COLLINGWOOD v SANDRINGHAM

Where: Holden Centre

When: Saturday, 7 May

Time: 4:50pm

Last week:

Sandringham made it two wins in a row with a 57-point win over Richmond at the ME Bank Centre, backing up their first win of the season against Footscray a week earlier. The seventh placed Zebras (2-1, 118.39%) have a great opportunity to push past the likes of Geelong and Coburg and towards the top four with a win over the Pies on Saturday, depending on other results to go in their favour. 

Conversely, Collingwood defeated the Northern Blues by nine-points at Preston City Oval for their second win of the VFL season. The ninth placed Pies (2-2, 74.16%) went two weeks without a win until their clash with the Blues at Preston, their first win coming against Port Melbourne at North Port Oval in Round 1. The Dale Tapping-coached Magpies will throw everything against the Zebras, in a bid to jump into the top eight.

Players to watch:

Sandringham – Lewis Pierce

The St Kilda listed ruckman was dominant in what Paul Hudson described as “one of his best games at VFL level” in the coach’s weekly VFL review. Pierce gathered 19 hitouts, 18 disposals at 83.3 per cent, seven marks, five tackles and three clearances to impose himself on the contest. 

Pierce has started the season strongly as he presses his claims for an AFL debut in Alan Richardson’s team. The developing ruckman is averaging 13 disposals, three goals, five marks, four tackles and 11 hit outs a game in the three games he’s played for the Zebras.

Collingwood – Tom Phillips

Influential in the Magpies’ win over the Blues, Phillips gathered 26 disposals and kicked three goals at Preston. One to watch at the Holden Centre on Saturday, with his averages in disposals (18) and goals (3) a danger to any opposition.

Conditions:

The weather is forecast to reach a sunny top of 25 degrees, but will drop to 14 degrees overnight.

Notable opposition players:

Tom Phillips, Brent Macaffer, Tim Golds, Ben Moloney, Nathan Brown, Travis Cloke.