3 minute read

Three key match-ups in Saturday's AFL preliminary final between Collingwood and GWS.

KEY COLLINGWOOD V GWS MATCH-UPS

* Brodie Grundy (Coll) v Shane Mumford (GWS)

The ageing Giants ruckman faces a daunting task in trying to quell the influence of Grundy, the best big man in the game. Mumford had his colours lowered by Brisbane's Stef Martin in last weeks' semi-final while Grundy rested up after a stunning qualifying final display - 47 hitouts, 21 disposals and seven clearances. Grundy's a force at ground level as well as in the air, with Mumford likely to adopt bash-and-crash tactics to try and knock the Magpie star off his game.

* Jordan Roughead (Coll) v Jeremy Cameron (GWS)

Roughead's transfer from Western Bulldogs will pay off big-time if he can control the Giants' attacking dynamo and Coleman medallist. Cameron, with 72 goals this season, will roam far from Roughead's comfort zone near the goal-square and presents a danger on the lead and also in marking packs. Cameron booted six goals against the Pies in a round 18 win - a repeat of that haul could send the Giants to the grand final.

* Scott Pendlebury (Coll) v Matt de Boer (GWS).

Giants tagger De Boer has an impressive collection of big-name scalps this season, including Marcus Bontempelli and Lachie Neale in the finals. The main question for GWS coach Leon Cameron is which Magpie does he opt to tag? While Taylor Adams, Steele Sidebottom and Adam Treloar are candidates, it's skipper Pendlebury who arguably presents the greatest threat. Pendlebury is Collingwood's catalyst and enters this fixture after an influential qualifying final display of 24 disposals and nine tackles.