The match is officially a sell-out, with a mostly black and white crowd expected in what promises to be one of the matches of the season, albeit it in a very unfamiliar timeslot for the Magpie army.
Collingwood has defied the predictions of most so-called experts in the industry by playing some of the toughest, most committed football in the AFL during the first half of season 2007, with last Saturday night’s rousing triumph in Sydney over the Swans epitomising the club’s season thus far.
Not even the extended absence of a number of experienced stars and the introduction of several newcomers has been able to thwart the Magpies’ march.
Hawthorn, meanwhile, were always expected to rise on the back of a glut of high draft picks in recent years, but they have indeed surprised with their rate of improvement and are playing some fine football, coming off a 100-point trouncing of Carlton.
It all makes for a blockbuster contest in Sunday twilight football.
The match ups
We will have to wait and see which Magpie goes to returning Hawk Lance Franklin. But one thing can be sure, whether it’s the experienced Shane Wakelin, young leader Nick Maxwell or the emerging Tyson Goldsack, it would be impossible to bet against a good showing from the Pies defence even without Clement and Prestigiacomo, especially given last week’s sterling effort in Sydney.
In the middle, Scott Pendlebury has been one of the best in the league in recent times when it comes to winning the hard footy, and the Hawks may send stopper Brad Sewell his way, while Scott Burns will likely go head to head with Sam Mitchell in what could be one of the most important match-ups of the game.
Without Anthony Rocca, the Pies lose the league’s premier contested marking forward, but Travis Cloke has stood up to every challenge thrown his way this year, with Trent Croad potentially waiting, while Magpie debutant Ben Reid’s first league opponent will probably be Stephen Gilham.
The form guide
Collingwood went into last Saturday’s clash with the Swans as rank outsiders after dropping the annual Queen’s Birthday Monday match with Melbourne, but rebounded superbly in Sydney to make it three from their last four, including a Friday night triumph over Fremantle at the MCG and a typically gritty win at the Gabba.
The Hawks overcame their loss to the dogged Swans three weeks ago to run the Blues off their legs in a Friday night massacre at Telstra Dome a week later before their mid-season hiatus, and have now won four of their last five including victories over West Coast in Tasmania and Port Adelaide away. Overall, both sides come into this game with very strong form behind them.
At selection
Collingwood will unveil its eighth debutant of 2007 when the club’s top draft pick from last year, Ben Reid, lines up at full forward. He replaces the suspended Anthony Rocca, who is the only exclusion from last week’s team at this stage. Defender Harry O’Brien has been named after making a miraculous recovery from a dislocated shoulder sustained against Melbourne three weeks ago, while Sam Iles and Paul Medhurst are in the mix after showing excellent form for Williamstown.
The Hawks, meanwhile, have recalled up-and-coming star Lance Franklin, and have included untried youngsters Beau Muston and Mitch Thorp in their initial squad of 25.
Head to Head since 2000:
Collingwood: 6
Hawthorn: 5
The Magpies have won the last four encounters between the two sides, with Anthony Rocca and Nathan Buckley dominant in the side’s two wins in 2006.
The X-Factors
Scott Burns – The Hawthorn midfield has been on fire and winning lots of contested ball, but few players in the league are as hard and tough as the veteran Magpie, and he will be called upon to overwhelm and outmuscle the young Hawk on-ballers.
Trent Croad – Croad would have almost certainly been marked down for Anthony Rocca had the big Magpie played, after Rocca demolished the Hawks in 2006, but in his absence Croad may still start back but will be able to push forward, so will have to be watched closely.
Broadcast guide
CLICK HERE for a full broadcast guide of Sunday’s game.
The tip
Collingwood will have gained an enormous amount of momentum from last Saturday night’s win in Sydney, while the Hawks may have lost a little after having a week off since their demolition of Carlton. Hawthorn has improved markedly in 2007, but against tough, seasoned midfields like Sydney and Fremantle, their midfield has not been able to be as dominant, so this is where the Magpies may have an edge, and give Collingwood’s potent small forward division the chance to kick a winning score. Collingwood by nine points.
