Collingwoodfc.com.au has enlisted David Natoli aka DaVe86 to write this year's match previews.  David writes what are arguably, the most popular Magpie previews published on the internet.  This is his second season writing for the club website.  Please note his views are not of the clubs but of a passionate, knowledgeable member of the Magpie Army.

After a few underwhelming weeks of football, it feels good to be previewing a big clash again.

Round 21 sees St Kilda host Collingwood at Docklands Stadium this Friday night. It is definitely the match of the round, with the Saints backing up from six straight wins and the Pies winning eleven straight.

After a terrible start to the year, the Saints have fought their way to sixth on the ladder and seem a genuine contender yet again. They face their greatest test this Friday night against the premiership favourites.

The Magpies are slowly getting their best 22 back on the park. Chris Dawes, Alan Toovey, Sharrod Wellingham and Harry O’Brien should all return to the side within the next few weeks. Heath Shaw will also return in the first week of finals.

A full list of around 30 players is emerging, and competition for spots could not be hotter. Young players like Alex Fasolo, Luke Rounds and Ben Sinclair have all impressed when given the opportunity and Cameron Wood is also pressing hard for a spot in the side.

View the injury list.

Collingwood has only played at Docklands three times in 2011, and its last visit was back in round nine. The narrower ground means Collingwood can hug the boundary without getting sucked out too wide. The Pies are also a quick team with good foot skills, and this is emphasised on a fast track under a roof. The Saints also enjoy playing at Docklands because the smaller ground allows them to get numbers back and also clog up the corridor.

Let’s get into it.

Last Meeting
Collingwood was a convincing victor when these sides last met in round eleven.

In particular, Scott Pendlebury and Dale Thomas both had over 30 disposals, with Dane Swan kicking four goals and Travis Cloke three. St Kilda was well served by Nick Dal Santo who had 32 disposals, however it had no multiple goal kickers.

For St Kilda to win this weekend, it will need better service from its small forwards and also a few more midfield scoring options.

At the Selection Table
Collingwood could regain O’Brien and Dawes.  Both Magpies will face fitness tests. The main area of interest will be how Malthouse elects to set up his ruck division. Wood and Darren Jolly worked well last week and Wood’s form has been solid at AFL level when required.

It should be a quiet week at the selection table for St Kilda. Ryan Gamble was subbed off due to injury last week and may miss. Zac Dawson is a potential replacement to strengthen the defence. 

A Look at Collingwood
Collingwood will no doubt look to open the game up, however it must be cautious as St Kilda is playing a much better attacking game style of late. With key ball users like Dal Santo, Montagna and Goddard in form, Collingwood has to be careful not to allow these players too much latitude.

The obvious key as always will be for the Magpies to win from the clearances. When St Kilda is able to set up its defensive structures, it can be an impossible team to penetrate. Quick ball movement and locking the ball inside attacking 50 will typically upset the Saints. The other key when playing St Kilda is to lower the eyes and spot up a shorter target when going inside 50. The Saints set up their defensive zone in the centre corridor and pick off errant long kicks. If you can find shorter targets, it forces St Kilda to pay more respect to its direct opponents and spreads its defence.

Alan Didak - Didak finally returned to the side last week as the substitute and played just over a quarter. He still managed 14 disposals and four tackles in this time. Despite the fact it was against poor opposition, Didak looked fresh and sharp. He needs a big game against a good side to re-establish his spot in the side and look to run into form before finals.

Luke Ball - Ball’s last few weeks have been fantastic. I thought he was one of Collingwood’s best against Essendon, especially early in the game when the Bombers looked threatening. He leads Collingwood’s tackle count, ranks fourth in disposals and has even kicked a very handy 15 goals (with only two behinds) for the season. He is potentially in career best form, and should lift against his former side this weekend.

Dayne Beams - Two weeks ago, it seemed as if Beams would be one of the unlucky fringe players to be pushed out of the top 22 after an injury-interrupted year. Since returning to the side against Essendon, he has put together two brilliant games, including a best on ground effort last week against Port Adelaide. His three goals and 32 disposals may have sealed his spot in the side and he is another who looks set for a big finish to the year.

Leon Davis - Leon’s re-birth as a defender has been astonishing. His career looked as if it would slowly come to a halt after he lost his spot in the Grand Final Replay in 2010; however he has taken his game to a new level since moving down back. Davis provides run, clean hands and exquisite ball use out of the backline and is a terrific user from kick-ins. Importantly, he is also a great one-on-one player, and I feel comfortable with him defending a small forward. His body work is very good. Leon will push for All-Australian selection this year. Once Shaw returns, the run out of defence could prove Collingwood’s greatest strength in the finals series.

A Look at St Kilda
Simply put, the Saints need to take the game on and attack the ball ferociously on Friday night. If they try to lock the game up, Collingwood will eventually open the game and have enough scoring options to kick clear.

With Riewoldt, Kosi, Schneider and Milne in good form, the Saints have a threatening forward line. Importantly, they are getting good service from their midfielders, who are also pushing forward for a goal. This has been my greatest criticism of St Kilda in the past...an inability to score midfield goals. Last week against Fremantle, the Saints had nine individual goal scorers.

Nick Dal Santo - Dal Santo is probably looming as the greatest threat to Chris Judd for the Brownlow Medal. In the last seven rounds, he is averaging over 31 disposals, and averages 27 for the season. Considering Collingwood does not tag its opponents, expect Dal Santo to win a lot of the football on Friday night. The key for the Magpies will be to prevent him winning the football in attacking positions. Last week Dal Santo kicked two goals.

Stephen Milne - Milne is another Saint in terrific form, having kicked 46 goals for the season including 24 in the last six rounds. In fact, he has not kicked less than three goals in this time. His form against Collingwood is hot and cold, and he has had some terrific battles with O’Brien. There is no doubting he is one of the hot players in the competition right now, and the Magpies will have their hands full trying to curtail him.

Justin Koschitzke - Kosi is another Saint who many had written off early in the year but has bounced back. He is seemingly enjoying spending a bit of time in the ruck and has kicked a goal in each of his last four games. He was perhaps best on ground last week against Fremantle with 21 hitouts, two goals, nine marks and 17 disposals in a terrific all-rounded game.

Sam Fisher - One of the players I always focus on when Collingwood meets St Kilda is Sam Fisher. Fisher is the master of rolling off his opponent and making himself available as the third man up in a marking contest. The best example was in last year’s drawn Grand Final where he took eight marks and had 25 disposals. The following week, Collingwood played through his direct opponent Brent Macaffer and reduced Fisher’s role in the first half. It might be up to Leigh Brown this week to make Fisher accountable. Nonetheless, Fisher has regained his form after a sluggish start to the year, and is coming off a 24-possession game against Fremantle.

The Wrap-Up
I am concerned that Collingwood is coming off a terribly easy game against Port Adelaide and the lift in intensity may catch the Magpies off guard. I am also concerned that the Pies may allow too much of the footy to Dal Santo, Goddard and Montagna.

Collingwood still has a deeper midfield and far more goal-scoring options. Chris Tarrant and his team down back are also playing terrific footy, and the side is nearly back to full strength.

A lot could come down to the clearances and Jolly’s influence in the ruck. Cloke is also in career best form and will prove a handful for his opponent who is likely to be Jason Blake.

I’ll stick with the Pies simply because they have provided no reason to tip against them.

Pies by 21

By David Natoli
Aka DaVe86f