The AFL season proper is fast approaching and this weekend the final round of the NAB Challenge, the AFL’s pre season format, will be played around Australia. At Etihad Stadium in Melbourne on Saturday night two clubs looking to improve on last season will clash, with Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs going head to head. The Magpies and the Bulldogs both had below par seasons in 2014 and will be looking to this game as the final part of their preparation for round one of the home and away season.

PREVIOUS FORM

 Collingwood ventured up to Bendigo last weekend for their second fixture of the pre season against old foes Carlton. The Pies took in a fairly strong squad but it was obvious early that they were tinkering with the side with several star players limited in game time. The Magpies started poorly and at one stage looked like they were going to be embarrassed, but a fightback after quarter time saw them close the gap and eventually only go down by 7 points. The positives out of the game weren’t many but with no injuries and another under the belt of several senior players, the Magpie coaching staff would have been happy with the hit out.

The Western Bulldogs also lost their respective hitout by 7 points last week in a scrappy affair at Ballarat. Like the Pies the Dogs started slowly versus Melbourne kicking only one goal in the first half to trail by 45 points at the main break. The second half was much better from the Bulldogs though with 8 goals bringing them within striking distance before the final siren sounded. The positives out of the game for the Bulldogs included their midfield showing it’s power and potential with youngsters Honeychurch and Bontempelli having impacts on the game. Like the Pies though they would have been happy with the fightback and to escape the game with no injuries.

Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs have played each other once in the past 4 regular seasons. The Magpies have won three of those contests, although the Dogs did win the only match between the two in season 2014 in what was a major upset.

COLLINGWOOD PREVIEW

The home and away season is yet to begin but even now the pressure and expectation on Collingwood has reached fever pitch. Most experts have tipped the Pies to miss the top 8 once again with many suggesting they may fall even lower then their 11^th position of 2014. Those within the club and the vast supporter group have higher hopes though with an injection of new players and very probable improvement of many retained players. That improvement is expected to come from the first to fourth year players on the Pies list with the likes of Grundy, De Goey, Witts, Langdon, Gault, Marsh, Kennedy, Freeman and Broomhead just a few of the young talent that exists on the list. That young talent has been on show in the pre season already with Corey Gault, a 199cm rookie listed ruckman/forward, really impressing in his two games. In fact Gault has shown so much progress that if either first choice ruckman, Grundy or Witts, aren’t available for round 1, the Western Australian 22 year old is likely to be playing in only his second senior game.

In regards to this game the Magpies coaching staff will be trying to ensure they put out as strong a squad as possible. The Pies injury list is very good considering their past injury crisis with only a few players not available this weekend who would have been in the plans for round 1. The main question all week will be surrounding the Magpies star key position player Ben Reid who is yet to play a senior game this pre season. Reid did get through a full VFL game last week down at Geelong, so he is a strong chance to play this weekend against the Dogs. In that VFL hitout ruckman Jarrod Witts and top draft pick Nathan Freeman also got through full games so they may be promoted to play at Etihad Stadium also.

 

OPPOSITION ANALYSIS

After yet another disappointing season Bulldogs fans would have headed into the off season hoping for a sense of renewal to get them excited for season 2015. Instead a mini chaos hit the Dogs with a massive change in coaching staff, including the replacement of senior coach Brendan McCartney with Luke Beveridge. Then came an exodus of players, club legend Adam Cooney decided to go to Essendon and Shaun Higgins went to North Melbourne under free agency. The biggest shock was yet to come though when former club captain Ryan Griffen sensationally traded (along with the Dogs pick) for former number 1 draft pick Tom Boyd, a player who had only been seen 9 times at senior level for a return of 8 goals. It had been no secret that the Dogs though they needed a key forward for many a year now but to make a shocking and bold move was for sure a surprise to many good AFL judges.

It sent a message to the league that the Western Bulldogs had a clear plan for the future, even if most didn’t understand what that plan was.

Once the pre season began it got even worse for the Dogs though with arguably their most important player, Tom Liberatore, going down with a season ending ACL knee injury that really did cast a dark pall off the club. It was such a loss for them because the son of a gun was arguably the best clearance player in the game last season and the midfield was going to be the area of strength for the Western Bulldogs in 2015. Even with the loss of Liberatore though the midfield probably still is the deepest and most talented area of the ground for the Dogs, with experienced types like Will Minson and  Matthew Boyd leading an array of young talent that is the envy of most clubs. Without Liberatore and Griffen this season it may prove a slight blessing in disguise as those youngsters get their chance to really show what they are made of.

The Bulldogs backline doesn’t seem too bad on paper, with experienced defenders such as Murphy, Picken, Roughead and Morris leading the way. There may be a lack of a real centre half back on the list although the recruitment of ex Cat Joel Hamling may be that solution. The area down back they may lack in is real attack, with so many defensive minded players and so few run and carry types. The backline will also see the addition of some youth this year and it’s maybe that youth that will provide that run in years to come.

The Western Bulldogs forward line will be dominated by one man for many years to come, and that man is Tom Boyd. The problem is he’s only played 9 games of senior football. The long term deal that Boyd signed provides a rock in attack for the coaches to build around although there are a few pieces in place already. Stewart Crameri proved to be a vital recruit last season and along with Boyd, Stringer and the ever talented Luke Dalhaus the Bulldogs will be able to put a score on the board if they get it inside forward 50 enough.

Most experts have the Western Bulldogs finishing in the bottom four at seasons’ end but in a similar vein to Collingwood those experts haven’t taken into account the young talent on the list. The Dogs have one of the best young lists in the AFL and maybe the best young midfield out there. That alone should see them improve or at least maintain their spot just above that bottom 4 in season 2015.

 

TIP

This game is effectively being played on the Bulldogs home ground which gives them a distinct advantage, especially when you consider this is the stadium where they defeated the Magpies last season. Both clubs are very likely to field strong squads with no games left after this one before round 1 and that would point towards an advantage for the Pies. So basically we are back to square one, it’s a fairly even match that could go either way depending on which side wants to treat it more seriously.

There’s little doubt that both teams held back last week due to the travel factor but back at home this week they should be going close to flat out to find some form before the season proper starts. Based on performances so far I favour the Pies based on a little more experience and poise under pressure, so they should come away with a win in a close game.

MAGPIES BY 13 POINTS.

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