"Contented Cats kick-start Magpie mind games"
Jon Pierik - The Age
"GEELONG great Paul Couch says the pressure is entirely on Collingwood as the Cats yesterday declared their finals nous and big-game reputation would ensure they were primed for Friday night's preliminary final at the MCG."
"Tom Harley looks at the first preliminary final"
Tom Harley - The Age
"FOR MUCH of the season, this match was going to be the grand final. Everywhere you went, people were talking of a Cats-Pies decider."
"Collingwood great Tony Shaw predicts premiers will come from Friday night clash"
Glenn McFarlane - Sunday Herald Sun
"HE victor of Friday night's preliminary final between Collingwood and Geelong will win this year's flag, according to the Magpies' last premiership captain, Tony Shaw."
"Collingwood fly from back"
Jay Clark - Sunday Herald Sun
"Collingwood's back half, which has conceded more than 100 points only twice this year, has established itself as the most miserly set-up in the AFL."
"Collingwood's key six aren't who you think"
Shane Crawford - Sunday Herald Sun
"Ben Reid, Chris Dawes, Alan Toovey, Brent Macaffer, Jarryd Blair and Nathan Brown have played important roles for Collingwood at stages this season."
"Geelong is Jolly wild at insult"
Jay Clark - Sunday Herald Sun
"GEELONG has full faith Tom Hawkins will defy recent insults from Collingwood's Darren Jolly about the Cat's "timid" ruckwork."
"'Select' few face big week"
Glenn McFarlane - Sunday Herald Sun
"The Magpies look set to welcome back its longest serving player, defender Simon Prestigiacomo, who has missed the past four weeks with a corked thigh."
