Another week and another set of winners and losers.

Although the road to the last Saturday in September has narrowed ever so slightly, each of the competition's 18 teams still hold their destinies in their own hands.

Whether your side is undefeated, breaking even or without a win to start 2021, there are questions, both new and historic, that must be answered to secure a win this long weekend.

Back
Next

Collingwood

Who fills their Jamie Elliott sized void?

Sadly, for Collingwood fans, history repeated itself again when Jamie Elliott was helped from the MCG last Thursday night.

Once again, the 28-year-old had started a fixtured year with promise and once again, it was snuffed out swiftly with another injury. Across Elliott's eight seasons as a Pie, the small forward has never managed to complete an entire season and has missed two entirely.

Prior to fracturing his fibula, the former Murray Bushranger looked electric inside 50 for the Woodsman, with an average of two goals from as many starts.

With Collingwood seemingly rectifying their previously erratic forward forays last Thursday, Nathan Buckley will be desperate to find a โ€˜like for like' replacement to replace his horrendously unlucky finisher.

With four goals last week, the 2003 Brownlow medalist may wish to anchor the dangerous Jordan De Goey within the forward arc and rely upon others to pick up his slack further afield.

Buckley may also wish to fire up the wayward Josh Thomas or the spectre adjacent Will Hoskin Elliott in the hopes that they can reclaim their form of three years ago. The reinjection of Chris Mayne will also boost his offense.

A plan to head long and high to Mason Cox and Brody Mihocek may prove the medicine, but with the prospect of dual All-Australian Harris Andrews lurking, it could be a bitter pill to swallow.

Irrespective of which method Buckley chooses to employ, Round 2 proved that Collingwood have many avenues to posting majors, the qualm has always surrounded their consistency.

The club's win over their arch rivals last week may have been built off the back of their ability to kick a winning score, but if Collingwood are serious about silencing their pre-season naysayers, their efficiency heading inside 50 and their accuracy in front of goal must become dependable rather than sporadic.

Back
Next