TonyK
CibbuanoRound seven preview: Collingwood v St Kilda
May 10th 2009 14:49
VENUE and TIME: Etihad Stadium, Monday May 11, 7.20pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 204, Collingwood 149, St Kilda 52, Draw 1
LAST TIME: St Kilda 17.4 (106) def Collingwood 9.18 (72), First semi-final at the MCG
RECENT HISTORY: Collingwood has won three of its past four against St Kilda but only one of those wins came at Etihad Stadium.
FORM: Collingwood bounced back from a heartbreaking loss to Essendon on Anzac Day with a 52-point demolition of a hapless North Melbourne side. The Magpies have won three of their first six matches. St Kilda maintained its unbeaten start to the season with a 26-point win over the Western Bulldogs. The Saints have won their matches by an average of nine goals and boast an impressive percentage of 195.
MEDICAL ROOM: The Magpies welcome back veteran Anthony Rocca who missed the win over the Kangaroos with a virus and defender Heath Shaw from a hamstring injury but will be without promising young midfielder Dayne Beams (groin). Classy forward Alan Didak (hamstring) and Sean Rusling (shoulder) are at least a week away from returning while midfielder Ben Johnson (broken leg) faces at least another month out. For the Saints, ruckman Steven King (hamstring) and veteran defender Max Hudghton (calf) will miss at least another week while Xavier Clarke is out for the season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament last week. Sean Dempster (knee) and Jarryd Allen (hip) are both sidelined indefinitely.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Clinton Jones vs. Leon Davis
Davis was instrumental in his side’s win over the Kangaroos with 27 quality disposals, two goals and five inside 50’s.
The 27-year-old is damaging with his creative run, ability to kick goals and also set up scoring opportunities for his teammates - he had four goal assists against the Roos.
Shutting him down will be a key for the Saints if they are going to contain Collingwood’s multi-pronged attack.
Jones has been St Kilda’s number one stopper in the midfield and looms as the obvious candidate to be used in a run with role on Davis.
The Saints will need Jones to deny Davis any time or space otherwise he will continually deliver the football lace out to Travis Cloke, Anthony Rocca, Paul Medhurst and co.
Tarkyn Lockyer vs. Nick Dal Santo
Dal Santo continued his brilliant start to the season with 22 possessions, one goal and four inside 50’s against the Bulldogs.
The last time these two sides met in the first semi-final Dal Santo starred with a game-high 32 disposals, one goal and five inside 50’s to help lift his side to a 34-point win.
The Magpies will be keen limit his influence on the contest as he is highly effective at setting up scoring opportunities for his forwards with his clean delivery of the football inside 50.
Collingwood doesn’t have a designated tagger like some sides, so they may opt to use someone like Lockyer in a run with role.
Lockyer, who has averaged 22.5 disposals per game and booted nine goals in the first six games of the season, has the ability to hurt Dal Santo going the other way.
Expect Lockyer to push forward at every available opportunity and take Dal Santo out of his comfort zone.
Nathan Brown vs. Nick Riewoldt
Riewoldt was instrumental in the win over the Dogs with 17 possessions, 14 marks and a wayward 4.5.
The 26-year-old played a key role in the Saints’ semi-final win over the Magpies last year, helping himself to 20 disposals, 15 marks and five goals.
If the Pies are going to be any hope of ending St Kilda’s unbeaten start to the season they will need to contain Riewoldt who has hit top-form after a sluggish start to the year.
Brown has the height and athleticism to match the hard-leading Riewoldt and will most likely be given the job on the Saints star once again on Monday night.
Riewoldt is virtually unstoppable on the lead so Brown will need his midfield to apply immense pressure otherwise the St Kilda skipper will receive plenty of quality supply and lead his side to their seventh straight victory.
Don’t be surprised if the Magpies use Shaw as a loose man in defence to clog up the space Riewoldt leads into.
Zac Dawson vs. Travis Cloke
Cloke has struggled to have his usual impact so far this season, averaging just 12 disposals, 5.8 marks and booting seven goals in the first six games.
The Pies will need him to step up and impose himself on the contest if they are going to overcome a St Kilda side that is the real deal in 2009.
