Head to head: Port Adelaide nine wins, Collingwood nine wins
Last time: Collingwood 17.12 (114) d Port Adelaide 11.10 (76), round 10, 2009 at the MCG
MISSING IN ACTION
Port Adelaide
Robbie Gray (back/hamstring) - 1 week
Hamish Hartlett (quad) - 1 week
Nathan Krakouer (groin) - 1 week
Marlon Motlop (fractured foot) - 1 week
Michael Pettigrew (knee) - 5-6 weeks
Jacob Surjan (knee) - 1-2 weeks
Warren Tredrea (ankle) - 5-6 weeks
Collingwood
Nathan Brown (shoulder) - 1-2 weeks
Brad Dick (shoulder) - 1-2 weeks
Nick Maxwell (calf) - 1-2 weeks
Sean Rusling (calf) - test
Steele Sidebottom (calf) - test
FORM
Port Adelaide: LLLLL
Collingwood: LWDWW
SUMMARY
Port Adelaide trudged off Subiaco Oval last week having suffered its seventh consecutive loss - the worst streak in club history - and approaching a nightmare run home. It shouldn’t have been so.
Mark Williams’ side was gifted every chance to break its losing run against Fremantle, entering the main break 10 points down against a side that was reduced to 20 fit men on a big ground where limited interchange rotations can be exploited.
However, the Power conceded nine of the last 10 goals and lost by 57 points, slipping into the bottom four.
They face a Collingwood side fresh off an 83-point win over West Coast and playing itself into some ominous form in the run to the finals. Most pleasing for the Pies, as they look to lock up a top-four spot, was the form of ruck recruit Darren Jolly, who exposed counterpart Dean Cox and booted four goals.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Crucial onballer Travis Boak was sorely missed against Fremantle last week as the Power midfielders fell to Aaron Sandilands and his ground-level players at Subiaco Oval. The gun youngster will return after missing one match with a groin complaint and will be important if the Power are to create any midfield drive against Jolly.
In a 90-second burst against the Eagles last week Alan Didak turned what would be a big win into a massacre, kicking three of his more nifty goals to break West Coast’s back. The 2006 All-Australian is rotating between the midfield and forward line to lead the Pies’ for goals kicked and inside 50s, while sitting fourth at the club for disposals.
QUESTION MARKS
Can Port Adelaide find any semblance of confidence after falling from finals contention seven rounds into the season and into the bottom four?
Can Collingwood’s Leon Davis build on last week’s improved performance? The 2009 All-Australian has had a lacklustre season but has time to turn that around.
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
Collingwood has won five of its last six clashes with Port, including the last two at AAMI Stadium, and will continue that run in round 15. The Pies boast a large spread of goalkickers and a host of midfield contributors. Port, on the other hand, is being dictated to in the midfield and should find itself under siege on Friday night.
PREDICTION
Collingwood by 52 points
Chat with host James Bartold and other fans in the AFL Match Centre on afl.com.au from 7.40pm ACST Friday or join the conversation on Twitter: #aflpowerpies
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
