Two teams enter the second round without a win, but one looks more likely than the other. Join us at 7.40pm AEST to see whether Collingwood or Richmond break through for their first win of the year.
I broke one of my golden rules of tipping last week when I selected Richmond in their first game of the season.
When Tiger coach, Damien Hardwick, looks down the camera and tells us to expect a different Richmond this season, one that will not lay down and will see matches through till the end, it’s hard not to believe him.
But last weekend, the Tigers failed to deliver big time.
Never again will I be so easily seduced.
While the Tigers were floundering yet again, Collingwood was involved in one of the matches of the round, taking on a fellow premiership favourite, with both sides demonstrating precisely why they are amongst the favourites.
Best for Collingwood last round was Scott Pendlebury who collected quality ball and kept the Pies in it till near the end.
One of the key Richmond players who will be keeping an eye on Pendlebury, and who was a rare good player for the yellow and black last week, is Trent Cotchin.
That looks like the match-up of the game.
Elsewhere I’m struggling to see how the Richmond defence will keep Collingwood talls like Cloke and Dawes in check.
If Richmond can win its share of ball out of the middle via Cotchin and cohort Dustin Martin, they have one of the best full forwards in Jumping Jack Riewoldt, plus some handy small forwards like Brett Deledio and Jake King.
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has brought in Chris Tarrant to strengthen the black-and-white defence, having identified the back half as a weakness against the Hawks last week.
The Pies are still getting used to their new coach, and it was noticeable in the way that Hawthorn was able to cut through the famed forward press. But don’t expect the same from the Tigers.
With Collingwood we are still talking about a midfield unit that has taken them to the two last grand finals, and will win this by 21 points.
Can the Pies bounce back? Find out from 7.40pm AEDT for live scores and comments and don’t hesitate to leave your own in the space below as the action unfolds from the MCG.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Definitely much lower than would have been expected
The Cattery
Roar Guru
thanks for joining me tonight, pies too good
The Cattery
Roar Guru
FT Coll 12.13 (85) Rich 8.16 (64) It's a 21 pt victory - hey - that's precisely what I picked! The story of the game here was the tiges trying to bottle up the pies as much as possible, and they succeeded accept for a devasting 6 minute period to open up the 3rd quarter when the pies won all the clearances cleanly and scored goals directly from every clearance! It was a devastating period, and that's where the game was won for the pies, with all the big guns getting involved in that period: Pendles, Thomas and Cloke all got involved - bang - game over.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Q4 Coll 12.13 Rich 8.16 stgrong mark by Paine on lead, Nahas at top of def 50 to tidy up, Miller with another set shot, and it's another goal, 3 last quarter goals for him
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Q4 Coll 12.13 Rich 7.16 O'brien wins contest to ball against Deledio, and pies clear again, throw in on wing, near side, good running from Houli, gives off and receives again, Rance can't break the tackle but gets the hands, tiges finally release Morris, Jackson on lead, Miller taken out in marking contest, will have a shot from outside 50m, rushed
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Q4 Coll 12.13 Rich 7.15 O'brien spins out of trouble, kicks to centre-wing, Batchelor cuts it off,
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Q4 Coll 12.13 Rich 7.15 Deledio with the free, and he's going to barrell one from 60m, but misses
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Q4 Coll 12.13 Rich 7.14 Jack gets pinned for the throw, hasn't been his night tonight
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Q4 Coll 12.13 Rich 7.14 little kick round the corner finds Conca, marks about 45m out, not much angle, pulls it,
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Q4 Coll 12.13 Rich 7.13 Nahas with fresh legs, run and carry down wing, can't get it to Jack,
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Q4 Coll 12.13 Rich 7.13 Cloke goes to ground holding his head, then Rance gets taken high and he wins the free, Morris, out wide to Grimes, Houli looking around, Martin, lost it, Cloke kicks from top of 50, just misses
Norm
Guest
Disappointing attendance - but it is Easter
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Q4 Coll 12.12 Rich 7.13 Nahas out wide, bounce, into 50, can't get it too Jack
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Q4 Coll 12.12 Rich 7.13 the amount of goals that the pies have been able to get directly from centre bounce. Official attendance: 57,300.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Q4 Coll 12.12 Rich 7.13 so tiges have kicked first 3 goals of the quarter, and last 4, so now within 4 goals, Pendles with take away, Sidebottom, over top to Jolly, and the big man kicks it off a step - that was a quick response!
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Q4 Coll 11.12 Rich 7.13 so tiges still within 5 goals, pies yet to score one this quarter, tiges with clearance, Jack recovers, but pulled off as he kicked, good pressure by both sides, hot footy, Deledio snaps from 50 - and gets it!!
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Q4 Coll 11.12 Rich 6.13 Cloke pushes out his opponent, loose man on wing, it's Newman with hard running, goes inside, tiges trying to switch it to the corridor, back to Newman, Houli presents, honoured, Houli goes long, big jump from Jack, no good, gives free away
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Q4 Coll 11.12 Rich 6.13 tiges back into fwd 50, O'brien with clearance, Pendles from throw in, tiges players spoil each other, Foley to Edwards, Jack stayed down, Sidebottom gets it out of back 50, good punch away on Fasolo, things falling into place for tiges, can they keep it going, and Maric runs down Sinclair and earns the free!
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Q4 Coll 11.12 Rich 6.13 so tiges have got the margin back belwo 6 goals, they've done well since the opening of 3rd quarter, Cotchin again, has had a good game, Jack spots up Miller, and now a chance to kick consecutive goals in a quarter for first time, lining up from around 40m, good kick, tiges back with 5 goals
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Q4 Coll 11.12 Rich 5.13 Deledio with clearance, good start by tiges this quarter throw in deep in tiges fwd 50, now ball up, about 35m out, Jolly taps out, tiges get it back, Pendles with the intercept