Missing ingredients
The following players have been unable to have the impact they would have liked in the first half of 2013 but could play key roles as the run to the finals begins: Luke Ball (three games), Dayne Beams (no games), Alan Didak (two games), Tyson Goldsack (five games), Ben Johnson (three games), Lachlan Keeffe (no games), Andrew Krakouer (five games), Dale Thomas (five games), Clinton Young (no games). In total, these nine players share 1247 games of senior experience.
Round 14 v Port Adelaide
Saturday 29 June
AAMI Stadium, 4.40pm
Past Five: W-W-W-W-W
Ladder Position (after 13 rounds): 8th
Comment: The first of three interstate trips in the space of seven weeks and Collingwood’s last at AAMI Stadium before the ground ceases to host AFL matches.
Round 15 v Carlton
Friday 5 July
MCG, 7.50pm
Past Five: W-W-L-L-W
Ladder Position (after 13 rounds): 9th
Comment: #lovetohatecarlton
Round 16 v Adelaide
Friday 12 July
MCG, 7.50pm
Past Five: W-W-W-W-W
Ladder Position (after 13 rounds): 11th
Comment: Collingwood has a fine recent record against the Crows but hasn’t played them on a Friday night at the MCG since round 13, 1995, when a man by the name of Sav Rocca kicked 10 goals. The club’s most memorable match against the Crows under lights at the MCG was the famous ‘Jack Anthony match’, when Anthony kicked the match winner in the 2009 Semi-Final.
Round 17 v Gold Coast
Saturday 20 July
Metricon Stadium, 4.40pm
Past Two: W-W
Ladder Position (after 13 rounds): 12th
Comment: In the two club’s only meetings thus far, the Suns have been well and truly in the ‘development’ category. While they’re still building their empire, the Sun is starting to appear on the horizon. Collingwood will have to be switched on from the get-go against Gary Ablett and his hungry young side.
Round 18 v Greater Western Sydney
Saturday 27 July
MCG, 4.40pm
Past One: W
Ladder Position (after 13 rounds): 18th
Comment: The match will be the last of the Giants’ two matches at the MCG this season, so they’ll be desperate to make the most of it in front of a parochial Collingwood crowd. The two sides met only once last year when the Magpies got the job done to the tune of 120 points.
Round 19 v Essendon
Sunday 4 August
MCG, 4.40pm
Past Five: W-W-W-W-L
Ladder Position (after 13 rounds): 4th
Comment: It’s fair to say that the Magpie Army won’t have forgotten the 46-point drubbing handed out by Essendon on ANZAC Day. Expect a big crowd in Yarra Park on a Sunday evening.
Round 20 v Sydney
Saturday 10 August
ANZ Stadium, 7.40pm
Past Five: W-W-W-L-W
Ladder Position (after 13 rounds): 5th
Comment: After their amazing 11 game winning streak, the Magpies have come back to earth with heavy losses in their past two games against the Swans. It will be Collingwood’s first trip to the Olympic stadium since last year’s Preliminary Final loss.
Round 21 v Hawthorn
Friday 16 August
MCG, 7.50pm
Past Five: W-L-L-L-L
Ladder Position (after 13 rounds): 1st
Comment: Collingwood has barely had a sniff in its four games against Hawthorn since Luke Ball’s magical match winning snap in the 2011 Preliminary Final. Surely it’s time to change that.
Round 22 v West Coast
Friday 23 August
MCG, 7.50pm
Past Five: W-W-W-L-W
Ladder Position (after 13 rounds): 10th
Comment: This match is likely to hold much intrigue considering where the two sides are currently placed on the ladder. Both clubs began the season aiming for a top four finish and will be fighting tooth and nail under the Friday night lights at the MCG in the penultimate round.
Round 23 v North Melbourne
TBA
MCG, TBA
Past Five: W-W-W-L-W
Ladder Position (after 13 rounds): 13th
Comment: Last year’s shock loss to the rampaging Roos aside, the Magpies have handled North Melbourne relatively comfortably in their five wins against them since 2009, but this final round clash could be a tricky one. If the Roos rally, they could be on their way to another finals appearance. The Pies will need to have their wits about them.
