Buoyed by a resounding 79-point triumph over Essendon last weekend, Collingwood will seek to consolidate its place in the top eight at the scene of its Preliminary Final defeat last year.
Snapping an 11-game winning streak which spanned seven years, the Magpies untimely defeat brought an end to its bid for three successive Grand Final appearances as the Swans once again reached the AFL’s summit.
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Nearly 12 months later and Sydney is once again well placed to launch a premiership tilt, its campaign constructed upon a foundation of stability which has seen 12 players feature in every match the season.
The Swans’ established stars feature heavily in the list of players to have taken to the field in all 18 rounds this year, with Dan Hannebery, Kieren Jack, Josh Kennedy, Jude Bolton and Ted Richards among those to have been ever present.
This stands in stark contrast with the quandary which has plagued Collingwood all season, with a succession of injuries conspiring to stymie attempts to regularly field its best 22 each week.
Indeed, during the season to date, only three Magpies – Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom and Dane Swan – have been fixtures in Nathan Buckley’s side, a statistic emphasising the challenge which has confronted Collingwood in its bid for consistency.
However, with its percentage boosting win against Essendon providing evidence of Collingwood’s capabilities once in full flight, the spectre of the Magpies as a potential dark horse come September looms large.
Spurred by a forward line bolstered by the injection of a resurgent Ben Reid, an increasingly miserly defence and midfield ranking amongst the competition’s elite, Collingwood finds itself with a surplus of talent at its disposal, and an upcoming month of action seemingly bespoke designed as a litmus test of its ambitions.
The result of which sees regular contributors Jarrod Witts, Ben Kennedy and Paul Seedsman once again consigned to the emergencies list, while the likes of Alan Didak, Ben Hudson, Andrew Krakouer and Kyle Martin remain ensconced at VFL level.
Though the battle for Premiership points remains forefront of mind, this weekend sees two Magpies reach milestones as utility Tyson Goldsack makes his 100th senior appearance, while inspirational leader Nick Maxwell captains the side for the 100th time, making him only the sixth Collingwood player to have achieved the honour.
Sydney v Collingwood
Round 20
Saturday 10 August
ANZ Stadium, 7.40pm
Collingwood
B: Nathan Brown, Nick Maxwell, Heath Shaw
HB: Harry O'Brien, Lachlan Keeffe, Ben Sinclair
C: Steele Sidebottom, Luke Ball, Sam Dwyer
HF: Brent Macaffer, Quinten Lynch, Jarryd Blair
F: Dayne Beams, Travis Cloke, Ben Reid
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan
Int: Tyson Goldsack, Jamie Elliott, Josh Thomas, Marley Williams
Emg: Jarrod Witts, Ben Kennedy, Paul Seedsman
NO CHANGE
Milestones: Tyson Goldsack (100 senior games), Nick Maxwell (100 games as Collingwood captain)
Sydney
B: Dane Rampe, Heath Grundy, Nick Smith
HB: Nick Malceski, Ted Richards, Rhyce Shaw
C: Andrejs Everitt, Ryan O'Keefe, Jarrad McVeigh
HF: Dan Hannebery, Jesse White, Jude Bolton
F: Craig Bird, Kurt Tippett, Mike Pyke
Foll: Shane Mumford, Josh Kennedy, Kieren Jack
Int: Brandon Jack, Ben McGlynn, Tom Mitchell, Luke Parker
Emg: Shane Biggs, Jed Lamb, Xavier Richards
In: Ben McGlynn
Out: Jed Lamb (omitted)
Milestone: Ted Richards (200 senior games)
