CTV > Watch Assistant Coach Brad Scott's press conference, Wed 2 JulyCOLLINGWOOD assistant coach Brad Scott says past performances against the Sydney Swans give his side confidence but don't have too much weight.
The Magpies take a good record against the Swans into Saturday night's clash, having won their past four encounters including the last two at ANZ Stadium.
And in 2005, they lost at the venue by a solitary point in the second weekend of the split round fixture.
"It gives us confidence knowing we've had good past performances but recent history is really about four weeks," Scott said.
"Any longer than that and things change, personnel changes. They've had some really good inclusions in Marty Mattner, (Nick) Malceski is back from his injury.
"They look a little bit different in terms of personnel to the last time we played them, so I don't think the history is going to play a big part. It's going to be a new game."
It will be a new game for the Swans in more ways than one, with suspended dual Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes to miss for the first time since round 22, 1999.
"It's the first time Paul Roos has coached without him, so it's going to be interesting to come up against them," Scott said.
"[The] first time he hasn't played in eight-and-a-half years. They're obviously a different side with a player like him out. There's no-one to replace him so they might restructure a bit, and we're going to have to be ready if they do."
However, Scott added that the longer ground at the Olympic stadium suited Collingwood's run, while the Swans' game plan was most effective at the tighter SCG.
"They have more stoppages per game than any other team in the competition, so the SCG probably encourages that," he said.
"The bigger grounds, we're used to playing on, so whether that gives us an advantage or not...
"Sydney really like to squeeze the game up and make it a congested game, so the SCG is conducive to that and ANZ Stadium might be more in our favour."
