Collingwood’s potent assault is a significant focus for Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge forward of their Friday evening AFL blockbuster at Marvel Stadium.
While their main goalkicker Brody Mihocek will miss the conflict due to hamstring tightness, Beveridge mentioned the Magpies are greater than the sum of their components in entrance of aim.
Ash Johnson will substitute Mihocek, whereas utility Jordan De Goey returns from his three-game suspension and is one other potent scoring choice.
“We’re going to have headaches with the blend down there,” Beveridge mentioned.
“It’s probably a smaller, agile, nimble forward line than some other teams, where you can’t necessarily hang your hat on having anchor key forwards who you can play against.
“So we’ll must do it our personal means.”
The Magpies are on top of the ladder with the best percentage, but are fourth for scoring.
They have no-one in the league’s top-10 goalkickers – Mihocek is 11th with 32 – but Collingwood are particularly dangerous around goal in tight games.
It will be a major test for the Bulldogs, who have won their last two games and could break into the top four if they can upset the Magpies.
Defender Ed Richards, who was in strong form before suffering a hamstring injury, will play his first game since round 12.
“It is a fraction early … he is ticked all the pieces off, he is labored extraordinarily exhausting and he is achieved sufficient coaching in his preparation to be prepared,” Beveridge mentioned.
“Ed would not lose a lot – he is excessive in endurance and pace, so hopefully we do not get any recurrences.
“It’s the first significant soft-tissue (injury) for him.”
This would be the first time the 2 sides have performed for the reason that Bulldogs beat Collingwood by eight targets in spherical 9 final season.
“It’s a good test for us, to see how we come up,” Beveridge mentioned.
The Magpies additionally misplaced hard-nosed defender Brayden Maynard to shoulder soreness.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
