Collingwood had a strange 2013 season, with wins against many top teams including preliminary finalists Geelong and Sydney, but they also lost to clubs who didn’t play finals which left them outside the top 4 for the first time since 2008. The Pies’ then had what can only be called a disaster in their elimination final as the Power dominated the second half to knock the biggest club in Australia out in the first week of the finals. There were rumours and stories galore about a fractious environment inside the playing group all season and these stories were given some credit when it came to trades and de-listings, with plenty of changes to the Magpies playing list in the off season.

What this all sets up is a mouth watering opening round one clash with one club desperate to get back to the big dance coming to Melbourne to face a side in transition but with high expectations of their own. Fremantle has been tipped by the experts to finish top four once again but when it comes to the Pies, opinions vary, with predictions ranging from 3rd to 10th, showing just how unpredictable and young this Collingwood list is.

PREVIOUS FORM

It’s hard to line up form in the pre season with both teams completing their three NAB Challenge matches with varied success and results. Fremantle’s three pre season games were book ended with losses to cross town rival West Coast, but from game 1 to game 3 there was a marked improvement. In the first game versus the Eagles the Dockers lost by a staggering 84 points, with very few positives coming out of the game other than they got through unscathed in regards to injuries. The second game saw Fremantle travel to Melbourne for a practice run at Etihad Stadium against the up and coming Western Bulldogs, and this time the Dockers looked more like themselves with a powerful second half performance netting them an 28 point win. There was one significant injury out of that game however with new recruit Scott Gumbleton suffering a hamstring injury which means he will miss the start of the season. In the Dockers final hitout before the season proper begins they faced the Eagles again in very hot conditions at Patersons Stadium. The Eagles led for almost the entire game and recorded a 19 point win, but the second half was a matter of survival in the heat with both teams happy to get out of the game relatively injury free.

Collingwood’s pre season may well be a small indicator of their regular season with somewhat of a Jekyll and Hyde performance over the period of the three games. The Pies’ kicked off their 2014 campaign with a tough and brutal encounter down at Geelong versus the Cats, as both teams through everything at each other for four quarters. Many believed this game to be the closest to a regular season game in terms of intensity and skill in the entire pre season as the Cats won by 2 points in a thriller. The Magpies then had a decent break before their second hitout against the Tigers at Wangaratta in North East Victoria. The Pies’ started the game ok but the second half was all Richmond as the much fancied Tigers ran away with an 8 goal win. Much like Fremantle’s final practice match Collingwood would have been happy to get out of the game with no injuries of note.

For their pre season finale Collingwood headed to the Gold Coast for a week long training camp that would culminate in a game versus the home town Suns on the Sunday, and at half time of that game it seemed as if the Pies’ heads were still at the beach as they trailed by 41 points. Something changed at half time though and Collingwood finally kicked into gear, with the league’s best power forward, Travis Cloke, leading the way with 6 second half goals as the Pies remarkably came away with a 14 point win. It was the perfect way to end the pre season and would have given the whole club a boost of confidence leading into this matchup.

COLLINGWOOD PREVIEW

You could write many an article about the change that Collingwood has gone through in the off season but the one statistic that may be most relevant is that this Magpies list is now the 4th youngest of all clubs in the AFL. That is staggering considering the Pies’ are only 2 seasons removed from playing in a second consecutive grand final, but it does show you the approach that Nathan Buckley and his support staff are taking with this club.

With all the on field and off field problems of last year, change was needed and with change comes renewal, and that’s what this club will be all about in season 2014, starting afresh.

Heading into round 1 Collingwood have a relatively healthy list to choose from with only a few fringe players ruled out and unavailable for selection. Marley Williams is probably the biggest loss for the Pies this week, but with his troubles it seems as if it’s better that he doesn’t play for the time being. In a big blow to the Magpies chances of an upset round 1 win key position players Ben Reid and Jesse White have been ruled out for this clash. White having arrived from Sydney in the off season and Reid, a player who will play both forward and back this year, are both valuable to a young and developing Magpies outfit and will be sorely missed.

There are some selection quandaries for Buckley and his team this week though as young rucks Jarrod Witts and Brodie Grundy are both pushing for the position of starting ruck against the man mountain that is Aaron Sandilands. With White and Reid ruled out Buckley may decide to go with both genuine ruckman in the team to counteract the influence of Sandilands at stoppages, although Lynch and Hudson have also been mentioned as possible inclusions. A positive selection problem though is young draftee Tom Langdon, whose pre season form has been so good that amazingly he is a chance of making his AFL senior debut this Friday night. The young half back played in all 3 practice matches, averaging 15 possessions while shutting down an opponent effectively at times. It would indeed be a sign of the times if Langdon was to debut this week. The most positive story of the pre season to date is the return of premiership defender Alan Toovey from a knee injury he suffered during the ANZAC day match last season. Toovey missed the rest of the 2013 season but has impressed and shown his trademark shut down ability off half back, much to the joy of Magpie fans.