St Kilda has conceded just 338 points in six matches - an average of 56.33 per game - with Fremantle and Port Adelaide having been held to just 28 and 36 points respectively while the highest score kicked against the Saints was the 76 recorded by the Bulldogs last week
Dawson has been a key part of that frugal defence, taking the opposition’s big key forwards which frees up the likes of Sam Fisher to play more of an attacking role.
The former Hawk has more than held his own and will most likely be given first crack at Cloke in what shapes as being a pivotal duel.
If Cloke is going to have any hope of having an impact he will need his midfield to break the lines and move the football quickly into the forward line otherwise the Saints will be able to push numbers back and continually rebound the football out of defensive 50.
VERDICT: Collingwood has been the epitome of inconsistency so far this season while St Kilda continues to roll along nicely. The Magpies will fancy their chances of causing an upset given their record against the Saints in recent times but with their leading goal kicker in John Anthony out of the side due to suspension and Cloke down on form they will struggle to kick enough goals against a miserly St Kilda defence to secure the four premiership points. Saints by 25 points.
COLLINGWOOD v ST KILDA
COLLINGWOOD
B: Harry O’Brien, Simon Prestigiacomo, Martin Clarke
HB: Nick Maxwell, Nathan Brown, Alan Toovey
C: Anthony Corrie, Dale Thomas, Jaxson Barham
HF: Scott Pendlebury, Travis Cloke, Leon Davis
F: Tarkyn Lockyer, Leigh Brown, Brent Macaffer
Foll: Josh Fraser, Dane Swan, Shane O’Bree
I/C: Paul Medhurst, Anthony Rocca, Heath Shaw, Sharrod Wellingham
Emg: Ben Reid, Danny Stanley, Steele Sidebottom
In: Shaw, Rocca
Out: John Anthony (susp), Dayne Beams (groin)
ST KILDA
B: Farren Ray, Jason Blake, Zac Dawson
HB: Jarryn Geary, Sam Fisher, Brendon Goddard
C: Jason Gram, Luke Ball, Nick Dal Santo
HF: Stephen Milne, Nick Riewoldt, Adam Schneider
F: Lenny Hayes, Justin Koschitzke, Sam Gilbert
Foll: Michael Gardiner, Clint Jones, Leigh Montagna
I/C: Steven Baker, Andrew McQualter, James Gwilt, Robert Eddy
Emg: David Armitage, Ben McEvoy, Raphael Clarke
No change
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 204, Collingwood 149, St Kilda 52, Draw 1
LAST TIME: St Kilda 17.4 (106) def Collingwood 9.18 (72), First semi-final at the MCG
RECENT HISTORY: Collingwood has won three of its past four against St Kilda but only one of those wins came at Etihad Stadium.
FORM: Collingwood bounced back from a heartbreaking loss to Essendon on Anzac Day with a 52-point demolition of a hapless North Melbourne side. The Magpies have won three of their first six matches. St Kilda maintained its unbeaten start to the season with a 26-point win over the Western Bulldogs. The Saints have won their matches by an average of nine goals and boast an impressive percentage of 195.
MEDICAL ROOM: The Magpies welcome back veteran Anthony Rocca who missed the win over the Kangaroos with a virus and defender Heath Shaw from a hamstring injury but will be without promising young midfielder Dayne Beams (groin). Classy forward Alan Didak (hamstring) and Sean Rusling (shoulder) are at least a week away from returning while midfielder Ben Johnson (broken leg) faces at least another month out. For the Saints, ruckman Steven King (hamstring) and veteran defender Max Hudghton (calf) will miss at least another week while Xavier Clarke is out for the season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament last week. Sean Dempster (knee) and Jarryd Allen (hip) are both sidelined indefinitely.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Clinton Jones vs. Leon Davis
Davis was instrumental in his side’s win over the Kangaroos with 27 quality disposals, two goals and five inside 50’s.
The 27-year-old is damaging with his creative run, ability to kick goals and also set up scoring opportunities for his teammates - he had four goal assists against the Roos.
Shutting him down will be a key for the Saints if they are going to contain Collingwood’s multi-pronged attack.
Jones has been St Kilda’s number one stopper in the midfield and looms as the obvious candidate to be used in a run with role on Davis.
The Saints will need Jones to deny Davis any time or space otherwise he will continually deliver the football lace out to Travis Cloke, Anthony Rocca, Paul Medhurst and co.
Tarkyn Lockyer vs. Nick Dal Santo
Dal Santo continued his brilliant start to the season with 22 possessions, one goal and four inside 50’s against the Bulldogs.
