The 4 certainties for Collingwood versus Western Bulldogs

Back for another year, the SEN.com.au team gives you an insight into how every game will play out across the weekend.

Labelling something a ‘certainty’ in any sport is fraught with danger.

But we’ll attempt to find some anyway.

Here is what we consider certainties for the Round 12 Friday night clash between Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs.

Collingwood

Nick Daicos 30+ disposals

Collingwood midfielder Nick Daicos is in the ball-winning form of his life.

The young superstar has had at least 32 disposals in every game across the last month, and the Pies will be relying on him to do that again.

While the Dogs will be intent on nullifying his influence, they won’t tag the young gun.

With Scott Pendlebury, Jordan De Goey and Tom Mitchell also out, Daicos will be the hit-to player at stoppages just about every time for the Magpies on Friday night.

He was also best afield the last time these two teams met, picking up 29 disposals, 11 clearances and two goals.

Expect him to get one more stat this time around and cross the 30-touch marker.

Hill to kick a goal

Collingwood’s goals are going to have to come from somewhere on Friday night.

With all of Brody Mihocek, Dan McStay, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Mason Cox and Jamie Elliott sidelined, the Pies won’t be going aerial to kick a winning score.

Instead, they’ll have to lower the eyes and target their small forwards and last year’s Norm Smith Medallist Hill is the best of them at Collingwood.

Hill has goaled in each of Collingwood’s last four games, and he should finish at least one of his opportunities on Friday night.

Lachlan Geleit

Western Bulldogs

Treloar for 30+ possessions, 5+ clearances

Any mid-season All-Australian team has to strongly consider Adam Treloar.

The star midfielder has been in almost career best form early in 2024 and is piecing together a season that would rival the league’s best.

In every game at Marvel Stadium this year he’s had at least 28 possessions and only gone below 30 once. He’s become the man, alongside Marcus Bontempelli, in Tom Liberatore’s absence and would be eyeing a big game against his former club in a crunch clash for both teams.

Pencil him in to be among the leading possession getters on the ground.

West to kick at least one goal

In his sixth year at AFL level, Rhylee West is starting to come into his own as a livewire small forward in Luke Beveridge’s system.

He’s had 11 shots at goal over the last three weeks and you’d be reading a lot more about the 23-year-old if he kicked straight.

Nevertheless, West has only gone goalless once in 2024 and against an undermanned Collingwood outfit that loves to attack off half-back, he’ll get an opportunity to add to his 11 majors in 2024.

Seb Mottram

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