VENUE & TIME: MCG, Saturday 4 September, 7.20pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 145, Collingwood 102, Western Bulldogs 42, Draw 1
LAST TIME: Collingwood 17.11 (113) d Western Bulldogs 16.7 (103) Round 11, 2010 at Etihad Stadium
LAST TIME AT VENUE: Western Bulldogs 18.13 (121) d Collingwood 11.14 (80) at the MCG, Elimination Final, 2006
WALKING WOUNDED: Collingwood will be sweating on the fitness of veteran defender Simon Prestigiacomo after he failed to train with the main group on Wednesday. Alan Didak (shoulder), Ben Johnson (virus) and Leigh Brown (suspension) will all be available for selection with Brad Dick (shoulder) the only recognised Magpie currently on their injury list. It couldn't be more different at Whitten Oval with the Western Bulldogs struggling big time. Ryan Griffin (knee) and Brad Johnson (Achilles) will both be given until game day to prove their fitness, while Adam Cooney (hamstring) and Dale Morris (back) have been ruled out for the entire finals series. The Dogs will also be without fringe players Sam Reid (shoulder), Jordan Roughead (shoulder) and Easton Wood (hamstring), but Shaun Higgins should return to the side.
FORM:
Collingwood's Past Five:
Round 22: Loss, 13.17 (95) - 15.8 (98) v Hawthorn, MCG
Round 21: Win, 6.18 (54) - 7.9 (51) v Adelaide, MCG
Round 20: Win, 24.18 (162) - 10.4 (64) v Essendon, MCG
Round 19: Win, 14.23 (107) - 12.13 (85) v Geelong, MCG
Round 18: Win, 15.15 (105) - 9.3 (57) v Carlton, MCG
Western Bulldogs' past five:
Round 22: Win, 17.5 (107) - 11.12 (78) v Essendon, Etihad Stadium
Round 21: Loss, 10.10 (70) - 17.12 (114) v Sydney, SCG
Round 20: Loss, 9.6 (60) - 25.11 (161) v Geelong, Etihad Stadium
Round 19: Win, 8.13 (61) - 7.11 (53) v Adelaide, AAMI Stadium
Round 18: Win, 22.11 (143) - 10.12 (72) v North Melbourne, Etihad Stadium
Collingwood dominated the home and away season to finish on top of the ladder with 17 wins and a draw from their 22 matches, but their form leading into the finals is some concern. The Magpies sneaked home against Adelaide a fortnight ago with just six goals and then last week lost to Hawthorn by three points. Inaccuracy hurt them in both matches with the Pies kicking a combined 19.35. The Western Bulldogs put their injuries and form issues aside last week with a comfortable 29-point win over the Bombers, but you still get the sense that they are limping into this finals series.
WHO'S HOT: He's been hot pretty much all year and that's why Dane Swan is one of the favourites for the Brownlow Medal. Last week against the Hawks, Swan saw off a variety of different opponents to rack up 34 disposals, five marks and he also chimed in with a goal. Western Bulldogs young gun Jarrad Grant picked the perfect time to hit form as he put on a best on ground display against the Bombers. The Rising Star nominee booted six goals from 12 marks and 22 possessions in a fine display.
WE THINK: On paper this looks to be the most one-sided match of the finals series. Collingwood have everything going for them and look to be in perfect shape heading into the match. The Bulldogs meanwhile are battling a crippling injury list and look anything but the team that was once considered premiership favourites. The Pies simply have too much quality across the park and have the wood over the Dogs with two comfortable wins already this season. But interestingly, Collingwood haven't beaten a Victorian team in a final since their premiership year in 1990 and the Dogs won their most recent encounter at the MCG - the 2006 elimination final. However, that should all change on Saturday night as the inaccurate Pies should march into their third preliminary final in the past four years. Collingwood by 32