Daisy Pearce and Garry Lyon have dissected how Collingwood can cause an upset in tonight’s Preliminary Final against Richmond.
The Magpies enter the clash as underdogs, and Pearce thinks precision in the midfield is a necessity for them to create a boilover.
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“For the Pies to win, they need to get a big advantage in that midfield with Brodie Grundy getting on top with the advantage over Toby Nankervis,” she told SEN Breakfast.
“Richmond are number one in the comp for winning it back, they’re happy to give you clearances, they apply pressure, force that bedlam ball to come in.
“They (Collingwood) have to be clinical with the way they exit so they’re not giving it back to Richmond or they have to go that fast that they get one-on-one’s, they don’t allow Richmond to set up as quickly as they do, particularly at the MCG, they can almost cover that ground defensively with their eyes closed.”
WHERE CAN COLLINGWOOD GAIN AN ADVANTAGE OVER RICHMOND?
For the Tigers to nullify the Pies’ chance to win, their captain is set to play a vital role.
“Preventing Collingwood’s own way to win I think is Trent Cotchin,” Pearce said, when asked who is the most important Tiger.
“I think if Trent Cotchin can fire in terms of his hardness and ball winning ability and the pressure and tackling he applies in that midfield, I think that will go a long way in not allowing Collingwood to get on top.”
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Lyon is of the notion Collingwood’s midfield needs to apply a large amount of scoreboard pressure for them to win.
“I think for Collingwood to win, they need four goals from their midfield,” he said.
“All of their goals last time they played Richmond came from their forward group, the whole lot of them and it wasn’t enough.
“Not one goal came from Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom, Adam Treloar didn’t play.
“If they can find three-to-four goals from their midfield group, then they’re a real big chance.”