The last time these two sides met in the first semi-final Dal Santo starred with a game-high 32 disposals, one goal and five inside 50’s to help lift his side to a 34-point win.
The Magpies will be keen limit his influence on the contest as he is highly effective at setting up scoring opportunities for his forwards with his clean delivery of the football inside 50.
Collingwood doesn’t have a designated tagger like some sides, so they may opt to use someone like Lockyer in a run with role.
Lockyer, who has averaged 22.5 disposals per game and booted nine goals in the first six games of the season, has the ability to hurt Dal Santo going the other way.
Expect Lockyer to push forward at every available opportunity and take Dal Santo out of his comfort zone.
Nathan Brown vs. Nick Riewoldt
Riewoldt was instrumental in the win over the Dogs with 17 possessions, 14 marks and a wayward 4.5.
The 26-year-old played a key role in the Saints’ semi-final win over the Magpies last year, helping himself to 20 disposals, 15 marks and five goals.
If the Pies are going to be any hope of ending St Kilda’s unbeaten start to the season they will need to contain Riewoldt who has hit top-form after a sluggish start to the year.
Brown has the height and athleticism to match the hard-leading Riewoldt and will most likely be given the job on the Saints star once again on Monday night.
Riewoldt is virtually unstoppable on the lead so Brown will need his midfield to apply immense pressure otherwise the St Kilda skipper will receive plenty of quality supply and lead his side to their seventh straight victory.
Don’t be surprised if the Magpies use Shaw as a loose man in defence to clog up the space Riewoldt leads into.
Zac Dawson vs. Travis Cloke
Cloke has struggled to have his usual impact so far this season, averaging just 12 disposals, 5.8 marks and booting seven goals in the first six games.
The Pies will need him to step up and impose himself on the contest if they are going to overcome a St Kilda side that is the real deal in 2009.
St Kilda has conceded just 338 points in six matches - an average of 56.33 per game - with Fremantle and Port Adelaide having been held to just 28 and 36 points respectively while the highest score kicked against the Saints was the 76 recorded by the Bulldogs last week
Dawson has been a key part of that frugal defence, taking the opposition’s big key forwards which frees up the likes of Sam Fisher to play more of an attacking role.
The former Hawk has more than held his own and will most likely be given first crack at Cloke in what shapes as being a pivotal duel.
If Cloke is going to have any hope of having an impact he will need his midfield to break the lines and move the football quickly into the forward line otherwise the Saints will be able to push numbers back and continually rebound the football out of defensive 50.
VERDICT: Collingwood has been the epitome of inconsistency so far this season while St Kilda continues to roll along nicely. The Magpies will fancy their chances of causing an upset given their record against the Saints in recent times but with their leading goal kicker in John Anthony out of the side due to suspension and Cloke down on form they will struggle to kick enough goals against a miserly St Kilda defence to secure the four premiership points. Saints by 25 points.
COLLINGWOOD v ST KILDA
COLLINGWOOD
B: Harry O’Brien, Simon Prestigiacomo, Martin Clarke
HB: Nick Maxwell, Nathan Brown, Alan Toovey
C: Anthony Corrie, Dale Thomas, Jaxson Barham
HF: Scott Pendlebury, Travis Cloke, Leon Davis
F: Tarkyn Lockyer, Leigh Brown, Brent Macaffer
Foll: Josh Fraser, Dane Swan, Shane O’Bree
I/C: Paul Medhurst, Anthony Rocca, Heath Shaw, Sharrod Wellingham
Emg: Ben Reid, Danny Stanley, Steele Sidebottom
In: Shaw, Rocca
Out: John Anthony (susp), Dayne Beams (groin)
ST KILDA
B: Farren Ray, Jason Blake, Zac Dawson
HB: Jarryn Geary, Sam Fisher, Brendon Goddard
C: Jason Gram, Luke Ball, Nick Dal Santo
HF: Stephen Milne, Nick Riewoldt, Adam Schneider
F: Lenny Hayes, Justin Koschitzke, Sam Gilbert
Foll: Michael Gardiner, Clint Jones, Leigh Montagna
I/C: Steven Baker, Andrew McQualter, James Gwilt, Robert Eddy
Emg: David Armitage, Ben McEvoy, Raphael Clarke
No change
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