SUMMARY
The 6-4 Magpies' hopes of remaining in the top eight will hinge largely on their fortunes at the MCG, where they play seven of their next eight games, starting with Fremantle on Sunday. Nathan Buckley's men enter the clash in good shape, having won six of their past eight games and with classy veteran Daniel Wells back after a scheduled rest. The Magpie midfield is motoring along nicely and is being given silver service by in-form ruckman Brodie Grundy, but they will be challenged by guns in skipper Nat Fyfe and Lachie Neale. Ross Lyon's 4-6 team has won just one of its past five games and last week went down to North Melbourne in a bruising home encounter in the wet, which will test their energy levels here. Freo hasn't beaten the Pies at the MCG in almost 12 years.
WHERE AND WHEN: MCG, Sunday June 3, 3.20pm
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
R11, 2017: Collingwood 15.15 (105) d Fremantle 12.13 (85) at Subiaco Oval
R14, 2016: Collingwood 12.13 (85) d Fremantle 5.7 (37) at the MCG
R13, 2015: Fremantle 12.8 (80) d Collingwood 11.7 (73) at Subiaco Oval
R1, 2014: Fremantle 17.14 (116) d Collingwood 5.16 (46) at Etihad Stadium
R7, 2013: Fremantle 15.10 (100) d Collingwood 10.13 (73) at Subiaco Oval
THE SIX POINTS
1. Collingwood has won the past two clashes between the teams after Fremantle had triumphed in the previous three. The Magpies last won three in a row against the Dockers from 2010-12.
2. Collingwood has won seven of its nine games against Fremantle at the MCG. The Dockers last defeated the Pies there in round 15, 2006.
3. The Magpies are No. 1 for disposals with 417 a game – the only team to average more than 400. Adam Treloar and Steele Sidebottom are both ranked in the AFL's top 10 for disposals.
4. In recent weeks the Magpies have been one of the highest-scoring teams. Since round three they have averaged 91 points a game – fourth in the AFL – and have reached 100 points on five occasions.
5. When these sides last met, in round 11 at Subiaco last year, Collingwood won a hard-fought contest by 20 points, with captain Scott Pendlebury best-afield with 30 possessions and a goal.
6. Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy has risen to a career-high ranking of 10th in the Schick AFL Player Ratings. Grundy, who was at No. 105 at the start of last year, is the third-ranked Magpie and the top-rating ruckman.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …
Much-maligned former Docker Chris Mayne will play his first game against the club where he made 172 appearances and kicked 199 goals. The first year-and-a-bit of his four-year deal with Collingwood hasn't yet gone to plan, but the 29-year-old former forward has been reinvented as a wingman and has played the past five games, averaging 18 touches. Mayne lacks speed, but he uses the ball well and always tries to do the team thing.
PREDICTION: Collingwood by 29 points.
