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2022 AFL Round 22 Preview – SYDNEY V COLLINGWOOD

Racing and Sports will provide analysis of many games in the 2022 AFL Season.

We'll endeavour to run through the form, incorporate appropriate stats and also supply a betting prediction which won't always just be who will win.


SYDNEY V COLLINGWOOD

Sunday 14 August @ SCG

What a contest this should be across the ground – one where both teams are capable of finishing anywhere from first to sixth with only two games left.

These groups of supporters have had their moments over the years – led by contretemps between varying Presidents (but mainly one).

Once a match designed around the old Olympic Stadium, it is back at the true home of the Swans and one where the ground rocks on most occasions.

The Lizard Nick Blakey loves to run and carry
The Lizard Nick Blakey loves to run and carry Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

What do you make of Sydney and their recent run? Many will pour scorn as it includes the likes of the Dogs, Fremantle, Adelaide, GWS and North and that is fair. But it is the manner of those wins and the scoring that was within that which would frighten rivals.

Through that run it has a percentage of 162 and some lovely defensive structures bumping that up. The McCartins and Rampe take the big boppers while the run off half back is generated from Blakey, Florent and McInerney.

You also have the flicking of the midfield magnets which provides no normality for the opponent. Warner, Parker and Rowbottom get joined by Gulden, Papley, Heeney and Mills and even Tom Hickey/Sam Reid become clearance beasts.

Then forward, Franklin is the natural first point of attention but he has a lot of fast moving talent around him. They can be tall markers, lead ups or smalls.

Even with all that said, this is a complete Finals dress-rehearsal and so Collingwood will want to ride the wave for however long they can.

They should not have won that Melbourne game in reality. Any sort of forward plan and style from the Demons would have given them too much to do. But while ever they had the slightest of sniffs, the desire kept them alive.

You can't but be impressed by a side who was near last in 2021, devoid of forward capacity and ball movement and compare that to what they are now.

Most point to the percentage of 106 (lowest of the Top 8) as the reason they can and will fall at the final hurdles. Of course that is born from all those close finishes.

But when you want to win hard enough, you often win again. They've learned the winning feeling is good.

They've basically had the addition of an All-Australian in Nick Daicos and some new blood coming from many and varied sources like Carmichael, Lipinski and Johnson.

Surely Sydney tags Nick Daicos?
Surely Sydney tags Nick Daicos? Picture: Russell Freeman/via Getty Images

Having a forward line not over laden in height would hurt most backlines – but maybe Sydney is one that isn't as badly impacted as they are probably slightly shorter than most.

You can imagine John Longmire will be sending Ryan Clarke to Nick Daicos and saying if he's good enough to break a tag in his first season then fair play to him.

The big one might be who gets De Goey. That might be the task for Callum Mills who has the size and game-length speed to run with him and still get the ball.

This is an incredibly tough one to pick. Whoever wins probably finishes in front of the other at season's end and guarantees Top 4, even Top 2.

The heart says Sydney but it's very much Collingwood that has incredible momentum where they simply don't think they are capable of losing. AND they travel brilliantly every year.

Ride the Pie wave one more week. The HTH price is large but even the start is tough to miss.

Match Selection: Collingwood by 3 points

Suggested Bets: Collingwood win @ $3.15 and/or Collingwood +20.5 @ $1.90


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