finals. That loss means they have to take the long road to claim the flag, but there’s little doubt they’re still good enough.
Last Friday night’s eight-goal opening-quarter blitz, which ended Fremantle’s season, must have been rather frightening to watch for the Magpies players who were in the stands.The Cats, meanwhile, seem to be enjoying the fact that many footy watchers wrote off their premiership hopes after they were toppled by St Kilda in week one of the finals. That loss means they have to take the long road to claim the flag, but there’s little doubt they’re still good enough.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Alan Didak, who was named on a half-forward flank in the All Australian team on Monday, was at his inspirational best when Collingwood beat Geelong by 22 points back in round 19. On that night, in a game played before a crowd of more than 84,000, Didak collected 35 possessions and booted a goal. If he puts in a similar performance this time around the Magpies will be awfully hard to beat.
Geelong’s forward line is not regarded as one of its great strengths, so there’ll be plenty of responsibility resting on Steve Johnson’s shoulders. Another player who won a berth in the All Australian team, Johnson has so far booted 59 goals in 2010. Expect him to be picked up by Alan Toovey on Friday night, and if Toovey wins the battle the Cats are unlikely to cobble together a winning score.
QUESTION MARKS
Do Collingwood’s unsung heroes have enough class to beat the reigning premiers? It’s doubtful that any of Brent Macaffer, Leigh Brown, Chris Dawes and Alan Toovey would get a game for Geelong. Yet they probably hold the key in one of the biggest games of the year.
Will the week off be a help or hindrance for the Magpies? Geelong has had the long break in the past three seasons, and although they’ve won each preliminary final, they’ve always taken a while to get going.
Can the Magpies cure their kicking yips? In their past five games, Mick Malthouse’s men have booted 74 goals and 98 behinds.
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
These sides have developed a great rivalry in recent years, although Cats have proved too good when it’s all been on the line. But in what is sure to be another fierce battle, the week off might just enable the more youthful Collingwood line-up to outlast its decorated foe.
PREDICTION
Collingwood by 11 points
Chat with host Ben Broad and other fans in the AFL Match Centre on afl.com.au from 7.10pm Friday night or join the conversation on Twitter: #aflpiescats
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
