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Collingwood will be out to erase the memory of their ANZAC Day capitulation when they meet St Kilda at Etihad Stadium. We’ll have live scores and commentary from 7.50pm AEST.
1966 and Barry Breen’s point. Nicky Winmar’s lifting of the guernsey to make a stand. The unedifying Docklands spat between Mick Malthouse and Stephen Milne.
Nick Riewoldt’s match winning finals performance in 2009. Brendon Goddard’s mark and the crooked bounce to deny Milne in that draw.
Heath Shaw’s goal square tackle on Nick Riewoldt a week later.
Tonight brings the latest instalment of Collingwood-St Kilda, one of the most spirited rivalries in football.
The Pies are unbeaten in six matches against the Saints including the aforementioned two grand finals.
Despite notionally being a Collingwood home game, the match is at Etihad Stadium – a venue where the Magpies have won nine of their past ten and St Kilda are 8-5 under Scott Watters.
Collingwood’s comprehensive defeat on ANZAC Day prompted a gentle public critique from stand-in skipper Scott Pendlebury in which he alluded to a habit of teammates running harder in attack than defence.
The Magpies backline has under-performed so far in 2013, with only Brisbane, Melbourne and GWS conceding more points. Shutting St Kilda out will be a priority tonight.
Their other worry has been in the ruck department. Collingwood have tallied fewer hit outs than any other side in the opening five rounds, a trend they’ll be hoping to rectify with the inclusions of both Darren Jolly and debutant Jarrod Witts.
St Kilda – who so far this season rank 12th in attack and eighth in defence – put in a valiant showing against the Swans in Wellington last weekend.
Their line up tonight includes five players with less than five games experience – a ploy which is sure to bring a lot of enthusiasm and is necessary for the long term prospects of the club.
Loading up with inexperienced tyros is a risky strategy, however, because when the going gets tough heads can drop and leadership is thin on the ground. There is some chance of tonight getting ugly for them.
As always, the contest throws up some key tactical issues – mainly for Watters and his staff to assess.
Firstly, what to do about Dane Swan? Swan averages 31 disposals so far this season – second only to fellow Brownlow winner Jobe Watson.
Will the Saints sacrifice one of your own best midfielders to stymie his involvement? Could a Clinton Jones-type be given the role?
Or will they put their hands up, acknowledge that Swan will win the ball anyway and let him run free?
Secondly, Travis Cloke. Key backmen is an area of weakness for St Kilda and there isn’t an obvious match up for Cloke. He dominated the hapless Alex Rance a fortnight ago and could do the same again.
Tip: The Magpies rarely lose two in a row and I expect them to handle this one comfortably. Collingwood by 29.
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