Victorian heavyweights Collingwood and Geelong tonight clash at the MCG, each desperate for a win to keep their heads above water amid an ultra-tight top eight race.
Collingwood (8-2-6, 104.5%) have lost back-to-back matches to take them from inside the top four to outside the top eight in just a fortnight.
Geelong (10-6, 109.7%) conversely have won each of their last two matches convincingly over Essendon and Hawthorn to help them find some much-needed form.
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Collingwood have made a trio of changes for the match, with Jeremy Howe (hamstring) and Brody Mihocek (pectoral) missing through injury while defender Charlie Dean has been dropped.
In their place, Jamie Elliott, John Noble and Reef McInnes have been called upon, with the former two recovering from a vascular issue and concussion respectively.
The Cats have gone into the match unchanged from their 51-point win over the Hawks last Saturday.
The clash in some ways looms as a do-or-die match for both sides; but in particular the Magpies, who head into the match already outside the top eight on percentage.
“I want to put this week fair and squarely on Collingwood, I think this is almost an elimination final come early for Collingwood,” St Kilda great Leigh Montagna said last night on Fox Footy’s First Crack.
“If they win this game, they’re right in the (finals) mix and they’ll probably be in the top eight and start to get some momentum.
“But if they lose it might be curtains on their 2024 season. It’ll mean they’ll be a game outside the top eight and need to win four of their six games on the run home. It’s not going to be easy.”
The match gets underway at 7:40pm from the MCG.
Watch it live on Fox Footy (channel 504), streaming on Kayo or via Hubbl from 6:30pm.
COLLINGWOOD v GEELONG – LIVE UPDATES
The subs for either side will be announced one hour before the first bounce at 6:40pm.
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Source Agencies
