1. Cracking the Collingwood code
If you’re of the ‘there’s too many stats in the modern game’ then you may want to skip to the next bit, but the Dogs and Pies have posted some remarkably similar numbers this year in some of the key areas.
In disposal efficiency the Pies have a minor edge (74-72%), efficiency inside 50 is virtually identical (47-48%), average inside 50s are identical (54 each). But it doesn’t stop there.
Average marks, contested marks and marks inside 50 are all about the same, as are tackles (67 each per game), intercept possessions (75 each), clearances (37), centre clearances (26) and turnovers are pretty close too, with Collingwood spilling it two more times per game than the Dogs.
The only real differences are in scoring; the Pies are kicking 98 points per game to the Bulldogs’ 72. The takeaway? Kick straighter than them and we might just take the points.
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2. The return of 'Dead Eye'
One player that might help with that is Tory Dickson, who if you didn’t know is currently the second most accurate kick for goal in the history of the game with an average of 74.3%.
Dickson has kicked 151.52 over his 91 game career which places him just below former Roo/Crow/Bear Michael Murphy who converted at 77%, and we can all agree that he will be a welcome addition to the side on Friday night.
Eleventh on that list is Laurence Schache, who’s son Josh will make his debut for the Dogs on Friday night after some solid VFL form, particularly in front of goal where he’s kicked nine straight over the past three weeks.
For what it’s worth, our own Tom Liberatore is 17th on that list (39.17 for his career at 69%), one spot behind Tony Lockett. Of course he is.
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3. Plough, Gubby, Joffa...
There’s been plenty in Bulldogs v Magpies clashes over the years, from Gubby Allan’s miskick to Terry Wallace’s famous ‘I’ll spew up’ line, which also came after a Collingwood match.
But the last five have gone the Dogs’ way by an average of 13 points, and in fact, the last time Collingwood got the chocolates was way back in Round 12, 2013, although the previous six had gone the other way.
It’ll also be one of only three games at ̶M̶a̶r̶v̶e̶l̶ ̶ Etihad Stadium this year for the Magpies, which could potentially give the Dogs an edge.
One thing’s for sure, this guy will be there. But in which jumper?*
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4. Let the Dogs out
There’s nothing like Friday night football in this town, and with the season still well and truly alive for both teams, there’s plenty on the line.
Buckley’s boys sit in 10th spot on the ladder, equal on points with the seventh placed Kangaroos with a patchy form line, while the Dogs are a couple of spots below having won three of the last four, but fresh off a soggy loss to the Crows last Friday.
But none of that will matter when the ball is bounced at 7.50 – each team knowing that their season’s prospects could begin to take shape depending on the result.
So the call goes out, we need you Dogs fans. It’s their ‘home’ game, but most of them probably wouldn’t know where it is. Let’s fill the stands in red, white and blue and get this win.
*To be fair, Joffa put on the jumper in support of the Bulldogs men’s health program Sons of the West.
