Round 16
Adelaide v Collingwood
Friday, July 12, 7:20pm (SA time)
MCG
Milestones
Steele Sidebottom (Collingwood) – 100 games
Luke Ball (Collingwood) - 200 games
Latest news
Beams back to bolster Pies
Reigning Copeland Trophy winner Dayne Beams will play his first game of the season against Adelaide on Friday night. Beams made a successful return from a quad injury in the VFL last weekend and has earned an instant recall. He replaces South Australian livewire Ben Kennedy in the team, as the only change to the Magpies team that thrashed Carlton.
Out of action (estimates only)
Quinten Lynch (back) – TBA
Harry O’Brien (ankle) – TBA
Alan Didak (calf) – 1-2 weeks
Ben Johnson (calf) – 1-2 weeks
Jack Frost (knee) – 1-2 weeks
Darren Jolly (knee) – 3-5 weeks
Alex Fasolo (foot) – indefinite
Dale Thomas (ankle) – indefinite
Michael Hartley (shoulder) – season
Alan Toovey (knee) – season
Collingwood’s recent form
Round 15, Collingwood 17.16 (118) d Carlton 12.5 (77), MCG
Round 14, Port Adelaide 13.8 (86) d Collingwood 7.9 (51), AAMI Stadium
Round 13, Bye
Round 12, Collingwood 15.9 (99) d Western Bulldogs 9.11 (65), Etihad Stadium
Round 11, Collingwood 17.20 (122) d Melbourne 5.9 (39), MCG
Recent form against Adelaide
2012, Round Nine, Collingwood 10.15 (75) d Adelaide 6.13 (49), AAMI Stadium
2011, Round Nine, Collingwood 20.15 (135) d Adelaide 14.8 (92), Etihad Stadium
2010, Round 21, Collingwood 6.18 (54) d Adelaide 7.9 (51), MCG
2009, Semi-Final, Collingwood 12.11 (83) d Adelaide 11.12 (78), MCG
2009, Round 19, Collingwood 13.11 (89) d Adelaide 9.14 (68), AAMI Stadium
Brownlow Medal votes from last meeting
3. Dayne Beams, 2. Steele Sidebottom, 1. Scott Pendlebury
Most recent team
B: Nathan Brown, Nick Maxwell, Ben Reid
HB: Clinton Young, Heath Shaw, Marley Williams
C: Steele Sidebottom, Brent Macaffer, Luke Ball
HF: Jamie Elliott, Jarrod Witts, Dane Swan
F: Dayne Beams, Travis Cloke, Josh Thomas
FOLL: Ben Hudson, Scott Pendlebury, Jarryd Blair
I/C: Andrew Krakouer, Ben Sinclair, Paul Seedsman, Sam Dwyer
EMERG: Tyson Goldsack, Lachlan Keeffe, Ben Kennedy
IN: Dayne Beams
OUT: Ben Kennedy (omitted)
Stats that matter
Collingwood is ranked No.1 in uncontested possession this season. The Magpies like hitting up targets on the lead, ranked third in short kicks and uncontested marks.
Crows defender Andy Otten held West Coast star Jack Darling, who had a career-low three possessions, goalless on Saturday night. It’s the first time since Round One Darling has failed to register a goal and only the second time since 2010. Captain Nathan van Berlo held Andrew Gaff to a mere four first-half possessions. Gaff finished the match with 16.
Otten was part of an inexperienced Adelaide defence last weekend. After veteran Ben Rutten (208 games), Otten (61 games) was the next most experienced Crow backman. Ricky Henderson (51 games), Daniel Talia (46 games), Brodie Smith (46 games), Luke Brown (16 games) and Rory Laird (10 games) rounded out the defence six against West Coast.
Of the 22 players that represented Adelaide on Saturday night, 12 have played fewer than 55 AFL games.
Adelaide has lost its past five games against the Pies. The Club’s last win over Collingwood was in Round One, 2009.
The Crows are ranked No.1 in the competition for generating inside 50ms from kick ins and points scored from kick-ins.
The Pies have ramped up their defensive pressure in the last month. Over the past four weeks, Collingwood is No.1 in the competition for total disposals and time in possession. They have also conceded the fewest inside 50ms in that period and are third for time in forward half.
Brownlow Medalist Dane Swan has collected more possessions (437) than any player in the AFL in 2013, and is also ranked second in inside 50ms (77).
Travis Cloke is Collingwood’s preferred forward target, Cloke is the best contested marking player in the competition and is ranked second in marks overall.
News Bites
Beams back to bolster Pies
Reigning Copeland Trophy winner Dayne Beams will play his first game of the season against Adelaide on Friday night. Beams made a successful return from a quad injury in the VFL last weekend and has earned an instant recall. He replaces South Australian livewire Ben Kennedy in the team, as the only change to the Magpies team that thrashed Carlton.
Harry O needs time: Buckley – AFL.com.au
COLLINGWOOD will allow Harry O'Brien time to deal with his personal issues before he returns to the field. His coach Nathan Buckley said O'Brien's decision to speak publicly about his personal 'demons' was his prerogative and part of the healing process. Buckley said O'Brien had not had physical exercise since the Port Adelaide nine days ago before he trained on Tuesday, and he could not give a definitive answer as to when the key defender might play.
In the Mix: COLLINGWOOD – AFL.com.au
Collingwood's season finally looks to be turning the corner and Pies fans have even more reason to rejoice with star midfielder Dayne Beams set to play his first game against Adelaide this week. However, coach Nathan Buckley faces a quandary about what to do with Ben Reid. Reid booted four goals and was close to best afield up forward against Carlton but the fact remains that he is an All Australian defender. Buckley may look to Lachlan Keeffe to fill the key post in defence, which would allow Reid to drift forward to ease the pressure on Travis Cloke. Harry O'Brien is a likely non-starter as he deals with some personal issues.
Harry O a no-show – AFL.com.au
HARRY O'Brien was nowhere to be seen at Collingwood training on Monday afternoon as he continues absence from the club. O'Brien was given permission by Magpies management to take some time off after a dispute with coach Nathan Buckley last week. The Pies defender spent the weekend in Port Douglas and the club had expected him to return to the club on Monday.
No Pies ultimatum on Harry O – AFL.com.au
COLLINGWOOD president Eddie McGuire says his club won’t issue any ultimatums to star Harry O'Brien over his reported dispute with coach Nathan Buckley. The Magpies say O'Brien was ruled out of Friday night's blockbuster clash with Carlton because of an ankle injury, but rumours persist that he had a bust-up with Buckley in a team meeting. The club allowed O'Brien to take personal leave, which he has spent in Port Douglas.
