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Collingwood are confident they have the form and fitness to overcome the dual threats of Geelong and global warming to reach the AFL grand final.
The Magpies’ five-point win over Adelaide on Saturday night set up a clash against the Cats in a preliminary final, in a rematch of their 2007 epic, which Geelong won by five points.
The Western Bulldogs’ 51-point win over the Brisbane Lions on Friday night put them in the other preliminary final, against minor premier St Kilda.
While the Saints and Cats are freshened from a weekend off and expect to regain key players from injury, the Bulldogs will monitor the fitness of utility Ryan Griffen (calf) ahead of Friday night.
Collingwood’s challenge will be bouncing back from a torrid game played in gruelling conditions, as the temperature hovered in the high 20s when the Magpies and Crows battled at the MCG.
Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse said he would leave it to conditioning coach David Buttifant to advise the `Pies on this week’s recovery, but noted the conditions were unusual for mid-September.
“Those doubters of global warming … come to Melbourne,” Malthouse said after the 12.11 (83) to 11.12 (78) win.
Magpie defenders Nick Maxwell and Heath Shaw on Sunday admitted the heat was taxing, but were confident the side could prepare well for Saturday night.
“Recovery’s the main thing,” said Shaw, keen for kip after little sleep after the game.
“At this time of year everyone’s a little bit sore, but if everyone does everything right by themselves and their bodies and sticks to their routine I’m sure we’ll be fine.”
Collingwood are confident ruckman Josh Fraser (knee) and midfielder Dayne Beams (calf) can push for selection, and Maxwell was hopeful onballer Scott Pendlebury could return from a leg fracture he suffered in the qualifying final loss to St Kilda.
“Pendlebury is probably 50-50, which is pretty amazing given what he’s gone through,” the Magpies skipper said on the Seven Network.
“He’s definitely a chance, I spoke to the doctor last night.
“The other two, I’d expect to play, or definitely put their hands up to play.”
Geelong forward Steve Johnson declared himself ready to return from hip troubles, while half-forward Max Rooke (quad) is also expected to play.
Shaw said Collingwood had improved markedly in the two years since the 2007 preliminary final, and were confident in their record against Geelong, which included last year’s 86-point landslide and a 27-point loss in round three this year.
“We feel we match up really well against Geelong and we’re excited about the opportunity to have a win and get into a grand final,” he said.
“At the start of the year we said we want to win a premiership, that’s what we’re here to do.
“To do that we thought we had to finish in the top four, and to finish in the top four we believed a preliminary final was the minimum we had to get to.
“We’ve got there now and it’s a massive opportunity for this group.
“After a slow start to the year, the second half we’ve really taken some big steps forward and I think everyone believes we can do it.”
St Kilda and Geelong are favourites to reach the grand final given their build-ups and the fact the higher-ranked side has proven better in all six finals this series.
But the Bulldogs’ 16.11 (107) to 8.8 (56) drubbing of the Lions also has them buoyant, and skipper Brad Johnson expected Griffen to be available.
“He corked himself – he landed on his own leg – he was walking around fine at recovery yesterday, so there won’t be an issue with him,” Johnson said.
St Kilda hope to regain ruck Michael Gardiner (hamstring).
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