The 4 certainties for Collingwood versus Geelong

Back for another year, the SEN.com.au team gives you an insight into how every game will play out across the weekend.

Labelling something a ‘certainty’ in any sport is fraught with danger.

But we’ll attempt to find some anyway.

Here is what we consider certainties for the Round 18 Friday night clash between Collingwood and Geelong.

Collingwood

N.Daicos to have 30+ disposals

Collingwood midfielder Nick Daicos has been prolific all season and has had at least 29 disposals in each of his last three games.

Coming up against a Geelong side that hasn’t been tagging opposition on-ballers, he should pass the 30-touch marker again.

Geelong’s options to stop him are Mark O’Connor, Mark Blicavs and at a pinch Tom Atkins.

O’Connor hasn’t been picked, Blicavs will have to play some ruck and is only really sent to big bodies when he does a tagging job.

That leaves Atkins, and he won’t follow Daicos around the ground if he’s sent to mind him at stoppages.

30+ should be an easy get for the superstar if he plays anywhere near his best.

Schultz to kick at least a goal

Collingwood forward Lachie Schultz has kicked nine goals in his last four games.

He’s also kicked majors in each of his last four games as the Pies are looking to him more often inside 50.

With Brody Mihocek out, the Pies will need to lower their eyes going forward to hit up the likes of Bobby Hill, the returning Jamie Elliott and Schultz.

Expect Schultz to get a couple of opportunities as a result and finish at least one of them.

Lachlan Geleit

Geelong

Close to kick at least a goal

Brad Close has been a model of consistency for Geelong in 2024.

The small forward has kicked 22 goals in 16 games this year, finding the big sticks in 15 of those 16 games.

He helped himself to four goals against Hawthorn last week and we’re expecting him to again get involved on the Cats’ scoring list against Collingwood on Friday night.

Some rain around in Melbourne could mean the ball is on the deck more frequently than usual which brings Close right into the contest at the MCG where he has kicked 20 goals (14 behinds) in 23 games across his career.

Duncan to have 20+ disposals

Mitch Duncan has been finding a bit of the footy aver the last few weeks.

He had it 25 times in the win over the Hawks last weekend to make it three straight 20-plus games, reaching that threshold in six of his last seven.

The veteran has had 20 or more touches in 17 of his last 19 outings at the ‘G and we expect that to be the case yet again at a venue where he averages 22 over 79 career games.

Andrew Slevison

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