Herald Sun Footy Podcast: Lauren Wood, Michael Warner, Scott Gullan and Jon Anderson debate the big issues

Collingwood was one of the premiership favourites only weeks ago but now the Pies are clinging to a top eight spot ahead of their biggest clash against Carlton in years. And the form of superstar ruckman is under the spotlight.

Brodie Grundy competes against Todd Goldstein.

Is this the biggest Collingwood vs Carlton game since the 1981 Grand Final?

The traditional rivals will go head-to-head on Sunday in front of a much smaller crowd than usual but the stakes couldn’t be higher.

The Magpies are clinging to a spot in the top eight after an unconvincing win against North Melbourne on Monday night, while the in-form Blues are eyeing their first finals appearance since 2013.

Collingwood will enter the game as favourite but veteran journalist Jon Anderson isn’t convinced.

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He said the Pies looked devoid of confidence, a stunning fall after being discussed as a strong premiership chance only weeks ago.

“I watched last night ... you’ve got that forward line with the two big blokes in Mason Cox and Darcy Cameron next to each other and it just looked awful,” he said on the Herald Sun Footy Podcast.

“Connection from back to forward was virtually nil, Grundy’s not the player he was — he has to be injured, Brodie Grundy ... something is wrong there.

“A lot of their players haven’t got confidence ... they’re a hard side to watch all of a sudden.”

Grundy is winning an average of 15 disposals and 33 hitouts a game this season, down from career-highs of 21 and 43 in 2019, and he has kicked just two goals for the year.

The Magpies’ struggles are on the agenda of this week’s podcast as well as the race to the “lightning premiership”, cuts at AFL House — and the strange way Gillon McLachlan delivered the news to his staff — difficult revelations about the treatment of former Saint Robbie Muir and Ando interviews Blues 1970 premiership captain John Nicholls.

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Originally published as Herald Sun Footy Podcast: Lauren Wood, Michael Warner, Scott Gullan and Jon Anderson debate the big issues