A 2-2 record despite a tough start has the Magpies well placed to make another run at September. Like most years, their midfield is the barometer and it was firing in the win over Richmond in Round 4.
Scott Pendlebury and Dayne Beams have led the way, with Dane Swan slowly building after an uncharacteristically quiet start.
However it’s the defensive side of the midfield which has come under attention this week. Brent Macaffer’s tagging job on Trent Cotchin has been criticised in certain quarters and even from the AFL itself.
Away from the midfield there is the ever present threat of Travis Cloke. Fresh off holding Lance Franklin goalless, Scott Thompson will most likely head to the Collingwood key forward and resume what is always an entertaining battle.
Cloke is another key forward who is coming off a goalless encounter and was subjected to Bronx cheers against Richmond. Pendlebury had a pointed message to critics though and praised Cloke in media interviews during the week.
The addition of Jesse White has started to pay dividends. The former Swan has provided a strong second target and kicked a bag of three in the victory against the Tigers.
He also can play as a second ruckman if needed, allowing Collingwood to play an extra midfielder with more rotations through the centre of the ground.
The Collingwood backline has been unsettled due to injury but has still performed well. Nathan Brown and Ben Reid have both missed games but in their absence, Jack Frost and Lachlan Keeffe have been impressive as the key defensive posts.
Nick Maxwell and Heritier Lumumba are still providing rebound from the defensive 50, with the former particularly damaging when allowed to roam free as a spare man. A prime example of what Maxwell is capable of occurred in Round 2. In the former captain’s 200th game, he cut off countless Sydney attacks, collecting 22 possessions and being one of the most influential men on the ground.
Having played the last two games at the MCG, Collingwood will be familiar with the ground as North prepares to head to the home of football for the first time in 2014.
