Collingwood will be looking to win its second game in a row and further cement its place in the eight when they face the Adelaide Crows tonight. We’ll have live scores from 7.50pm AEST.
There have been enough distractions for Collingwood this week and Friday night footy will be a welcome distraction from the Harry O’Brien saga, quite fittingly the first game of the AFL’s Multicultural Round.
Buckley’s men currently sit one-and-a-half games outside of the top four, but their draw suggests that with some good footy the Pies might be a chance to snare a double chance come September.
They will need to dispose of the Crows like they did to Carlton last week if that is any chance of happening.
A 35-point loss to Port Adelaide two weeks ago suggests that Collingwood fans shouldn’t be getting too cosy just yet.
The Pies will be buoyed by the hopeful return of last year’s Copeland trophy winner Dayne Beams from a quad injury.
Adelaide will be out for redemption this week after surrendering a 13-point lead, to lose by a last minute goal against the Eagles at AAMI last week.
This season hasn’t gone the way the Crows would’ve hoped, especially after missing out on the grand final last year by just one goal.
The Crows have struggled without a power forward this year, and losing Kurt Tippett in the preseason and Taylor Walker to a knee injury didn’t help their cause.
Their midfield has lacked the polish that it had last year, although Patrick Dangerfield is always a danger and Brad Crouch has started to put some solid games together.
Who’s Hot?
Collingwood
Scott Pendlebury: Has had a brilliant month of football, from the Queen’s Birthday match against Melbourne he has averaged a tick over 32 disposals a game, with an average of 13 of those being contested expect Pendles to be up there when it comes to Brownlow Night.
Ben Reid: I know I can’t believe it either! The game’s new swingman was brilliant last week with four goals after being pushed forward. He was one of the main reasons for Collingwood’s resurgence last week. Will we see him up forward again this week?
Honourable mentions to: Travis Cloke and Dane Swan.
Adelaide
Brad Crouch: Two solid displays have the youngster in this column for the week, he earnt a rising star nomination in round 14 and was good again last week against the West Coast Eagles with 26 disposals including nine contested possessions and one goal assist.
Patrick Dangerfield: The number two ranked player in the AFL according to the player ratings hasn’t quite reached his high standards that he set last year but he has been a key to success when Adelaide win.
His effort is always 100 percent which includes the fact that he is averaging 16 contested possessions a game over the last month, if the Crows are any chance he will have to play a virtuoso role.
Last time they met
R9, 2012: Collingwood 10.15 (75) d Adelaide 6.13 (49) at AAMI Stadium
Dayne Beams was dominant, he had 36 disposals and was rewarded with three Brownlow votes.
Quirky facts between the two
Sanderson and Buckley are pretty much ‘best mates’.
Recent history
Collingwood has won the last five encounters between the two, however Adelaide’s last win over Collingwood came in the opening game in 2009 at the MCG.
The last three games between the two at the ‘G’ have gone down to the wire, decided by four, five and three points respectively.
Prediction
It’s hard to see Adelaide winning this one. Pies by 32.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
The calls were legit free kicks, I can remember though in the last couple of weeks free kicks that haven't gone his way, then the fans have a right to be dirty and so they should. Unlike a lot of the other forwards for the amount of times the ball is delivered to Cloke as a forward target he doesn't get anywhere near as many frees as he should. He needs to control his temper though too, having a go at the umpires won't help his cause ;) I hope you enjoyed the game on Friday it was a good win for the pies. You make a good point here, I did notice it on t.v but obviously as I live in a NSW dominated area the commentators wouldn't say anything bad about the Swans. I think that is a misconception that only (pies fans) are horrible especially after the whole Goodesy thing. Kudos to the pies 77,000 members is nothing to scoff at. They are doing all the right things to suggest they will be a force come September.
Selena
Guest
I was at the game and the calls on Clokey were ridiculous. Sure if it's a couple but the bloke doesn't get any back. The umps were in similar condition against Tippet in the Swans. The guy was held at every turn and the umps turned a blind eye to it. They're not giving the big forwards a fair go. As for the fans booing. I was at the MCG on Fri night and the SCG on Sunday near the swans cheer squad. The Swans fans were booing the umpires as well against tippet. Guess there's just not as many of them as there are Pies fans. I think the fans just had enough of the unfair calls against Clokey. it's a good platform to send a strong message to the AFL that the fans are not happy with the unfair contests. Strength in numbers and there's plenty of Pies fans so you will hear them more.
