A GUIDE TO THE AFL QUALIFYING FINAL BETWEEN COLLINGWOOD AND MELBOURNE
* Thursday, 7.20pm AEST, MCG
* The kind:
Collingwood (first, 18 wins, 5 losses). Sixteen wins from the primary 18 rounds arrange Collingwood’s cost to the minor premiership.
Melbourne (fourth, 16 wins, seven losses). Seven wins from their previous eight matches helped the Demons safe a top-four berth.
* Head-to-head:
Overall: Collingwood 153 wins, Melbourne 85, 5 attracts
In Finals: Collingwood 5 wins Melbourne 16, one draw
Last time: Round 13, 2023: Melbourne 8.18 (66) bt Collingwood 9.8 (62) on the MCG
* The coaches:
Craig McRae’s daring sport fashion has been an ideal match for Collingwood, with the Magpies changing into one of the thrilling groups to look at over the previous two years. A one-point loss to Sydney in final yr’s preliminary ultimate little doubt nonetheless burns.
Simon Goodwin has endured an up-and-down yr, with the premiership coach pressured to defend allegations of behavioural points levelled in opposition to him by former membership president Glenn Bartlett. The state of affairs had the potential to derail the Demons however Goodwin has stored his gamers targeted.
* The key gamers:
Max Gawn (Melbourne)
The experiment to pair Gawn with Brodie Grundy in a ruck dream group has failed. But Gawn rucking solo continues to be an enormous weapon for Melbourne, with the skilled massive man’s battle in opposition to Darcy Cameron and Mason Cox set to be a ripper.
Darcy Moore (Collingwood)
The Magpies skipper has been a rock in defence this yr however a late-season hamstring pressure means he’ll doubtlessly enter the finals collection underdone. Moore’s management and reliability might be essential in opposition to the Demons.
Jordan De Goey (Collingwood)
The final X-factor for Collingwood, De Goey has produced an excellent season that has resulted in career-highs in possessions (23.9) and clearances (5.44). With Brownlow Medal favorite Nick Daicos nonetheless nursing a knee harm, Collingwood will rely closely on De Goey.
* The stats:
Collingwood have gained seven of their previous 9 matches in opposition to Melbourne, and dominate the general head-to-head document by an enormous margin. But in a statistical quirk, Melbourne have gained 14 of the previous 15 finals matches between the 2 sides.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
