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AFL Daily: Live rolling footy news from around Australia for Thursday, June 7, 2018
NATHAN Brown says Monday’s Queen’s Birthday clash is as close as players can get to playing in a final before September as Magpie captain Scott Pendlebury flags another shut-down role. RECAP TODAY’S FOOTY NEWS
NATHAN Jones says Monday’s Queens Birthday clash is the closest thing to an AFL final as the league’s best two contested ball teams lock horns.
Melbourne and Collingwood are expected to break their Queen’s Birthday record attendance of 78,773 set in 2006, the last year both teams met while in the top eight. The Demons’ streak of six consecutive wins means they lead the league in that period in a list of 10 key metrics. RE-CAP ALL TODAY’S AFL NEWS IN THE BLOG BELOW They are the No. 1 team from Rounds 6-11 in points for, contested possession differential, kicking efficiency, clearance differential and inside-50 differential. But Collingwood is the AFL’s second-best contested ball team behind the Demons in that time, meaning midfield dominance is critical. Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury today volunteered for another tagging job at the stoppages after tasks on Nathan Fyfe and Patrick Cripps. He could go to an inside beast like Clayton Oliver before taking on a more attacking role when the ball is in transition. Jones has a tattoo of grandfather George Jones on his right forearm, still inspired by the relative he lost to motor neurone disease in 2010. He said this contest was as close to the feeling of a final he could get before September given the Big Freeze and stakes for both teams. “I would think so, having played in this game a handful of times we can always expect a pretty big crowd, being a blockbuster game. “This time around both teams are in really good form and that draws a huge crowd. On the back of Big Freeze 4 it should be an awesome day. “When you look at the form of both teams it creates more excitement around the game. “And with the coaches heading down the slide as well, this is going to be a big one. From my perspective and hopefully Scott’s as well, both teams can put on a pretty big show with the game.” EXPERTS: SUPERCOACH MID-SEASON REVIEW Pendlebury said he expected Jeremy Howe (knee bone bruising) to play after a light run today. “Being so far from the game we will put a team in but it will be nowhere near what we settle on. I assume he plays and I hope he plays.” In the past five weeks Collingwood’s midfield ranks second for disposal differential and fourth for clearance and inside-50 differential. “I have done a couple of jobs this year and it’s more around the stoppages,” Pendlebury said. “I try to nullify guys. I really enjoy those roles, it’s a chance to learn from some of the really good, elite midfielders in the comp so this week again there might be another role thrown my way in stoppage. “But after that it’s just get after it in transition and play my role in transition.” LIVE stream every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season on FOX SPORTS. Get your free 2-week trial & start watching in minutes. SIGN UP NOW >
Originally published as AFL Daily: Live rolling footy news from around Australia for Thursday, June 7, 2018