Floreat Pica
Guest
Geez Nick, thats a bit harsh- he's got a lot to type with little tiime.
Leonard
Guest
I liked the commentary, I think you bring your own style rather then just the stock standard commentary. Good stuff there is stuff to work on but you are getting there.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
That would be a sight haha
mark
Guest
Brent, now if only Collingwood fans could boo in unison :)
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Okay mate will take that on board, thanks for the feedback.
Night
Guest
LOL @ aerial pingpong
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
If people are coming through the gate I won't complain :) 55,000 people flocked to the MCG tonight, the most that have ever been to an Adelaide Crows home and away game. It's good for the game, you're right the Sweagles did start it haha ;)
mark
Guest
Brent, Brent, Brent, thousands of toothless feral Collingwood fans booing is good for football, everyone knows that. BTW West Coast started it anyway :)
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
I have no problem with barracking, that's fine and a bit of banter between players and the fans is good. I especially love it when Cloke kicks a bag and works the crowd over! But what do the fans get out of giving the umpires an absolute dressing down? Congrats on the good win Marky.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Final score once again Collingwood running out winners. 17.9.111 to 12.12.84 I thank you for your time this evening! Enjoy whatever sport you are watching this week and carn the Aussies in the ashes!
mark
Guest
Adds to the theatre, Wimbledon is over, quiet time is finished.. Hear the Barrackers a shouting. .
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
My Votes 3 - Pendles: just way to much class. 2. - Swan: oozed class early and was close to unstoppable, set it up nicely for the pies. 1. - Lynch: 22 disposals and 4 goals, was easily one of the crows best. He added 11 marks to his stats list too.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
I guess if I could add anything, the Crows really held Swan down in the 2nd half he had just 9 touches in the last half after having 22 in the first half. With that though Pendles ran rampant and Beams chipped in at times, Ball continues to become an important player inside, it just shows that with the addition of Beams it will be very hard to contain the Pies midfield. Crows will look to find more goal kickers next week, they had just 4 tonight, it would've been handy if Jenkins could kick straight however the same could be said for Cloke. The Crows will be nervous on the wait for Dangerfield this week to see how he pulls up, Crouch is a ready made replacement however and Crows fans should be excited about him for sure.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Team Stats: Pies won the possession count 407-358. Was a really free flowing game so the possession count reflects that. Pies too good in the contested category winning 152-132 in that area. Tackles as well 61-56 and inside 50's 62-50. Free kick count was the Crows way 17-13. Pies were way too dominant in the clearances, the "big 4" combined well to win 37 clearances to the Crows 26. They smashed the centre clearances 18-8. The loss of Danger for most of the game in the midfield hurt the Crows, he just isn't as dangerous up forward.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Just not good, I can understand booing them for a bad decision but Cloke was clearly holding and clearly abused the umpire, clear free kick. If anything it was the right call, the Pies fans certainly know how to celebrate a goal however!
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Possession Leaders: Pendles 42, Swan 31, Ball 30, Sidebottom 28, Beams 25, Henderson 25. Goal Scorers: Collingwood: 3 Krakouer, 2 Cloke (5 behinds also!), Pendles, Reid, Macaffer, Swan, singles to Ball, Sidebottom, Williams and Witts. Crows: 4 Lynch, Lyons, 3 Porplyzia and 1 to Douglas. Jenkins was wasteful with just 3 behinds.
TomC
Roar Guru
Sounds like a lot of 'fans' would rather boo the umpires than cheer their own players. What a pack of self-entitled sooks we footy fans are.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Crows will be upset, they had some good chances to really take it to Collingwood and just faded after the first quarter, they would take heart from that effort and have found a gem in Lyons and the Saints will be haunted by getting rid of Lynch. Regardless the pies won and I will have stats up shorlty.