Greater Western Sydney v Collingwood?
Round 18, 2012?
Saturday 28 July, Skoda Stadium
4.40pm
History?
What history? Yes, believe it or not, Collingwood played against the Greater Western Sydney Giants, the AFL’s newest team, way back in February in Blacktown. The match was part of the abbreviated first round of the NAB Cup competition, a part of the season that becomes very foggy in the memory of football fans as the year wears on.
Relive February's NAB Cup battle here.
For the record, the young Giants gave the Magpies plenty to think about. In humid conditions, they pushed Collingwood all the way in two 20-minute halves and were only three points behind at the end of the match. Collingwood’s best was easily the new-look Dale Thomas who shed his blond mop over the summer but still retained his trademark tenacity, gathering 15 disposals for the match. Luke Ball and Steele Sidebottom were also prominent while youngsters Jackson Paine and Jonathon Ceglar showed glimpses of potential in attack. Dom Tyson and Phil Davis were best afield for the Kevin Sheedy-led Giants.
The form
It’s been a topsy-turvy month for Collingwood. Having won its tenth match in as many weeks when it toppled Fremantle in round 14, it appeared that only happy days lay ahead. But losses to Carlton and Hawthorn in recent weeks have seen the Magpies slip from first to fourth, although the side still sits only a game away from first place. The round 16 win against Geelong was as good as any, meaning the team can’t be too far away from its best form.
Greater Western Sydney’s story is a little different, and understandably so. The Giants have won one game in their inaugural season (against Gold Coast in round seven) and have caused several teams trouble with their youthful enthusiasm blended in with the experience of players such as Luke Power and Chad Cornes. But recent weeks haven’t been overly kind to them. Their past four games have been decided by an average losing margin of 117.5 points.
The injuries
Collingwood fans will be delighted to hear that knee victims Brent Macaffer and Andrew Krakouer are edging closer to full fitness. The pair are now listed as being 1-2 weeks away from a potential return from their injuries that were suffered way back in February. Veteran Ben Johnson is also progressing well from his shoulder reconstruction and is pencilled in as being set for a return in 3-4 weeks time. Nippy forward Ben Sinclair will be tested this week after missing the Hawthorn loss with general soreness.
View Tuesday's injury report.
The Giants could potentially welcome back young guns the calibre of Jeremy Cameron and Stephen Coniglio who missed last week’s trip to Perth with back soreness, while Tim Segrave, who also suffered a back complaint, is a chance to return. Setanta O’hAilpin is the only established player to have taken residence on the injury list after suffering a season-ending knee injury in round six.
Consider this
Sydney became the league’s first interstate team when the Swans relocated from South Melbourne in 1982, but Collingwood had played for premiership points in the harbour city near 80 years earlier. In 1903, Fitzroy and Collingwood travelled to the SCG for the first VFL match at the venue in round four by way of promoting the game outside of Victoria. Although the Magpies lost by 17 points, the match drew a crowd of 18,000. The Pies would have their revenge in the Grand Final when they pipped the Roys by two points in the Grand Final at the MCG. In its 28 games in New South Wales, Collingwood has a 50-50 record, having won and lost 14 games. The match at Skoda Stadium, formerly the Sydney Showgrounds, will be its first away from the SCG and Stadium Australia.?
Sheedy
Collingwood hasn’t played against a Kevin Sheedy-led team since it defeated Essendon by 29 points in round 16, 2007. It was the final match before it was announced that Sheedy would leave Windy Hill at the end of the season. Sheedy has a wonderful record in his 55 matches in the coaches box against Collingwood, having won 34 and lost only 20 between 1981 and 2007. The one draw he oversaw was the first of the now traditional ANZAC Day blockbusters in round four, 1995.
As a point of interest, Sheedy's offsider at Greater Western Sydney has black and white running through his veins. Graeme 'Gubby' Allan played 54 games for Collingwood in the 1980s and was a key figure in the 1990 premiership success and in several of the Magpies' big recruiting deals in the late '80s and early '90s. Allan, who now heads up the Giants' football department, was involved in the famous quarter-time brawl during the 1990 Grand Final. The pair crossed paths during the brawl with the involvement of several Collingwood and Essendon officials still shrouded in secrecy.
True Blues
?Collingwood has several players with strong ties to New South Wales. Tom Young and the untried Michael Hartley and Jarrod Witts are all products of the NSW-ACT Scholarship program. Young was the first Collingwood player to graduate from the program to play a senior game. The first player signed by the club under the scheme was Scott Reed, who was tied to the club in 2006 and spent 2009-2011 on the rookie list without ever breaking into the senior team. The Magpies still have five players on their NSW-ACT Scholarship list after the program ceased in 2010.
View Collingwood's NSW-ACT Scholarship list here.
Silly stat
?Chris Tarrant had only one handball in his first match against a Kevin Sheedy-coached team on ANZAC Day 1998. One suspects he will see a little bit more of the ball against Sheedy’s men 14-years later.
