Collingwood Magpies v Geelong Cats
AFL Aussie Rules : Australia : AFL Premiership
Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne
Saturday, 7th August 20110, Start 19:10 AEST

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Wow! That is the only way I can describe this match.

This result is more than likely to decide who finishes on top of the ladder this season. Both teams are awesome this year and appear to be the best two sides after much jostling for supremacy.

It could almost be considered a grand final preview and it is fair to expect fireworks on Saturday night.

Collingwood Magpies (1st, 14-3-1)
Form : WWWWW

The Pies are going from strength to strength and are having a great run with injuries. The Collingwood playing list is as deep as it comes and with countless contributors it is easy to see why they are destroying every opponent they face.

Geelong will be a serious test and I think a win here would make the entire football world stand up and recognise that they are legitimate contenders.

Down back the Magpies have Simon Prestigiacomo who is one of the best 2-3 fullbacks in the league. While he is a great individual he also sets the example for the younger guys like Ben Reid and Harry O’Brien. This has shown with both Reid and O’Brien having exceptional years for the Pies. They will need to be good once again this week to combat the slick ball movement of the Cats.

The midfield will see a great battle take place. Dane Swan appears as though he is invincible and his record of accumulating massive amounts of disposals does not look like waning. His support will come from the likes of Scott Pendlebury and Dale Thomas but certainly does not stop there. Steele Sidebottom can go into the centre and be effective along with Dayne Beams and Sharrod Wellingham. The talent pool runs very deep and the Pies have the deepest midfield since Geelong of the last few years.

Up forward there are a couple of x-factors for the Pies that complement the big men well. Leon Davis and Alan Didak are explosive and on their night can light up the MCG. Didak in particular has been impressive this year and his ability to demonstrate unusual skills makes him a danger inside 50.

Chris Dawes and Travis Cloke are the big men for the Pies and if they can receive the ball cleanly they can be expected to punish the Cats on the scoreboard. Cloke’s kicking was woeful last weekend and will need to improve this week.

Geelong Cats (2nd, 14-4)
Form : WWLWW

The Cats went to Sydney last weekend and ran riot against the Swans.

Steve Johnson was back to his best with 6 goals in an ominous sign leading into the finals series. The Cats don’t have anything to prove but play to win every game and the Pies have not beaten the Cats since early 08 and the Cats always seem to have the wood on them. While the ledger is becoming more even I think the experience could be a telling factor under the bright MCG lights.

Matthew Scarlett is the best fullback in the league and he is likely to get Cloke or Dawes. His ability to nullify key forwards makes him feared and respected at the same time. If Scarlett can get adequate support from Tom Lonergan and Harry Taylor the Cats should edge this one. The offensive defenders for Geelong will also be vital in this game. Andrew Mackie and Darren Milburn can take strong marks but need to offer something more going forward this weekend.

Jimmy Bartel and Garry Ablett usually shine against the Pies. It is the old saying that the cream rises to the top and in this case there is no exception. Bartel and Ablett are both Brownlow winners and Ablett is about to be the most expensive commodity the game has ever seen.

These two will be supported by a range of stars like Joel Selwood, Joel Corey and Paul Chapman. Chapman is almost a lock for the club’s best and fairest award while Selwood has been the best player over the last 6 weeks for the Cats. The midfield clash will settle the game and I feel the class and experience of the Cats may be a little too much.

The forward line sees the Cats coach face a huge selection headache. All the forwards are fit and firing and he needs to drop one or two. Personally I like the look of the James Podsiadly/Cam Mooney big man combo followed with Johnson, Travis Varcoe and Matthew Stokes as the small forwards. This unit is proven and has shown no signs of faltering.

With some goals from midfielders like Shannon Byrnes and Chapman this forward line should be able to do enough to get the win.

The Pick :

Geelong to win

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Take Geelong to win by 1-39 at 2.53 on Centrebet
(High Stakes-Bet of the Week)