Collingwood v Gold Coast
WHERE AND WHEN: MCG, Sunday June 3 at 4:40pm
It has been a big week for the Collingwood football club, rumours of Matt Rendell – now known for his racial comments – potentially joining the recruitment department down at the Lexus Centre, Travis Cloke’s ongoing contract dilemma and another long term injury making it 5 players out for the season. Gold Coast, as usual have had an easy week in the media with nothing much to report.
Last week saw Collingwood run over the top of Adelaide at AAMI Stadium in what was a high pressure, high intensity contest. It was a hard fought contest for three and a half quarters but the extra day break that Collingwood had was a handy factor late in the game when they ran away with the game and ended up winning by 26 points. The standouts were clearly Dayne Beams with 36 disposals and 2 goals – one which put Collingwood up late in the final quarter. Steele Sidebottom again proved he can match it with the best midfielders gathering 31 disposals and kicked 2 goals. Steele continues to improve and has really been a shining light in the Collingwood midfield.
Gold Coast were up against a Port Adelaide outfit that was brimming with confidence after a gutsy win the previous week. Gold Coast were given a slight chance leading into the match due to Port Adelaide’s inconsistency throughout the season. Throughout the first half Gold Coast were in with a chance of stealing it from Port Adelaide, they went into half time only one-point behind and had the momentum after kicking 5 goals in the second term. After the half time break it was all Port Adelaide, they were able to take control of the contest and really play the way they wanted to play. Port Adelaide managed to kick 7 goals in the third term whereas Gold Coast could only register 2 behinds, really ending this game as a contest. A positive for Gold Coast would have to be they were able to fight it out in the last quarter and the quarter was a draw. Credit has to be given to Gold Coast as they didn’t throw in the towel and let Port Adelaide completely run over the top of them, although they went down by 48-points.
Last Time they met
Gold Coast 11.9.75 defeated by Collingwood 19.15.129 in front of 23,302 at Metricon Stadium
If you weren’t aware of young Trent McKenzie prior to this match, by the end of it you definitely would have. He made a name for himself early in the 2011 season with his ability to kick long goals, he did exactly that against Collingwood, burying one from inside the centre square early in the game. It was a game that was dominated by Collingwood but they just couldn’t put the score on the board with an accuracy of 55% from 35 scoring shots. Scott Pendlebury and Gary Ablett went toe to toe both racking up over 30 possessions, the only difference being Pendlebury managed to kick two goals. Ben Johnson’s run off the half back line was instrumental to the success that Collingwood had that night, he picked up 33 disposals and kicked two goals. Collingwood were expected to win this game by over 100 points, that wasn’t the case, Gold Coast put up a reasonable fight and were only beaten by a somewhat respectable 54 points.
Key Factors
With the injury to Lachlan Keeffe it will leave Collingwood a very small backline on Sunday afternoon. There is no need for Pie fans to be worried though, it is suspected that Nathan Brown and Chris Tarrant are possible inclusions for Sundays match although you think only one of the two would return. Chris Tarrant was rushed back from an injury earlier in the season and he reinjured himself early on, Collingwood staff and fans definitely don’t want that to be the case again.
As i said earlier in the week with a wrap-up i posted, im not going to post it all as i don't want to clog up your entire page, if you are interested and want to read more head to......
http://www.dionalessi.com/?p=84
As i said earlier in the week with a wrap-up i posted, im not going to post it all as i don't want to clog up your entire page, if you are interested and want to read more head to......
http://www.dionalessi.com/?p=84
only thing is its the Westpac Centre now 
Have to include the correct sponsors!
