Where and when:

Friday May 3, 7.50pm (Melbourne time)

Etihad Stadium, Melbourne.


Backs: N.Wright, S.Fisher, S.Gilbert
Half Backs: S.Dempster, D.Roberton, J.Geary
Centreline: N.Dal Santo, L.Hayes, B.Murdoch
Half Forwards: D.Armitage, R.Stanley, L.Montagna
Forwards: J.Saunders, N.Riewoldt, J.Koschitzke
Followers: B.McEvoy, C.Jones, J.Steven
Interchange: S.Ross, A.Saad, S.Milne, A.Siposs

Emergencies: T.Hickey, J.Newnes, J.Webster


In: S.Milne, A.Siposs
Out: T.Dennis-Lane (Omitted), T.Lee (Achilles)

 

Overview:

Both Collingwood and St Kilda were defeated on Anzac Day last week, the Magpies to an in-form Essendon, and the Saints at the hands of an experienced and unyielding Swans outfit. Collingwood are determined to finish top four, while St Kilda requires a victory to refresh its September aspirations.

Though it isn’t do or die on either front, it shapes as a mightily important clash for both teams.

Collingwood’s midfield looks assured, even without Luke Ball and Dayne Beams. Up forward, the acquisition of Quinten Lynch has allowed Travis Cloke to play closer to goal this season, a slight change of role from the high-roaming one Lynch now occupies. The Magpies defence hasn’t been as stingy as it has been in recent years, with Heath Shaw a touch short of form, Harry O’Brien on the wing, and Nick Maxwell injured.

Nevertheless, Nathan Buckley’s men remain a premiership contender, and are bound to hit find their best form at some stage – largely depending on the return of key personnel.

St Kilda toiled purposefully and tirelessly last Thursday with Nick Riewoldt, Lenny Hayes and Leigh Montagna leading the way. Pleasingly, the youthful crop of the last two drafts is beginning to filter into the senior team, and without exception look ready for the challenge. Seb Ross and Nathan Wright in particular are excellent prospects, while classy left-footer Jimmy Webster has been named as an emergency and can’t be far away from a debut.

Dylan Roberton has arguably been St Kilda’s most consistent player this year along with his skipper, and Ben McEvoy’s presence in the ruck has allowed the midfield brigade to get first hands on the ball.

Alan Toovey is a big loss for the Magpies, and the return of Stephen Milne following suspension will undoubtedly stretch the Collingwood defence.

 

Stat focus:

  • Collingwood averages 106.4 points per game against this season, the fourth most in the AFL.
  • Nick Riewoldt has taken more contested marks than any other player this year.
  • Dale Thomas averages 28.2 disposals in his last five matches against St Kilda, more than any other player for either side.
  • Travis Cloke has taken 26 marks inside 50 in 2013, ranked number one in the competition.
  • St Kilda hasn’t defeated Collingwood at Etihad Stadium since round three, 2010.
  • Veteran on-baller Lenny Hayes is leading the Saints this year for disposals (24.8 per game) and tackles (5.2 per game) in 2013
  • St Kilda made the grand final in 1997 when they were 1-4 after the first five rounds of the season.

 

Injury list:

St Kilda:

Daniel Markworth (ACL) – Season

Adam Schneider (hamstring) - 1-3 weeks

Beau Maister (fractured wrist) - 2-4 weeks

Terry Milera (soreness) – 1 week

Tom Lee (achilles) – 1 week

 

Collingwood:

Ben Johnson (calf soreness) - Test

Caolan Mooney (calf) – 1 week

Dayne Beams (quad) – 2-3 weeks

Brodie Grundy (back) – 2-3 weeks

Lachlan Keeffe (knee) 2-3 weeks

Nick Maxwell (fractured wrist) – 2-3 weeks

Clinton Young (hamstring) – 2-3 weeks

Michael Hartley (shoulder) - 4 weeks

Tim Broomhead (glandular fever) – 5-6 weeks

Jackson Ramsay (wrist) - 7-8 weeks

Alan Toovey (knee) season

 

Last week:

St Kilda 9.9 (63) defeated by Sydney 11.13 (79)

Collingwood 10.15 (75) defeated by Essendon 18.13 (121)

 

What they say: (Nathan Buckley on Wednesday):

[Riewoldt’s] back to All-Australian form of three or four years ago. [He’s the] leading contested marker in the competition, and he runs so hard and blows opponents up. So, he’s going to be a challenge for one or both of our tall backs and a challenge to hold defensively.

We weren’t anticipating that we would be playing our best football in Round 5. We’ve still got plenty of players to come back in with experience. We’ve got full confidence in the players that are incumbent at the moment, but we know we’ll be a better side in 10 weeks than we are now.

 

What we say (Scott Watters on Thursday):

The challenge comes straight back down to Stephen Milne, Nick Dal Santo and probably David Armitage, who has had a good year but was flat last week. That challenge is squarely presented to our leaders this week. To win this type of game your leaders need to stand up.

[Riewoldt] is in great form, he’s leading really well and he sets a great example to not just our younger players but our senior players as well.

 

Running hot:

St Kilda: Nick Riewoldt

The Saints skipper played one of the finest games of his career last week, amassing 27 disposals including 14 contested possessions.  If he can play to a similar standard this Friday, then Ben Reid and Collingwood will have a difficult job containing the talismanic centre-half-forward.

Collingwood: Steele Sidebottom

The Collingwood on-baller collected a season-high 31 disposals against Essendon last Thursday and was a dominant player on the ground in the first half. The 22-year-old is generally an excellent user of the football, and can also hurt the opposition on the scoreboard as he demonstrated against Richmond, booting 4.3 to complement Cloke’s haul of seven.

 

Watch out for:

St Kilda: Ben McEvoy

The Saints ruckman has enjoyed a stellar first five weeks the season, generally roaming a kick behind the play and averaging 26.6 hit-outs per game. The 23-year-old has become a vital member of the Saints midfield this year and will relish the opportunity to come up against the big bodies of Darren Jolly and Quinten Lynch on Friday night.

 

Collingwood: Heath Shaw

The Collingwood back-flanker has begun the season quietly in comparison to previous years, but still provides substantial run and drive from the back half for the Magpies. He led the competition for rebound 50s in 2012, but hasn’t been able to recapture that form this year. Nevertheless, it’s crucial that whoever his opponent is doesn’t allow him the luxury of free-wheeling in the back half as he has the potential to hurt the opposition with his direct kicking and long runs.   

 

Last time they met:

Round 19, 2012 at the MCG

Attendance: 57,873

Collingwood 12.19 (91) defeated St Kilda 13.7 (85)

Disposals: Beams, Sidebottom (32), Hayes (28)

Goals: Milne, Saad (3), Dawes, Thomas, Swan, Jolly (2)

 

 

You can follow Tom Morris on Twitter: @tommorris32