Collingwood is desperate to avoid a woeful 0-3 start to its premiership defence as St Kilda’s biggest home game of the year – and chance to make a major statement – arrives.
The Saints (0-1, 89.5%) were brave but narrowly beaten by Geelong down the highway in Round 1. They chose to move a home game to the MCG to celebrate Spud’s Game, in honour of the late, great Danny Frawley.
But it means the Magpies (0-2, 69.9%) will be well supported at their ‘away’ game, as they try to finally get on the board in 2024 after opening the year with losses to GWS and Sydney.
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No reigning premier this century has defended its crown after starting 0-2 while just last year, reigning premiers Geelong started 0-3 and then missed the finals entirely.
The last team to start 0-3 and make the top four was North Melbourne in 2007; since 2000, just over 10 per cent of 0-3 teams have recovered to play finals.
At selection, the Saints regained superstar Jack Sinclair plus Zak Jones, with Brad Crouch surprisingly omitted alongside 2023 draftee Lance Collard.
For the Magpies, John Noble, Charlie Dean and Ash Johnson were all omitted with Will Hoskin-Elliott managed, replaced by Billy Frampton, Tom Mitchell and Reef McInnes.
Ryan Byrnes will celebrate his 50th AFL game, as will Nick Daicos.
The game gets underway at 7:30pm AEDT from the MCG.
Watch it live on Fox Footy (channel 504), plus streaming on Kayo, from 6:30pm AEDT.
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