Collingwood vs. St Kilda, Friday Night 7:40pm, MCG
Sportsbet Odds:
Collingwood: $1.39
St Kilda: $3.00
Check out all the latest AFL betting markets from Sportsbet here.
Match Preview:
Many were predicting a pressure cooker year for Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley. There are certain unavoidable realities, the structural reform needed for the playing list and the downfall after taking over a side after a Grand Final appearance. With all that said, 2015 is shaping up to being a critical year for the Collingwood coach.
The first two rounds exemplified just where they are at as a group, capable of putting away mediocre opposition, but classier and inform teams can put them to the sword. The Pies remained competitive all over the ground at stoppages and in close last week, but were just blown away when attempting to defend overlapping wingers and half-forwards kicking the ball into Adelaide’s forward line.
Perhaps that outside class might not be the same for their opposition this week, but Buckley must drill his team to remain organised in defence or risk a highly embarrassing result.
St. Kilda look to be playing a little better than what their list suggests they should be. There are still large holes in playing positions all over the ground and will be on the end of some painful results against better sides, but there is a lot to like about the first two weeks. They’ve defended the field quite well, worked hard and sought to cover space when they don’t have the ball.
However, it’s still obvious how their midfield lacks diversity in the short term, with hardened types like Armitage, Steven, Dunstan and Weller having to do perhaps too much of the ball carrying work. Josh Bruce’s stints up forward will be moderately successful if his team mates make space for him near goal, although it can’t become predictable or opposition coaches will find a way to shut it down.
Collingwood are very gettable, and it’s down to types like Roberton and Lonie being effective ball users when switching and in wide areas of the ground.
Key match ups:
Josh Bruce vs Tyson Goldsack
With Nathan Brown likely to take Riewoldt and be run up and down the ground ragged, Bruce will be likely faced with a game on Tyson Goldsack. Saints fans should be aware not to expect 6 goal feats every week, but an important cameo role beckons if his fellow forwards can isolate him on the undersized Goldsack one on one.
Dane Swan v Mav Weller
A match up that won’t necessarily be head to head as Swan essentially has the freedom to roam from contest to contest. One of the Saints more hardened bodies’ needs to impose themselves physically on Swan to prevent him finding room to get the ball out to teammates.
Result:
It could be a relatively close contest, although there are no surprises if the Pies keep the Saints at arm’s length for most of the night. Cloke, Swan, Pendles (if fit), White and the rest of the more senior players need to stamp their mark on this contest or it could be a long week for club and the increasingly embattled coach.
Pies by 18.
AFL Preview: Collingwood v St. Kilda
