Top 5 teams Casey Scorpions and Collingwood will face off at Casey Fields on Saturday in the first of two Channel 7 TV games this weekend, as Daniel Short reports.
After a sluggish start to 2016, Collingwood has discovered some of its best form over the last month, stringing together three consecutive wins.
Coach Dale Tapping said the group, despite an abundance of injuries at AFL level, was connecting as a team and was eyeing off a top four spot as it prepares to take on ladder leaders Casey Scorpions, who have only dropped the one game.
“We started the season a bit slow and took a little bit to get into gear. But our last month has been a lot more positive,” Tapping said.
“The last month we’ve really connected as a group. Even in some of the wins early in the year where we’ve played reasonably well for a period then been a little inconsistent … our last 12 quarters have been really strong.
“We’re certainly not a star-studded side as such, but we’ve got a group of guys that are really committed to the team and are really happy to play their role within it.”
Tapping expected to be without Pies star Marley Williams in Round 10, after impressive performances at VFL level.
Williams, returning from a foot injury, has put together a strong month of training capped with an impressive performance on Saturday. Which has the22 year-old eyeing a senior return.
“He came back in for the Williamstown game, but only for three quarters.
“Then we had the bye so he missed out on a game, he just wasn’t AFL ready.
“Then he got four quarters on the weekend, so he’s been back in full training for a month and he’s had two games in that month. He’s had a pretty solid month.
“I wouldn’t think it’d be too far away when he got his opportunity (to return at AFL level).”
Travis Cloke returns this weekend to VFL level in the Channel 7 game, with Casey aiming to hold on to its top spot on the later leading into a bye in Round 12. Scorpion captain jack Hutchins has been in great form this season, and will marshall the defence to try and quell the Magpie spearhead.
The Magpies will have a big job in stopping the mullti prong Casey attack, with leading goalkicker Sam Weideman held to one last week, but the Scorpions were still able to achieve seven goal kickers for 12 majors.
Last Modified on 11/06/2016 09:16