Match Preview: COLLINGWOOD V dogs - By Johnson#26

My Team for Round 2 Vs the Bulldogs:

B: Clement, Prestigiacomo, Wakelin.
HB: Johnson, J.Cloke, Cole.
C: Woewodin, Buckley, Lonie.
HF: Didak, Rocca, Swan.
F: Holland, Fraser, Tarrant.
R: Richards, Licuria, Burns.
INTER: McGough, Davidson, C.Cloke, Williams.
EMERG: Leonard, R.Shaw, Mullins.

IN: Rocca, McGough, C.Cloke, Richards, Davidson, Swan.
OUT: Shaw, Walker, Lokan, McKee, Davis, O'Bree.

In a very important match for both clubs, Collingwood should be too strong and potent up forward
for the Bulldogs defenders. Both sides are at opposite ends on the form scale, with the Bulldogs coming off a couragous performance against the West Coast at Telstra Dome where the Dogs were piped at the post by a long goal
from West Coast goal sneak Ashley Sampi, whilst the Magpies came off a sluggish first up match which saw them slaughtered at the hands of Richmond forwards Matthew Richardson and Nathan Brown by 40 points. Bulldog fans came away from round 1 optomistic whilst the Pies supporters walked away from the 'G quite dissapointed
at losing to an ememy first up. Even so, the Pies should be too strong up forward with players such as Tarrant,
Fraser, new boy Davidson and the man back from a two week (or an eight month) exile from AFL football.
Here's how and why we'll win:

Key Match ups: Defence:
Prestigiacomo vs Rawlings
Wakelin vs Bandy
Clement vs Bowden
Ben Johnson vs Brad Johnson
Cole vs Garlick

Although there is no Brown to worry about, the Magpies coaching staff will have their work cut out on how to
match up on powerhouse recruit Jade Rawlings. After a bag of seven goals against the Eagles, Rawlings
will be high on confidence and will be looking to acheive his first win in the Bulldogs colours. Prestigiacomo
will be the first man to match up on Rawlings as Rawlings is not overly quick and Presti is never one to sherk a challenge. Bandy is a potencial danger man as he is a strong mark and is a confidence player. Wakelin, like Presti,
never sherks a challenge and often plays taller then his height suggests. Doggies dynamo Brad Johnson is
the sort of player who lifts during big occasions and this certainly is one. However, our own Johnson, Ben, is a
player who is the perfect match up for Brad. He has pace, is a great tackle and can work both ways - attacking or defencive. This will be an exciting battle, with the victor posstibly deciding the outcome of the game. The other match ups speak for themselves with Cole on Garlick and Clement on Bowden. Jason Cloke will look to play as a loose man across half back.

Midfield Match ups:
Buckley vs West
Burns vs Hahn
Licuria vs Smith
Woewodin vs Giansiracusa
Lonie vs Cooney
Richards vs Darcy

The Dogs midfield, once their greatest strength, has now come back to the field slightly with age and injury catching
up with them. The biggest match up will be Buckley vs West. The player with the most number of effective possestions
could well decide the out come of the match. Scotty Burns will be tagged by Mitch Hahn, who has improved over the
last 18 months and Licuria will go head to head with Smith. Woewodin and Giansiracusa are both very attacking players
and will look to play wide of each other whilst on the wings, the battle between the number one draft pick Adam Cooney
and 4th year wingman Lonie will provide all fans with a number of highlights. In the ruck, the misson for Richards of playing on Luke Darcy could provide a steep learning curve for young Guy Richards, who is set to debut for his 1st match since he was drafted 4 years ago.

Forward line Key Match ups:
Tarrant vs Hargrave
Rocca vs Grant
Fraser vs Harris
Didak vs Harrison
Davidson vs Koops

With the return of gun forward Anthony Rocca and the debut of Tom Davidson along with the talent of Josh Fraser and Chris Tarrant, Collingwoods forward line should prove to tall and strong for the reletivly small Bulldog defence. Tarrant will be too quick for Hargrave and Rocca too strong for Grant. The rest take care of themselves as the Dogs defence does not provide any fears for Fraser, Didak and Davidson. The Magpies forward line will in the end be too strong and fast for the undermanned Bulldog defence and with Fraser and Tarrant firing, we should run out easy winners. Pies by 38 points.

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