It’s hard to remember an occasion where the minor premiers – and dominant ones at that – aren’t the form team heading into Preliminary Finals weekend.
Craig McRae’s side is primed to make an impact against GWS on Friday night, with the Magpies to field their best side since Round 21.
Nick Daicos will return to a lineup that knocked off Melbourne in the Qualifying Final, while Collingwood is set to be the beneficiary of a dominant home crowd ratio at the MCG.
But with the Magpies having last week off, much of the build-up to the Preliminary Final has focused around the Giants.
Adam Kingsley’s side could hardly have been more impressive in knocking off St Kilda and Port Adelaide and heads to the MCG having won 11 of their last 13 games.
GWS is now renowned for a free-flowing style, aided by a stingy defence and talented forward line that has seen many pundits tipping the ‘big, big sound’ to return to the Grand Final.
But as Brad Johnson questions, where’s the respect for Collingwood gone?
“They’re probably playing the most pure football of all the teams left in it and the cleanest footy… I can understand the excitement around them,” the Western Bulldogs great began of the Giants on SEN Sportsday.
“A lot of people are tipping the Giants to beat the Pies but the Pies are the best team of the year.
“Yeah, we get excited by what we’re currently seeing and they will challenge the Pies at times.
“But on reverse, the Pies are going to throw a fair bit at GWS to counter as well and I’m not sure whether they’ll be able to do it for the four quarters.”
Both McRae and Kingsley spent time at Richmond under Damien Hardwick and have implemented similar game styles at their respective clubs.
While the Giants have thrived in the back half of the season, Collingwood – who after 21 rounds was two games and percentage clear – hasn’t been the competition’s best in recent weeks.
Champion Data’s Daniel Hoyne has warned the Magpies haven’t been their best selves since the mid-season bye, but Tim Watson believes Collingwood’s best will be hard to beat.
“They’ve got a great team but we need to keep reminding ourselves also of Collingwood at their best, the best we’ve seen of Collingwood this year, can they replicate that and will they be able to produce it… when the Giants are trying to stop you from doing it,” he told SEN Breakfast.
The two sides meet under lights at 7:50pm on Friday night, with the victor to face Brisbane or Carlton in the 2023 AFL Grand Final.