On the eve of the first match of season 2015, collingwoodfc.com.au has compiled its two-minute guide to our clash with the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba.
At selection
A host of Magpies are vying for spots in the first game of the new season after several made good in their final audition for selection in the VFL last Thursday.
Sam Dwyer, Tim Broomhead, Patrick Karnezis and Ben Kennedy all performed well at Punt Road and will be hopeful of receiving the good news from the match committee when the teams are announced at 6.25pm on Thursday evening.
“We played 24 players against the Bulldogs (in the NAB Challenge), we still need to drop a couple off there," coach Nathan Buckley said on Tuesday morning.
"Tim Broomhead stood up against Richmond. Patty Karnezis has been really solid throughout, Paul Seedsman is coming up and thereabouts, Jordan De Goey performed really well against Richmond last Thursday, Ben Kennedy as well.
"Don't worry - we don't have a shortage of hungry players that are ready to take that mantle and take that opportunity."
One Magpie who won’t be present is Jarrod Witts.
The 22-year-old who carried the team’s rucking division during the second half of last season will miss this week owing to general soreness.
By the numbers: Magpies v Lions.
He is expected to be in line for selection at either VFL or AFL level next week.
The Lions, meanwhile, have confirmed Bendigo youngster Jayden McGrath will make his AFL debut on Saturday night.
McGrath was Gabba-bound when he became a Lion with the 73rd selection in last November’s National Draft.
High profile recruits Dayne Beams (Collingwood), Allen Christensen (Geelong) and Mitch Robinson (Carlton) will also appear for the first time in their new colours.
The impact of the investigation
The provisional suspension of Lachlan Keeffe and Josh Thomas, who are each under investigation from ASADA, has been well documented this week.
But will it have an impact on the rest of their Magpie teammates, particularly so close to the commencement of the season proper?
“It does,” Buckley told reporters on Tuesday.
“It galvanises them.”
Thomas featured in all three NAB Challenge games, while Keeffe was an absentee throughout owing to a hamstring complaint.
The Beams factor
Coming up against 2012 Copeland Trophy winner Dayne Beams won’t be too unusual for the 22 Magpies who run out onto the Gabba on Saturday night.
Collingwood’s had plenty of practice in coming to grips with old teammates in recent years, such as Dale Thomas (Carlton), Heath Shaw (Greater Western Sydney), Chris Dawes (Melbourne) and Sharrod Wellingham (West Coast).
On each occasion, the Magpies have come away with the four points.
There is also another man who will be particularly keen to cross paths with his old mates.
Jack Crisp, who joined Collingwood as part of the Beams trade, is another Magpie in contention to make the trip to the Gabba.
Our Gabba record
The Gabbatoir.
The Gabba Graveyard.
Whatever you want to call it, Brisbane’s home deck has not been kind to Collingwood teams of the past. A win-loss record of 6-11 from 17 games attests to that.
FLASHBACK: Two heroes say farewell at Victoria Park.
But recent history is a lot more favourable.
Collingwood has won four of its past six games at the venue, breaking an eleven year drought in 2007 and claiming the points in each of its past two visits with an average winning margin of 53.5 points.
Round one on the road
Many of the Collingwood team weren’t even thought of last time the club opened the home and away season outside Victoria.
But for those who like an omen, it last occurred in round one, 1990, when the Magpies were pantsed by the Eagles on April Fools Day.
You don’t need us to remind you who won the flag later that year.
Overall record (since 1997)
Collingwood v Brisbane
Played: 26
Won: 9
Lost: 17
Drawn: 0
Highest score
Collingwood 18.12 (120) def. Brisbane 13.9 (87) in round nine, 2007.
Lowest score
Collingwood 8.4 (52) def. by Brisbane 13.16 (94) in round 22, 1999.
Largest crowd
91,817 in the 2002 Grand Final at the MCG.
Smallest crowd
17,275 in round 14, 1998, at the Gabba.
Did you know?
Collingwood held a 13-2 winning record in 15 games against the old Brisbane Bears prior to the Fitzroy-Bears merger in 1996.
The Magpies won their first eleven games against the Bears, dating back to their first meeting at Victoria Park in round six, 1987. Best for Collingwood that afternoon was Tony Shaw, who collected 33 disposals, while David Cloke earned three Brownlow votes for his 17 hitouts and 21 touches.
FEATURE: Bucks, from a Bear to a Magpie.
