Overview:
Can it be done? That’s the question Collingwood fans are asking each other in excited whispers, and why not? After four impressive matches on the trot, a rousing Anzac Day victory and a 10 day break, the Magpie Faithful have every reason to consider this week’s encounter with Adelaide in enemy territory very much a winnable prospect.

Returning from Subiaco Oval battered, bruised and ultimately beaten, the Crows are ripe for the picking, forced to back up from a six day turnaround in the wet, losing a handful of players to injury. On that basis, the Woods have every chance to convert their plucky start to the season into something special, well and truly set on the road to success.

The Match Ups:
In the injury-inflicted absence of Trent Hentschel in attack, Scott Welsh and Ian Perrie have been forced to step up to the plate. It isn’t as if both are spring chickens, having been on the AFL scene since the late 1990s.

Expect to see James Clement lock down on Welsh, a role he has performed to perfection in the past, and Simon Prestigiacomo act as Perrie’s shadow for the night.

Andrew McLeod’s start to 2007 has been outstanding, and Mick Malthouse may choose to utilise Nick Maxwell as a defensive forward, locking down on the Crows key playmaker off the back flank.

For the Magpies, expect to see the Truck, Ben Rutten, take on a similarly muscled opponent in Anthony Rocca. Big Anthony has been a feature in all three of the Pies wins this year todate, and will look to gain the early ascendancy over Rutten, for as we all know, once Pebbles is set alight, he is extremely hard to stop.

Equally as difficult to stop is Alan Didak, the sprightly small forward marking his return to league football following knee surgery with three classy goals on Anzac Day. With Brent Reilly absent through a broken ankle, expect to see Graham Johncock assigned the role on the dynamic Didak, who broke the hearts of Port Adelaide supporters on his last visit to AAMI Stadium with the match winning goal in round 20 last season.

The form guide:
Collingwood’s bright start to ’07 continued on Anzac Day with an assured 16 point win over traditional foe Essendon in front of more than 90,000 spectators. The eventual margin could well have been much more had the Magpies brought their kicking boots, scoring 12 goals and 23 behinds for the match.

The Crows meanwhile, were unfortunate to board the plane at the Perth airport minus the four points, going down to Fremantle by a kick in wet conditions. Scott Stevens was a feature inside forward fifty, whilst midfielders Scott Thompson and Tyson Edwards were typically omnipresent.

Head to Head since 2000:
Collingwood: 7
Adelaide: 5
After two high scoring battles in 2000 (the Magpies spearheaded by the five goal efforts from Sav Rocca and Paul Williams), Collingwood won the next six meetings between the two, the stretch highlighted by the Pies first finals victory at the MCG since the famous 1990 triumph.

In front of more than 85,000 of the Collingwood hordes, the Magpies overcame a slow start to knock of an Adelaide side tiring in its fourth week on the road in succession.

Their next clash, in season 2003, also provided some memorable moments, none more so than Chris Tarrant’s goal after the siren to seal victory for the Magpies, who were forced to claw their way back from a Crows blitzkrieg in the first quarter to hit the lead in a topsy-turvey final term.

However, in the past four matches, all have been won by the Crows, with Malthouse yet to score a win over counterpart Craig. The side came ever so close in round 18 last season at AAMI Stadium, when Collingwood fought bravely but fell by four points.

The X-Factors:
Collingwood: Shane O’Bree – whilst the likes of Buckley, Burns and Licuria have stolen the midfield limelight, O’Bree has plugged away manfully, and plays a role in each and every match. Can he lift once more at AAMI Stadium, a ground at which he enjoys a solid record?
Adelaide: Andrew McLeod – age is yet to weary this man, whose stellar form off halfback has earned him plaudits from all, and may require a defensive forward opponent on Saturday night.

Broadcast guide:
TV:
LIVE: Channel 10, 7:30pm
REPLAY: Foxtel – Fox Sports 1, Sunday 6 May @10:30am

Radio:
SEN 1116, ABC Radio

Please note: the views expressed in the above article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Collingwood Football Club or employees of the club. The Collingwood Football Club would like to acknowledge the tireless work of its supporters who contribute to collingwoodfc.com.au.