Collingwood in box seat for top-two finish as run of MCG games loom in AFL fixture

Collingwood is charging toward a top-two finish — and has been gifted an upper hand in the premiership race with a fixture that barely sees the club leave Victoria during the run home.

Collingwood will hope it has one foot in a home preliminary final with a charmed run home and a single game in 22 days to heal ageing bodies for the 10-2 Pies.

Pies coach Craig McRae told his Pies they had been part of an “absolutely brilliant performance” on Friday night in the rooms-post match with their plus-44 tackle differential the best in club history.

While Sydney was also flying at this stage last year before a late-season plunge that the Swans were able to arrest, the Pies are airborne and set up for the second half of the year.

The Pies take on Melbourne in the King’s Birthday clash on Monday week and will not be able to consider Pat Lipinski (concussion) and Lachie Schultz (hamstring).

Collingwood is in a great spot to secure a top-two finish and a home preliminary final.

But Jordan De Goey (achilles), Dan McStay (knee) and Brayden Maynard (plantar fascia) are all nearing returns.

Maynard is the most likely of that trio to take part in King’s Birthday, with De Goey saying on Friday night he was improving weekly as he heals his achilles concern.

There is no prospect of playing De Goey on King’s Birthday given the bye after that clash.

McStay is pushing hard for King’s Birthday but with the Pies forward line functioning so well there is no reason to push him.

Collingwood then hits the bye and has a 12-day break before taking on St Kilda (Marvel Stadium).

Star Scott Pendlebury said on ABC Radio on Friday night he hadn’t ruled out a quick trip to America for the NBA finals if the stars aligned across the bye.

“I would love to see New York (play). It might line up with our mid season bye … let’s not air that, but it could happen. Game 7, someone get me tickets I will be there.’’

Unfortunately for Pendlebury, New York was knocked out by Indiana in the Conference finals on Sunday.

Post-bye the Pies take on West Coast (Marvel Stadium) before an MCG clash against the battling Blues.

It is part of a spectacular run home that sees the Pies travel only two more times – against Gold Coast away and Adelaide away.

The Pies have already travelled four times this year and after the opening round smacking against GWS have beaten Sydney in Adelaide, Brisbane at the Gabba and Fremantle in Perth.

The Pies also take on Richmond, plus Melbourne a second time, in the run home and have also been able to rest the likes of Steele Sidebottom, Jeremy Howe and Scott Pendlebury at times during the year.

Jordan De Goey will return to the Magpies side in coming weeks.

Brayden Maynard (right) will also return from injury.

It is a perfect launching pad for a team that will be desperate for a home qualifying final.

Collingwood was smashed in the opening round and is determined not to return interstate for another opening round clash next year.

But playing in that Engie Stadium contest has also allowed the Pies two early-season byes that will mean they can attack the second half of the year fresh.

McRae was thrilled at his side’s take-down of Hawthorn, telling his players: “Plus 44 tackles, it’s the most we have ever had as a differential in the history of our footy club.

“We are keeping the game where we want it to be and putting enormous pressure on when we need to. Keeping a really potent opposition to 55 points, an absolutely brilliant performance and a sign of our growth as a club.”

A team that once had to worry about nailbiting victories is now racking up dominant wins with defender Isaac Quaynor saying on Saturday: “The ruthlessness of the group has gone to a new level”.

Originally published as Collingwood in box seat for top-two finish as run of MCG games loom in AFL fixture