By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
Flashback to the NAB challenge – Collingwood gains the third quarter momentum and slams through 11 goals, bagging an eight point win.
Despite it being the preseason, expectations grew from that.
What a difference the real season makes.
Collingwood was so far removed from the preseason side in its first seven rounds the AFL would be excused for checking player registrations to make sure there hadn’t been a Fine Cotton type substitution.
The Pies finally got going last week but it was against an insipid Brisbane so there’s danger in reading too much into it.
Nevertheless Collingwood dominated Geelong when they met in round 22 last year, kicking 11 goals to three in the first half.
It was the game that Daniel Menzel kicked four goals in during his comeback game after four knee reconstructions.
It will play into the hands of coach Chris Scott who is fond of warning his players to expect a side’s best.
Geelong, on the other hand, put in a sterling effort against a well-credentialed Adelaide with only inaccuracy veiling its true domination.
Given that, the Cats have the opportunity to erase any lingering memories of those losses.
Of course things are a bit different now with Geelong’s midfield running hot and Cam Guthrie inserting himself into the consciousness of commentators after murdering the Crows.
The second-placed Cats have won their past six games by an average margin of 56 points, boasting the highest percentage in the AFL.
Collingwood’s midfield drivers Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom and Adam Treloar will have to make up the clearance difference against Joel Selwood, Patrick Dangerfield and Guthrie.
And if it doesn’t get the ball, Steve Motlop appears at time to have his own with his linking runs from half-back and finding a leading team mate in the forward 50.
Geelong’s clearance figures this season are a marked improvement on last season. The side is ranked third while Collingwood is ranked 14th.
The Cats lead the count for marks inside 50, averaging 16.9 per game thanks largely to spearhead Tom Hawkins who is ranked first with a total of 30.
