Head to head: Richmond 84 wins, Collingwood 110 wins, 1 draw
Last time: Collingwood 18.14 (122) d Richmond 11.12 (78), round 3, 2008, at the MCG
MISSING IN ACTION
Collingwood
Josh Fraser (knee) – test
Sean Rusling (hip flexor) – test
Tristan Francis (groin) – indefinite
Richmond
Jarrod Silvester (knee) – available
Graham Polak (ankle) – test
Andrew Collins (hip) – season
Trent Cotchin (hip) – season
Nathan Foley (ankle) – season
Kayne Pettifer (knee fracture) – season
Matthew Richardson (knee) – season
FORM (last five matches)
Richmond: LDWWL
Collingwood: WLWWW
SUMMARY
Collingwood hit a speed bump last month when Hawthorn ran over the top of it. Following that loss, some wondered whether the Pies would be able to regroup. But they have flown to third on the ladder with wins against quality opposition in Carlton, the Brisbane Lions and Adelaide. As a result, Mick Malthouse's team has emerged as the one most likely to cause an upset in September.
Now a game clear of the fourth-placed Bulldogs, Collingwood is full of confidence, has its big guns firing and seems destined for a top-four spot. Brownlow Medal favourite Dane Swan and Alan Didak continue to lead the charge, while Collingwood's unheralded defence has beaten all comers. Simon Prestigiacomo always get the job done on the opposition's best tall forward, while the likes of Nick Maxwell and Harry O'Brien provide versatile, dependable options.
After a promising start under caretaker coach Jade Rawlings, Richmond appears to have gone back to its old ways in recent weeks. Rawlings spoke like a man who'd just lost after his team pipped Melbourne two weeks ago, while the less said about the Tigers' performance against the Sydney Swans, the better. Richmond's ball use against the Swans was dreadful. Ben Cousins can be relied upon to find the target but when the heat is on, others have been found wanting. At least Richmond will welcome back some experience – and likely some much-needed spark – this week when Joel Bowden plays his farewell match. But only time will tell if that's enough to spark the Tigers.
QUESTION MARKS
Collingwood has won 10 of its past 11. During its good run the Pies' defence has conceded an average of about 11 goals a game. Can the Magpies' back six stay true to form and restrict the Tigers?
Despite enjoying only limited success in recent years, Richmond has won three of its past five matches against the Magpies. Can the Tigers, in Joel Bowden's farewell match, lift again to be a bogey team for the Pies?
VFL - Williamstown v Collingwood
Where and when: Sunday August 16, Burbank Oval at 2pm
Following last week's easy win, Collingwood's VFL team is now eighth on the ladder and a game clear of the ninth-placed Sandringham. However this week the Pies face a big task when they face top-of-the-table Williamstown.
In the final two rounds Collingwood's VFL team meets Frankston (12th) and Geelong (seventh).
Collingwood VFL line-up:
B: Reed, N Brown, Dyas
HB: Corrie, Reid, Blight
C: Barham, Clarke, Cox
HF: Sidebottom, Rocca, McCarthy
F: Rounds, Macaffer, Stanley
Foll: Bryan, Cook, Blair
Int: (from) Rusling, Hayes, Colbert, Peverill, Bennell, Allen, Keeffe, Walker, K Pendlebury
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club
