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Geelong vs. Collingwood preview | Strategy 2026 with Brenton Sanderson (07.05.26)
07 May 2026
Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
Chapter 1: What makes the Geelong vs. Collingwood match significant?
Strategy 2026 with Brenton Sanderson brings us to Saturday night. Geelong and Collingwood at the MCG. It's got the heightened atmosphere of Scott Pendlebury equaling the record of Brent Harvey. And then I feel like we'll get a better read of these two teams. They're a nice pairing to go about it. So, Sando, what do you expect this game to look like?
I think I'm expecting a high turnover game in this one, Gerard. So we know Collingwood are at their best when they score heavily from turnover. And Geelong really do pride themselves on not giving the ball back easily. Collingwood's defensive pressure will really test Geelong this week.
But if Geelong can protect the ball, they can limit Collingwood's biggest weapon, which is creating those turnovers. But if Collingwood can force errors, this game will quickly flip into Collingwood's favour. But I'll be keeping an eye on clearance and who owns territory. So Geelong at their best, they have been winning clearances better. And that's one area that I think has really improved.
And I think they can control territory by locking the ball in their front half. And when they do that, their high forwards really understand their role. And it's not simply for them... just winning the ball and scoring goals. It's the way that they pressure the opposition into mistakes. So we just haven't seen that consistently yet from the Cats.
Chapter 2: How do Geelong's quick transitions influence their gameplay?
It's come in patches and it would be frustrating Chris Scott, but we know Geelong at their best do lock the ball in their front half and I guess Collingwood, what they do really well is they have been able to absorb those clearance losses, which has been a problem for the last two or three seasons, and they simply win it back through pressure. So they attack off turnover.
That's always been excellent. And their forward line now seems to starting to find its rhythm a little bit. So I just think they're starting to find their identity a bit more, that strong month of footy that we've seen from Collingwood. The last part I think for me will be that defensive transition. So both sides are great at punishing poor transition. Collingwood through ball pressure and speed.
And Geelong through that really good defensive system behind the ball, forcing you to kick the ball to areas of the ground where the Cats can counter punch and go back at you. So there's probably three or four things there, which I think we'll be keeping an eye on sort of behind the scenes to see who can get control of the game.
Chapter 3: What defensive strategies will Collingwood employ against Geelong?
All right, give us a picture of what each coach will be trying to do and start with Craig McRae.
Okay, so for Collingwood, so Craig McRae, he'll be looking at this game, and these are rippers. Collingwood and Geelong are always great games. He's going to want high pressure, repeat contest, a territory game, forward half turnovers, and quick ball movement on the back of any Geelong errors. And I think we'll see some tactical levers that he might try and pull or beat a
to try and run out of Geelong's defensive shape. That'll probably be his area that he'll be focusing on. But he's also got to make sure when Collingwood go inside forward 50, and we always talk about this against sides that play Geelong, is they can't just bomb it blindly, which they have been doing a little bit in the first half of the year, the pies.
That just sets up Geelong for those fast and clean exits, which they're so good at doing. I mentioned about clearances too. It has been a weakness for Collingwood. So McRae's got to make sure he develops a strategy to prevent Geelong getting on top in that phase of the game.
Chapter 4: How can Geelong limit Collingwood's turnover advantage?
They have only won head-to-head clearances twice this year, Collingwood. Geelong have only won it three times as well, but it is an area of the game which I think I am seeing some improvement in. from the Cats. So I think whoever gets the advantage around contest and clearance will have a huge opportunity in this game to win.
And the other one, which I was really surprised about, both teams are struggling with contested possessions head to head. They've both only won it twice this season, which is really unusual for two coaches who really value that part of the game. So it's, I guess, going to be who gets that elite pressure rating right.
If Collingwood can win contested possession and not get beaten at clearance, that's really going to disrupt Geelong, that sort of kick and mark game that Geelong rely on so heavily to win. So, so many elements in this game that both sides need to get right if they're going to be successful in winning the game. How much is system and game plan and how much is pure talent? It's a really good one.
If the game's fast and chaotic and turnover heavy, that I think goes in Collingwood's favour. But if it's controlled, methodical, low errors, I think Geelong can win this game. It's really interesting. And it's a great question because I think when fatigue sets in and late in games, that's when the game starts to lose its shape. And I think that's when the talent rises to the top.
So we've seen that with Dacos this year. We've seen it with Pendlebury in the Anzac Day game. It's when fatigue is there and the game's out of shape. That's when we see the talent. And we've seen it with Geelong too, Bailey Smith, Jeremy Cameron. So I think there will be moments in this game when the top end talent will rise to the top.
But in these games, they're two such great coaches and the system and the game plan, they really do matter. But we'll see moments late in this game when we will see the top end talent really step up. All right. So at their best, who wins? Well, the biggest margin in this game in the last six years has been 23 points.
So we know this is two teams that even when both of them are at their absolute peak, it's really hard to beat their opponent. As I said, I really like these two coaches too. They are so good at how they set the game up. I just think if this game, if you said to me, if both teams played at their best, who wins? I'd have to pick the Cats at the moment.
I just think it's with Geelong, it's harder to break down their game plan when they minimize their offensive mistakes. But I just hate tipping against Collingwood as well because they just do rise to the occasion in these high stake games. Their pressure is great. It's in their trademark. It's in their brand. But I'm going to go the Cats in this one by less than 10 points.
I think it'll be an absolute ripper on Saturday Night Thriller. Beauty.
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