WHEN & WHERE: 2:30pm (AEST), Saturday, 20 September, MCG
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Port Adelaide 6, Collingwood 3
LAST TIME: Port Adelaide 14.14 (98) defeated Collingwood 10.13 (73) at AAMI Stadium, round 10, 2003. After the lead changed 13 times in the first half, the Power took control in the second half. They booted 7.3 to 2.2 in the third term, to set-up a 25-point victory. Gavin Wanganeen was the star of the show with three goals and 21 disposals, while Byron Pickett and Che Cockatoo-Collins chipped in with three goals each. Defender Stephen Paxman and 1998 best and fairest winner Adam Kingsley were also among the Power’s best. Collingwood’s Scott Burns was his side’s standout performer, while teammate Brodie Holland booted three goals.
THE MEDICAL ROOM: Port Adelaide skipper Matthew Primus (knee) and midfielder Roger James (groin) will both face fitness tests, but key ball-winner Josh Francou (knee) and emerging youngster Steven Salopek (shoulder) are still out for the remainder of the season.
THE FORM: Collingwood opened its finals campaign with a hard-fought 15-point win over the Brisbane Lions in the second qualifying final to advance to the second preliminary final. The Magpies have won four in a row and have notched up 16 wins for the season. After being on the receiving end of a shock qualifying final loss to Sydney in the opening week of the finals, Port Adelaide bounced back last Saturday night with a 39-point victory over Essendon in the first semi-final. It was the club’s 19th victory of the season, after it finished the home and away season with 18 wins and four losses to win the McClelland Trophy for finishing top of the ladder.
WHO’S HOT: Collingwood captain Nathan Buckley has had another outstanding season and remains one of the genuine contenders to win this year’s Brownlow Medal. His form has been red-hot in 2003 and this was evidenced with his best-on-ground performance against the Lions in the qualifying final. Dynamic Port Adelaide defender Wanganeen has had his finest season at AFL level this year and along with Buckley is one of the leading favourites to win this year’s ‘Charlie’. Wanganeen, who won the Brownlow in 1993, was instrumental in Port Adelaide’s semi-final win over Essendon.
WHO’S NOT: Collingwood’s Glenn Freeborn is the most experienced player on the club’s list in terms of finals. He has played in three grand finals, including the 1996 Kangaroos’ premiership and the Magpies loss to the Lions last year. However, in 2003, Freeborn has played just three games and despite being named an emergency for the qualifying final, he remains unlikely to be in the final 22 for the preliminary final. Port Adelaide’s Brent Guerra was dropped for last week’s clash against Essendon after playing against Sydney in the opening week of the finals. But after playing 14 games this year, he remains on the fringe of selection and is likely to be just outside of the final line-up for Saturday.
KEY MATCH-UPS: 2003 All-Australian centre half-forward Warren Tredrea will be a crucial player to curtail for the Magpies, with Simon Prestigiacomo the man most likely to gain the job. But don’t discount Jason Cloke or James Clement for Tredrea, although Clement will probably get the job on Chad Cornes. In the midfield, Port Adelaide tagger Stuart Cochrane is almost certain to go with Buckley after his performance on Essendon skipper James Hird last week. Collingwood forward Chris Tarrant is likely to be claimed by Darryl Wakelin, which will leave Paxman to take Anthony Rocca. If Brendon Lade is suspended on his rough play charge, Matthew Primus may return after being sidelined with knee problems to help Dean Brogan take on the in-form Josh Fraser.
ALL-TIME CLASSIC: The last time these sides met at the MCG, Port Adelaide prevailed in the closest contest between them. The Power won a nail-biting encounter by just one point with the final score – Port Adelaide 12.16 (88) to Collingwood 13.9 (87). Despite the loss, Buckley was clearly best-on-ground with an incredible 39 disposals, while Port Adelaide’s Nick Stevens (30 possessions) and Wanganeen (24 touches) were outstanding for Port Adelaide.
