Mowed your lawns?

Watched some local footy?

Visited those family members and old friends you hadn’t seen in 13 weeks?

Hopefully you spent your non-Collingwood weekend wisely. It was the last of its kind until at least the final weekend of August, and hopefully longer, should the September dream become a reality.

But for it to happen, the Magpies need to keep their focus. With five wins and seven losses, there is little margin for error if the Pies are to reach their first finals series since 2013.

In their favour is the ladder. In such an even season, where team games separates fourth from 17th after 12 rounds, there’s plenty of reasons for all sides to hold hope of charge to September.

Collingwood’s month to come
Round 14 v Port Adelaide at the MCG
The Magpies haven’t beaten Port Adelaide since round 19, 2014. That win is significant, for it is the club’s solitary victory from its past five outings against the Power. Fortunately the match will be played on Collingwood’s home turf, though it was at the ‘G that Port belted the Magpies by 67-points in round 11 last season.
Last time they met: Port Adelaide 19.11 (125) def. Collingwood 7.16 (58) in round 11, 2016

Round 15 v Hawthorn at the MCG
Hang on, this must be a typo? We’ve only just played Hawthorn, right? Well, yes, that is true, but the modern era of fixturing, teams can sometimes find themselves crossing paths twice in the space of two months. That’s exactly the case on this occasion, as the Magpies seek to take down the Hawks twice in the same year for the first time since 2011.
Last time they met: Collingwood 13.12 (90) def. Hawthorn 11.6 (72) in round 9, 2017

Round 16 v Essendon at the MCG
They say revenge is a dish best served cold, and the MCG on a cold mid-winter’s afternoon is the best place to get one back on the team that beat us by three goals on ANZAC Day. Collingwood hasn’t lost to Essendon twice in the same year since 2005.
Last time they met: Essendon 15.10 (100) def. Collingwood 11.16 (82) in round 5, 2017

Round 17 v Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium
This match already shapes as an intriguing battle. The Suns are beginning to rise, notching five wins from their opening 11 games. Rodney Eade’s men won’t mind playing Collingwood at the Carrara ground, either, for it’s where they secured two famous mid-season wins in 2013 and 2014.
Last time they met: Collingwood 16.22 (118) def. Gold Coast 6.11 (47) in round 22, 2016

Remainder of the season
Round 18 v West Coast at Etihad Stadium
Round 19 v Adelaide at the MCG
Round 20 v North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium
Round 21 v Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval
Round 22 v Geelong at the MCG
Round 23 v Melbourne at the MCG