Last Time We Met

Collingwood 65 defeated North Melbourne 35

After a slow start, a close contest was blown out by the Pies who kicked away in the final term. Scott Pendlebury had 11 disposals and a goal in the third quarter to steady the ship, and then back to back goals from the Pies in the 4th quarter earned the Pies a 30 point victory.

Trey Ruscoe kicked 2 goals on the night. Taylor Adams was the leading disposal winner with 31, Pendlebury with 28 and Maynard with 26. 

Marquee Match-Ups

Darcy Moore v Nick Larkey

Darcy Moore will return to the backline this week against the Kangaroos. After his experimental move forward had questionable results, Bucks has made it public this week that Moore will return to his role in defence.

An All-Australian centre half-back in 2020, Moore will look to regain his confidence back in his regular position. After a quiet couple of weeks, look out for Moore to come out firing against the Kangaroos.

Nick Larkey is one of the up and coming key forwards in the competition, with a lot of responsibility put on him when North Melbourne go forward. He will have his work cut out for him this week when he takes on the Collingwood key defenders. Not only will he face Darcy Moore, but expect the likes of Jordan Roughead to spend time on Larkey throughout stages of the game.

The battle on the wing: Nathan Murphy v Jaidyn Stephenson

Murphy has seemingly solidified his position in the senior Collingwood side as a bonafide wingman. His performance against the Suns was valiant, including a brave mark going back with the flight.

Murph’s running abilities have never been in doubt, and a good run of form in the VFL, as well as a break from injury has allowed him to hit the ground running in 2021.

In his first game against the Pies, Jaidyn Stephenson will likely line up next to Murph on the wing. Spending a lot of time further up the ground since moving to the Kangaroos, Stephenson is averaging a career high 19 disposals this season, 10 more than in his last season at the Pies.

Kayne Turner’s tag v Josh Daicos

North Melbourne midfielder Kayne Turner impressed last week in a new role as a tagger. Sent to Melbourne’s Clayton Oliver in attempt to nullify his impact on the game, Turner also amassed a career high 27 disposals with 5 clearances.

Daicos has had a fantastic fortnight, arguably the best in his young career. Shaping up as one of Collingwood’s best midfielders, particularly while Taylor Adams is on the sidelines, Daicos had a stand-out performance last week against Gold Coast.

Daicos is averaging a career high 17.7 disposals per match, but 26.5 disposals over the last two weeks. A career high 27 disposals against the Suns replaced his previous career high 26 disposals that he managed the week before on ANZAC Day.

Look Out For

Steele Sidebottom in his 250th

A champion of the club, it’s no secret that Steele Sidebottom is playing his 250th game for Collingwood this weekend.

Debuting in 2009, Steele has had an illustrious career for the Pies including a premiership in 2010, All-Australian in 2018, and a two-time Copeland Trophy winner.

A man for the big occasion, look out for Steele to have a big game against the Kangaroos and carry the Pies to their second win of the season.

The Inside Word

Ollie Henry’s return to senior footy should excite Pies fans. A best on ground performance against the Suns in the VFL last weekend has earned Henry his return after just one game in the senior side in round one.

Henry will play a marking role up forward, hopefully presenting as a key target for the Collingwood midfielders to find inside 50.

13 marks in the VFL last week, Henry is coming into the AFL side with the stickiest set of hands in the club right now.

Pies Priority

Pies fans demand effort from the players week in week out, and a higher level of intensity than last week must be shown when the boys run onto Marvel Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Tackling, pressure and ferociousness around the contest should typify the Collingwood way of playing, and it’s been missing in the last couple of weeks.

Time for a win.

For the full team list click here

Collingwood v North Melbourne
AFL Round 8
Saturday, May 8
Marvel Stadium, 4:35pm AEST