AFL round four tips: Pies gearing up to sink Carlton's season in game with 'final-like feel'
Updated . First published at
Carlton and Collingwood will clash on Thursday night at the MCG in a game with implications wider than just the traditional rivalry.
The Magpies have had many opportunities to embarrass the Blues in recent years. In 2022 their Round 23 victory over them directly saw them miss finals. Last year Mitch McGovern had a shot after the siren to beat the Pies and sent it sideways into the stands.
Now, they have the chance to send Carlton to 0-4, making finals an enormously difficult task and breaking their spirit.
READ MORE: Skipper who met rival coach 'incredibly remorseful'
READ MORE: 'This is horrific': AFL lashed over mooted grand final change
READ MORE: 'He should': Case for Aussie 'mad man' to win major NBA award
Blues coach Michael Voss admits the stage and the rivalry is enormous and is expecting another thriller.
Collingwood star Steele Sidebottom celebrates a goal against the Bulldogs. Getty
"They're huge (Carlton versus Collingwood games). Being able to watch all the classic games through the '80s, that's probably my era - to see them go toe-to-toe, one of the unique things about them is no matter where you sit or what time of the season it is, they have huge importance," Voss told reporters on Wednesday.
"There's something about when you look at the calendar, you circle it and it's something you look forward to. In our most recent history, we've had some very close ones that a few more have gone against us than have gone for us.
"It shows you how tight these games are: often it comes down to moments, and whether or not you get to own them."
Collingwood coach Craig McRae is bracing for a fired up Carlton side, despite their winless start to the season.
"We play opposition on what they represent, and their best is very, very good. We don't play opposition on ladder position and we are expecting Carlton to be at their best. 0-3 is a big number and we're looking forward to what's coming," McRae told reporters on Tuesday.
"There's a sense of finals-like feel about it. The players trained with huge intensity. There's a big build-up to this game which we step up and embrace and are excited for."
Michael Voss looks on against the Western Bulldogs. Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images
Elsewhere in round four, fellow winless teams Melbourne and West Coast are staring at enormously difficult tasks, playing Geelong and GWS away respectively.
Gold Coast and Adelaide clash in what might be the biggest meeting between the two sides ever. Both sit undefeated after three games and both have looked hugely improved from last season.
Scroll below for the current leaderboard and Round 4 tips by all Nine's expert tipsters!
Nine tipping leaderboard after round three Nine
Jimmy Bartel: Collingwood, Geelong, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, GWS, St Kilda, Fremantle
Tom Morris: Collingwood, Geelong, Gold Coast, Brisbane, North Melbourne, GWS, Port Adelaide, Fremantle
Eddie McGuire: Collingwood, Geelong, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sydney, GWS, Port Adelaide, Fremantle
Clint Stanaway: Collingwood, Geelong, Gold Coast, Brisbane, GWS, Sydney, Port Adelaide, Fremantle
Nat Yoannidis: Collingwood, Geelong, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sydney, GWS, Port Adelaide, Fremantle
Tony Jones: Collingwood, Geelong, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, Giants, Port Adelaide, Fremantle
Rory Sloane: Collingwood, Geelong, Adelaide, Brisbane, North Melbourne, GWS, Port Adelaide, Fremantle
