By Tony Keen
May 31st 2009 @ 7:12am
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Round ten preview: Collingwood v Port Adelaide
Collingwood snapped a two-game losing streak with an impressive 22-point win over West Coast at Subiaco Oval last weekend. The victory saw the Magpies move to 10th place on the AFL ladder with a 4-5 win-loss record.
Port Adelaide’s inconsistent start to the season continued when they were thumped to the tune of 55 points by Sydney at the SCG last Sunday. The Power are just inside the eight with five wins from their first nine matches.
MEDICAL ROOM: Collingwood welcomes back Alan Didak and Dale Thomas from hamstring and knee injuries respectively but are still without Anthony Rocca (groin), Paul Medhurst (ankle), Travis Cloke (hamstring), Sean Rusling (fractured cheekbone) and Ben Reid who was a late withdrawal from the clash against West Coast. Ben Johnson is at least two weeks away from returning from a fractured leg. For Port, exciting youngster Nathan Krakouer returns after being rested for the clash against Sydney. Star midfielder Shaun Burgoyne is expected to be sidelined for at least three to four more weeks with a knee injury while forward Justin Westhoff (foot) is a fortnight away from being considered for selection.
KEY MATCH-UPS:
Kane Cornes vs. Dane Swan
Swan was instrumental in his side’s win over the Eagles with 36 possessions, 11 marks and seven inside 50’s.
The 25-year-old provides plenty of drive through the middle – he is ranked fifth in the AFL for kicks per game and seventh for inside 50’s.
Port will need to limit his impact on the contest if they are going to have any hope of starving Collingwood’s forwards of quality supply.
Cornes is regarded as one of the best taggers in the AFL and will be given the task of running Swan on Sunday.
Port will need Cornes deny Swan any time or space otherwise he will continually deliver the football cleanly inside 50 to his teammates.
Expect Cornes, who has averaged just under 26 touches per game so far this season, to try and hurt Swan going the other way.
Harry O’Brien vs. Brett Ebert
Ebert has struggled so far this season, booting just 10 goals in nine games.
However, he still looms as a danger man for the Magpies as he has booted nine goals in his past three matches against the Pies, including four in Port’s last win over Mick Malthouse’s men in round 18, 2006.
Despite standing at just 179cm, Ebert is very good overhead so you would expect O’Brien to be given first crack at the Port forward as he is capable of matching him in the air.
If Ebert is going to have any hope of having an impact he will need his midfield to be smart with their use of the football and not just bomb it in haphazardly into the forward line otherwise O’Brien will be able to out-body him and punish the Power on the rebound.
Domenic Cassisi vs. Leon Davis
Davis stepped up in the absence of some of his teammates last weekend, racking up 32 quality touches and booting three goals – two of which came early in the final term to put the result beyond doubt.
The last time these two sides met in round 20 last year Davis starred with 28 possessions, one goal and eight inside 50’s in a performance that earned him the two Brownlow medal votes.
Davis is damaging with his ability to not only consistently kick goals but also set up scoring opportunities for his teammates with his clever use of the football.
Port will need to shut-down his run and creativity if they are going to secure a valuable win away from home.
Cassisi is Port’s second best stopper in the midfield and looms as the obvious candidate to tag Davis.
The Power will need their skipper, who is ranked third in the AFL for tackles per game with an average of 7.2, to apply relentless pressure all day otherwise Davis will be the match-winner for the second week in a row.
Dale Thomas vs. Danyle Pearce
Pearce failed to have his usual impact in the loss to the Swans, managing just 15 disposals – well down on his season average of 21 possessions per game.
So far this season when Pearce fires the Power invariably go on to win so quelling his influence will be a key for the Magpies.
Thomas has the pace to match Pearce and is an obvious candidate to go head-to-head with the 2006 NAB Rising star winner in what shapes as being an intriguing battle between two of the game’s brightest young stars.
The Magpies will need Thomas to push forward at every available opportunity and be a goal kicker as it will force Pearce to worry about his direct opponent which in turn will help limit his impact on the contest as a line breaking midfielder.
VERDICT: So far this season Port Adelaide has backed up a disappointing performance with a win and they would fancy their chances of continuing that trend on Sunday given that they have won the past two clashes against Collingwood at the home of football. However, with Tredrea the only forward in form they will struggle to kick a big enough score to overcome a Magpies side that has been bolstered by the return of two of their most dynamic players in Thomas and Didak.
Magpies by 14 points.
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