Preview: Sydney Swans v Collingwood

Where and when: ANZ Stadium, Saturday, June 20, 7.10pm AEST
Head to head: Sydney Swans 79 wins, Collingwood 133 wins, one draw
Last time: Collingwood 18.10 (118) d Sydney Swans 10.13 (73), round 21, 2008, at Docklands

MISSING IN ACTION
Sydney Swans
Leo Barry (knee) - test
Brendan Murphy (shoulder) - test
Tim Schmidt (knee) - test
Craig Bolton (knee) - test
Amon Buchanan (knee) - test
Matthew Laidlaw (ankle) - 1-2 weeks
Lewis Johnston (foot) - 4 weeks
Brett Meredith (forearm) - 9 weeks
Henry Playfair (hamstring) - indefinite
Campbell Heath (knee) - season

Collingwood
Nathan Brown (knee) - test
Brent Macaffer (knee) - to be assessed
John McCarthy (hamstring) - 2-3 weeks
Sean Rusling (hip flexor) - 2-3 weeks

FORM
Sydney Swans: LWWLL
Collingwood: LLWWW

SUMMARY
It’s been an up and down season for the Sydney Swans. When the Swans have travelled, not once have they returned with the four premiership points. The signs were better in their last outing against Hawthorn, when they were perhaps a bit stiff not to beat the reigning premiers at the MCG. Barry Hall’s brain explosion in the final term didn’t help the team’s cause, although Adam Goodes – back to his Brownlow Medal form – did everything he could to lift his team to victory. This week, following a week’s rest, they return to familiar territory at ANZ Stadium for their biggest game of the year. A win will see them square the ledger at 6-6, but a loss would make a finals appearance that much harder.

After a few tough weeks of its own, Collingwood is now flying and looking forward to the second half of 2009. A month ago injury had threatened to derail the Pies’ hopes of making a serious challenge but now, with close to a full complement to choose from, Mick Malthouse’s side appears primed. Three straight wins – all impressive – have Collingwood seventh on the table and it could move into the top four should it beat the Swans on Saturday night. The Pies seem to have the right mix going in attack, with a smaller forward line proving potent in recent weeks as a host of options share the spread on the scoring sheet. Midfielders Dane Swan, Leon Davis, Scott Pendlebury and the unsung Shane O’Bree have also been outstanding.

PLAYER TO WATCH
Barry Hall (Sydney Swans)
Big Bad Bustling certainly lived up to a couple of his nicknames the last time he played. His triple 50m penalty against Hawthorn – and the resulting goal to the opposition – got plenty of attention. How will he respond against the Pies? And will Collingwood try to get in Hall’s face again?

Leon Davis (Collingwood)
Some might say Davis used to be like a box of chocolates – you never knew what you were going to get. But over the past 18 months the electrifying Pie has added something that had once been missing from his game – consistency. Davis’ ability to influence a match is almost unparalleled among his teammates. Whether he’s inside-50 or, as he is so often now, in the midfield, he’s always exciting when he gets near the footy.

QUESTION MARKS
Collingwood has won its past six matches against the Sydney Swans, including its past three at ANZ Stadium. Can the Pies continue their recent dominance over Paul Roos’ side?

Collingwood lost the hit-outs 55-17 in its recent win over Melbourne. This week the Pies come up against Swans star Darren Jolly, who is third in the competition for hit-outs and in red-hot form. Can Jolly help the home side control the stoppages and lift the to victory?

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
There’s no doubt the Swans have been a different side on their home patch this season. But looking back, question marks can be asked about just how good those wins were. There’s no doubt the early-season triumphs over Hawthorn and Carlton were noteworthy, but the only other times they’ve sung the club song has been against Richmond, West Coast and Port Adelaide – teams that have not set the world on fire.

Collingwood, like the Swans, haven’t beaten anyone of note. However the Pies just have a look about them at the moment. With players back on the park, they are starting to win with authority – and kick big scores. Their midfield is in form, and their revamped small forward line comprising Brad Dick, Alan Didak, Tarkyn Lockyer – and possibly Paul Medhurst this week – makes them both potent and hard to match up on.

PREDICTION
Collingwood by 19 points

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.