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
MISSING IN ACTION
Collingwood
Luke Ball (hip) - test
Leon Davis (quad) - test
Brad Dick (shoulder) - season
Tyson Goldsack (ankle) - test
Tom Hunter (neck) - 4-6 weeks
Ben Reid (quad) - test
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
FORM
Collingwood: WWWWW
Adelaide: WLLLW
SUMMARY
Adelaide has shown glimpses of the football it can play, but not on a regular-enough basis to suggest it can stop the team most believe can go all the way in September. The scored a gutsy win in the heat against the Brisbane Lions last week, but lost a couple of key players and now face the AFL’s in-form team just six days later. Kurt Tippett and Jason Porplyzia were in great nick against the Lions, but they’ll need all 22 at their best to trouble Collingwood. The Pies were in cruise control against Essendon last week. With four regulars missing from the team that outplayed Geelong, Mick Malthouse’s side looked off the pace in the first five minutes, but that didn’t last long. A solid four-quarter effort resulted in another demolition job, this time a 98-point win. Selection must be a tough job for the coach when he has 26 to 28 legitimate contenders each week.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Simon Prestigiacomo doesn’t steal many headlines but his importance to the Collingwood defence can’t be underestimated. He’s still the Pies’ No.1 stopper and the coach will be wary of looking after his star full back in the final weeks of the year. Watch him wear Tippett like a glove this week.
While opposition teams hone in on the likes of Crows pair Scott Thompson and Nathan van Berlo, lesser light Richard Douglas has flourished in 2010. With greater opportunity this season and natural maturing, the 23-year-old has enjoyed a breakout year, averaging more than 21 disposals a match.
QUESTION MARKS
With a mounting injury list, Adelaide will have to see what its developing youngsters have against the in-form team of the competition. How deep does the Crows’ depth run?
Collingwood has insisted it won’t rest players in the run to the finals, but four players missed last week with minor niggles. Will we see more changes this week?
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
Collingwood appears to have Adelaide covered on almost every line. Injury has robbed the Crows of running power in the middle, while Nathan Bock’s absence means the three-pronged attack of Chris Dawes, Travis Cloke and Leigh Brown will be hard to counter for an Adelaide defence headed by Ben Rutten.
PREDICTION
Collingwood by 57 points
Chat with host Murray Belkin and other fans in the AFL Match Centre on afl.com.au from 6.40pm Saturday or join the conversation on Twitter: #aflpiescrows
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
