Hardened Pies ready for tough Lions test
COLLINGWOOD will attempt to defy one of the most physically demanding runs any team has faced this season when it tries to upset Brisbane Lions on Friday night.
In a little-known quirk of the AFL’s compressed fixture, the Magpies will face a fresher opponent for the fifth time in six games when they take on the Lions at the Gabba.
It is a huge contest for Nathan Buckley’s men, who trail fifth-placed West Coast by six points on the ladder, and need to win to keep their topfour hopes alive.
Young ruckman Max Lynch, 21, will debut after being taken with pick No.51 in the 2016 rookie draft.
Brisbane has had the chance to rejuvenate off a 12day break, while the Magpies have had five days between games as they come to the end of another taxing streak.
Since Collingwood’s Round 10 win over the Swans, the club has had fewer days rest than each of its opponents – except for the Round 13 win over North Melbourne when the Pies and Roos each had a nineday break to help recharge.
In its five other games in that span, Collingwood’s opponent had the fresher legs, including Melbourne (two days extra break), Carlton (three) and the Lions (seven).
It is a contrast to reigning premier Richmond, which has enjoyed a longer rest than its opponent in the lead-up to four of its past six games.
In total, Collingwood has had 14 days less lead-in rest than its opponents in that six-game span, while the Tigers have enjoyed seven more rest days.
It is a huge challenge for the Magpies as they attempt to preserve their legs for game day as well as make the necessary tactical tweaks to the forward connection issues which have hampered them this year.
Collingwood’s demanding run comes on top of a tough period between Rounds 9 and 11, when the Magpies played four games in 14 days and lost star players Adam Treloar, Jordan De Goey and Jeremy Howe to injury. Chris Mayne is also out for three to four weeks with a fractured cheekbone.
But Collingwood coach Buckley believes the Magpies have emerged from that period and a recent game plan tuneup match-hardened and in “great shape”.
“The rut didn’t last for one month,” Buckley said.
“There is always external opinion of what the on-field product looks like, and there is no doubt the physical demands of that compressed period for us were quite extreme.
“There are other sides going through it at the moment, but as I said at the time, I didn’t think the analysis of the performance was that nuanced from the outside. But the reality is we have faced that.
“And any time you go through tough periods, it builds resilience, if you are prepared to see it as a learning opportunity and a growth opportunity. “I think we are better for it.” The clash against the Lions is the final hurdle in the run as the Magpies then have the bye to freshen up for their last two games of the season against Gold Coast and Port Adelaide.
De Goey is a chance to return for the Round 18 clash against the Power, while Howe (knee) and Treloar (hamstring) can be part of the Magpies’ finals tilt.
Buckley said Howe was “pushing really hard” to be fit in time for finals.
“He knows it is a race against the clock, so where we are as a team is going to impact on the probability of him being able to get back,” Buckley said.