Head to head: Collingwood 21 wins, Adelaide 11 wins
Last time: Collingwood 12.11 (83) d Adelaide 11.12 (78), first semi-final, 2009 at the MCG
Somehow, Collingwood responded from more than five goals down shortly before half time to claw its way back and win a memorable clash. The Pies looked gone before coach Mick Malthouse engineered one of his club’s great finals victories. Kurt Tippett kicked four for Adelaide, including a late one which might have sealed the win for the Crows before Ben Rutten infringed on John Anthony. The Pies forward kicked the goal from 45 metres out putting his team into the preliminary final.
MISSING IN ACTION
Adelaide
Tony Armstrong (hamstring) - 1 week
Brett Burton (ankle) - indefinite
James Craig (hamstring) - season
Simon Goodwin (ankle) - indefinite
Jonathon Griffin (ankle) - TBC
Jack Gunston (hip) - available
Chris Knights (hamstring) - TBC
Andrew McLeod (knee) - indefinite
Brad Moran (knee) - 1 week
Andy Otten (knee) - season
Jared Petrenko (foot) - season
Sam Shaw (back) - indefinite
Daniel Talia (knee) - season
Bernie Vince (knee) - TBC
LAST WEEK
Adelaide 15.14 (104) def Brisbane Lions 13.19 (97) at the Gabba
With two players cooked on the bench through injury, Adelaide scored a gutsy win in the heat. The Lions started well before Neil Craig’s men made their move in the second term. But things got tough in the second half as a lack of rotations caught up with the Crows. Still, they dug deep, and the polish of Richard Douglas and Nathan van Berlo proved vital in the final term.
Leading goalkicker - Kurt Tippett (43)
Leading ballwinner - Scott Thompson (471)
DANGER MAN
Kurt Tippett has struggled with a sore knee for much of the season but looked to be getting back to his best against the Lions last week. He outmuscled Lion Daniel Merrett a number of times, eventually finishing with 5.4. Had he kicked a little straighter, he would have booted at least seven. A man mountain, he will prove a handful for Simon Prestigiacomo.
THE STATS MEN
Adelaide midfielder Scott Thompson had 28 disposals and booted two goals when the sides last met. In 13 career appearances against the Pies, with Melbourne and Adelaide, he averages more than 22 touches a game.
Collingwood ball magnet Dane Swan could be on track for a Brownlow, so staggering has his 2010 been. He has had 30 or more possessions in 15 matches this year and appears unstoppable at present.
LOOK OUT FOR
With Nathan Bock announcing mid-week he’ll no longer be a Crow, young defender Phil Davis’ education must be fast-tracked. While still slightly built, he’ll likely get a job on one of the Pies’ big three forwards - Chris Dawes, Travis Cloke or Leigh Brown.
WHAT THE OPPOSITION SAYS
“In Bocky's situation, he's 27 years old … he's a lot older than I am, so I can see where he's coming from but I'm not sure I would have made the same decision. I'm not sure if Bocky will regret it… it depends if he's driving an Aston Martin with a house on the beach on the Gold Coast.” - Adelaide young gun Patrick Dangerfield on his teammate’s decision
WHAT THE PIES SAY
“Obviously they’re going to be a big challenge this week, so we’re looking forward to testing ourselves again before finals and hopefully we hold up well.” - Pies midfielder Scott Pendlebury on this week's game
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
