Pies vs. Cats multi tips & bet specials for AFL Saturday

THESE dying embers of Collingwood’s AFL 2017 campaign may well determine whether or not Nathan Buckley has a job at Victoria Park next year.

With finals very much out of the equation, it is all about finishing strong and laying the foundations for a better 2018.

Speculation over the coach’s future has escalated to the point where it is easy to forget the Magpies still have a season to see out.

They have won one and lost the other since that famous draw – infamous in the minds of the black and white army – with Adelaide in round 19.

Port Adelaide were too good last week, overcoming a few wobbles to lead at every break on the way to a 27-point win.

Taylor Adams and Adam Treloar were the pick of the Pies in that one, each collecting 31 disposals in a tireless midfield tandem.

Those two will need some help if Collingwood are to replicate their surprise round-six win over the Cats.

Geelong are fresh off a big upset of their own.

Short staffed through injury and suspension, they defied both the odds and the Tigers last Saturday to dislodge Richmond from third place.

Patrick Dangerfield had a routine 30 touches on his return, while the likes of Cameron Guthrie, Jake Kolodjashnij and Sam Menegola all lifted to cover the absence of Mitch Duncan and Joel Selwood.

The undisputed star of the show was Harry Taylor, who booted four goals and smothered Alex Rance’s influence in a match-defining performance.

Duncan will return from a one-match ban to face the Pies, but Tom Hawkins still has a week to serve.

Wylie Buzza is the man most likely to replace Rhys Stanley, who left the field with a calf injury late in the win over the Tigers.

This is a juicy three-legger for those who fancy an upset.

Dangerfield seems to rack up 30+ touches even when he isn’t on top form, so he makes a very solid anchor in the disposal betting.

Jamie Elliott is not everybody’s cup of tea (has he ever smiled?), but there is no denying he is one of the competition’s most dangerous small forward.

After a few quiet weeks in front of the sticks, we reckon it is about time the Pies’ number five popped up with a handy treble.

Now, to the elephant in the room.

With the exception of their demolition job against an out-of-sorts Hawthorn early in the year, Geelong have struggled at the MCG in 2017.

The Pies shocked them in round six, Essendon played them off the park a few weeks later and the Hawks very nearly squared the ledger in the mid-July rematch.

Perhaps the push to play more games at Simonds Stadium has affected the Cats’ ability to defend and exploit the wide open spaces of the ‘G?

Whatever the case, Buckley and the Pies should view this clash as an opportunity to win back some disheartened fans – especially if lucky charm Daniel Wells passes fit.

Collingwood vs. Geelong betting specials

• Early payouts at Sportsbet if your team leads by 24 points or more at any time
• +225 at Ladbrokes for Dan Menzel to kick three goals and Cats to win
• Patrick Dangerfield +250 at William Hill for most fantasy points in round 22
• +400 at Ladbrokes for Adam Treloar to have 30 disposals and Pies to win
• Jamie Elliott +1600 at William Hill for most goals in round 22