Round nine preview: Collingwood v Geelong

VENUE and TIME: MCG, Friday 21 May, 7.40pm (AEST)

HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 216, Collingwood 124, Geelong 91, Drawn 1

LAST TIME: Geelong 17.18 (120) def Collingwood 6.11 (47), Preliminary Final 2009 at the MCG

RECENT HISTORY: Geelong has won four of its past five matches against Collingwood.

FORM: Collingwood sits on top of the AFL ladder with a 7-1 win-loss record - their best start to a season since 1981. The Magpies have won their past five matches by an average of 56 points. Geelong has responded to a disappointing loss to Carlton in round five with convincing wins over Richmond (108), Sydney (67) and Brisbane (81). The Cats occupy second spot on the ladder with a 6-2 record.

MEDICAL ROOM: The Pies welcome back impressive young midfielder Sharrod Wellingham from a calf injury but small forward Paul Medhurst (foot), John McCarthy (hamstring), Sean Rusling (calf - one to two weeks) and Anthony Corrie (knee - two to three weeks) remain on the sidelines. For Geelong, mature-age recruit James Podsiadly and James Kelly return to the side after missing the win over the Lions due to groin and calf injuries respectively. Star midfielder Joel Corey (knee) is a month away from playing while ruckman Brad Ottens (foot - four to six weeks) and rugged utility Max Rooke (knee) are also unavailable.

KEY MATCH-UPS: Cameron Ling vs. Dane Swan

Swan was instrumental in Collingwood's win over the Dockers with 31 possessions and five inside 50’s.

Shutting down Swan will be vital for the Cats if they are going to starve Collingwood’s multi-pronged attack of quality supply.

Ling is one of the best midfield stoppers in the competition and will be given the job of tagging the hard-running Magpie.

Don’t be surprised if Swan starts up forward in a bid to take Ling out of his comfort zone then pushes into the middle.

Harry O’Brien vs. Steve Johnson

Johnson is in stellar form having booted 15 goals in his past three matches, including an equal career-best six against Brisbane.

O’Brien looms as the obvious candidate to match-up on the classy 26-year-old given that he has quelled his influence in the past.

In the win over the Dockers the Pies laid a staggering 93 tackles.

They will need to apply that level of pressure on Friday night otherwise the Cats will continually attack through the corridor and provide the likes of Johnson with plenty of quality ball.

Harry Taylor vs. Travis Cloke

Cloke returned to form with five goals against Fremantle and will need to put in yet another big performance if the Pies are going to claim the four premiership points.

However, his task won’t be an easy one as he will be coming up against Taylor who has developed into arguably one of the best defenders in the league.

The 23-year-old Cat is a good reader of the play who marks well in contested situations.

In fact, Taylor is ranked ninth in the AFL in 2010 for total contested marks.

Collingwood will need to be patient and precise with their delivery of the football into the forward line otherwise Taylor will help set up Geelong’s attacking forays.

Sharrod Wellingham vs. Gary Ablett

The last time these two sides met in the second preliminary final Ablett was damaging with a game-high 34 disposals, two goals and four inside 50’s.

Limiting the creative run of the reigning Brownlow medallist will be a key for the Magpies if they are going to have any hope of containing the most attacking side in the AFL.

Wellingham - who has taken his game to another level this season - will be given the task of running with Ablett.

It is vital for the Pies that Wellingham is proactive and tries to hurt Ablett going the other way otherwise the Cats star will dictate terms and dominate.

VERDICT: This match is being billed as the biggest of the season to date and surely won‘t disappoint. Geelong and Collingwood boast quality midfield divisions and are the two most attacking sides in the competition but it is in defence where this contest will be won. The Cats’ defensive unit has conceded 186 points in the past three rounds while the Magpies’ backline has leaked 290 in the same period. Cats by 19 points.

COLLINGWOOD v GEELONG
COLLINGWOOD
B: Heath Shaw, Ben Reid, Ben Johnson
HB: Harry O’Brien, Nick Maxwell, Sharrod Wellingham
C: Luke Ball, Dane Swan, Alan Toovey
HF: Shane O’Bree, Travis Cloke, Alan Didak
F: Dayne Beams, Brent Macaffer, Leon Davis
Foll: Darren Jolly, Scott Pendlebury, Dale Thomas
I/C: Nathan Brown, Chris Dawes, Steele Sidebottom, Cameron Wood
Emg: Tarkyn Lockyer, Josh Fraser, John Anthony

In: Wellingham
Out: John Anthony

GEELONG
B: Josh Hunt, Matthew Scarlett, Andrew Mackie
HB: Corey Enright, Harry Taylor, Darren Milburn
C: James Kelly, Cameron Ling, Jimmy Bartel
HF: Steve Johnson, Cameron Mooney, Travis Varcoe
F: Mathew Stokes, Tom Hawkins, Gary Ablett
Foll: Mark Blake, Joel Selwood, Paul Chapman
I/C: Shannon Byrnes, James Podsiadly, David Wojcinski, Tom Lonergan
Emg: Simon Hogan, Mitch Duncan, Taylor Hunt

In: Kelly, Podsiadly
Out: Simon Hogan, Mitch Duncan

Vote