While this Magpies list has gone through a change over the past few seasons, there’s one thing that has remained the same and that’s the strength of the midfield. Although last season the Pies struggled at times in the middle without Luke Ball and Dayne Beams for a lot of the season. Add in gun young recruit Taylor Adams though, and a fit Ball and Beams and once again the Magpies midfield on paper at least looks as strong, if not stronger than anything else in the competition. It’s an area the Pies’ will have to dominate if they are to make their 9th successive finals appearance in season 2014.

OPPOSITION ANALYSIS.

You can’t help but be impressed by what Ross Lyon has done with this Fremantle Dockers outfit in just two seasons, taking them from a side who was perennial bottom of the 8 challengers to being a powerhouse premiership contending team. They are at their peak right now, there’s very little doubt about that and for the next few seasons they will be challenging for their first elusive AFL premiership. They rightfully so head into season 2014 as one of the favourites to lift the cup and they do present a massive first up challenge for the new Magpies. The Dockers possess talent and the ability to dominate in just about every area of their game, with very few apparent weaknesses.

Senior coach Ross Lyon has spoken about scoring conversion off turnovers as being a key area that they need to improve in though, but there’s not a lot of improvement needed to go just one step higher in 2014 for the Dockers.

The Dockers backline is sometimes seen as a weakness that is covered up by Lyon’s defensive gameplan, just like his time at St Kilda, but when you look at some of the names that thought goes out of your head quickly. Luke McPharlin is an elite defender with plenty of experience, Zac Dawson is maligned yet effective and Michael Johnson is one of the more attacking key defenders in the AFL. The support group of mediums and smalls may not be as well known but Sutcliffe, Duffield, Pearce, Mzungu, Spurr and Hill provide a nice mixture of defense and drive off half back. The backline is one area that Lyon will look to exploit Collingwood’s lack of real pace and inability to stop the counter attack at times.

Fremantle’s midfield is as deeply talented as any in the AFL and of course it is led by the humongous Aaron Sandilands who looks to be fit and ready to go this season after an injury effected 2013. The players at his feet must really love the big fella and feed off his ability to win most hitouts. Nathan Fyfe led the way for the Dockers in the middle last year and has developed into an absolute star of the competition in such a short time. He is able assisted by a deep list of midfielders including Crowley. Hill, De Boer, Mundy, Barlow and Pearce. They may not have the high profile names of the Magpies superstar mids but in their own right they are every bit as effective, with an obvious edge in defensive ability over the Magpies midfield. Who Ryan Crowley goes to is a big decision for the Dockers with new captain Scott Pendlebury probably the most likely option.

The Fremantle forward line is unlike any other effective forward unit in the AFL in that it doesn’t rely on key position players to provide it with the majority of it’s score. Last season Walters, Mayne and Ballantyne all kicked over 30 goals with Matthew Pavlich also getting close to that mark. Walters was the stand out small forward in the AFL in 2013 with 46 goals in total and dominated the only time these two teams met last season, with 4 goals in a strong win for the Dockers over the Pies. If Aaron Sandilands can stay fit he also provides another avenue for goal for Fremantle and will cause plenty of headaches for teams throughout the season. If the Magpies have a weakness in defense, it’s containing small and medium forwards, and so it’s not hard to foresee the Dockers forward line causing the Pies backline a lot of trouble in this game. This is one area where Fremantle seems to have a definite edge heading into Friday night.

The Dockers probable team line-up reads very strong on paper and they will provide a real test for the home town Magpies in round 1, of that there’s little doubt. Fremantle will be confident of coming over to Melbourne and winning a game like this, and will see it as a perfect opportunity to start their long run back to the Grand Final with an away win. There are fitness doubts regarding Fyfe and Ballantyne but just like Reid and White for the Magpies whether they line-up or not may not be known until an hour before the bounce on Friday night. Ross Lyon coached teams come prepared every single week and with the chance to make a statement in front of a huge TV audience there’s no doubt the Dockers will be fired up for this one.

Statistical Comparison (2013)

TEAMS.

 Coming soon.

TIP.

Fremantle won the only battle between these two sides last season.

Even after assessing all the variables leading into this game, such as form, fitness, location, timing and possible team line ups it is hard to split the two teams. Both teams are likely to go in at about 80% of their full capability in terms of missing players, and while the game is in Melbourne all that does is level the field even more. If this game was to be played at Subiaco in Perth, the Dockers would probably win, but over in Melbourne it brings the Magpies right into it. The loss of Reid and White does make it harder for the Pies though, but there are options to replace them.

One varying factor is that Fremantle are three weeks behind Collingwood in preparations and just maybe that could be the advantage Collingwood needs to get a round 1 win over a top team. To win this game Collingwood will need to deliver the ball inside 50 with absolute precision, just like the Hawks did in the Grand Final.

If there was ever a time to play the Dockers it might just be this week, and with the Magpie Army at their backs and in full voice, I’m tipping the Magpies to start the season in fine fashion.

PIES BY 8 POINTS.