Collingwood and Geelong meet under Friday night lights at the MCG for their second match-up of the year to kick off AFL Round 22 action. The Pies look to lock in top spot, while the Cats will be aiming to make their way back into the Top 8. It should provide a cracking start to the round.
We bring you our Collingwood vs Geelong preview, best bet and value Same Game Multi for the clash below!
If you're placing a bet on the match, then why not give Picklebet a try? They have SGMs for AFL and NRL and a nice first goal scorer offer for the match this Friday!
AFL Round 22 Preview & Betting Tips
Collingwood vs Geelong
Friday 7:50pm AEST, August 11th, MCG
Well, well, well. It is amazing what a couple of weeks can do to the complexion of the AFL premiership picture. Collingwood were fancied by many after they won their top-of-the-table clash against Port Adelaide a couple of weeks ago, however both teams have not won a game since. Can the Pies get things back on track, or will it be the Cats who look to continue their push for not only a Top 8 spot, but a home final in the first week?
The Pies were absolutely dominated at the contest last week against Hawthorn, winning only two centre clearances for the game. Craig McRae admitted that his team were too focused on a solution for the Nick Daicos tag in the first half, and the second half looked to be a live-game version of trial-and-error, with the likes of Beau McCreery, Brayden Maynard, Jack Crisp and others getting a run in the middle. Nothing seemed to click for the Pies, and it showed on the scoreboard. Up forward, Brody Mihocek is going through arguably his toughest run of form at AFL level, having kicked only two goals across his last five games. The most consistent forwards of late for the Pies are Jamie Elliot and Dan McStay, however the Pies will be wanting a lot more out of Mihocek and Bobby Hill. The big question is how will the Pies overcome the loss of Nick Daicos and Steele Sidebottom, with Nathan Murphy miraculously fit to play after his ankle issue last week. The ins for the Pies make for some intriguing reading, with Billy Frampton, Will Hoskin-Elliot and Oleg Markov coming into the 22, and Jack Ginnivan the sub. The big watch will be the plans with Frampton, whether he plays forward and back-up ruck, or plays down back and releases Jeremy Howe forward.
The Cats got an injury depleted Port Adelaide at GMHBA Stadium last week, and didn’t exactly put the Power away. Normally when the Cats kick 8 goals in the first 35 minutes at GMHBA, including 4 from one player, you’re anticipating a relatively one-sided victory. However it was the Power that led by 8 points early in the final quarter, before the Cats came over the top to claim a 12 point victory. Although Patrick Dangerfield and Mitch Duncan were solid, it was the likes of Gryan ‘Messi’ Miers and Tom Atkins that were the key players, with Oliver Henry the star up forward with 4 early goals. Tom Hawkins isn’t back this week, however they are certainly a team that any other finalist would be worried about come September. Their form over the last 4-6 weeks does have some question marks though, so it’ll be a fascinating battle.
I give the Pies a slight edge, but my preference lies with the unders in this one. Both teams look solid on paper defensively and the conditions may lend to a contested game at times. I’m not ready to jump off the Pies just yet, however they’ll want to lift their level here.
Total Points Under 165.5
$1.91 (1 unit)
Same Game Multi
Tom Atkins 20+ Disposals – Atkins is spending a lot of time in the middle as part of the next group coming through for the Cats, including 24 CBA’s last week. Should thrive in the Friday night conditions at the MCG.
Taylor Adams 20+ Disposals – With the likes of Daicos and Sidebottom coming out of the team, Adams is likely required to increase his time in the middle in this one.
Brody Mihocek 2+ Goals – Mihocek and McStay are still learning to play with each other, however with McStay presenting more up the ground, I’m looking for Mihocek to find himself in more threatening positions across the majority of the game.
Odds - $5.48 at Picklebet
