Collingwood v Carlton, MCG Thursday, April 3, 7.30pm AEDT

Last time: Collingwood 12.12 (84) d Carlton 11.15 (81), R21 2024

What it means

Collingwood (2-1) has had an up and down start to the season but was able to head into a bye ahead on the win-loss ledger after holding off the Western Bulldogs in a thriller before its break. The Magpies can put themselves in a strong position while also knocking the Blues back on the ropes with another victory after beating their traditional rivals 10 times in their past 12 clashes.

Carlton (0-3) is at real risk of falling out of finals contention before its season even gets going ahead of a crunch clash with arch-rival Collingwood. The Blues have been outscored by a combined 89 points after the main break in their three matches so far and will need to run out the game much better if they are to avoid a horror 0-4 start after being 4-0 at the same stage last year.

Game shapers

Nick Daicos has set the bar so high for himself that even while averaging 23.5 disposals in Collingwood's opening two matches it felt like the star midfielder had much more to give. The 22-year-old took a big leap towards hitting his standards when gathering 39 touches in the win over the Bulldogs and has shown in the past that he likes to save something resembling his best for the Blues.

Patrick Cripps has become all too familiar with having to shoulder the burden of an underperforming Carlton side across more than 11 seasons with the club. Last year's Brownlow medallist has been unable to carry the Blues across the line even while having his typical influence with 27.3 disposals and 8.7 clearances a game but can be expected to find another gear with his side quickly running out of chances.

Well said

That’s a good one to think about for sure!

Good one

Facts!

Like this. When you make excuses for not looking after your health or something this is strong!

All thinking along the same lines hey but makes sense

This one could eat at nearly everyone at some point!

Nice work Hustle

That knock your socks off

That’s a good one! I would think they would be happy with my fitness work hopefully haha

Collingwood Geelong Sydney Port Adelaide

10 point margin

His in! Now hopefully we roll Collingwood in round 8

Duke

I’m trying to recruit him to Geelong but haven’t got him sold on it yet.

Sunrisers Indians New Zealand Super Kings 265 175

Srh Travis Head Abhishek Sharma Pat Cummins

Quinton de Kock Nitish Reddy

This is cool. Still play with the kids would be cool to get an adult group together to do this at the park

See they are aiming for tier 2 by 2028/29 season but he is trying to buy Bedford towns team as they won’t be able to grow enough without taking them and merging clubs as that teams in that next tier so I guess tier 7

Seems a bit unfair but whatever works wonder what tier they will get to before they start getting beaten maybe another one or two tiers maybe before they have to really grind to wind games

Well done @Carresan