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Where: ANZ Stadium
When: 08.40 (GMT)
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Two teams that began the season with high hopes will try to avoid starting with consecutive losses when they meet at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.
Collingwood opened the year with a heavy defeat to Fremantle, while the Swans were overrun by an upstart Greater Western Sydney side in the biggest shock of round one.
The Pies enjoy playing at ANZ Stadium, where they have prevailed in nine of the 12 clashes against the Swans, including a victory in round 20 last season.
Former Swan Jesse White (calf) could make his Collingwood debut against his old side, while Swans co-captain Kieren Jack is expected to return after missing the GWS loss with a back problem.
The ruck battle between Brodie Grundy and Mike Pyke will be key, while Swans duo Nick Smith (100 AFL games) and Josh Kennedy (100 club games) will celebrate milestones.
Key players
Josh Kennedy (Sydney) – After just 22 touches last weekend against GWS, expect the clearance master to fire up against Collingwood.
Lance Franklin (Sydney) – Was disappointing in his first game with a club has has signed with for the next nine years. Will need to bounce back to alleviate pressure on himself and the club.
Dan Hannebery (Sydney) – Simply not a good enough effort in round one with just 12 touches, needs at at least double that this weekend.
Dayne Beams (Collingwood) – Showed he did not skip a beat despite being out for much of 2013, with 31 touches last weekend.
Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood) – Good in front of goal and always using the ball well around the ground, looms as a key target for the Swans to shut down.
Travis Cloke (Collingwood) – Still arguably the best contested mark in the AFL, but if that is not going for him, can go missing as he did against the Dockers in round one.
Match facts
1. Both sides claimed a victory in 2013, with Adam Goodes starring in the Swans’ terrific 47-point triumph at the MCG. But the Pies bounced back strongly in round 20 at ANZ Stadium, led by Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan and Dayne Beams.
2. Collingwood has dominated the Swans over the past decade, winning 11 of the last 13, including a run of 11 straight between 2006-2012.
3. Despite their disappointing effort against GWS, the Swans still had the third most contested possessions for any team in round one with 158. Collingwood was eighth with 145.
4. One area that may have pleased coach Nathan Buckley in round one was Collingwood’s 83 tackles, the second most among all teams. The Swans were fourth with 76.
5. Collingwood’s final score of 5.16 (46) in round one against Fremantle was its lowest against any team since round three, 2010.
6. Both of these teams have two players ranked in the top 10 of the Official AFL Player Ratings. Kieren Jack (6th) and Josh Kennedy (8th) lead the way for the Swans, while Pendlebury (4th) and Swan (9th) are Collingwood’s pacesetters.
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