COLLINGWOOD v GEELONG
MCG, 7.40pm, Friday, May 23

COLLINGWOOD
Backs: H Shaw Wakelin R Shaw
Half-backs: Maxwell Brown O'Brien
Centres: Pendlebury Burns Lockyer
Half-forwards: Didak Rocca Medhurst
Forwards: Swan Cloke Thomas
Followers: Fraser O'Bree
Rover: Davis
Interchange: Clarke Johnson Wellingham Bryan
Emergencies: Cook Lonie Wood
In: Fraser
Out: Wood

GEELONG
Backs: Harley Scarlett Hunt
Half-backs: Milburn Taylor Enright
Centres: Selwood Ling Bartel
Half-forwards: S Johnson Mooney Chapman
Forwards: Kelly Hawkins Gamble
Followers: Blake Corey
Rover: G Ablett
Interchange: West Mackie Stokes Wojcinski
Emergencies: Byrnes Varcoe Rooke
In: West Stokes
Out: Mumford Rooke

Head-to-head Collingwood 123 Geelong 89 Drawn 1
Last time Geelong 13.14 (92) bt Collingwood 13.9 (87) 1st PF, 2007, MCG
Betting TABSportsbet: Collingwood $4.50 Geelong $1.18. Centrebet: Collingwood $4.55 Geelong $1.20.
Summary Collingwood were one of the few teams which provided Geelong with serious problems last season, including running the premiers to within five points in the first preliminary final. But this season the Cats have gone on to an 8-0 record while the Magpies are fighting at 4-4 to get on the right side of the ledger. Collingwood are fresh from beating St Kilda while Geelong did enough in the second half to beat Richmond to ensure another win. Geelong's defence will again be the key, with Matthew Scarlett having the edge over Anthony Rocca in the past. The Cats are again without ruckman Brad Ottens but should get a lift from the return of clever Mathew Stokes after suspension. One thing is certain. Geelong will not allow themselves to slip into a first-half coma as they did last weekend. Key Both sides have brilliant midfielders but there are doubts too - over whether Collingwood's Dale Thomas is in peak form and over the fitness of Geelong's Cameron Ling.
Tip Geelong by 15 points